West Virginia: A Tourist Destination

By Lilly Bias

West Virginia has long been known as an energy state, but the tourism industry has come to the forefront in recent years. The Mountain State has quickly changed from being a place where you can stay for only a few days, to a destination offering activities that will make travelers want to stay for an extended period. From relaxing resorts to exhilarating ski opportunities, our state has many opportunities for any explorer’s preference. As part of Boone County School’s Adventure Tourism program, I was given an assignment—the West Virginia Staycation—that inspired my family and me to explore our extraordinary state last summer.

West Virginia Staycation Day 1: Summersville Lake

We began our journey at Summersville Lake. The beauty of this lake is no secret to our family and most natives. This lake is well-known for its clear mountain waters and excellent clarity for scuba diving. The divers even call the lake the Bermuda of the East. We enjoyed hiking the excellent trails in the area, such as the Endless Wall Trail and the Long Point Trail but decided to begin our trip with an exciting day on the lake. My dad pulled my brother and me on an innertube and tried to sling us off into the water, then we attempted to do tricks on our water-skis. Afterward, he drove our boat to a spot where people climb to jump from the rock cliffs. As we watched, we also noticed the paddleboarders and kayakers gathering to enjoy the crystal-clear waters. We went to our camping spot to play games outside, build a fire, eat loads of s’mores and enjoy great company. The next morning, my grandmother made us biscuits and gravy, and her warm hugs and goodbye prepared us for our next destination.

West Virginia Staycation Day 2: Camp Creek & Brush Creek Falls State Parks

We drove about an hour and 20 minutes to Camp Creek State Park. The waterfalls are a focal point on the Bluestone River. We took a nice flat walk over to Campbell Falls, where the shape of this waterfall allowed us to walk on different levels of the smooth rock. Within this state park we also found Marsh Fork Falls, where we explored the fascinating formations of rock that make up the falls. We then traveled to another of West Virginia’s state parks featuring Brush Creek Falls, which are also located on the Bluestone River. Brush Creek Falls State Park is also home to the remnants of an old mill. We watched thrill seekers jump into the water below from the top of the falls. We then left Bluestone and headed into Princeton, an old railroad town with many murals painted on buildings, walls and alleys. We spent some time posing in front of these beautiful works of art. Afterward, we took our dinner to the top of the mountain to the East River Overlook with breathtaking views at about 3,500 feet above sea level. We then hurried to our next destination to catch the sunset at Pipestem State Park.

West Virginia Staycation Day 3: Pipestem State Park

We spent the day at Pipestem’s Adventure Lake. Pipestem Resort partnered with Ace Adventures to create an exciting lake that my siblings, mother and I greatly enjoyed. The adventure lake consists of inflatables made for climbing, sliding and attempting to walk across. We rode the tram down to the bottom of Bluestone Gorge, where we had some amazing ice cream. Then we took an easy hike to the Bolar Lookout Tower, where the views were breathtaking. We loved this state park so much, as it had so much to offer, including biking, horseback riding and ziplining across the Bluestone Gorge, but our preplanned itinerary stopped us from spending as much time as we wanted there. We headed out toward Lewisburg and stopped to take in the sites at Bluestone Lake and the man-made Bluestone Dam that created the lake.

West Virginia Staycation Day 4: Beartown & Watoga State Parks

An interesting and beautiful state park is Beartown. As we walked along the boardwalk, we were able to look at amazing rock formations all around us. The fact that much of it was shaded and covered in lichen and moss gave it an otherworldly feel. From there we were off to climb another observation tower, this time at the Droop Mountain Battlefield. This place is famously known for being one of the last main battles of the Civil War. We followed a trail lined with Civil War reenactors who were dressed in clothes of the period and living in tents, cooking over an open fire. We followed the trail down to a small museum where they explained the major battle. From there, we were off to another Pocahontas County state park, the largest in our state park system. We had a picnic lunch at Watoga and took a hike around a beautiful lake. Our next destination was Seneca Rocks, perhaps the most photographed spot in West Virginia.

West Virginia Staycation Day 5: NROCKS Outdoor Adventures

We traveled to a rock climbing and adventure tourism outpost that provides, among other things, caving opportunities, a via feratta and some of the best scenery for hiking in eastern U.S. We stayed in the home base at N-Rocks, and early the next morning we met up with our guide for the day for some serious exploration. While gearing up for the adventures that awaited, we got to know our guide was a lighthearted man who assured my very nervous mother that everyone in his charge was going to be perfectly fine. He spoke of the safety precautions that would take place during the trip as well as making us feel comfortable in our gear.

We began trying to attach the double carabiner lanyard to the via feratta—a climbing route that employs steel cables fixed to rocks for climbers to attach their harnesses to. The guide’s experience and knowledge, along with everything involved with the via feratta, caused me to no longer worry about the great height we were climbing. Along our assent was a 200-foot-long bridge with steps allowing you to see the 150 feet to the bottom of the valley. My siblings and I took a short climb provided for climbers who are seeking more of a challenge throughout the via ferrata. This climb was well worth the difficulty—the view provided was breathtaking and the scenery was stunning. We had a wonderful time with the N-Rocks Company and fully intend upon returning with more friends and possibly participate in the Full Moon Tours.

West Virginia Staycation Day 6: Holly River & Audra State Parks

We traveled to Holly River State Park and spent the night in one of their beautiful, rustic cabins. The next morning as we left our cabin, the park ranger told us of the upper falls, lower falls and Shupe’s Shute on the Holly River. Shupe’s Shute is a waterfall that tunnels down into a swimming area below where we had a wonderful time. From there we went to the West Virginia Wildlife Center, which houses many animals, most being natives. From there we headed to Audra State Park, which sits around the Middle Fork River. There we had a great time on many waterfalls that were great for sliding down into swimming holes. After much fun there we headed for Morgantown.

West Virginia Staycation Day 7: Morgantown & Grave Creek Mound

In Morgantown, we rested and spent some much-needed time with family that lives there. Lastly, we visited Grave Creek Mound. Before climbing atop the mound, we visited the museum that explained all about its contents. Items included were prehistoric arrowheads and even early toys from the area of the Marble King. From the top of the mound you can see the West Virginia State Penitentiary, where tours can be reserved to see the retired prison. We spent that night at the Tree Top Villas with an overlook of the beautiful forest and a private hot tub.

West Virginia Staycation Day 8: Moundsville

The morning of our departure we enjoyed some wonderful zip-lining that overlooked the town of Moundsville. We also visited the Palace of Gold, which is a man-made palace with heavenly views and an amazing story of faith. We then began our trip back home.

Our staycation was wonderful but too brief. The last day was bittersweet; the amazing opportunities and stones left unturned could have had us exploring for months. For West Virginians, the trip home is always the best because it truly is Almost Heaven.

About the Author

Lilly Bias is a senior at Scott High School and the foreman of the Adventure Tourism Program at Boone Career and Technical Center. She is a student athlete who plays soccer and basketball. Bias loves all things outdoors and regularly volunteers to improve local parks and rivers. She is also active in youth group at her church. In her spare time, she assists her family in their rental cottage business at the Ivy Branch of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System.