Adventures on the Gorge
Lansing, West Virginia
Adventures on the Gorge is located in the engaging town of Fayetteville and on the edge of the New River Gorge. Here thrill seekers will find world-class whitewater rafting, rock climbing, zip lining, mountain biking, hiking, paddle boarding, fishing, camping and more. There is also the chance to walk across the world-famous New River Gorge Bridge. Visitors can relax at the end of the day in comfy, modern cabins, have a drink by the pool, enjoy some casual dining or take in scenic views of the Appalachian Mountains.
For more information go to www.adventuresonthegorge.com.
Blennerhassett Island
Parkersburg, West Virginia
If you’re looking for a getaway a little closer to home, head to Parkersburg and pick up sternwheeler tickets at the Blennerhassett Museum to ride the Island Belle from Point Park to Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park. This island in the center of the Ohio River is home to the reconstructed 1800 Palladian style Blennerhassett Mansion, constructed by wealthy Anglo-Irish immigrants. Once one of the largest homes in America, it is the centerpiece attraction of the island. Visitors here can also take horse-drawn carriage or wagon rides, rent a bicycle to ride around the scenic island, take a nature walk or bring a picnic to enjoy. The weekend of May 7-10, island visitors can experience Rendezvous on the River, a living history experience of traditional mountain men, or reserve a spot on a Sunrise Breakfast Cruise to the island. After a day of island exploration, one can spend a romantic night at the historic Blennerhassett Hotel on Market Street with its luxurious guest rooms and suites in the center of historic downtown Parkersburg. Dining is available at the hotel’s Spats Restaurant and Lounge or at one of the restaurants or cafés on Market Street.
For more information, visit www.theblennerhassett.com and www.blennerhassettislandstatepark.com.
Canaan Valley Resort
Davis, West Virginia
With an average snowfall of 150 inches per year and an elevation of over 4,000 feet, Canaan has all the natural ingredients that make the high-mountain paradise ideal for skiing, snowboarding, tubing and sledding. Along with outdoor recreation and stunning scenic beauty, you’ll uncover charming small towns that are full of flavor. Explore the diverse dining and art scenes before unwinding in your chosen lodging.
For more information go to www.canaanresort.com.
Cheat Mountain Club
Durbin, West Virginia
Situated alongside the Shavers Fork River in the midst of the Monongahela National Forest, the Cheat Mountain Club is the ideal retreat for a large family getaway or a gathering of friends. Originally built in 1887 by the Cheat Mountain Sportsman’s Association, the club is now open for rental to the general public. The rustic 10-bedroom lodge sleeps almost two dozen people and is available for full rental; an on-site cook prepares three meals each day. This is the place to truly retreat from the world – there is no television, no radio and no cell phone service. During the day, guests here can fly fish, mountain bike, hike or horseback ride. Two miles of stocked trout river front the property, and the club maintains two stocked trout ponds in front of the lodge. One can also arrange for guided fly fishing trips. Nearby, guests can take excursions on the Durbin Greenbrier Valley Railroad or the Cass Scenic Railroad. Then in the evenings, families and friends can gather before the stone fireplace in the great room or at the fire pit alongside the river.
For more information, visit www.cheatmountainclub.com.
Eastern Panhandle
Just a short distance from the Washington, D.C.’s metro area, West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle is home to six inviting towns including Berkley Springs, Charles Town, Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, Ranson and Harper’s Ferry. There you will find beautiful scenery, healing waters, rich history, eclectic shopping, horse racing, haunted homes and the world’s No. 1 spot for geocaching. In short, the panhandle is extremely hip.
For more information go to https://wvtourism.com/places-to-go/travel-regions/eastern-panhandle/.
The Greenbrier
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
One of the signature features of southern West Virginia is the historic Greenbrier. Situated on 6,500 private mountain acres, The Greenbrier has played host to guests seeking the medicinal properties of its sulphur springs since the early 1800s. The Old White Hotel is the resort’s best-known structure, and it continues to feature the over-the-top Dorothy Draper décor of aqua blue walls, black carpet sporting a giant green leaf pattern, red and turquoise upholstered chairs with an occasional tropical print sofa thrown in, Oriental lamps in every color under the sun and glistening chandeliers. The resort spa opened in 1913, its main features including hydrotherapy and mineral treatments based on the healing power of nature. Guests here can enjoy sulphur soaks followed by steam and sauna treatments. But the resort is also famous for its three mountain golf courses, which have been played by golfing greats like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer and is part of the PGA Tour. The resort now features a casino, a new steakhouse known as Prime 44 West, as well as a variety of other on-site restaurants and lounges.
