West Virginia's beautiful mountains and valleys are home to living history: American civil war sites, quaint artisan studios, ski resorts, arts and crafts colonies, intriguing natural wonders, off-road adventures, museums and nature's healing waters. Ride antique rails past panoramic mountain views, hike into beautiful forested wilderness areas or be pampered at the Greenbrier, one of the country's premier resorts with world-class dining and accommodations.
Day 1. Harpers Ferry (Jefferson County CVB, www.hello-wv.com.)
Today go back in time beginning with Harpers Ferry National Historic Park where interpretive guides explain the chilling experiences of 1859 and John Brown’s influence on the Civil War. Explore the many shops and exhibits to get a feel for the “Ferry.” Next stop, the bloodiest day of the Civil War—Antietam. Experience what the battle was like as you drive through the battlefield. Some say they can still hear the cries of the injured. Follow the path of the Antietam wounded to Shepherdstown, the oldest town in West Virginia. Stay overnight in Shepherdstown.
Day 2 – Shepherdstown, Martinsburg, Berkeley Springs (Jefferson County CVB, www.visitors@hello-wv.com. Martinsburg/Berkeley County CVB, www.travelwv.com. Berkeley Springs CVB, www.berkeleysprings.com.
Shepherdstown, settled in the early 1730s and incorporated in 1762, was originally called Mechlenburg, and named for its founder, Thomas Shepherd, who laid out the original plans and built an important gristmill that still stands. With the completion of the C&O Canal in 1850, the town grew and prospered until the ravages of the Civil War. However, it was spared burning and most of the old homes survived the war intact. Today, the history and charm of the town have attracted potters and artists, as well as an increasing number of tourists. Quaint shops filled with locally made crafts, bookstores, historic inns and taverns prevail. Be sure to stop at O’Hurley’s General Store for some time-tested merchandise.
Next stop is Martinsburg, a vital transportation link during the Civil War due to the railroad's location. Planned by General Adam Stephen and named for a nephew of Lord Fairfax, Martinsburg was chartered in 1778. It prospered as an industrial center until the Civil War when it served as Stonewall Jackson’s headquarters. Martinsburg is home to over 2,000 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Belle Boyd House was the home of Confederate spy Belle Boyd and includes a museum, bookstore and genealogy department. Visit General Adam Stephen’s House and the Triple Brick Museum, a native limestone house, built between 1772 and 1789. Enjoy DeFluri’s Fine Chocolates. Watch chocolatiers at work and sample the award-winning confections.
A haven for artists, Berkeley Springs, established in 1776 as the Town of Bath, is the place to go for soothing soaks in the sweet, healing waters, therapeutic massage treatments, shopping for antiques and collectibles, and a wide variety of accommodations and restaurants. Berkeley Springs State Park was the nation’s first health spa, and the 1815 Roman Bath House with private 750-gallon bathing pools is open today for your use. Berkeley Springs has been listed as one of the Top 25 Art Towns in American Style. Coolfont Resort features spa retreats, health programs, massages, private wooded chateaux, indoor pool, boating, fitness center and a smoking cessation program. Cacapon Resort State Park features a Robert Trent Jones-designed 18-hole championship golf course, horseback riding and lakeside beach, a 46-room lodge with full service restaurant, and 30 completely finished cabins in a variety of styles.
Overnight Berkeley Springs:
Day 3. Davis, Thomas (Tucker County CVB, www.canaanvalley.org)
Don’t miss Blackwater Falls State Park. Plunging from a height of five stories, the Blackwater River cuts a deep canyon that dominates this beautiful, densely wooded park. A 54-room lodge perched on the canyon rim, complete with indoor pool and full service restaurant, 26 modern cabins and a 65-site campground offer year-round accommodations.
Relax at Canaan Valley State Park. The first state-operated ski area is nestled in a unique mountain valley with a top elevation of 4,280 feet. You’ll find a four-season, 250-room lodge, 20 fully equipped cottages, camping, 18-hole championship golf course, indoor pool, fitness center, and more.
Treasure the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. More than 10,200 acres of the Monongahela National Forest lie on a high plateau on Allegheny Mountain, exhibiting climate and plant life similar to Canada’s. Experience bogs, beaver ponds, streams, camping and 25 miles of hiking trails. Stay overnight in Davis/Thomas:
Day 4. Seneca, Green Bank, Snowshoe (Pocahontas County CVB, www.pocahontascountywv.com)
Seneca Rocks--this must-see, 900-foot tall strata of Tuscarora sandstone, dates to the Silurian Age. Part of the Monongahela National Forest and known for their scenic beauty, the rocks are considered by many climbers to be the best in the East, but you need not be a seasoned hiker to hike the gentle “Granny Trail.” The visitors center at the base features interactive learning exhibits.
Explore the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Jutting prominently from the landscape, the huge radio telescopes of this observatory appear strangely out of place in the quiet countryside as they listen for signs of life in outer space. The largest fully steerable radio telescope in the world is located here.
