By Amanda Larch
Editors’ Note: This information was compiled with help from the state’s convention and visitors bureaus. Due to ongoing circumstances and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, it is best to call businesses and attractions before planning your visit for the most up-to-date information.
West Virginia was made for social distancing. With its rolling hills, tucked away hollows and flowing rivers and streams, the terrain of the Mountain State enables residents and visitors alike plenty of room to roam and enjoy its beauty while being safely distant from others. Much like many other industries, tourism took a hit in West Virginia in 2020. With some coronavirus restrictions being lifted and vaccines being administered, slowly but surely it is becoming safer to venture outdoors again. And while it may be a while before international or even cross-country travel is advised, West Virginia offers the opportunity for an exciting alternative: a staycation. Why not vacation in West Virginia this year and enjoy your own little slice of Almost Heaven?
In this West Virginia Staycation Guide, West Virginia Executive magazine has mapped out fun, safe activities to do and see in the comfort of your own back yard. Broken up by region, this staycation guide offers examples of how West Virginia is open and ready for you to take your next adventure. Maybe you will discover something about the Mountain State you never knew before.
Mid-Ohio Valley
Start your West Virginia staycation by visiting the Mid-Ohio Valley. In Ripley, located in Jackson County, visitors can find Civil War trails and the Greenhills Country Club. With 10 fishing lakes, there is also ample opportunity for boating, kayaking and swimming. With the largest Fourth of July event in the state and the annual Chocolate Festival in April and Mountain State Art & Craft Fair each July, this historic town offers something for everyone.
Tour the historic Blennerhassett Island and stay in the iconic Blennerhassett Hotel in Wood County. In Parkersburg, visit the Oil & Gas Museum detailing the rich history of these industries that defined the region. Parkersburg’s Fort Boreman Park teaches visitors about Civil War history, and Ritchie County’s North Bend State Park has a 305-acre recreational lake, boat ramp, hiking trails and cabins. Finally, the McDonough Wildlife Refuge is a 277-acre wildlife area in Vienna, open seven days a week from dawn until dusk.
Northern Panhandle
Next, move on to West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle. Rich with history, it has an abundance of fun activities for the whole family. Begin at the very top of West Virginia, where you’ll find the world’s largest tea pot in the town of Chester and the Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in New Cumberland. Tomlinson Run State Park and the Hancock County Historical Museum offer something for everyone.
Next stop is Wheeling, where all Oglebay’s outdoor activities are open for visitors, including golf, mini-golf, museum tours, bike trails, horseback riding, shopping and dining. Once you and your family have enjoyed all the resort and park have to offer, travel to Moundsville, where you can discover Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, a Hare Krishna temple open for tours seven days a week, or visit Grand Vue Park, complete with an aerial adventure park, ziplining, disc golf courses and a scenic overlook. The park has cabins to rent and is open year-round.
The Cockayne Farmstead, once owned by one of the wealthiest families in the area, is located in Glen Dale and is a perfectly preserved piece of history. Open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. year-round, admission is free. One final stop in Moundsville is the Grave Creek Mound Archeological Complex, the largest conical burial mound in North America built by the Adena people between 250 and 150 B.C. The area is also home to West Virginia’s Archaeological Archive. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., admission is free.
Finally, schedule the last stop on your tour of the Northern Panhandle region in Wetzel County, which offers kayaking and boating on the Ohio River and hiking at Lantz Farm and Nature Preserve Wildlife Management in Jacksonburg.
Eastern Panhandle
Another region of West Virginia to take time to explore is the Eastern Panhandle. In Berkeley County, families can camp year-round, and Poor House Farm Park allows them to fish, hike, bike and participate in a game of disc golf. Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area offers the same array of outdoor activities. Throughout the county, small-town shopping and dining experiences await.
Hampshire County is home to the Co-op and Heritage Marketplace; the = River House Arts Center and Café, featuring a bi-weekly artisan market; the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad open each May-November; and Trough General Store & Canoe Rentals right on the Potomac River. In Hardy County, you can find a driving tour of Civil War trails, hiking, mountain biking, hunting, horseback riding and fishing at Lost River State Park.
River Riders Family Adventure Resort in Harpers Ferry offers rafting, tubing, kayaking, canoeing and ziplining and is perfect for the whole family to enjoy. Located on the Potomac River, it has waterfront cabins, tent sites and RV camping, as well as rental homes.
