Things to Do in West Virginia

West Virginia

Lori/stock.adobe.com

Where is West Virginia located?
- West Virginia is located in the incomparable Appalachian Mountains, a region where adventure lovers get to walk on the wild side along the legendary Appalachian Trail.
What can Civil War history buffs enjoy in West Virginia?
- Civil War history buffs revel in hamlets like Harpers Ferry, where rich history awaits.
What cultural attractions are there in West Virginia?
- One of four Carnegie Halls in the world beckons visitors to Lewisburg's cultural scene.
What outdoor activities are available in West Virginia?
- You can go fishing in West Virginia's lakes and rivers, making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.

Heritage Farm Museum and Village

What is the Heritage Farm Museum and Village?
- The Heritage Farm Museum and Village is nestled in West Virginia's Ohio River Valley and is dedicated to allowing visitors to discover the proud history of Appalachia.
What buildings and accommodations are in the village?
- The village contains more than 15 log buildings, five of which provide unique heritage-inspired tourist accommodations – including a train caboose.
What attractions can visitors explore?
- Visitors can explore a blacksmith shop, log church, homestead site, petting zoo, and a children's machine discovery zone.
What museums are featured in the village?
- Seven award-winning museums will entertain both adults and children, from the Country Store Museum to the Bowes Doll and Carriage Museum to the Children's Activity Museum.
What other activities are available?
- There are also hiking trails, guided tours, artisan crafts, and a gift shop for visitors to enjoy.

3300 Harvey Road, Huntington, WV, Phone: 304-522-1244

Exhibition Coal Mine

What is the Exhibition Coal Mine?
- The Exhibition Coal Mine is a seasonal activity in Beckley, featuring an underground mine, coal camp, museum, and gift shop.
Where is the mine located?
- Thousands of visitors each year make their way to New River Park to take an underground tour in the vintage coal mine.
What can guests expect during the mine tour?
- Guests will enjoy a guided ride provided by veteran miners who describe the traditional mining responsibilities of both past and present.
What coal camp buildings can visitors tour?
- Visitors can tour the original coal camp buildings that are situated throughout the grounds, including the Coal Company House, Pemberton Coal Camp Church, and the Helen Coal Camp School.

Address: Exhibition Coal Mine, 513 Ewart Avenue, Beckley, WV, Phone: 304-256-1747

The Greenbrier, West Virginia

What is The Greenbrier?
- The Greenbrier, known as America's Resort, has recently been declassified, allowing registered resort guests and the public to tour the once top-secret congressional relocation facility dubbed The Bunker.
What is The Bunker?
- The Bunker is a hidden emergency fallout shelter from the Cold War era, bored into the mountainside under the West Virginia Wing of The Greenbrier hotel.
How long are the tours, and where do they start?
- Daily guided tours depart from the Trellis Lobby and take roughly 90 minutes.
Are there any discounts for history buffs?
- History buffs will appreciate the coupons toward the purchase of the book, The History of the Greenbrier, or the DVD, The Greenbrier, America's Resort, The Brief History, distributed at the end of each tour.
Are there any age restrictions for the tour?
- Children under 10 are not admitted on the tour.

300 W Main Street, White Sulphur Springs, WV, Phone: 855-453-4858

West Virginia Botanic Garden

What is the West Virginia Botanic Garden?
- The West Virginia Botanic Garden in Morgantown is a realized dream that began in 2000 on the former 80-acre Tibbs Run Reservoir.
What is special about the gardens?
- These beautifully landscaped gardens were created and shaped for the sheer enjoyment of visitors.
When is the garden open to visitors?
- Guests can bask in all its wondrous glory daily from dawn till dusk.
What plant life can be found in the garden?
- There is a rich variety of regional ornamental plants and inspirational landscapes.
Are workshops and guided tours available?
- Workshops and guided walks are offered throughout the year, highlighting the plant life that thrives during each season.
What types of guided tours are available?
- Guests can also take one of nine guided tours, each focusing on a specific aspect of the garden, from wildflowers to amphibians.

