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While small in size, West Virginia’s recreational and entertainment options abound. The Mountain State is aptly named for its rugged, ancient mountains, ready for all manner of outdoor pursuits. Another face to the state is more urban, yet steeped in the heritage of Appalachia.

For those pursuing cultural attractions, West Virginia has much to offer. The Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences in Charleston houses an incredible array of activities under one roof. From watching famous performers and orchestras on stage at the Maier Foundation Performance Hall, to hands-on family friendly exhibits at the Science Galleries, to the permanent collection of over 750 works of art, to the Electric Sky Theater planetarium, the Clay Center offers something for everyone. At the Huntington Museum of Art in Huntington, visitors can enjoy works of glass art from the Ohio Valley, Appalachian folk art, 19th and 20th century American and European paintings, Middle Eastern arts, and more. The West Virginia State Farm Museum in Point Pleasant showcases the 19th century agricultural heritage with log cabins, an early farmhouse, an operational blacksmith shop, and more. The West Virginia Museum of American Glass in Weston preserves a collection of glass products from 1900 to 1940, and recounts the history of the objects and the glass workers who created them. The Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum in Hillsboro preserves the restored birthplace of prolific writer Pearl S. Buck, and includes original furniture and memorabilia.

West Virginia is home to several family friendly attractions. Children of all ages can learn about astronomy at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Green Bank, home to the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT), the world’s largest steerable radio telescope. Among the attractions is the science center featuring "Catching the Wave", an interactive set of exhibits and programs for K-12 students and the general public. The young and young at heart will enjoy the timeless Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, which offers historic locomotive train excursions from Cass to Whittaker Station, Bald Knob, or Spruce. Train buffs will also relish the Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum in Wheeling, with exhibits of toys and trains from every generation; self-guided tours, interactive displays, and operating train layouts are among the attractions. Animal lovers will enjoy the West Virginia State Wildlife Center, operated by the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of National Resources, which offers visitors an accessible, interpretive zoological facility with spacious enclosures in natural environments for animal species representing West Virginia native and introduced wildlife.

West Virginia’s interesting heritage is preserved and interpreted at several historic sites throughout the state. Grave Creek Mound Historic Site is the site of the largest of the Adena Burial mounds, representing the culture of the Adena moundbuilding people who lived in the region from 2,000 years ago. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park preserves a historic community at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers where the first successful American railroad arrived, where John Brown attacked slavery, site of the largest surrender of Federal troops in the Civil War, and site of one of the earliest integrated schools in the U.S. Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park near Summersville was the site of the September 10, 1861 battle between Union troops led by Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans and Confederates entrenched on the Henry Patterson Farm overlooking Carnifex Ferry; it represented the failure by the Confederates to regain control of the Kanawha Valley, and ultimately ushered in West Virginia’s statehood without threat from the Confederates. Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park near Lewisburg was the site of West Virginia’s last significant Civil War battle, when on November 6, 1863 Union troops under Brigadier General William W. Averell faced Confederate troops under Brigadier General John Echols.

Outdoor recreation enthusiasts will find a wonderland of opportunities in the Mountain State. Packed within the small state’s borders are miles of hiking and backpacking trails, mountain biking trials, nearly 2,000 miles (3,219 kilometers) of streams for whitewater rafting, caverns to explore, wildlife to observe, mineral springs to bask in, and both downhill and cross-country skiing locations. Monongahela National Forest covers over 919,000 acres (3,719 square kilometers or 371,906 hectares) in 10 counties, and contains 23 campgrounds, 17 picnic areas, over 500 miles (805 kilometers) of hiking trails, five federally designated Wildernesses (Otter Creek, Dolly Sods, Laurel Fork North and South, and Cranberry), as well as Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. Monongahela provides fine wildlife viewing and is visited by or home to some 230 species of birds, and nine federally listed endangered or threatened species; 50 other species of sensitive plants and animals also reside here. Monongahela’s elevation ranges from 900 feet (274 meters) at Petersburg to the state’s highest point, Spruce Knob, at 4,861 feet (1.48 kilometers). The National Forest allows hunting, trapping, and fishing. The Allegheny Trail extends nearly 330 miles (531 kilometers) north to south from the Mason-Dixon Line at the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border and meets the Appalachian Trail on Peters Mountain at the Virginia-West Virginia border. Canaan Valley Resort State Park is a resort situated on over 6,300 acres (25.5 square kilometers or 2,550 hectares) of state parkland offering activities such as mountain biking, climbing, hiking, and golfing, in addition to viewing ample wildlife. Blackwater Falls State Park is home to the tannic acid-stained "black" waterfall of the Blackwater River, and contains over 20 miles (32 kilometers) of hiking trails, offers horseback and pony rides, swimming, fishing, cross-country skiing, sledding, and features a nature center. Berkeley Springs State Park in Berkeley Springs features the curative mineral waters of Berkeley Springs, and contains a bathhouse first opened in 1930. Greenbriar River Trail is a rail-to-trail conversion stretching 79 miles (127 kilometers) through the Greenbrier River Valley in Pocahontas and Greenbrier Counties of eastern West Virginia, and provides hikers and bicyclists with pleasant excursions along the Greenbrier River and through small towns. The North Bend Rail Trail, a multi-use recreational trail operated by West Virginia State Parks, extends 72 miles (116 kilometers) from the Parkersburg area to Wolf Summit, and passes through 13 tunnels and across 36 bridges, through wild and natural areas as well as rural communities. Whitewater rafting enthusiasts will enjoy the New River Gorge Bridge & National River, a park which encompass over 70,000 acres (283 square kilometers or 28,328 hectares) of land, including canyons of the ancient New River and its magnificent bridge. The Gauley River National Recreation Area beckons whitewater enthusiasts with several class V+ rapids on 25 miles (40 kilometers) of the free-flowing Gauley River, known as one of the premier whitewater runs in the world.

West Virginia is also home to a number of caverns which can be toured. These include Seneca Caverns in Riverton, West Virginia’s largest caverns; Lost World Caverns near Lewisburg; Smoke Hole Caverns in Seneca Rocks; and Organ Cave in Ronceverte.

West Virginia boasts plentiful downhill and cross-country skiing opportunities. Downhill (Alpine) skiing, snowboarding, and tubing can be enjoyed at Canaan Valley Resort (www.canaanresort.com) in Davis, with 39 trails and slopes. Snowshoe Mountain in Snowshoe offers 57 trails and slopes for snowboarding, tubing, and downhill skiing. Timberline Four Seasons Resort in Davis offers 37 trails and slopes for downhill skiing and snowboarding. Winterplace Resort in Flat Top offers 27 trails and opportunities for downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. Oglebay Resort in Wheeling also offers downhill skiing and snowboarding. Cross-country (Nordic) skiing can be enjoyed at Blackwater Ski Touring Center in Davis, White Grass Touring Center in Davis, and Elk River Touring Center in Slatyfork.

West Virginia hosts enjoyable festivals throughout the year, showcasing the Mountain State’s unique heritage. The Appalachian String Band Music Festival (www.wvculture.org/stringband) celebrates five days of events with over 3,000 musicians and string band music from around the world, workshops, square dances, camping, and hymn singing. The Appalachian Heritage Festival celebrates the region’s heritage with literature, storytelling, dance, music, art, and workshops in Shepherdstown. The Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival features some 200 craftspersons selling and demonstrating their wares. Bridge Day is a day-long festival when over 200,000 people visit the New River Gorge Bridge, and are permitted to parachute or rappel from the 876 foot (267 meter) high bridge.

With so many fantastic opportunities for both indoor and outdoor recreation, West Virginia boasts enjoyment for all.

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