10 Best Places To Visit In West Virginia
West Virginia gets a bad rap sometimes. We don’t have the huge city life, no NFL/MLB/NBA teams, and we are one of the “poorest” states in the country. Don’t let that fool you though. West Virginia is rich in the outdoor life and the beautiful scenery of the hills of the Appalachian Mountains. After visiting these 10 places in West Virginia, you’re sure to be changing your tune and singing along to ‘Country Roads’ with John Denver and all us West Virginians!
1. Green Bank Observatory
West Virginia is home to the Greenbank Observatory which houses the LARGEST fully remotely steerable radio telescope in the WORLD. Bet you had no clue! I didn’t for a long time and I’ve lived here my entire life! It is used by people all over the world and if you have the proper research proposal, you can to!
The Green Bank Observatory houses several other telescopes as well. Electronics that might interfere with the radio frequencies are not permitted on the grounds after passing through the gates. Residents living within a certain radius of the complex are limited on what appliances and such they are allowed to use. The complex also houses a science center which has the Catching the Wave Exhibit Hall, an auditorium, classrooms, a gift shop, and a café if you’re hungry. (Currently, the Science Center is closed due to COVID-19, however you are able to walk the grounds of the observatory and view the telescopes. You can do a free self-guided tour or purchase tickets for $10 for a guided tour of the facilities. When the Science Center is open, admission is free.) This is a cheap and fun way to entertain the kids and get them interested in science and the sky!
***A word of advice based on my experience visiting, make sure you don’t rely on your GPS/cell phone to keep you on the right road back home or to your next destination, cell phone service is little to none for several miles. Make sure you have your directions written down prior!***
2. The Greenbrier Resort/The Bunker
Just down the road about an hour from the Greenbank Observatory in White Sulphur Springs, is the infamous Greenbrier Resort. Looking like it should be in London, England (or at best Charleston, South Carolina), this Victorian-like resort will take you back to the 1700’s. It has hosted 27 of the 45 U.S. Presidents and is situated on 11,000 acres.
BUT the grandest fact about The Greenbrier used to be highly classified. Underneath the West Virginia Wing of The Greenbrier is ‘The Bunker’, an 112,544 square foot emergency Cold War fallout shelter and top secret relocation facility for the United States Congress. Construction was started in 1958 and completed in 1960 during Eisenhower’s presidency. It housed decontamination chambers, 18 dormitories accommodating up to 1,100 people, a power plant with purification equipment and three 25,000-gallon water storage tanks, three 14,000-gallon diesel fuel storage tanks, a communications area for television production and recording booths, a clinic with 12 hospital beds as well as medical and dental operating rooms, a laboratory, pharmacy, intensive care unit, a cafeteria, and meeting rooms for the House and Senate. The bunker remained active for over 30 years until an article in The Washington Post exposed the facility and the U.S. government ended its use.
Because this facility is now “declassified”, it is available for tours! Plan a tour of this amazing bunker at $39 per adult and $20 per child (ages 10-18). No children under the age of 10 are allowed on the tours unfortunately.
Other activities within the resort include shopping, dining, carriage rides, swimming, tennis, pickleball, shuffleboard, ice skating (seasonally), croquet, dancing, bowling, spa services, and afternoon tea just to name a few. You can check out other area activities such as kayaking, horseback riding, RZR rides, canopy tours, adventure courses, fishing, geocaching, paddle boarding, and paintball challenges.
The Greenbrier has a strict dress code throughout the resort. Some areas are more strict than others so be sure to check out the website prior to your stay or visit to make sure you bring proper attire along.
3. New River Gorge Bridge/”Bridge Day”
This 3,030 foot bridge nestled in the Appalachian Mountains ranks third longest of steel arch bridges in the world and is within America’s newest National Park! At 876 feet high, it is the third highest bridge in the United States making it enticing for daredevils to base-jump from. Just image the Washington Monument and the Statue of Liberty stacked on top of each other (plus a couple extra feet) and you will get an idea of just how tall it is.
This thrill of base jumping from the bridge has led to the annual “Bridge Day”, which is celebrated the 3rd Saturday of every October. Thousands gather to watch the slightly insane 😉 jump or repel off the New River Gorge Bridge while surrounded by the beautiful fall foliage of the Appalachian Mountains.
On any given day, you can walk the trails leading to overlooks that give you a breathtaking views of the bridge and the New River Gorge. Go in the evening or early morning to catch a beautiful sight of the the sun coming up or going down over the bridge!
Another fun thing to try if you aren’t feeling quite as daring as the bridge jumpers but still need a little thrill in your life, is walking the catwalk beneath the bridge while being safely attached by a safety cable. The catwalk tour takes around 2-3 hours and gives you tons of chances to get some totally “instagrammable” photos! Tours start at $59 and go up to $87 depending on whether you want a moonlight walk, a day walk, or a Bridge Day walk. Make sure you book ahead of time to get a spot on the day/time you want.
Also, check out Ace Adventure for a trip down the Gorge whitewater rafting! They also offer ziplining, a waterpark, climbing and repelling, a mud obstacle course, and many more activities!
4. The West Virginia Penitentiary
Up for a haunted prison tour? Check out the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, WV. It is said to be one of the most haunted prisons in America and has been investigated by several paranormal investigators including Zak Bagans of Travel Channel’s ‘Ghost Adventures’. What the episode here!
