West Virginia holidays

Outdoor experiences, historic sites, and quirky festivals all contribute to the charm of America’s Mountain State. Find waterfalls and hiking trails along the rivers and canyons of Blackwater Falls. Climb to the state’s highest point among the wildlife of Monongahela National Forest. Take an aerial tramway to the floor of New River Gorge. And soothe your muscles at Berkeley Springs, where luxury private spas and old roman baths sit beside natural springs and mineral pools, once regularly visited by George Washington.

Head to The Greenbrier – the luxury resort above a nuclear bunker which has housed royalty, presidents, prisoners of war, and wounded soldiers. Play a round of golf, explore the wilderness on horseback, or hit the powdery ski slopes. Looking for something different? Try a ghost tour at the old West Virginia Penitentiary, or learn about the strange myth of Point Pleasant Mothman.

On the banks of the Kanawha River, Charleston is a great place to stay in West Virginia. History is everywhere in the city’s East End. You can admire the State Capitol building and its 293-foot golden dome, see the elegant Governor’s Mansion, the two-century-old Holly Grove, and the exhibit-filled halls of the West Virginia State Museum.

Visit the Clay Center to fill your days with inspiration at the Art and Discovery Museums, see the Caperton Planetarium, and the concert hall housing the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Broadway in Charleston, and live music of every genre. When summer comes, you can sit beside the river for shows under the moonlight at Live on the Levee. Between the entertainment, why not take a stroll down Capitol Street? Here, you can browse cafés, bookshops, galleries, restaurants, and boutiques, and discover the Capitol Market’s vibrant lanes, rich aromas, and artisan produce.

From autumn’s “Beast of the East” to the all-year rapids of the state’s many rivers, West Virginia is one of the best places in the world to experience white-water rafting. Let an expert guide take you on the thrill of your life along 25 miles of the Gauley River. Or you can ease yourself in with beginner-friendly runs on the Tygart, Cheat, Potomac, and Upper New Rivers.

Make the most of your adventures by sailing through the stunning scenery of the New River Gorge, and grab a photo of the longest steel arch bridge In the US. Want to slow down the pace? Enjoy the rivers and canyons when you go canoeing, tubing, zip-lining, fishing, hiking, biking, and bird-watching, all of which are available along the tree-lined waters of West Virginia.

With a range of activities to suit all four seasons, West Virginia holidays can be enjoyed any time. Snow-filled winters bring ski season to the Appalachian Mountains, while towns and villages below become cosy hideaways. After the frosts melt, spring temperatures remain in single figures – so it’s a great time to enjoy attractions without crowds, get warm in toasty natural springs, or discover museums, historic buildings, and cultural experiences.

Temperatures climb steadily from May until they peak between 25°C and 30°C in August. As West Virginia warms up, its streets become busier, its parks and forests burst into bloom, summer events such as Charleston’s Live on the Levee can be enjoyed across the state, and outdoor adventures are at their most accessible. Later, from September to November, the wilderness adopts its autumn colours and river flows reach their peak, making this the best time for white-water rafting.