If you are looking for a West Virginia get-away spot for a day, join us at Blennerhassett Island. For a few dollars a tourist can ride a boat from Civitan Park, Belpre, to the island and enjoy a day of relaxation and quiet.

Long-standing trees young and old, surround the Blennerhassett mansion. A beautiful lawn is also waiting to accommodate and refresh tired minds.

Trained docents or tour guides await you at the mansion to present the story of the Blennerhassetts. As you may already suspect, this summer I have joined the ranks of those trained tour guides. The experience has been fulfilling and interesting.

We have entertained large numbers of school students, parents and tour buses filled with folks from all over the country.

Tourists of all walks of life come to the island. One day, just by chance, a couple who had married the day before and a couple celebrating their one year anniversary and a single woman made up one public group. (How unusual was that?) The couples were strangers when they came to us, they just happened to meet at the same time and the same place. That is just one beautiful incident I experienced while working on the island.

The other day, while working upstairs in the mansion, I had a group from North Carolina. I had to share my joy at seeing a group from that state. I shared my own personal relationship with the state. My story went like this: "I am so pleased to see you from North Carolina. My daddy was born in Currituck County, North Carolina, and when we went to see my grandparents we went to Nags Head where they managed a motel."

The southern folks from Daddy's home state were just wonderful and didn't mind my own personal history with their state. I told them they gave me a double blessing that day, one blessing for coming and another blessing for listening to my story.

The island also features a gift shop and concession stand. If you do not have time or do not wish to pack a lunch, the concession is a handy place to buy a hot dog and grab and cup of iced tea. The gift shop has a wonderful selection of memorabilia to remember your day at the island.

It is not always necessary to drive for miles for a weekend get-away. One is right here in your back yard.

Join us for a day of relaxation and feast on a historical meal learning about an aristocratic couple who came to America in the late 18th century and built a home fit for a king.

If I have talked you into joining us for a day, then call the Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, Parkersburg, or visit: blennerhassettislandstatepark.com.