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West Virginia Explorer

Hewn log cabins are West Virginia's ultimate historic architecture

west virginia travel guide book

Pastoral beauty of lower Kanawha Valley broadcast by W.Va. painter

west virginia travel guide book

Moon & Star pattern glassware from W.Va. attracting new audiences

west virginia travel guide book

Statue of Abraham Lincoln at West Virginia Capitol took years to...

September view at Dolly Sods Wilderness, Tucker County, Allegheny Highlands Region

Monongahela National Forest sets opening dates for recreation sites

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New River Gorge national park in West Virginia now attracting more...

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Visitation increased in 2023 for all national park sites in southern...

Anglers boat on the Ohio River near Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Islands in the Ohio River in West Virginia are a Noah's...

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Preservation programs will support leasing in Thurmond ghost town

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Alliance declares historic stone walls across West Virginia "endangered"

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"Worm Moon of March" lore is accurate, says West Virginia gardener

The old-time breed of sheep raised in the mountains was small but hardy and adapted to spending its time in the woods.

West Virginia's northern panhandle was once prime U.S. sheep country

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Chef Boyardee's surprising link to this famous West Virginia resort

west virginia travel guide book

West Virginia museum curator: locals know there's a Bigfoot out there

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Bizarre tale of "Moon Man" lives on in remote Braxton County...

Artist's conception of wreck of steamboat Rebecca at Parkersburg in 1869.

Tragedy of the Rebecca affirms the danger of Ohio River in...

Flowers grow in profusion around the Garvey House at Winona, West Virginia, in the New River Gorge.

First B&B established in New River Gorge now for sale

A horse-drawn carriage tours the historic ground of Capon Springs Resort.

Capon Springs offers 30-percent state resident discount

Inn at Glade Springs Resort

Glade Springs resort suspends operations until April 20

One of the first Tru by Hilton hotel properties in West Virginia is expected to open in Beckley, West Virginia (WV).

Beckley tourism leaders welcome Hilton hotel, growth

A horse-drawn carriage tours the historic ground of Capon Springs Resort.

Capon Springs celebrates 88th season by changing very little

west virginia travel guide book

Despite river traffic, the scenic Ohio can be a safe kayaking...

west virginia travel guide book

Unique, single-leafed orchid sprouts in winter woodlands in West Virginia

west virginia travel guide book

Ohio River refuge islands in W.Va. increasingly attract kayakers

west virginia travel guide book

National Geographic names rafting New River Gorge top 2024 experience

West virginia travel guide.

West Virginia is often rated one of the safest U.S. states in which to travel and vacation.

Our West Virginia Travel Guide includes everything you'll need to arrange a West Virginia vacation in a matter of minutes. West Virginia Explorer is, in effect, a travel guide of many thousands of pages, but here we've consolidated information to help make trip-planning fast and easy. Additionally, we maintain a compendium of travel sources who can send information your way in a matter of minutes.

West Virginia Travel Tips

West Virginia is an easy state in which to travel. Its interstate expressways and highways are modern and well-marked. Its people are also friendly and will go out of their way to help you navigate and find food, shelter, and fun. The following are also sure to help you navigate with minimal effort: West Virginia Travel Tips .

Convention & Visitors Bureaus

Are you interested in arranging a vacation for a large number of people? Convention & Visitors Bureaus across the Mountain State provide prospective travelers with travel resources, especially where conventions and group travel planning is concerned:  Convention & Visitors Bureaus .

Fallout 76 Travel

Bethesda Softworks in 2018 unveiled the most recent in its series of Fallout role-playing video games titled Fallout 76 , which plays out in an alternate version of West Virginia. Many locales in the game, however, are based on real-world locations that players now visit. Follow along with our guide: Fallout 76 .

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Pioneer Farm at Twin Falls Resort State Park, West Virginia

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West Virginia Travel Guide

west virginia travel guide book

The Visit Southern West Virginia Official Visitors Guide is your guide to a carefree vacation in the mountains. The Official Visitors Guide features a wide variety of lodging accommodations, a multitude of must-see attractions, our top events, delectable dining and shop till you drop stores, malls, antique and specialty shops. Whether you are coming to relax and rejuvenate or you’re looking to explore the outdoors, this free travel guide will provide you with all the information you need to make your vacation planning easy.

Request your copy  of the Visit Southern West Virginia Official Visitors Guide or  view it online .

Motorcycle Ride Guide

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Get your copy of the  Visit Southern West Virginia Motorcycle Ride Guide  – scenic highways and byways, breathtaking scenery and rugged terrain provide the backdrop as you enjoy the twists and turns and roller-coaster like features of our quality roads.

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Discover hidden gems, must sees and so much more. In our Passport, we’ve outlined everything our unique region has to offer, including some unique stops that will excite everyone.  Get your Passport  to Southern West Virginia to start exploring.

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Outdoor thrills. Southern-style eats. Cozy hospitality. Unique tradition. Rich heritage. …and kind folks eager to share it all with you. Discover the heartland of “Almost Heaven.”

