Released February 9, 2024
Why you ought to go to West Virginia
Towering mountainsHurrying rivers perfect for white-water rafting(among National Geographic’s leading 20 Best of the World travel experiences for 2024. America’s latest national forest Appalachian foodand folk music
Finest time to go to West Virginia
Spring: Late April through May, yellow trout lily, purple larkspur, and other wildflowers frame treking courses such as the Blackwater River Trail in Canaan Valley Resort State Parkthe Stone Cliff Trail in New River Gorge National Park and Preserveor the Central Trail loop inCacapon Resort State ParkIt’s likewise ramps seasonwhen the foraged wild onions heading on dining establishment menus, at the Ramps and Rail Festival in Elkins, and even in allium-forward red wine
Summertime: With the greatest typical elevation east of the Mississippi River, West Virginia typically has happily cool summer season temperature levels. In steamier weather condition, visitors relax by white-water rafting on the Lower Gauley or Cheat Rivers or by tubing in the Shenandoah or Potomac RiversThe West Virginia Waterfall Trailspotlights waterfalls in locations consisting of Babcock State ParkandMonongahela National Forest
July celebrations consist of the Sternwheel Regatta with boat races along the Kanawha River in Charleston and the Contemporary American Theater Festival of brand-new plays in Shepherdstown.
Fall:Gauley Season opens 25 miles of the famous river to raftersin September and October– set up a journey withACE Adventure Resortor Experiences on the GorgeThrilling: viewing BASE jumpers toss themselves off of the 3,030-foot long, 876-foot-high New River Gorge Bridge throughout the Bridge Day celebration in Fayetteville.
See September and October’s peak fall foliage on picturesque drives, treking routes, or by riding brought back trains, the Potomac Eagle and the New Tygart Flyer
Winter season:In the eastern part of West Virginia, mountainous surface (40 peaks above 4,000 feet!) and high typical snowfalls bring in skiers, sledders, and bulbs. Downhill schussers and snowboarders head to Timberline Mountainand Canaan Valley Ski ResortClose by, Blackwater Falls State Park interest households with a quarter-mile-long sled run and cabins with wood-burning fireplaces.
Lay of the land
Cities and towns:West Virginia is within a day’s drive of almost two-thirds of the U.S. population. In its eastern panhandle, mountain-framed Berkeley Springs has actually been a medical spa town considering that colonial times and Shepherdstown has Civil War history, dining establishments, and stores in rehabbed classic structures.
Along the Monongahela Riverin the northern part of the state,Morgantown is home to picturesque covered bridges, museums, and green areas such as the West Virginia Botanic Garden
The state capital, Charleston at the confluence of the Kanawha and Elk Rivers in the southwestern part of the state, has waterside routes, street murals, and the Capitol Marketafood and crafts market in a classic train station.
Southeast of Charleston in the Appalachian foothills, Beckley has actually been a coal mining center because the late 19th century. Visitors can take mine trips or search for regional crafts at the Tamarack Cultural.
In the south main part of the state, Fayetteville‘s breweries, dining establishments, and equipment stores interest travelers headed to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve next door.
Parks:New River Gorge National Park and Preserve opened in 2020 on 72,000 acres of woody hills, deep gorges, and Appalachian plateau. The 63rd U.S. national forest is popular with hikers, rafters, and mountain cyclists.
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers in West Virginia’s easternmost corner, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park recreates and maintains the 19th-century railway town where John Brown staged the 1859 disobedience that triggered the Civil War. The Appalachian National Scenic Trailcrosses through town.
Almost 80 percent of West Virginia is forested with 27 various tree types. In the state’s north main highlands, the Monongahela National Forest (consisting of the beautiful Dolly Sods Wildernesscovers almost a million acres perfect for horseback riding, treking, fishing, rock climbing, and cross-country snowboarding.
There are 35 state parks and 9 state forests, consisting of Cooper Rock State Forestwith its sandstone cliffsand Blackwater Falls State Park with a 57-foot-high waterfall and treking tracks.
Navigating West Virginia
By automobile:West Virginia is quickly available by 6 interstates. You’ll require an automobile to explore its picturesque highways and backroads. EV charging stations are offered in many cities, lots of towns, and a number of state parks. Mountain locations might need AWD, 4WD, or chains throughout snowy weather condition.
By bus: Megabus has a station in Morgantown; there are Greyhound stations in Charleston, Huntington, Beckley, Bluefield, Morgantown, Fairmont, and Bridgeport.
By train: Amtrak’sCapitol Limitedtrainrunsdaily to Harpers Ferry and Martinsburg; the Amtrak Cardinalruns weekly to White Sulphur Springs, Alderson, Hinton, Prince, Thurmond, Montgomery, Charleston, and Huntington.
In the area:Bigger cities and towns have bus service and bike share or rental programs, consisting of the Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority in Charleston, the Tri-State Transit Authorityin Huntington, and Morgantown’s Mountain Line Transit Authority
Know before you go
Cultural History: West Virginia’s human history starts with nomadic Paleo-Indians who populated the location as early as 11,000 B.C. The historical individuals most connected with the area consist of the Cherokee Delaware Shawnee, and Iroquoian-speakingindividuals. Enslaved Africanswere required to operate in locations that consist of Greenbrier, Monongahela, and Kanawha in the 18th and 19th centuries.
West Virginia is the only state formed as an outcome of the Civil Wartaken of western Virginia and contributed to the union by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery here on February 3, 1865.
LGBTQ+: Same-sex marital relationship wasn’t acknowledged in West Virginia till 2014. The state ranks 31st on Out Leadership’s yearly State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index for 2023. Cities such as Charleston, Morgantown, Huntington, and Harpers Ferry host Pride celebrations
How to check out West Virginia sustainably
Assist maintain environment by staying with designated routes and roadways and leaving no trace. When going to public landsappropriately snuff out campfires. Consume at locavore dining establishments and attempt foraged foods such as ginseng and ramps.
What to check out and see
Another Appalachia by Neema Avashia. A queer Asian American instructor and author hysterically and poignantly information her accomplishments and battles residing in West Virginia.
Banquet of the Seven Fishes directed by Robert Tinnell. Embed in a mining town in the 1980s, this 2018 vacation movie portrays Italian-American domesticity.
The Grand Design: A Novel of Dorothy Draperby Joy Callaway. A historic book– set at White Sulphur Springsextravagantly embellished Greenbrier— pictures the life and romance of Draper, the mid-20th-century interior designer who dressed up the resort.
Rocket Boysby Homer Hickam. This narrative embeded in 1950s Coalwood traces Hickam’s early fascination with Sputnik, which led him to a NASA profession. (This likewise influenced the film October Sky)
Terry Wardis a travel author who often goes to West Virginia. Follow her on Instagram