4 Fun Day Trips in West Virginia

West Virginia is completely surrounded by five states: Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, & Maryland. It offers a great road trip destination for those states and anyone headed through I-77 or I-64. With warm weather on the horizon, you must add one (or more!) of these 4 fun day trips in West Virginia to your road trip itinerary  They are each unique and feature easy drives with spectacular mountain scenery along the way.

#1 Driving Route 60 for Kanawha Falls and Hawks Nest State Park

It is just tradition for my family as well as my favorite drive in the entire state. Gas up your car, charge your camera batteries and head South on Route 60 from Charleston. In Montgomery, you will pass the retro Burger Carte, a local eatery serving yummy burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Enjoy your meal outside on one of their picnic tables.

Hop back in the car and continue driving to Kanawha Falls, a natural landmark along the Kanawha River. Enjoy the photo-ops of the gorgeous waterfall cascading across the river, crashing over the rocky terrain. The Glen Ferris Inn, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is right past the falls and a nice place to spend the night or just have a look around. Next up is Hawks Nest State Park, a great place for a hike or visit the scenic overlooks for beautiful panoramic views. You can also take the aerial tram down the mountain to the bottom of the gorge or go on a Jetboat ride.

Hawks Nest has a gift shop with unusual souvenirs and another shop across the street from the scenic overlook parking area. When you get back in your car, hold on tight because you are about to enter some dangerous “s” shaped curves and steep hills. You probably will not exceed 35 mph for quite some time. Driving this road is like playing your own video game course.

 

#2 Shepherdstown and Berkeley Springs

Shepherdstown is the oldest town in the state of West Virginia. It is only 90 minutes from the metro area of Washington DC. The activities calendar in Shepherdstown is full of fun things to do as well as historic sites to explore from both the Civil War and Colonial days. Shepherdstown is only five miles from Antietam National Battlefield and 12 miles from the site of Abolitionist John Brown’s 1859 raid in Harper’s Ferry.

My daughter, Peyton, and I spent the night in the European style chalets at the famous Bavarian Inn. We loved the lavish furnishings of the alpine inn. Our room featured a cozy gas fireplace, luxurious linens, and fine furnishings. The food was the real reason we chose the Bavarian Inn as it came highly recommended. I thoroughly enjoyed the Chesapeake Benedict for breakfast and Peyton raved about the blueberry pancakes. Try the wonderful German dinner menu items, too.

Berkeley Springs is a little town with a funky vibe, oh, and George Washington took many baths there. In fact, Berkeley Springs was home to the first Spa in the entire country and one of the oldest health resorts dating back to the 1750’s. In 1748, George Washington spent much time in the warm 74-degree mineral springs, which are reputed to have healing powers. The mineral waters are fed from nearby lakes and feed approximately 1,000 gallons of water per minute.

Berkeley Springs has charming and unique bed and breakfasts and historic inns. Do not miss the Bath Historic District in the middle of downtown with historic offerings as well as various spas and adorable shops. Treat yourself to a day of pampering for a decent price. There is also a George Washington Heritage Trail for the history lover, like myself.

#3 Fayetteville and the New River Gorge Bridge

Having lived in West Virginia for over forty years, I am always surprised that so many cool people end up visiting Fayetteville. The crowds I encounter make me feel like I am in Haight-Asbury, not a tiny pocket of Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. Fayetteville is a tiny town with big offerings, from the historic Fayette Theatre’s impressive productions, delicious restaurants, and fun shops, to the world-renowned New River Gorge Bridge. Outdoor enthusiasts love Fayetteville and chose it for world-class thrills in whitewater rafting, rock-climbing, hiking, and mountain biking.

As mentioned, dining is really good in Fayetteville. My first choice for food would be pizza and craft beer at Pies & Pints. Try the Grape Pie (red grapes, rosemary, and Gorgonzola cheese) or the flavorful Pork and Pepper Nachos. Visit Fayetteville in October for the famous Bridge Day, where crowds can watch BASE jumpers leap 800 or more feet into the New River Gorge, as well as see repelling and skydiving. It is a do-not-miss kinda day!

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#4 Lewisburg

Home to the West Virginia State Fair and voted “America’s coolest small town” by Frommer’s Budget Travel, Lewisburg sticks out like a sore thumb nestled in the midst of the mountainous Greenbrier Valley. Lewisburg is flanked by a few blocks of cool, hip bars and restaurants with a vibrant town culture. I like to visit the art galleries and local events at Carnegie Hall. Lewisburg’s specialty stores will astound you! This is another town with a historic Civil War background. Bonus: Check out the mouth-watering Lewisburg Chocolate Festival in April and the TOOT (Taste of Our Town) Festival in October.

The WV State Fair takes place in August (on the outskirts of town in Fairlea) and typically features big-name entertainment. I enjoy all the fun carnival rides, which are just part of the numerous attractions, along with interesting and scrumptious concessions, and home, garden, equine, and livestock competitions. Try the roasted corn-on-the-cob, fried green tomato sandwich, and West Virginia’s specialty, pepperoni rolls.

In my eyes, the most amazing thing our state has to offer is the opulent and amazing award-winning Greenbrier Resort. Referred to as “America’s Resort“, once you park your car, you’ll never have to leave to enjoy everything you love about a luxury resort. The Greenbrier Resort opened in 1778 and features first-class golf, a stellar Christmas Shop, shopping, casino, restaurants, spa, and literally 55 other amenities. My favorite offerings are afternoon tea and pastries, the lavish indoor pool, and the adorable theatre featuring first run movies. The Greenbrier is located 14 minutes from Lewisburg.

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West Virginia: A Nature Lover’s Playground

West Virginia is a state you will want to visit again and again. The majestic mountains, friendly people, and natural beauty of the state are what many people are looking for to get back to nature. We hope you have a fantastic time taking our “Country Roads”.

Check out our other West Virginia articles:

95 Reasons to visit West Virginia

West Virginia Cultural Center

10 Things To Make You Want To Visit West Virginia

Midas Touched State Capitol