If you go to Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

GETTING THERE: Located a few miles off Interstate 64 in southern West Virginia, four hours west of Richmond, Va., and five hours southwest of Washington, D.C.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS:

TAMARACK — a showcase of the best handmade art, crafts, furniture and food that West Virginia has to offer, with six in-house artisans, restaurant, a theater and live entertainment; www.tamarackwv.com/index.php or 888-262-7225. Located in Beckley.

NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL RIVER AND NATIONAL PARK — established in 1978 to protect 53 miles of the New River and now encompassing more than 70,000 acres, the scenic gorge is home to what was once the longest steel-arch bridge in the world at 3,030 feet. It was bumped to second place in 2003 by the Lupu Bridge in Shanghai, China; www.nps.gov/neri/. Canyon Rim Visitor Center is located on U.S. Route 19, 24 miles north of Beckley.

WHITEWATER RAFTING — Arrange a heart-pounding ride down the Gauley or New Rivers through any of several whitewater rafting companies; Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, www.fayettecounty.com/rafting.html or 304-465-5617.