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So it looks like your WV options are Beckley, which is the closest to any ski area and maybe the closest (still two hours though) to the best area; Morgantown, which is kindof close to a few decent ones; and Clarksburg, which a bit closer to the decent ones and only a few minutes farther from Snowshoe than Beckley.
Of those three, it looks like Beckley & Clarksburg are the two best options. Beckley offers the opportunity for an afternoon or evening ski outing after work, while Clarksburg offers decent options at Timberline & Canaan Valley, but they're farther out, both pushing 2 hr trips one way. Both are more or less the same from Snowshoe.
You're selling 7 Springs and Wisp short. Those are very good ski destinations and an easy drive from anywhere in NCWV. It would be easy enough to do an evening outing at WISP.
Bridgeport WV to Canaan Valley is 1 hour 33 minutes according to mapquest. Bridgeport to Snowshoe is 2 hours 2 minutes. Bridgeport to Timberline is 1 hour 42 minutes. Bridgeport to Wisp is 1 hour 13 minutes. Morgantown to Wisp is 47 minutes. Morgantown to 7 Springs is 59 minutes. Morgantown to Alpine Lake is 57 minutes. Bridgeport to Alpine Lake is 1 hour 17 minutes.
Beckley, WV is 2 hours 8 minutes from Snowshoe. Beckley to Canaan Valley is 3 hours 11 minutes. Beckley to Flat Top is only 22 minutes. It is comparably close to Snowshoe, but NCWV is much closer to the other ski venues. I guess if they want to spend nearly all their time at Winterplace, Beckley would make sense in terms of skiing opportunities.
Now let's look at the rest of the picture. The unemployment rate in Raleigh County (Beckley) is 7.3%. The unemployment rate in Harrison County (Clarksburg) is 5.8%. The unemployment rate in Monongalia County is 4.1%. Chances of landing a job are considerably better in Clarksburg and better still in Monongalia County (Morgantown). Any town in NCWV is much closer to large cities, and coincidentally any town in NCWV is much closer to Michigan.
"West Virginia seems to have skiing that is a notch above NC but we know next to nothing otherwise."
Skiing here is different than Colorado. My two times in CO, the snow was fluffier.
You might want to look at About DCSki
to get an idea about the resorts and conditions.
The ski areas close to DC are VERY crowded almost all of the time.
"DCSki is an award-winning independent on-line publication covering outdoor recreation in the Mid-Atlantic region, including the states Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. During the winter, DCSki focuses on skiing and snowboarding. In the summer, DCSki covers activities such as mountain biking and hiking."
"West Virginia seems to have skiing that is a notch above NC but we know next to nothing otherwise."
Skiing here is different than Colorado. My two times in CO, the snow was fluffier.
You might want to look at About DCSki
to get an idea about the resorts and conditions.
The ski areas close to DC are VERY crowded almost all of the time.
"DCSki is an award-winning independent on-line publication covering outdoor recreation in the Mid-Atlantic region, including the states Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. During the winter, DCSki focuses on skiing and snowboarding. In the summer, DCSki covers activities such as mountain biking and hiking."
I think West Virginia and Pennsylvania would have skiing a notch above NC, and Maryland's is at least as good.
The higher altitude probably led to a different snow composition in Colorado, but since the base of the mountains there start at about 5,000 feet, and base to summit differences are not as great as one might suppose.
How come there's a Waffle House in Martinsburg but not in Charleston?
Because Martinsburg is either part of or just outside one of the most populated areas in the US.
Charleston not so much. However, if you really wanted you could see about franchising. Although I find them awful plenty of people like Waffle House. If run properly you could make out well.
Personally be happy that real local places have less competition from yet another generic chain restaurant serving bulk frozen food.
We don't have a Waffle House in Morgantown either. Personally, if located near an Interstate, I believe one of those restaurants would do well in either Morgantown or Charleston. But, locating one near DC/Baltimore is a no brainer.
You're selling 7 Springs and Wisp short. Those are very good ski destinations and an easy drive from anywhere in NCWV. It would be easy enough to do an evening outing at WISP.
Bridgeport WV to Canaan Valley is 1 hour 33 minutes according to mapquest. Bridgeport to Snowshoe is 2 hours 2 minutes. Bridgeport to Timberline is 1 hour 42 minutes. Bridgeport to Wisp is 1 hour 13 minutes. Morgantown to Wisp is 47 minutes. Morgantown to 7 Springs is 59 minutes. Morgantown to Alpine Lake is 57 minutes. Bridgeport to Alpine Lake is 1 hour 17 minutes.
Beckley, WV is 2 hours 8 minutes from Snowshoe. Beckley to Canaan Valley is 3 hours 11 minutes. Beckley to Flat Top is only 22 minutes. It is comparably close to Snowshoe, but NCWV is much closer to the other ski venues. I guess if they want to spend nearly all their time at Winterplace, Beckley would make sense in terms of skiing opportunities.
Now let's look at the rest of the picture. The unemployment rate in Raleigh County (Beckley) is 7.3%. The unemployment rate in Harrison County (Clarksburg) is 5.8%. The unemployment rate in Monongalia County is 4.1%. Chances of landing a job are considerably better in Clarksburg and better still in Monongalia County (Morgantown). Any town in NCWV is much closer to large cities, and coincidentally any town in NCWV is much closer to Michigan.
If they're looking at a health services profession, especially involving the VA, unemployment rates are extraneous and meaningless, as most of the unemployed in Raleigh Co. are either miners or people w/o a college degree...
With 2 standard hospitals, an expanding VA hopital, a state run longterm care hospital (Jackie Withrow Hospital), and numerous other health and care facilities, the OP will find a job in Beckley if they want too.
Also, whats so special about being an hour or so closer to Michigan?
If they're looking at a health services profession, especially involving the VA, unemployment rates are extraneous and meaningless, as most of the unemployed in Raleigh Co. are either miners or people w/o a college degree...
With 2 standard hospitals, an expanding VA hopital, a state run longterm care hospital (Jackie Withrow Hospital), and numerous other health and care facilities, the OP will find a job in Beckley if they want too.
Also, whats so special about being an hour or so closer to Michigan?
I would not state that without proof. Unemployment rates while flawed, as people who gave up job searching out of frustration are not counted, are often undercounted. So the real unemployment rate is often higher. I am speaking of jobless people who would want a job but cant get one. Then there is more issues of overqualified people working jobs that they are overqualified for.
In many areas competition for jobs exist at all levels.
If there is a shortage of people with college degrees and jobs arent being filled proof of this should exist. I would not move there based off an unsourced comment.
If they're looking at a health services profession, especially involving the VA, unemployment rates are extraneous and meaningless, as most of the unemployed in Raleigh Co. are either miners or people w/o a college degree...
With 2 standard hospitals, an expanding VA hopital, a state run longterm care hospital (Jackie Withrow Hospital), and numerous other health and care facilities, the OP will find a job in Beckley if they want too.
Also, whats so special about being an hour or so closer to Michigan?
LOL... absolutely nothing is special about being near Michigan. I had them confused with someone else on that one. They might well be able to find a job in a Beckley VA hospital. I never said they couldn't. I'm saying they could well find one in this area too (and with less competition for it since the unemployment rate is much lower here), this is near a VA hospital and larger medical facilities than they have in Beckley, and this area offers a whole different set of venues. They should visit both areas and make up their own minds.
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