Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.
Today is Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026.
#1 – From WV TOURISM – Make Seneca Rocks your late-summer destination
Summer isn’t over yet. And West Virginia Tourism says Seneca Rocks might be the perfect place to make the most of what’s left. Start with the 3.7-mile round-trip Seneca Rocks Trail for spectacular views, or take adventure to another level on more than 350 multi-pitch rock-climbing routes. Need to cool off? The North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River offers natural swimming spots, including Triangle Rock. Visitors can also head underground at Seneca Caverns or Smoke Hole Caverns, then refuel at longtime local favorites like Harper’s Country Store or Yokum’s. Hiking, climbing, swimming, caves and some pretty incredible scenery. Sounds like a good way to finish summer in Almost Heaven.
Read more:
https://wvtourism.com/seneca-rocks-is-your-dream-late-summer-destination/
#2 – From WV PRESS – WVU engineering student shoots for the stars
Izaak Whetsel has his sights set on space. The Elkins native and West Virginia University student is triple majoring in computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering with a goal of someday developing spacecraft and robots for NASA. Now, a prestigious Boren Scholarship is taking his education halfway around the world. Whetsel will travel to Kyrgyzstan to study Russian, a language with a long history in international space exploration. The nationally competitive scholarship supports students studying languages and cultures important to U.S. national security. Recipients also commit to federal service after completing their studies. Whetsel hopes the experience will ultimately help him design technology that benefits people around the world — and maybe beyond it.
Read more:
https://wvpress.org/wvpa-sharing/wvu-engineering-student-awarded-boren-scholarship/
#3 – From WV LIVING – Discover the magic beneath the forest canopy
Sometimes the best way to experience the woods is to slow down.
Way down. The West Virginia Mushroom Club’s Annual Foray at Blackwater Falls brings mushroom enthusiasts together to explore the remarkable world of fungi while learning how to identify and interact with mushrooms safely. Naturalists like Tucker County’s Chip Chase say searching for mushrooms changes the way you experience a forest. You begin noticing the trees, soil, weather, wildflowers, moss and even insects that surround them. It’s part science, part folk art and part mindfulness. And it’s another reminder that some of Almost Heaven’s most fascinating discoveries may be right beneath your feet.
Read more:
https://wvliving.com/morel-support/
Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
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That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.