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West Virginia

Courtesy of WV Tourism

The Durbin Rocket train chugs through West Virginia.

West Virginia

Ready for rugged East Coast adventuring with a gorgeous mountain backdrop? Then set your car toward wild and wonderful West Virginia, a state often overlooked by both American and foreign travelers. It doesn't help that the state can't seem to shake its negative stereotypes. That's too bad, because West Virginia is one of the prettiest states in the Union. With its line of unbroken green mountains, raging white-water rivers and snowcapped ski resorts, this is an outdoor-lovers' paradise.

Best Things to Do

Best neighborhoods, your next trip starts here.

Go from dreaming to planning with trip planning options made to help you craft your ideal itinerary.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

west virginia travel guide book

Seneca Rocks

A striking rock formation rising 900ft above a fork of the Potomac River, Seneca Rocks is one of the most recognizable natural features in the state. Rock…

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum building and grounds.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Halloween is the busy season at this former mental hospital, when ghost tours of the massive facility will scare the living daylights out of you. The…

The New River Gorge Bridge is a steel arch bridge 3,030 feet (924 m) long over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville, West Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. The New River Gorge Bridge was for many years the worlds longest single-span arch bridge; it is now the third longest and one of the highest vehicular bridges in the world.

New River Gorge Bridge

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Completed in 1977, the New River Gorge Bridge is the third-highest bridge in the US and the longest single-arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Made…

Bear Rocks are a widely recognized symbol of West Virginia wilderness and among the most frequently photographed places in the state. They are a well-known landmark on the eastern edge of the plateau that includes the Dolly Sods Wilderness. They sit in a high-elevation heathland punctuated with wind-carved sandstone outcrops and is home to more than a dozen rare plant and animal species. Situated on the crest of the Allegheny Front, Bear Rocks afford vistas over the South Branch Potomac River. Visibility can extend eastward to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. The Bear Rocks Preserve is a 1.93 km2 tract that is owned and preserved by The Nature Conservancy.

Dolly Sods Wilderness

Red spruce trees, windswept boulders, valley views and boggy forests set a striking scene in the northern reaches of this remote but popular wilderness…

The town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia is well-preserved as a National Historical Park.

Harpers Ferry National Historic Park

Harpers Ferry

Historic buildings and museums are accessible to those with passes, which can be found, along with parking and shuttles, north of town at the Harpers…

Coopers Rock State Forest in West Virginia.

Coopers Rock State Forest

One of the most photogenic spots in all of West Virginia is the main overlook at Coopers Rock. Picture a stone-and-log fence wrapped around a sandstone…

Beartown State Park, West Virginia.

Beartown State Park

A wooden boardwalk drops, climbs and twists for a half-mile through a wonderland of moss-covered boulders in a leafy forest. On the slopes of Droop…

Green Bank Observatory

Green Bank Observatory

The enormous Green Bank Telescope is a radio telescope, so you won't be looking at the stars through any lenses here. But you can learn about radio…

Top picks from our travel experts

19 wild and wonderful west virginia adventures.

Snowshoe Mountain Resort

Snowshoe Mountain Resort

The largest ski resort in the region, Snowshoe attracts skiers and snowboarders from across the country with 59 trails across three ski areas. Twelve…

NROCKS Outdoor Adventures

NROCKS Outdoor Adventures

The thrills begin the moment you clip into your harness for this rugged via ferrata adventure, a fixed-anchor guided rock climb that scrambles up and over…

Hatfield-McCoy Trails

Hatfield-McCoy Trails

Six-hundred miles of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails are marked and patrolled in and around Williamson and Matewan. In Williamson, you'll see ATVs…

Purple Fiddle

Purple Fiddle

One of those great mountain stores where bluegrass culture and hipster day-trippers from the urban South and Northeast mash up into a stomping good time…

Cathedral Café

Cathedral Café

Start the day with breakfast and coffee under stained-glass windows at this inviting cafe and former church. Local staff all seem to either work in, or…

Mystery Hole

Mystery Hole

See gravity and the known limits of tackiness defied at the Mystery Hole, one of the great attractions of roadside America. Everything inside this…

Stardust Cafe

Stardust Cafe

The magic in the signature Trust Me Salad is the homemade granola. Or maybe it's the just-right mix of chevre and avocado. Oh heck, maybe it's the hearty…

Berkeley Springs State Park

Berkeley Springs State Park

Don't let the locker-room appearance deter you from the Berkeley Springs State Park's Roman Baths – it's the cheapest spa deal in town. Fill your water…

Pies & Pints

Pies & Pints

Oooh baby. Let's talk about the Gouda Chicken. Topped with gourmet cheese, chipotle crema, apple-smoked bacon and grilled yard bird, this decadent pizza…

Hawks Nest State Park

Hawks Nest State Park

There are hiking trails, a nature center and an aerial tram, which runs from the lodge down to the river's edge for jet boat tours of the river and views…

Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Hall

Industrialist Andrew Carnegie helped fund this 1902 Colonial Revival performance hall, one of only four Carnegie music halls still in continuous use. Stop…

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine

This mine in Beckley, 22 miles south of Fayetteville, is a museum about the region's coal heritage. Visitors can ride a train 1500ft into a former coal…

West Virginia State Museum

West Virginia State Museum

The voice of billionaire governor Jim Justice welcomes guests to this engaging museum, where a path winds past exhibit areas spotlighting key moments and…

Bridgewalk

Wow. The bird's-eye view of the New River from the catwalk running below the river's namesake bridge is amazing. And it's eerie to hear traffic rattling…

Greenbrier Bunker Tour

Greenbrier Bunker Tour

If you're in southern West Virginia, don't miss this unique guided tour. A top-secret relocation center was built at the resort in the 1950s for Congress…

Adventures on the Gorge

Adventures on the Gorge

How many experiences does this reputable outfit offer? Well, their catalog is 63 pages long and covers everything from white-water rafting on the New and…

Press Room

This oft-recommended spot is housed in an old newspaper building, but the hospitable vibe and cozy decor evoke the home of a close friend. Fresh and…

Secret Sandwich Society

Secret Sandwich Society

If you're a connoisseur of sandwiches, or just super hungry, this easygoing spot is a must. The eatery has sandwiches slathered in tasty toppings,…

C&O Canal National Historic Park

C&O Canal National Historic Park

The 184.5-mile towpath passes along the Potomac River on the Maryland side. From the historic downtown you can reach it via the Appalachian Trail across…

Cranberry Glades Boardwalk Trail

Cranberry Glades Boardwalk Trail

A half-mile boardwalk trails meanders through a mesmerizing swath of peat bogs, home to orchids and carnivorous plants. You'll want to photograph the…

Latest stories from West Virginia

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Rafters on the New River in West Virginia

Apr 12, 2022 • 9 min read

With scenic, pristine rivers lined with surging rapids, West Virginia is one of the world's top spots to chase whitewater. Here's how to choose where to go.

Coopers Rock State Forest - WV Roadtrip - 2017 - Amy Balfour

Mar 28, 2022 • 10 min read

Harpers Ferry West Virginia mountain towns

Jan 7, 2022 • 7 min read

Overlook with hiker people women couple, colorful orange yellow foliage fall autumn forest with small village town by river in West Virginia, WV

Jan 6, 2022 • 10 min read

west virginia travel guide book

Jul 19, 2021 • 6 min read

west virginia travel guide book

Apr 13, 2021 • 2 min read

The New River Gorge Bridge, as seen from Fayette Station Road.

Jan 11, 2021 • 2 min read

west virginia travel guide book

Mar 2, 2020 • 9 min read

west virginia travel guide book

Jan 9, 2020 • 5 min read

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West Virginia and beyond

UNITED STATES - JULY 19:  U.S. Military Headquarters in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

west virginia travel guide book

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IMAGES

  1. West Virginia Travel Guide: The Ultimate Travel Guide to West Virginia

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  2. West Virginia Travel Guide : Visit Southern West Virginia

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  3. West Virginia

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  4. My West Virginia

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  5. Get a Free WV Travel Guide

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  6. West Virginia: A Guide to Backcountry Travel & Adventure by James Bannon

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COMMENTS

  1. West Virginia Travel Guide

    West Virginia Travel Guide. West Virginia, seen here at the New River Gorge, is often rated one of the safest U.S. states in which to travel and vacation. Our West Virginia Travel Guide includes everything you'll need to arrange a West Virginia vacation in a matter of minutes. West Virginia Explorer is, in effect, a travel guide of many ...

  2. West Virginia Travel Guide

    Dominated by the craggy peaks of the Allegheny Mountains, part of the Appalachian chain, West Virginia has a varied landscape: The gentle hills of the eastern Panhandle give way to the rugged...

  3. West Virginia Travel Guide

    The Visit Southern West Virginia Official Visitors Guide is your guide to a carefree vacation in the mountains. The Official Visitors Guide features a wide variety of lodging accommodations, a multitude of must-see attractions, our top events, delectable dining and shop till you drop stores, malls, antique and specialty shops.

  4. West Virginia travel

    Courtesy of WV Tourism Gallery West Virginia USA, North America Ready for rugged East Coast adventuring with a gorgeous mountain backdrop? Then set your car toward wild and wonderful West Virginia, a state often overlooked by both American and foreign travelers. It doesn't help that the state can't seem to shake its negative stereotypes.

  5. Amazon.com: West Virginia: Books

    WEST VIRGINIA TRAVEL GUIDE: Exploring West Virginia: Unveiling the Hidden Gems of Appalachia. An In-Depth Traveler's Companion pocket Guide. West Virginia Travel Guide 2023: Prepare & Enjoy Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Appalachian Cuisine, etc. 2023, 2024 & Beyond.