Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia - Beckley, West Virginia

If you find yourself traveling in West Virginia along I-77 chances are you will go by Tamarack. This is not your ordinary tourist trap. It is actually an interesting building showcasing some of the best arts, crafts, and culinary delights that West Virginia has to offer. We arrived cranky. We had tried to visit a nearby coal mine museum but it was closed. After my Wally World level break down Jon agreed to me drowning my sorrows in some shopping. You enter the circular building and instantly have a feast for the eyes. Much of what you see is folk art. Although there is more variety once you take a closer look. The "stores" are basically separated by strategic spacing. Many artists can occupy one area or some artists have their own. There is a ton to look at and generally something interesting for all tastes. Beer, wine, candy, preserved food, glass work, sculptures, handy-crafts, and loads more are there for the buying. Along the inside edges of the building you can discover and watch some of the local artists in their studios. Unfortunately, no one was working while we were there. To shop you just grab a basket and make as many laps around the building as you desire. There is one counter to make all of your purchases. I like this approach because I don't have to figure out which salesperson to go to and I also can go back to grab something I may have had my eye on and not have to pay at another register. The fam did not find many of the wares as interesting as I did. The kids had money for souvenirs so they were looking intently. My oldest son picked out a glass frog but they all really perked up in the candy area. There were lots of fun local candies and treats to choose from. This had the boys leaving Tamarack pretty happy. My husband perked up at the site of the cafeteria. The menu is filled with a variety of choices and highlights local foods. While I paid for our goodies, Jon bought some food to go. You can dine in but we had to get on the road again. The food was yummy and fresh, much better than your run of the mill driving food. Outside of the building there is an art/sculpture garden. My impatient crew did not afford me the luxury of meandering through but it looked lovely as I jogged past. Below you can see some of our pictures and read all of pros and cons.