Day Trips in West Virginia

Nestled on an incredibly beautiful 11,000-acre property in the Allegheny Mountains, The Greenbrier is a luxurious 5-star resort that dates all the way back to 1778. It's a wonderful place to spend the night if you have time, but many of its amenities are open to day guests as well, including the retail shops, the restaurants and lounges, and the casino.

Visitors will also have the unique opportunity to tour the declassified Bunker carved into the mountainside under the hotel, which was constructed during the late 1950s to serve as an emergency shelter for Congress during the Cold War.

101 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986, Phone: 844-837-2466

Surrounded by the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, Beckley is a lively small town with a vibrant arts scene. If you're interested in the local art and culture, the best spot to go is Tamarack, a unique store selling artisan Appalachian goods and gourmet food.

Another unmissable spot is the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, where visitors can ride a cart through the old mining tunnels while they learn about the work that used to be done here. Thanks to the town's location in the mountains, it also offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures like swimming, hiking, and even whitewater rafting.

Established to protect a spectacularly beautiful stretch of land along the Blackwater River, Blackwater Falls State Park is the most popular park in the state.

Its centerpiece is the iconic 62-foot Blackwater Falls, whose amber tannin-colored water crashes down a rugged cliff and into a natural pool below. A short trail leads from the parking lot down to a viewing platform overlooking the falls, and there's also a steeper section that leads right to the pool at the base. If you have some extra time, you can also fish in the river, hike on the park's beautiful trails, or visit the nature center.

1584 Blackwater Lodge Rd, Davis, WV 26260, Phone: 304-259-5216

Bluefield was one of the biggest and busiest cities in the state during the coal boom, and although it experienced some troubled times during the Great Depression, it's been reborn as a charming small town known for welcoming visitors with open arms. The weather tends to be quite cool because of the surrounding mountains, but if you're here on a scorching hot day when the temperature climbs above 90 degrees, you'll be able to get free lemonade from any local store. Free lemonade or not, make sure to visit the Bluefield City Park to take a ride on the Ridge Runner Train.

Steam-driven locomotives were a fundamental feature of everyday life for years and years, and if this part of history appeals to you, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is the perfect place to step back in time to the days of yore.

The railroad was built in 1901 to haul lumber to the local mill, and today, visitors can hop aboard a refurbished lumber flat car to take a trip up to the Bald Knob lookout area.

The tour includes a packed lunch, and the gift shop and restaurant at the train station are open daily.

242 Main St, Cass, WV 24927, Phone: 304-456-4300

Originally established as a humble frontier town, Charleston is the cosmopolitan capital of West Virginia, and it's a great place to visit if you want to get a taste of the state's history and culture.

The impressive gold-domed state capitol building should be your first stop; not only is it the most beautiful building in the city, but it's also where many of the Charleston's other major attractions can be found, including the outdoor Capitol Market, the Cultural Center, and the historic Capitol Street. Seven miles outside town is the Kanawha State Forest, where visitors can hike, bike, and birdwatch to their heart's content.

Named after a local legend about an outlaw who made the forest his home, Coopers Rock State Forest encompasses almost 13,000 acres of land, including the awe-inspiring Cheat River Gorge. People primarily come here for the views, and the most popular spot in the park is the Coopers Rock overlook, which provides spectacular 360-degree views of the canyon below. However, there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation as well; the park is an excellent rock-climbing destination, and it boasts approximately 50 miles of hiking trails, including a three-mile loop trail that leads out to Cheat Lake.

61 County Line Dr, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525, Phone: 304-594-1561

Perched on the rim of the New River Gorge, Fayetteville is a true outdoor paradise. The New River is only a few minutes away, offering incredible opportunities for fishing and whitewater rafting, but visitors who would rather stay on dry land can also head into the surrounding mountains to hike and mountain bike. However, if you'd prefer to stay in town, you certainly won't be bored. You can browse the local boutique shops, take a walking tour of the charming historic district, or settle in at the local brewery with a pint of craft beer.

Created to protect a 25-mile stretch of the Gauley River, the Gauley River National Recreation Area is a remote park primarily known for its incredible whitewater rafting, which is widely considered to be some of the best in the world. The upper portion of the river requires rafting experience, but the lower portion is tamer, and there are many local outfitters offering rafting tours for people of all experience levels. If you're looking to do something a little tamer, the river also offers excellent fishing, and visitors can bring their own fishing equipment or book a tour with a local company.

36 Fayette Station Rd, Victor, WV 25938, Phone: 304-465-0508

Sitting at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, Harpers Ferry is a historic little town that played a crucial role in the Civil War. The entire town has been designated a National Historic District, and it looks much the same as it did during the 19th century when it was an important transportation hub. Whether you're interested in history or nature, it's easy to spend an entire day in Harpers Ferry. Visit Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, John Brown's Fort and Murphy-Chambers Farm Loop Trail.