For more information, visit www.greenbrier.com.
Helvetia
West Virginia
Helvetia is about as far away from anywhere as one can get in the southern Appalachians, which makes it hard to fathom how a small group of Swiss and German settlers were able to carve out a community here in 1869, in a stretch of West Virginia which even today looks like pure wilderness. Today the town is home to about 20 people, but around 125 more live on the outskirts, all of them descendants of the first settlers. Colorful signage directs visitors to the town’s main attractions, including the historic town square, where Helvetia’s one-room school, the library and a historical museum stand quietly along Upper Trout Run. Also in town is the Helvetia Country Store, Honey Haus and Blue House gift shop. Quaint buildings like The Hutte beckon visitors to come inside and sit a spell with tables tucked here and there in a series of rooms filled with antiques from local residents. The Hutte serves up delectable lunch fare of roast beef, bratwurst, sauerbraten and luscious plates of Swiss cheese. Associated with the restaurant is the adjacent Beekeeper Inn. Twelve miles south is Kumbrabow State Forest, West Virginia’s highest state forest with elevations ranging from 3,000 to nearly 4,000 feet. The forest offers more than 9,000 acres of isolated mountain playground as well as camping and rustic cabin facilities.
For more information, visit www.helvetiawv.com and www.kumbrabow.com.
The Homestead
Hot Springs, Virginia
Originally constructed in 1766, The Homestead is a 2,000-acre resort and 483-room hotel situated in the mountain village of Hot Springs, Va. Before the construction of the hotel, Hot Springs was already famous for its warm mineral baths. Today visitors can enjoy the bubbling, natural warmth of the resort’s historic Jefferson Pools, named after the president who enjoyed their healing waters or experience the mineral hydrotherapy at the Spa at the Omni Homestead. Though well known for its three mountain golf courses, The Homestead also has the distinction of being home to the oldest first tee in continuous use in the United States. It was part of a course first used in 1892 that today is known simply as The Old Course. The Cascades Course, designed in 1923 by William S. Flynn, has hosted several USGA tours. In the warm months, the resort offers a wide array of other outdoor activities, including archery, skeet shooting, falconry, fly fishing, kayaking and canoeing, horseback riding and mountain biking. And if you’re a beginner, don’t worry. The Homestead offers lessons in everything. You can also enjoy evening carriage rides and hay rides, and dine in one of half a dozen on-site restaurants, ranging from the elegance of the Main Dining Room to the casual atmosphere of Sam Snead’s Tavern.
For more information, visit www.thehomestead.com.
Keeneland
Lexington, Kentucky
Few things are lovelier than a spring drive through the bluegrass country of central Kentucky with its miles of board fences and bright green grass peppered with grazing horses. One can add a little thrill to this springtime road trip to the “Horse Capital of the World” with a visit to Keeneland, home to Thoroughbred horse racing since 1936. While visitors can take a tour of Keeneland anytime and watch colts and fillies schooled in the paddock, the best time to plan a visit is, of course, during April with its host of prep races for the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks. Spend the night at the Gratz Park Inn in historic downtown Lexington. This small boutique inn in the heart of horse country is within walking distance of downtown attractions, restaurants and shops and is a great home base for touring the region’s bourbon distilleries. Suites at the Gratz Park Inn border on decadent with 19th-century antique and reproduction furnishings, lush linens and silk fabrics, and even Italian tile showers for two in some rooms. Top off this luxurious experience by sipping bourbon in the inn’s library or ordering a special picnic package for a sumptuous lunch in Gratz Park, including dessert and wine.
For more information, visit www.keeneland.com and www.gratzparkinn.com.
Lewisburg
Lewisburg, West Virginia
Unique, vibrant and ever-changing, Lewisburg has an energy and feeling that sets it apart from many places. The artistic community is magnetic and draws entertainers, actors, musicians and artists from near and far. The historic General Lewis Inn will spoil you with charming accommodations and fabulous food. But best of all, Lewisburg has an array of spectacular shops that specialize in antiques, fine art, crafts, clothing and more.
For more information go to https://visitlewisburgwv.com.