Pendleton County offers the option for visitors to try out astrophotography, an exciting hobby that allows participants the opportunity to capture high-resolution, stunningly detailed photos of the night sky. The rural area and lower population of West Virginia results in clearer skies, so astrophotographers don’t have to worry about air pollution and distracting lights on the ground interfering with that perfect shot.
North Central West Virginia
Moving on from the Eastern Panhandle, the next stop on our statewide staycation guide is North Central West Virginia. Beginning in Lewis County, with so many activities to choose from, is Stonewall Resort and Stonewall Jackson State Park, where visitors can experience the beauty of the region while also getting an opportunity to relax in a beautiful resort. Lewis County is also home to the West Virginia Museum of American Glass, open Monday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 1-5 p.m.
Located in the heart of Mountaineer Country, the Mountaineer Military Museum is open on Saturdays beginning in April and running through December. For those wanting a relaxing way to spend a day, Lambert’s Winery is open for tours, weddings and tastings, and cabin rentals are available. Lambert’s Winery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last up for Lewis County is the luxurious Deerfield Golf Course and Country Club and the exciting West Fork River Water Trail.
Randolph County in North Central West Virginia is home to the Beverly Heritage Center, one of the area’s hidden gems, as well as the Mower Tract Spruce Forest and Gaudineer Knob. Tucker County is an outdoor-loving family’s paradise with seasonal skiing, snowshoeing, camping and hiking at Blackwater Falls State Park, Dolly Sods Wilderness and Scenic Area, Canaan Valley Resort State Park and the Monongahela National Forest.
Southern West Virginia
Southern West Virginia was made for those who love the outdoors and experiencing new, adrenaline-inducing activities. With an abundance of state parks in the region, including Pipestem Resort State Park, Bluestone State Park, and the newest national park at the New River Gorge, there is something for everyone.
Adrenaline seekers will find climbing, biking and hiking trails as well as amenities for skiing, snow tubing and snowboarding at Winterplace Ski Resort and Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Southern West Virginia. In Summers County, the Hinton Historic District has a self-guided walking tour to see eclectic architecture, cobblestone streets, quaint shops and colorful murals. With three rivers and two lakes, spending time on the water is easy to do. Visitors can take an aerial tram ride to the river at Canyon Rim Center and zipline through the gorge on nine zips. Pipestem also offers guided fishing trips through Pipestem Adventures. Adventures on the Gorge is operating all activities at limited capacity during its regular season, and lodging is available.
In Mercer and Logan counties, you can find the Hatfield-McCoy ATV Trail System, which have seen an increase in visitation because of the ability to socially distance outdoors. Visitors can also bring their own food and campers, and because most of the lodging is cabins, there is not a lot of interaction between guests. The National Coal Heritage Association also has developed History Outside walking tours in the small towns of Mount Hope, Hinton, Welch, Bramwell and Oak Hill to learn some history of the state while experiencing the outdoors.
Metro Valley
If you’re staycationing in West Virginia’s Metro Valley, start with the breathtaking Summersville Lake in Nicholas County, perfect for social distancing with more than 60 miles of shoreline and opportunities for paddle boarding, boating, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking and dinner cruises.
Heading inward to Kanawha County, visitors can enjoy a big city feel in the state’s capital city of Charleston at events like Live on the Levee, an outdoor concert series, and FestivALL, a citywide arts festival. Shop and dine on historic Capitol Street or head over to the newly renovated Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. Stop by J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works, a seventh-generation salt mine open year-round with tours beginning again in April.
Next, head to Putnam County, where you will find several trail systems at Valley Park in Hurricane, Eleanor City Park and Hurricane City Park. Valley Park also offers a disc golf course, dog park, marketplace, ninja warrior course and playground.Putnam County is home to the Rivers to Ridges Heritage Trail, a scenic byway linking historical sites and outdoor recreational activities, so families can experience all that Putnam County has to offer while safely in their vehicles.
Next, head to Cabell County, featuring the new Nature Center at Heritage Farm. This unique living classroom experience allows visitors to learn about wildlife of the Appalachian region while seeing some of them face to face. Heritage Farm will also be introducing new outdoor recreation opportunities for guests over the next several years. New for 2021 in the heart of the village is the family-friendly aerial challenge course called Treerock Challenge.
