As some of our long-time readers may remember, one of the things I enjoy doing in those rare moments of free time I find is to visit our state parks.

Whether it’s setting out on a trail or two, eating at a restaurant where one is available, taking in a new activity or adventure, or just finding a nice spot and sitting down to soak in the quiet view, each of West Virginia’s state parks has something unique to offer which should meet just about everyone’s preferences.

In recent weeks, I’ve been able to take day trips with the family to a couple of our parks just to get a few hours away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

In early October, we drove to Tygart Lake State Park. While it’s relatively close to our area, it’s one I had never visited before, and seems to be a good one if you’re looking for a little solitude. There’s a lodge with around 20 rooms and a restaurant, some walking trails and an overlook of the spillway which sends water from the lake into the Tygart Valley River. The big attraction is the lake, with lots of boating, fishing and other water-related activities, depending on the time of year.

Last weekend, after some shopping at the Highlands near Wheeling, we opted to head to Morgantown and spend a half-hour or so at Coopers Rock. We’ve always enjoyed the view from the overlook, with the view of the Cheat River below and portions of Morgantown to the right. In my younger days, there were camping trips and Scouting events nearby which provided a chance to check out a few of the trails and the Henry Clay Furnace.

With all that in mind, it was a pleasant surprise to receive an email from West Liberty University’s new marketing and communications pointperson, announcing a project where some of the university’s graphic design students had been working on a new series of stickers to be available in the gift shops of some of West Virginia’s state parks.

So far, they are available Blackwater Falls State Park (another of my favorites), Coopers Rock and Pipestem Resort.

Any time you visit one of the state parks, or any touristy location in the state, for that matter, you no-doubt have come upon the gift shop where you can find a variety of little nick-knacks, glassware, books, puzzles and more available for purchase. It used to be I was able to find a nice patch or two available to represent the parks during my visits, but more and more I’m seeing stickers filling the display shelves, and even a few collectable pins.

It’s nice to know some of the designs set to be seen on those shelves in the months and years ahead might have been designed by a student from my alma mater.

A recent addition to those trips around the state, for me, has been getting pictures at the “Almost Heaven” swings. I know it’s something a lot of people have been doing since their introduction a few years back, but I’m just getting around to it.

I finally managed to get the one at Tomlinson Run State Park, even though I’ve been there probably a dozen times since it was installed two years ago. We found the one at Tygart Lake by happenstance (it’s by the overlook at the spillway) and pulled over at the one in Phillippi by the community’s famous covered bridge.

I was in Charleston, recently, for the West Virginia Press Association’s annual conference, and one of their two swings happens to be on the campus of the University of Charleston where our conference was being held. It has a great view of the Capitol from across the Kanawha River.

The other swing in Charleston is at the Capitol itself. I had plans to go there before returning home that weekend, but the fog was so thick that morning, I doubt a photo would have come out. There’s always next year.

I promise I’ll make it to the new swing in Wellsburg, eventually. It may just have to wait until after winter, depending on how the weather goes in the coming week or two.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)