The penitentiary is gothic in style and hosts several types of tours as well as a “one-of-a-kind paranormal event”, Para-Con, which is set for September 11, 2021 and will have special guests, speakers, vendors, and “off limit” tours. Check out the site for more information and to get your tickets!
5. Grave Creek Mound Archeological Complex
If you are already at the West Virginia Penitentiary, you might have noticed a big mound across the street. Yes, it has significance! Not to the penitentiary, but to the natives of the land prior to English settler’s discovery of the area. This mound is a burial ground for the Adena people and is about 2,000 years old. You can learn about the Adena people and the area by visiting the Delf Norona Museum adjacent to the mound. It’s worth a look!
6. Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold
Off the beaten path and atop a WV mountain top just 20 minutes outside of Moundsville, WV is Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold. West Virginia seems like an odd place for a Krishna temple to be built as a majority of residents are of a Christian faith but as you step onto the steps of the palace and look out, you can understand why this place was chosen. It overlooks the magnificent hilltops and would provide a front and center view of the sunrise and as well as the sunset on the back side of the temple. Beautiful white peacocks wander around the property and a tranquil garden and pond makeup the exterior of the temple. The interior is even more beautiful! You can tour the palace for $12 adults and $6 for children 6-16 anytime Friday through Sunday 10am to 5pm. If you want to tour the palace during the week, Monday through Thursday, you will need to make an appointment. There is also a restaurant within the temple that serves vegetarian dishes as well as classic Indian and classic American foods.
Business Insider rates it one of the 30 most beautiful places to visit in the USA, and I would agree! Not something you would expect to find in West Virginia, but definitely a place to see while you’re here!
7. Seneca Rocks / Seneca Caverns
In the eastern part of the state, within the Monongahela National Forest, lies magnificent rock formations above the ground as well as below. Seneca Rocks rises 900 feet above Seneca Creek and is beautiful arrangement that entices amateur and expert rock climbers alike. If you’re not up for that sort of thing though, it is a beautiful sight to take in and enjoy some camping nearby. Although, it has a very high peak, it cannot boast being the highest peak in the state. Just down the road lies Spruce Knob, the highest peak in the state at 4,862 feet, and is worth a drive over for the impressive views of the mountain tops.
Seven miles down the road from Seneca Rocks, you can find yourself underground in the limestone caves of Seneca Caverns. First discovered by the Seneca Indians, whom used them as shelters and for special ceremonies; they were later rediscovered by German settlers in the mid 1700’s.
You can tour these wonderful caverns comfortably, as they have installed concrete stairs and handrails, for $15 per adult and $10 per child (5-12). Children under 4 are free!
8. Blackwater Falls State Park
In the mid-northern part of West Virginia, in the town of Davis, is the Blackwater Falls State Park. These picturesque falls, as well as many others in the area, provide beautiful scenery as you take the many available trails within the park. Two and a half hours outside Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh, PA, it is a fantastic way to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and get some fresh mountain air.
The lodge is a great place to stay while you visit but is currently closed for renovations, along with the Smokehouse Restaurant. They will be reopening in early September! Just in time for a good fall trip to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage West Virginia has to offer.
9. Blennerhassett Island / Fort Boreman Park
This island located on the Ohio River in Parkersburg, WV (my hometown) features a Palladian mansion and museum of the history in the area. It is only accessed by a sternwheeler riverboat which makes it all the more special. You can tour the mansion at your leisure and even take a horse drawn carriage around the grounds.
Round out your visit to Parkersburg by having dinner at the historical Blennerhassett Hotel restaurant and take a tour of the historic hotel as well as visiting Fort Boreman Park. This park is the site of a Civil War fort that overlooks the Ohio River. It is an amazing view of the Ohio Valley and a perfect way to catch the sun setting over the river.
Visit in the summer months for the best weather and events happening in the area such as Taste of Parkersburg which is a huge downtown gathering with music and local food, beer, and wine vendors, a concert series at Point Park called Concerts on the River, and the Downtown Throwdown BBQ & Brewfest to name a few. I have been to all the events personally, and for someone who lives here and has her entire life, these newer events have been an amazing way for locals and visitors to have an amazing time! Check out the Downtown PKB site to see when events are happening.
10. Summersville Lake
The largest lake in West Virginia at 2,700 acres of water, this reservoir near the Gauley River and New River Gorge, has been called “The Little Bahamas of the East” due to its clear waters and is often a place where locals, and visitors alike, cliff dive. Its unique cliffs protruding into the deeper parts of the lake make it a perfect spot for cliff diving. However, please be careful and aware. If you are visiting and not sure of the best place to daringly cliff dive, find a local and they will be sure to show you the perfect spots! Aside from cliff diving, you can paddleboard, kayak, enjoy the day on a boat, or just enjoy a swim.
Lots of cabins are available for accommodations as well as hotels if you prefer. Other activities including horseback riding, whitewater rafting during the summer months, ziplining, and many others are available in the area.
I hope this has made you want to start planning your trip to West Virginia. The state doesn’t get a lot of credit and often gets forgotten about but I truly believe once you visit, even just a couple of these places, you will be more than glad you did!
There are many other state parks and cities I would suggest visiting but these 10 are a good start. If you would like to know more places to visit, comment on my post ‘More’ and I will get another list together for you!
Thanks for reading and enjoy Wild and Wonderful West Virginia!
