A Hub for Outdoor Activities
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2/18/2021
I was born in Beckley, moved away and lived in a smaller town, and then two major cities. I have been back for 14 years. Beckley is not for everyone. If you are looking for a major city, then move to one. If you are looking for a tiny, quaint town, this is not it either. Beckley is bigger than its population, because the city limits are drawn really small and the city refuses to incorporate outlying areas. The shopping and medical facilities serve a region of over 200,000 people. Therefore, it has a lot more to offer than other cities with a population listed as under 20,000.
The real value in this town, as I see it, is in its location in the beautiful Appalachian mountains. Beckley is the hub of Southern West Virginia's tourism industry. There are countless opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. There is a ski resort, 20 minutes from town. Mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and much more are all within a 20 minute drive. Beckley even has its own system of trails within the city limits, accessible near the YMCA's state of the art soccer complex.
I have lived in other places and traveled very extensively. Young people tend to complain wherever they live. That was even true in the big cities where I used to live. Most of them said they wanted to move somewhere else. I choose to live here because I love the outdoors, I like not being in a big city, but I do want to at least have the major conveniences of a big town, which I have in Beckley.
Beckley is a great place to visit if you love the outdoors, or have family here to visit. If you are looking for museums and professional sports, you better go somewhere else. If you are looking for a place to stay with a variety of hotels and restaurants and lots of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities within a short drive, this is your place.
Patrick | Beckley, WV