Customer Reviews

Way Out in West Virginia: A Must Have Guide to the Oddities & Wonders of the Mountain State

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Author and West Virginian Jeanne Mozier has compiled more information about what West Virginia has to offer than most of us would ever want to know in this labor of love book. From the mundane to the amazing, Mozier takes us through a whirlwind tour of the natural and man-made wonders of the Mountain State. It's clear that Mozier loves West Virginia, and if we cannot find ourselves matching her enthusiasm for the Mail Pouch Chewing Tobacco factory in Wheeling, we can still appreciate her efforts to bring to our attention the highlights - no matter how modest - of West Virginia's contribution to the US tourist industry.

I have to admit, I love these type of books. I often go off the beaten path in my travels, in search of the forgotten tourist trap or the weather-beaten historic marker. Since I live close to West Virginia, I've had the opportunity to visit many of the sites that Mozier mentions in her book. Some places are real gems, such as the bathhouse in Berkeley Springs and Shirley Dougherty's Harpers Ferry Ghost Tour (I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in the supernatural. Shirley's unique storytelling style makes the modest fee well worth the money). As a guide to all those other West Virginia wonders that I have yet to see, this book is invaluable. I have yet to taste the succulence of the Pepperoni Roll (the state food of West Virginia?!?), but Moziers' mouth-watering description has piqued my curiosity.

If you are planning a trip to West Virginia, or if you will be merely passing through, pick up a copy of this book. Then go visit the New River Gorge, see a mummy, sit in George Washington's bathtub, climb an Indian burial mound, and walk the streets where John Brown once led a slave rebellion. And when you stop at a gas station for a fill-up, don't forget to pick up a pack of Pepperoni Rolls.

I moved to West Virginia two years ago, and this was one of the original guide books I purchased to learn more about my adopted state. But once I settled down to the task of organizing weekend excursions to this or that county or town, I found this book to be close to useless. When you travel, you target a particular location. Hence your travel guides need to tell you what you'll find: the best/innovative restaurants, historic items you don't want to miss,fantastic parks or scenic byways, stories the non-local would never hear. You use the guidebooks to peruse one region after another, contemplating your route. This book, unfortunately, uses absoutely no geographic organization whatsoever. You cannot ask it, "If I head south on 119, what will I find between Morgantown and Elkins?" The material is organized by subject, and you'll find discussions of several different locations on the same page! It might work for the armchair traveler, but if you're actually going to be--oh, I don't know--actually moving around inside West Virginia? Hopeless.

Sometimes you just have to get out of town--completely out of town. A Tom Clancy book I once read had a character flee the city and I was surprised by how quickly he found himself deep in West Virginia. Since then I've done this myself a couple of times.

But it's not enough just to get out. This book helps you make the most of your escape by guiding you through the quirky byways of this less-known state. The third edition, published in July 2008, adds new attractions and updates the status of historical favorites. Jeanne Mozier writes with a friendly and engaging conversational style. Readers feel like they are traveling with a wise, witty and well-informed friend.

The chapters are organized by topic ("Adventure Driving," "Shopping Treasures," "Unusual Plumbing," etc.) This is perfect for planning next weekend's adventure--you can map out the options that match your mood. It's less convenient for those last-minute escapes that land you in some small town, wondering what to do next. Amy and I spent quite a while in a Shepherdstown restaurant--that the book helped us find--flipping back and forth from the "Way Out by County" index to figure out our next move. It was doable, just a little less convenient.

But the inconvenience was minor. If you live near DC, buy this book and keep it in your car's glove compartment. You won't have to waste time finding it for your next escape. If you live further away--count yourself lucky. Then buy it anyway for the interesting history and personal introduction to West Virginia.

This book was a dissapointment. I do not consider it a "must have". The other two WV books I ordered were much better and I recommend them in preference to this book.

They are: West Virginia: An Explorer's Guide (Explorer's Guides) and Scenic Driving West Virginia.