West Virginia is home to some of the most breathtaking and mountainous landscapes on the East Coast, and as a result, the state offers a wide variety of options for outdoor recreation throughout the year.
Hiking, camping, spelunking, caving, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, boating, and fishing are just some of the activities that can be enjoyed in this region’s untamed mountain range, heavily forested wilderness areas, and swift-moving rivers. Many different types of snow activities can be enjoyed at ski slopes throughout the winter months.
Know Important Information Related to the Best Places in West Virginia
Is West Virginia a Nice Part of the Country?
West Virginia, a state in the United States that can be found tucked away between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Ohio River, is an exceptionally stunning region of the country to travel through and see, as it features a wide variety of breathtaking scenery.
What Exactly Is It That West Virginia is Renowned for?
Because of its location in the Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia is home to some of the most challenging terrain in the country.
Hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and whitewater rafting are just some of the popular outdoor activities that can be enjoyed in this mountainous state, which is also known as the Mountain State because of its undulating landscape of mountains, hills, and valleys.
The Best Places in West Virginia to Visit in the USA
Although many visitors come to the state for outdoor activities and scenic landscapes, West Virginia has much more to offer in the way of tourist attractions than just those two things.
1. The State Park of Blackwater Falls
Blackwater Falls is located on the Blackwater River and has a drop of sixty feet over sandstone ledges. The river then proceeds to surge through an eight-mile-long valley as it gets its name from the black waters of the Blackwater River, which are tinted by tannic acid from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles.
The falls are easily accessible throughout the year using stairs and viewing decks. Elakala Falls and Pendleton Falls are both popular spots to visit in the park. There is a short hike to get to Elakala Falls, a waterfall that cascades down the canyon wall. Pendleton Falls can be seen easily from a roadside pull-off.
2. The Monongahela National Forest, Seneca Rocks
The Monongahela National Forest is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, as well as the highest point in the state of West Virginia, which is located at an elevation of 4,863 feet above sea level.
It is one of the most diversified forest ecosystems in the country due to the variety of terrain and rainfall that it experiences across its more than 900,000 acres. It is home to more than 225 bird species, 75 tree species, and 70 fish species, including both game and non-game fish.
3. The Greenbrier Resort
The Greenbrier has proven time and again why it deserves to be recognized as a National Historic Landmark. The majestic hotel, which is situated at White Sulphur Springs, which has been utilized as a natural spa since the 1700s, has played home to a total of 26 presidents, foreign leaders, and royalty, including Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, amongst others.
However magnificent and opulent it is as a resort, the building is also significant for its involvement in other aspects of history.
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In the early stages of World War II, it was put to use as a holding facility for German and Japanese officials who were in the United States at the time that the war was declared.
4. At Snowshoeing, both Ski and Play
This resort is open throughout the year, but it is most well-known for its skiing. There are three distinct zones to select from, and each one is completely covered with artificial snow.
The resort’s 38 trails, which are accessible by seven lifts, including a high-speed detachable quad, are suitable for riders of all skill levels and have an 800-foot vertical drop. Twelve of Silver Creek’s eighteen trails are illuminated for night skiing.
There is a vertical drop of 1,500 feet in the Western Territory Area, making it the most difficult terrain in the region. The landscape is also steep and rough. The renowned Olympic skier Jean-Claude Killy built Cupp Run, which has slopes that are as steep as 52%.
5. Berkeley Springs, California
The bathhouse in Berkeley Springs State Park, which is located in the middle of Berkeley Springs, didn’t open until the year 1930, but people had been enjoying the naturally warm and bubbly mineral waters for a long time before that.
George Washington was a frequent guest, and even earlier, the restorative and curative powers of the springs drew Native Americans here from as far away as southern Canada. George Washington was a frequent guest.
6. National Park Service’s New River Gorge
Even though it is called the “New River,” this river is one of the oldest on the continent. It cuts through the Appalachian Plateau as it makes its way into West Virginia, forming the New River Gorge and providing lots of opportunities for whitewater activities such as rafting, canoeing, and tubing.
Hiking, ziplining, hunting, fishing, bird-watching, camping, biking, and rock climbing are just some of the other leisure activities that may be enjoyed in the area.
7. Rafting the White Waters
It is common knowledge that West Virginia is among the top states in the country for whitewater rafting trips. There are several rivers that provide rapids of world-class quality for experienced rafters, while others are more suitable for novice and learning rafters.
The most well-known waterways are found in the Gauley River, which runs through the Gauley River National Recreation Area and is located between Summersville and Fayetteville.
8. Harpers Ferry, Virginia
This tiny hamlet in West Virginia is located at the point where the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers come together.
In 1859, this was the location of abolitionist John Brown’s raid on the United States arsenal, an incident that has been credited with hastening the start of the Civil War.
9. Penitentiary for the State of West Virginia
The dismal West Virginia Penitentiary, which at times housed more than one thousand inmates at once, is open to visitors from April to November and is often considered to be one of the least likely places to visit in any state.
The imposing Gothic castle first opened its doors in 1876, and the final inmate was released in 1995. Between those two dates, it was the site of several violent incidents, including a fire, an escape, prison riots, and approximately one hundred executions.
10. Festival and Museum of the Mothman
In 1966, residents of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, began to report seeing unusual lights in the sky as well as a flying figure that seemed out of place.
There were many different accounts of the creature, but most characterized it as a humanoid with wings, clad in black, and crimson eyes. It was from this event that the urban myth of the Mothman emerged.
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As the story gained popularity, popular culture embraced it (there is even a Mothman exhibit at the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine), and the neighborhood celebrated the myth by erecting a statue, establishing a museum, and holding a Mothman Festival.
Nutshell
There is so much to see and do in this city that visitors won’t ever be bored. West Virginia has a wide variety of tourist attractions, ranging from the historic sights of Harpers Ferry and the elegant Greenbrier with its legendary golf courses to some very unusual attractions, such as a penitentiary that visitors can tour.
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