It's been months since the World Cup, when travelers from around the world descended upon the United States and fell in love with our mainstream idiosyncrasies. They headed home with suitcases packed full of ranch dressing and a newly emboldened habit of asking for free soda refills.
One French filmmaker, who goes by @zmr_leo, or Leo, online, recently spent two weeks in the country, though for an entirely different purpose. Inspired by YouTuber Peter Santello, Leo wanted to explore the "real" side of America. He flew in, rented a car and drove straight into small-town West Virginia, skipping the interstates and the usual coastal tourist spots where most visitors, and even most Americans, vacation.
Because it's the internet, some nasty commenters piled on with reasons he should have picked somewhere prettier. But overall, the majority of comments passed the vibe check. Many viewers shared their favorite corners of the state, one after another, until the replies fleshed out into an itinerary that anyone in the Mid-Atlantic or Appalachia looking for a weekend getaway could appreciate.
One post, in which Leo called West Virginia "the real face of America," drew 69,300 likes and more than 2,100 reactions. Some commenters accused him of romanticizing half-empty towns. Others defended him. One person from Boston wrote, "I will tell you he is 100% correct." Another said the video made them want to go home, describing West Virginia as a beautiful place filled with genuine, down-to-earth people. (Cue John Denver, please.)
Other commenters argued that the "real" America includes the whole country, with rural areas and cities depending on each other. One reduced Leo's argument to a population count, writing sarcastically, "Yes those 800 people are the real face of America."
Leo later clarified what he meant. "Calling it 'the real America' is just a figure of speech," he wrote. He described the towns as "open-air museums frozen in time" and said they reminded him of "that nostalgic America we grew up seeing in movies, TV shows, and music." He added, "I don't hate big cities, but I feel like they all resemble each other now."
Still, the debate proved that a large share of Americans love the nostalgic feeling of West Virginia's mountain towns, while some have never visited the state themselves. If you're on the fence, it's worth going yourself and making up your own mind. And because the comment section of Leo's posts invited such a strong response, there are plenty of trip recommendations in there for the curious traveler.
Here's where to go, according to the comments.
Commenters described Harpers Ferry as an important tourist stop with the most to teach visitors about American history. The town is home to the site of John Brown's 1859 abolitionist raid. Every year, a folk music jam called John Brown's Dream happens on the farm where the raiders prepared before entering town.
One viewer named the Mine Wars Museum in Matewan as a required stop for people who are curious about the labor battles that defined the region, including armed conflicts between coal miners and mine operators in the early 1900s.
A cranberry bog sits inside the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, a national forest boardwalk trail that leads to a rare bit of northern wetland tucked into the Appalachian highlands and named by more than one commenter as a must-see.
Commenters sent Leo toward this famous sandstone formation in Monongahela National Forest, a favorite among climbers and hikers for the sweeping view at the top.
One viewer recommended a stop at Blennerhasset Island in the Ohio River, home to a restored 19th-century mansion and reachable by a short sternwheeler ride from Parkersburg.
This small artsy town near the Eastern Panhandle a hidden gem. Shepherdstown is home to the state's oldest main street, lined with whimsical cafes, an impressive independent bookstore and weekly old-time music circles at the 100-year-old O'Hurley's General Store. Stop for dinner at Alma Bea, the Appalachian bistro led by chef Mary Ellen Diaz, a James Beard-nominated contender for the Southeast's best chef.
If you like to bike, Shepherdstown Pedal and Paddle runs shuttles between nearby towns, transit stops and airports along the C&O Canal bicycle path.
One commenter encouraged Leo to visit Lost World Caverns, a cave system in Lewisburg that's been open to the public since the 1970s. Inside are canaverous ceilings tall enough to fit a 10-story building and a formation locals call the Snowy Chandelier.
One commenter called the underground rock formations "magical."
Leo has spent three years filming the United States, chasing what he calls its "imagery and American aesthetics." He describes himself as an enthusiast with a camera, someone passionate about capturing the way America looks.
He said West Virginia has always stood out to him for the vintage, timeless quality he sees in its towns and landscapes, despite the fact that, as he's observed it, "most YouTube videos about West Virginia focus heavily on the negative and don't paint a great picture."
The trip gave him two weeks of footage, a growing audience and, he says, a reason to return. "West Virginia has definitely been the most meaningful project so far."
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How this was made: AI assisted with planning, structure, formatting, interview transcription and metadata. All reporting, product testing, research, interviews, fact-checking, writing and editing was done by Megan DeMatteo, an independent writer and editor who, like many solo creators, handles the full workload of a traditional newsroom team.