New River Gorge
Fayette County, West Virginia
Known as the Grand Canyon of the East, the New River Gorge is perhaps best known as a premier whitewater rafting destination. While the upper level of the river is fairly calm, the lower section has Class IV and V rapids, which can make for a pretty roiling ride. While whitewater rafting companies here number in the dozens, Class VI River Runners, which is located just a few miles from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, is one of the most highly recommended, and after the river tour is done, dine al fresco cliffside at Smokey’s on the Gorge right next door. Or hit the newest addition to Adventures on the Gorge — TimberTrek, an elevated obstacle course, which has four levels, ranging from a fairly simple yellow course that is great for kids and for those just getting their feet wet to a black diamond course that will test not just the limits of one’s physical strength and endurance but also the limits of one’s fearlessness. TimberTrek will suit you up with safety gear for walking tightropes, balancing across moveable logs and then zip lining down to the ground again. And at the end of a busy day of adventure on the water and in the treetops, guests can enjoy the Canyon Falls Swimming Hole, a two-level, 3,000-square-foot pool. It features cascading water features over natural sandstone and a zero-entry section for young children as well as a kids’ splash and spray area. You can also spend the night in a cabin on site, ranging from rustic to multi-bedroom vacation rentals with hot tubs.
For more information on all Adventures on the Gorge has to offer, including on site dining and lodging, visit www.adventuresonthegorge.com.
For more information on the New River Gorge, visit www.nps.gov/neri.
The Resort at Glade Springs
Daniels, West Virginia
The beautiful 4,100-acre mountain resort near Beckley, West Virginia, offer something for everyone. There are three championship golf courses, tennis courts a pool, a spa, hiking, bowling, archery and a mind-boggling variety of other recreational activities. Accommodations range from a hotel to executive suites to manor houses.
For more information go to https://gladesprings.com.
Snowshoe Mountain
Pocohontas County, West Virginia
Located at over 4,000 feet with 360-degree views of the surrounding Allegheny ridges, Snowshoe Mountain isn’t just a winter destination. In the spring and summer, visitors here can enjoy everything from fly fishing and swimming at Shavers Lake to sporting clays and Segway tours. Particularly popular is the Hare Racer Zipline, which runs right through the middle of the Village, allowing one to sail over the restaurants, shops and lodgings below. Another good way to get an adrenaline rush is with a Polaris RZR® tour through creeks and over hills on the mountain’s 11,000 wooded acres. Families can also hike the mountain’s miles of backcountry trails, try out their skills at the Bike park, hit the links at Raven Golf Club or spend the afternoon enjoying swims and soaks at Split Rock Pools. The resort offers nearly 20 restaurants in the Snowshoe Village and surrounding resort areas. A number of those restaurants are open into the wee hours and feature live music and dancing, including Connection Nightclub. Snowshoe also has its own spa as well as a teen center with video café, pool tables and nightly programs for the 13 to 20 set. Snowshoe also offers a Kid’s Night Out program, so mom and dad can hit the restaurants or the dance floors for a romantic date night. Lodgings at Snowshoe include an array of full-service condominium suites with full kitchens, fireplaces and private balconies. Single-family homes are also available for rent on the mountain. The resort has conventional lodge rooms, too.
For more information, visit www.snowshoemtn.com.
Stonewall Resort
Roanoke, West Virginia
If a weekend retreat means hitting the links while still getting away from it all, then Stonewall Resort on Stonewall Jackson Lake is the ideal getaway. Located just minutes from Stonewall Jackson State Park and largely surrounded by the Stonewall Jackson Lake Wildlife Management Area, the resort offers lodge rooms and cottages fronting the lake (rocking chairs included!) as well as an 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature golf course surrounded by lake and mountain vistas. Stonewall is the only lakefront resort in the Mountain State. On site are three restaurants, a full-service spa, an indoor/outdoor heated pool and a fitness center. Fishermen and women can rent pontoon or fishing boats and spend a morning exploring the lake’s quiet coves, and the marina will provide a boxed lunch to enjoy on the lake. One can also canoe, kayak or paddleboard or explore the 1,900-acre resort and adjacent state park via hiking and biking trails.
For more information, visit www.stonewallresort.com.
Timberline Mountain
Ghent, West Virginia
Set in Monongahela National Forest, this casual seasonal ski resort offers great skiing and snowboarding in the winter. Unfussy rooms provide all the modern amenities while suites offer whirlpool tubs and balconies with scenic views. There’s also a restaurant/bar, café and gym as well as biking and walking trails.
For more information go to https://timberlinemountain.com.
Winterplace Ski Resort
Davis, West Virginia
Winterplace is considered the most accessible and affordable ski resort in the southeast United States. Just 5 minutes off I-77 between Beckley and Bluefield, the resort boasts 27 trails, 10 Lifts, a Terrain Park, and West Virginia’s Largest Snow Tubing Park. Can’t ski or snowboard? No problem. Winterplace was voted the No. 1 resort to learn to ski and snowboard by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.
For more information go to www.winterplace.com.