1061 Tyrone Road, Morgantown, WV, Phone: 304-322-2093

Lost World Caverns

What are the Lost World Caverns?
- The Lost World Caverns is a magical oasis of stalagmites and stalactites located 120 feet below the Earth's surface.
How can visitors explore the caverns?
- Visitors can take self-guided tours utilizing a cavern guide sheet to explore the half-mile loop at their own pace.
What notable formations can be seen inside the caverns?
- While exploring, spelunkers will see several stunning formations, including the Snowy Chandelier, the War Club, and the Bridal Veil – a gorgeous column of shimmering white calcite.
Is there a museum at the caverns?
- Visitors can also meander through the dinosaur museum, which features the remains of a prehistoric cave bear.
What is the Wild Cave Tour?
- Thrill-seekers can take the 4-hour guided Wild Cave Tour, which includes crawling, climbing, and getting muddy while traversing the "deepest, darkest depths of the cave."

907 Lost World Road, Lewisburg, WV, Phone: 304-645-6677

Cass Scenic Railroad State Park

What is Cass Scenic Railroad State Park?
- Visitors will feel as though they've been transported back in history to an era of steam locomotives when visiting Cass, home to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.
What can visitors see in the town of Cass?
- This meticulously preserved mountain town features charming company houses repurposed into tourist accommodations, restored buildings housing the museum and company store, and the train depot.
What was the original purpose of the Cass Scenic Railroad?
- During its glory days, the 1901 Cass Scenic Railroad was used in the logging industry, hauling logs from Canada to a lumber mill in Cass.
What trains are used for the tourist excursions?
- The same steam-driven Shay trains from that period now transport tourists instead of logs.
What can visitors expect from the train ride?
- Visitors hopping aboard this excursion will be enthralled by the unparalleled views.

Address: Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, 242 Main Street, Cass, WV, Phone: 304-456-4300

Huntington Museum of Art

What is the Huntington Museum of Art?
- The very best of art and nature collide in glorious harmony at the Huntington Museum of Art, housed in a complex spanning 52 acres. It is the largest museum between the cities of Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Richmond.
What makes the museum special?
- Even more impressive than its sheer size is the museum’s magnificent collection of fine art and groundbreaking exhibitions that earned it national accreditation.
What can visitors do at the museum?
- Visitors can browse the marvelous collections that call the Huntington Museum home, then head out to explore the various hiking trails that weave around the museum’s hillside property.
What outdoor attractions does the museum offer?
- To further enjoy the natural beauty surrounding the museum, visitors should stop by the Steelman Butterfly Garden as well as the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory.

Address: Huntington Museum of Art, 2033 McCoy Road, Huntington, West Virginia 25701, Phone: 304-529-2701

Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters and Visitor Center

What is the significance of the Appalachian Trail visitors center in Harpers Ferry?
- The visitors center for the Appalachian Trail in Harpers Ferry is considered the theoretical midway point of the trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine.
How long is the Appalachian Trail?
- Each year, more than three million visitors hike the Appalachian Trail, which crosses fourteen states and encompasses over 2,100 miles of hiking trails.
What is the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters?
- The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters is perhaps the most famous landmark along the trail and features a 10-foot 3D map of the East Coast.
What can visitors explore at the visitors center?
- Visitors will also enjoy browsing through informative exhibits, a collection of over 25,000 photographs, which have been accumulating since 1979, and a popular gift shop.

Address: Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters and Visitor Center, 799 Washington Street, Harpers Ferry, WV, Phone: 304-535-6331

Map:

Plan ahead for these events:
- Ramp Dinners & Festivals - Throughout West Virginia in April and May
- Bridge Day - New River Gorge Bridge, Every third Saturday in October
- West Virginia State Fair - Lewisburg, August 07-16, 2025
- West Virginia Strawberry Festival - Buckhannon, Every third weekend in May
- Mountain State Forest Festival - Elkins, late September
- West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival - Clarksburg, Every Labor Day Weekend
- Contemporary American Theater Festival - Shepherdstown, Every July
- Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival - Wheeling, July 25, 26, 27 2025
- Mountain State Art and Craft Fair - Every 4th of July - July 4-6, 2025
- Ripley’s 4th of July Celebration - Every 4th of July

Plan Your Trip

Table of Contents:

1. Heritage Farm Museum and Village
2. Exhibition Coal Mine
3. The Greenbrier, West Virginia
4. West Virginia Botanic Garden
5. Lost World Caverns
6. Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
7. Huntington Museum of Art
8. Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters and Visitor Center