ActivitiesBesides the many fine motorcycle roads in the area, West Virginia has a lot of wonderful outdoors activities. ACE's 1400 acre resort is bordered on three sides by the 70,000 acre New River Gorge National Park, and Sandi Brown at ACE, +1.888.223.7238 ext 126, would love to help set up any of the activities described below. The New River, and the nearby Gauley River, have world-class whitewater runs. With a variety of conditions suitable for any level of skill from rank beginner to Olympic expert, anyone should be able to have a fun time kayaking or rafting these rivers. Running the rivers is ACE's main gig, and by all accounts they are a very reliable outfitter. There's also a stable at ACE for people who want to get on the original one horsepower engine. The guided rides use ACE's private network of trails to visit canyon overlooks, meadows and wooded paths. There's even a special sunset ride out to the overlooks. Mountain bikes are available for rent for either independent cycling or a guided tour, and can be on either easy, rolling hills or challenging single track trails. The New River Gorge National Park is home to some excellent rock-climbing. Options are available for novice, intermediate and expert climbers on the cliffs of the gorge. Spelunking is available as an all-day activity. ACE will provide all gear and shuttle you to and from Greenbrier County's cave country to go cave diving. ACE also has guided fishing trips on the the New and Greenbrier Rivers, which they say are "justly famous for smallmouth bass fishing". Sandi can also set you up to ride the New River Jetboats or play a round at the Brier Patch Golf Links, even though those aren't ACE activities. Of course, if you want to just go off hiking, there are many trails to choose from without riding anywhere, and beautiful Babcock State Park – site of the oft-photographed mill on the opening page – is not far away. The ACE Adventure Center also has a five acre pond for swimming, playing water volleyball, jumping on the jumbo water trampoline, or floating around in kayaks, canoes and pedalboats. On land there's lawn chess, tetherball and table tennis. At the 2001 event, Mike Sayers headed for Matewan, WV, home of the famous hillbilly feud. He also looped through Ottawa and touched Charleston to visit two more of the "I've Been Everywhere" towns (alas, the original description of this tour is no longer available at the AMA's site). Each night we'll have a nice campfire going so everyone can just relax and swap lies. Fellow Attendees ActivitiesI'll gladly put notices here about the various activities people plan on doing, so you can get a group together if you want.
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