There are some amazing places and things to do in West Virginia. While you may not be able to get to all those amazing things in one lifetime, there are things you don’t want to miss out on.
Here are 21 things to add to your West Virginia bucket list.
- Hike the Endless Wall Trail in Fayetteville.
Gene/Flickr The trail, which offers great views like the one pictured, was earlier this year recognized as the best national park hike in the United States by the readers of USA Today.
- Take in a live Mountain Stage recording.
Mountain Stage Radio Show/Facebook Recorded most Sundays at the Culture Center theater in Charleston, Mountain Stage brings in some great artists from all over the country and the world. Pictured here is Kentucky’s own Tyler Childers.
- Raft or kayak the Gauley River.
Jeff Moore/Flickr Enjoy the Beast of the East, which each fall has some of the best whitewater in the country.
- Spend a night at the Greenbrier resort.
The Greenbrier/Facebook Enjoy a little luxury at The Greenbrier, affectionately known as “America’s Resort.”
- Stay at the Blennerhassett Hotel.
Josh/Flickr Check out this beautiful historic hotel in Parkersburg.
- Visit the Coal House in Mingo County.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr It’s a house that coal built — literally. The structure beside the Mingo County Courthouse in Williamson is built entirely of coal .
- Have tea in Chester, home of the world’s largest tea pot.
Brian Butko/Flickr I don’t really know if Chester is known for having great places to have tea, but the town is missing an opportunity if not. If you can’t get tea, at least take a look at the teapot.
- Take a ride on the Cass Scenic Railroad.
Ron Cogswell/Flickr Travel back into time on this train in Pocahontas County.
- Ghost hunt at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum or the West Virginia Penitentiary.
Zack McCormick/Flickr The State Penitentiary and the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum are the creepiest places in the state and are perfect for ghost hunting.
- Take a dip in George Washington’s bathtub.
Jon Dawson/Flickr Did you know he used to bathe here in Berkeley Springs?
- Take in a WVU or Marshall game.
mr_t_77/Flickr Bonus points if you burn a couch after a WVU win.
- Climb Seneca Rocks.
David Clow/Flickr Try out your rock climbing skills at the only “true peak” (inaccessible except by technical rock climbing techniques) on the East Coast. And even if you can’t rock climb, the view of the rocks from the mountain is worth the trip to Pendleton County.
- Play, dance, or just watch at the Vandalia Gathering in Charleston.
Vandalia Gathering/Facebook Held each May at the State Capitol in Charleston.
- Walk through history at Harpers Ferry.
Shari L/Tripadvisor History buffs will love this historic town, most known for John Brown’s raid and its role during the Civil War.
- Enjoy the Swiss food and culture of Helvetia in Randolph County.
Jamie R./Tripadvisor Visit this isolated Swiss community in Randolph County, where it seems nothing has changed since it was settled after the Civil War.
- Look for bears at Beartown.
National Byways Online Or at least visit this state park near Hillsboro.
- Eat a pepperoni roll at Colasessano’s in Fairmont.
Colasessanos/Facebook Some of the best pepperoni rolls in the state.
- Stargaze at Spruce Knob.
Paul Cimino/Flickr Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia, offers some of the darkest night skies in the state and views like this of the Milky Way.
- Eat at Panorama at the Peak.
Panorama at the Peak/Facebook Enjoy the views and the food at this restaurant in Berkeley Springs.
- Walk the catwalk under the New River Gorge bridge.
Bridge Walk/Facebook This is without a doubt the best view you can get of the New River Gorge. The Bridge Walk is open daily. More information is available at the Bridge Walk website./a>
- Get your picture taken with Mothman.
Mothman Statue/TripAdvisor Or at least come to Point Pleasant to hear about the legendary West Virginia monster.
How many of these have you crossed off your bucket list? What would you add to this list?
Gene/Flickr
The trail, which offers great views like the one pictured, was earlier this year recognized as the best national park hike in the United States by the readers of USA Today.
Mountain Stage Radio Show/Facebook
Recorded most Sundays at the Culture Center theater in Charleston, Mountain Stage brings in some great artists from all over the country and the world. Pictured here is Kentucky’s own Tyler Childers.
Jeff Moore/Flickr
Enjoy the Beast of the East, which each fall has some of the best whitewater in the country.
The Greenbrier/Facebook
Enjoy a little luxury at The Greenbrier, affectionately known as “America’s Resort.”
Josh/Flickr
Check out this beautiful historic hotel in Parkersburg.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
It’s a house that coal built — literally. The structure beside the Mingo County Courthouse in Williamson is built entirely of coal .
Brian Butko/Flickr
I don’t really know if Chester is known for having great places to have tea, but the town is missing an opportunity if not. If you can’t get tea, at least take a look at the teapot.
Ron Cogswell/Flickr
Travel back into time on this train in Pocahontas County.
Zack McCormick/Flickr
The State Penitentiary and the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum are the creepiest places in the state and are perfect for ghost hunting.
Jon Dawson/Flickr
Did you know he used to bathe here in Berkeley Springs?
mr_t_77/Flickr
Bonus points if you burn a couch after a WVU win.
David Clow/Flickr
Try out your rock climbing skills at the only “true peak” (inaccessible except by technical rock climbing techniques) on the East Coast. And even if you can’t rock climb, the view of the rocks from the mountain is worth the trip to Pendleton County.
Vandalia Gathering/Facebook
Held each May at the State Capitol in Charleston.
Shari L/Tripadvisor
History buffs will love this historic town, most known for John Brown’s raid and its role during the Civil War.
Jamie R./Tripadvisor
Visit this isolated Swiss community in Randolph County, where it seems nothing has changed since it was settled after the Civil War.
National Byways Online
Or at least visit this state park near Hillsboro.
Colasessanos/Facebook
Some of the best pepperoni rolls in the state.
Paul Cimino/Flickr
Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia, offers some of the darkest night skies in the state and views like this of the Milky Way.
Panorama at the Peak/Facebook
Enjoy the views and the food at this restaurant in Berkeley Springs.
Bridge Walk/Facebook
This is without a doubt the best view you can get of the New River Gorge. The Bridge Walk is open daily. More information is available at the Bridge Walk website./a>
Mothman Statue/TripAdvisor
Or at least come to Point Pleasant to hear about the legendary West Virginia monster.
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