V16E8: Shakedown Run in West Virginia
Christopher Shontz
This week, we venture into one of our favorite destinations in West Virginia: the lovely renaissance town of Thomas, and the surrounding Monongahela National Forest. This region offers a perfect mix of front-country attractions, and backcountry scenery and adventure. We spend some time camping with our friends, @family_adventures_overlanding, and then take the Jeep out touring among the rhododendrons!
4 Places • 6 Saves • ago
Free
Around Town
Thomas, WV, is a rural treasure, located in the Appalachian Mountains of northern West Virginia, not far from the Maryland pan-handle. This region is only a four hour drive from southeastern, Pennsylvania.
If coffee, art, music, backcountry adventure, and rustic small-town charm are your things, you’ll love it here!
Thomas, WV
@venture4wd
Thomas is a tiny, historic railroad and coal mining town, perched on a hillside on the bank of the Blackwater River. Today, it is an artistic and cultural hub, with restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and small music venues. It is a wonderful, best kept secret to spend a few days visiting, with beautiful outdoor experiences in close proximity.
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TipTop
@venture4wd
One of my favorite coffee shops of all time, located in Thomas, WV, not far from Monongahela National Forest and Blackwater Falls. Thomas is a charming, old coal town in the midst of an artistic renaissance. The owners of Tip Top are super-passionate about their business, offering high-quality food and drink. They very recently moved into a new building in town, as of 2022, which I look forward to seeing.
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Monongahela National Forest
@venture4wd
The West Virginia state slogan is wild and wonderful for a reason, and this is due in large part to Monongahela National Forest, a sprawling backcountry featuring everything from high-elevation taiga, to shadowy river valleys adorned with waterfalls through tunnels of rhododendrons.
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Live Music
Purple Fiddle
@venture4wd
Located in Thomas, West Virginia, this ramshackle cafe offers a steady stream of performances by emerging and established musicians. This is likely where you’ll see an amazing undiscovered band before they get big! Good sandwiches and beer, great vibe, and sensational music. Every experience you have here is a memorable one!
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Featured Places
You COULD go to the nearby Blackwater Falls, which is a lovely State Park, and enjoy a spectacular waterfall from the safety and convenience of a viewing platform… OR you could venture to these featured backcountry destinations, and spend a day up-close-and-personal with some equally amazing waterfalls…
$15.00
V16E8: Featured Places
These are some of our favorite backcountry destinations we experienced while touring Monongahela National Forest, in northern West Virginia, also featuring this week’s campsite.
Curated by Christopher Shontz
4 Places • 8 Saves • ago
Details
* * *
CURATED BY
Christopher Shontz
Since 2017, I've traveled full-time throughout the United States and Canada. Today, I'm based in Tucson, Arizona, United States, and specialize in vehicle-supported adventure, remote camping experiences in Arizona, and delicious places to eat and drink around Tucson.
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V16E8: Shakedown Run in West Virginia
Christopher Shontz
This week, we venture into one of our favorite destinations in West Virginia: the lovely renaissance town of Thomas, and the surrounding Monongahela National Forest. This region offers a perfect mix of front-country attractions, and backcountry scenery and adventure. We spend some time camping with our friends, @family_adventures_overlanding, and then take the Jeep out touring among the rhododendrons!
4 Places • 6 Saves • ago
Free
Around Town
Thomas, WV, is a rural treasure, located in the Appalachian Mountains of northern West Virginia, not far from the Maryland pan-handle. This region is only a four hour drive from southeastern, Pennsylvania.
If coffee, art, music, backcountry adventure, and rustic small-town charm are your things, you’ll love it here!
Thomas, WV
@venture4wd
Thomas is a tiny, historic railroad and coal mining town, perched on a hillside on the bank of the Blackwater River. Today, it is an artistic and cultural hub, with restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and small music venues. It is a wonderful, best kept secret to spend a few days visiting, with beautiful outdoor experiences in close proximity.
Add to
Details
TipTop
@venture4wd
One of my favorite coffee shops of all time, located in Thomas, WV, not far from Monongahela National Forest and Blackwater Falls. Thomas is a charming, old coal town in the midst of an artistic renaissance. The owners of Tip Top are super-passionate about their business, offering high-quality food and drink. They very recently moved into a new building in town, as of 2022, which I look forward to seeing.
Add to
Details
Monongahela National Forest
@venture4wd
The West Virginia state slogan is wild and wonderful for a reason, and this is due in large part to Monongahela National Forest, a sprawling backcountry featuring everything from high-elevation taiga, to shadowy river valleys adorned with waterfalls through tunnels of rhododendrons.
Add to
Details
Live Music
Purple Fiddle
@venture4wd
Located in Thomas, West Virginia, this ramshackle cafe offers a steady stream of performances by emerging and established musicians. This is likely where you’ll see an amazing undiscovered band before they get big! Good sandwiches and beer, great vibe, and sensational music. Every experience you have here is a memorable one!
Add to
Details
Featured Places
You COULD go to the nearby Blackwater Falls, which is a lovely State Park, and enjoy a spectacular waterfall from the safety and convenience of a viewing platform… OR you could venture to these featured backcountry destinations, and spend a day up-close-and-personal with some equally amazing waterfalls…
$15.00
V16E8: Featured Places
These are some of our favorite backcountry destinations we experienced while touring Monongahela National Forest, in northern West Virginia, also featuring this week’s campsite.
Curated by Christopher Shontz
4 Places • 8 Saves • ago
Details
* * *
CURATED BY
Christopher Shontz
Since 2017, I've traveled full-time throughout the United States and Canada. Today, I'm based in Tucson, Arizona, United States, and specialize in vehicle-supported adventure, remote camping experiences in Arizona, and delicious places to eat and drink around Tucson.
Send A Tip
Support Christopher Shontz’s work.
Select your tip amount
$5
$10
$20
$50
Or type in other amount
Feeling overwhelmed?
Thatch can help.
Send a request and we'll handpick a list of Thatch-verified travel creators who would love to help with your trip.
No request is too big or small...
✓
"Research places for beach trips this winter."
✓
"Help me plan a romantic getaway to Milan."
✓
"Find and book kid-friendly activities in Paris."
✓
"Curate a walking tour of historic Berlin."
✓
"Suggest wineries worth visiting in Napa."
You can relax now :)