12 Things That West Virginians Cannot Live Without

As a born and raised West Virginian, I can say that I have encountered all of these things in this state and that West Virginia would definitely be different without them.

Home is where the heart is, and so West Virginia is my home!

John Cummings Flickr

Here in West Virgnia, we don't have any professional sports teams, so all of our love and energy goes towards our awesome college sports teams! We especially love our West Virginia Mountaineers and the Marshall Thundering Herd!

Kate Webster Flickr

While the picture above is showing some unintentional swimming, it is swimming nonetheless! I have always loved to throw on my swim suit and dive into one of West Virginia's many beautiful rivers.

Foodie Buddha Flickr

I mean seriously, we couldn't have just one or the other. Here in West Virginia, we're serious about our food. And a hot dog without slaw is like a peanut butter sandwich with no jelly!

Imnop88a Flickr

Each Autumn season, West Virginians gather in Milton, WV at the Pumpkin Festival to see all of the amazing crafts, eat pumpkin ice cream, and listen to some wonderful Bluegrass music!

Candace Nelson Flickr

The Lewisburg Chocolate Festival gathers thousands every year! There is more chocolate than you can ever dream of!

Sonja Flickr

Each year, Point Pleasant has a festival for the Mothman! Try out the Mothman pancakes or even visit the World's Only Mothman Museum.

buttersweet Flickr

Public school just wouldn't have been the same without those big, amazing pepperoni rolls! I'll never forget them.

Jaime Dillen-Seibel Flickr

Home wouldn't be home to me if I wasn't surrounded by mountains. Anytime I leave the state, I always get so sick of driving on flat and straight roads! I couldn't live anywhere else!

Matt Flickr

One of my friends made a valid point, since we have 4 distinct seasons, we also have 4 distinct wardrobes! This is so true. We have had some bitter cold winters, cool springs, fiery-hot summers, and warm autumns! And I wouldn't have it any other way. Once you get tired of one season, here comes another one.

rob_rob2001 Flickr

Oh, I could go on for days. Gino's Pizza, Lola's Pizza, Pies and Pints, DiCarlo's Pizza, The Pizza Place, and many more!

cyclewidow Flickr

No matter what you are looking for, hunting season in West Virginia is a pretty big deal! I can remember the first time that I ever went hunting with my dad, we were squirrel hunting on our family farm. Once he got the squirrel, he showed me how to gut it. As a little girl, this was quite repulsing! But my dad always said to me, "Mind over matter. If you don't mind, then it doesn't matter." I'll never forget those words of wisdom.

kiwanee2001 Flickr

It wouldn't be "almost Heaven" if we couldn't jump on the back of a 4-wheeler and just go.

aprilandrandy Flickr

How do people even live without Tudor's?! This amazing home-style breakfast restaurant began in West Virginia and is still going strong.

Matt Flickr

These country roads will always be my home! I couldn't go anywhere else because my heart would stay here, in these winding West Virginia hills.

It would be so boring here without these things! I love going to festivals, especially the West Virginia State Fair! Summer wouldn’t feel the same if I didn’t go at least once.

I couldn’t live in West Virginia without the scent of a fire-pit in the summer time, friends packed in a car on the way to a football team, going to church with my family, and of course- my Mama.

All of these things just make this place even more like Heaven!

What makes West Virginia home to you? Comment below!