Gov. Justice Unveils New West Virginia Vacation Guide
Special 2021 edition celebrates 50th anniversary of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads”
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Jim Justice today unveiled the new West Virginia Vacation Guide, a travel inspiration magazine dedicated to promoting Almost Heaven, West Virginia. This year’s guide is a special edition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the release of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
“I’ve been saying it since the first day I took office: John Denver surely got it right when he coined West Virginia Almost Heaven. The song is a perfect love letter to our great state, and one that so many know by heart,” said Gov. Justice. “I’m so proud of this new guide. It showcases our four beautiful seasons, outdoor activities, and most importantly, our charming small mountain towns.”
Work on the 2021 Vacation Guide had already begun prior to the COVID-19 pandemic however the focus shifted slightly as new travel trends emerged showing the post-COVID traveler’s strong desire for road trips, outdoor recreation and crowd-free small towns.
These trends align with not only the experiences West Virginia has to offer visitors, but also the anniversary of this beloved hymn. The new guide focuses heavily on road trips across the Mountain State.
“As soon as we saw the research on road trips, we knew we had the perfect pitch,” said Tourism Commissioner Chelsea Ruby. “Summer road trips in West Virginia lead to destinations where folks can reconnect with what’s been missing over the past year. It’s the same sense of longing people feel each time they hear Country Roads,” Ruby said.
The 2021 Vacation Guide was produced in partnership with Meredith Travel Marketing, a leading publisher who produces Southern Living, Real Simple, and Parents. This spring, more than 100,000 West Virginia Vacation Guides will be included with subscriber copies of Southern Living, Real Simple and Parents magazines to encourage summer road trips to the Mountain State.
The Vacation Guide also features interactive content with the use of QR codes throughout. When scanned, codes bring the guides to life in a digital format and unlock exclusive content such as new covers of “Country Roads” by West Virginia artists and travel inspiration from more than 50 tourism partners.
“Our goal was to create a new marketing piece that helps visitors plan their trip whenever they may be ready. Spring, summer, winter or fall—you’ll find travel tips and ideas on how you can travel responsibility in West Virginia,” Ruby said. “By adding interactive components, we will continue to update and share new content with prospective travelers all year long.”
To request a copy of the special edition West Virginia Vacation Guide, visit WVtourism.com.
To access high resolution artwork, photos and b-roll footage of the guide, click here.
This post was last updated on March 11, 2021