Be forever wild at Snowshoe Mountain. This four-season resort boasts West Virginia’s largest developed skiing and snowboarding operation with a large number of slopes and trails. Mountain bikers have their choice of numerous dedicated mountain bike trails. Enjoy the Raven Golf Club, a Gary Player signature golf course, along with tennis, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, spa facilities and more. Stay overnight in Snowshoe or Slatyfork.
Day 5. Slaty Fork, Cass, Hillsboro (Pocahontas County CVB, www.pocahontascountywv.com)
Escape to the Elk River Touring Center. Off-road mountain bike/cross country ski tours, including the Greenbrier River Trail, historic Cass and Cranberry back country. Also available are inn-to-inn tours, two to six day tours, instruction, rentals and equipment.
Enjoy Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Antique lumber trains powered by massive Shay steam locomotives carry passengers past panoramic mountain views to the summit of Bald Knob, the state’s third highest peak. The turn-of-the-century town is one of the best preserved lumber company towns in the U.S., complete with an old General Store and neighboring specialty shops. Visit Cranberry Mountain Visitor Center and tour the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area. This unique area encompasses four bogs, with rare plant and animal life similar to Canada’s. The adjacent Cranberry Wilderness includes 35,600 acres ideal for hiking, backpacking, hunting and fishing.
Experience Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park. A peaceful park with a panoramic view now marks the spot where the largest engagement of the Civil War in West Virginia was fought on November 6, 1863. Stay overnight in either Snowshoe or Slatyfork.
Day 6. White Sulphur Springs (Greenbrier County CVB, www.greenbrierwv.com)
Be pampered at the Greenbrier. One of the country’s premier resorts with world-class dining and accommodations, this National Historic Landmark was founded around the healing springs of White Sulphur, discovered in 1778. The resort’s spa, utilizing the sulphur water, today remains one of the most popular attractions of the Greenbrier. A National Historic Landmark, the Greenbrier represents two centuries of history with classic architecture, exquisite interior design, carefully sculpted landscape and impeccable service. The Greenbrier offers 54 holes of championship golf and more than 50 other activities to enjoy on a 6500 acre estate. Stay overnight at the Greenbrier, 304 536 1110.
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Day 6. Lewisburg, Beckley (Greenbrier County CVB, www.greenbrierwv.com. Southern WV CVB, www.visitwv.com).
Stroll through the Lewisburg Historic District. Dating from the 18th century, the main historic district of this quaint town covers 236 acres with more than 70 buildings of historic or architectural significance. Visit the scene of a Civil War battle fought in May 1862, where skirmish sites are marked with bronze plaques. Step back into history today as you explore the historic town of Lewisburg. Here you’ll find many buildings from the 1800s such as the Old Stone Church, in continuous use since 1796. The town, designated as a National Historic District, offers shopping for art, antiques, rare books, collectibles, gifts, fashions and accessories. Go underground at Lost World Caverns, a registered natural landmark, with a single awe-inspiring room approximately 1,000 feet long and 75 feet wide. Explore the General Lewis Inn - a charming, antique-filled country inn, c. 1934, which welcomes the traveler with warm hospitality, personal service and quality dining in an historic setting.
Go down in the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. Former coal miners guide visitors in remodeled mine cars through 1,500 feet of underground passageways in this former working coal mine. Don’t forget to explore the coal houses, church, school, and museums next door. The Youth Museum includes a gallery, planetarium, and science area. Marvel at Tamarack, a world-class showcase for the state’s culture, history and cuisine featuring a wide selection of West Virginia-made crafts, arts and agricultural products. The food court, operated by The Greenbrier, has something for everyone’s taste buds. Spend the afternoon exploring and shopping at Tamarack--West Virginia’s premier tourist center, then stay overnight in Lewisburg/Beckley:
Day 7. Fayetteville, Princeton (New River CVB, www.newrivercvb.com; Mercer County CVB, www.mccvb.com).
Experience a wild or mild float trip on the New River Gorge National River. Flowing north from the Carolinas, one of the oldest rivers in the world has carved a spectacular gorge through the southwestern part of the state. Fifty-three miles of the lower end of this ancient river have been designated as a National River. The gorge offers more than 20 miles of cliffs for rock climbing, with more than 700 completed routes and more awaiting exploration. The New River Gorge's magnificent scenery and rapids have made it the most popular whitewater river in the East.
A must see—the New River Gorge Bridge. Stretching 3,030 feet in length, it’s one of the world’s largest single arch span bridges. Rising 876 feet above the New River on US 19, this engineering marvel is also the highest span east of the Mississippi and the second highest in the US.
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Coal Heritage Trail. Experience the story of strong, resilient men and women, of families who spent generations mining coal, of incredible racial and ethnic diversity, of strong, close-knit communities, and of isolation, danger and violence. Traveling the Trail you will pass through National Register Historic Districts in the towns of Bluefield, Bramwell, Welch, Mullens, Beckley and Fayetteville.
Historic Bramwell. Historic Coal Heritage, Coal Baron Mansions, and Coal Heritage Interpretive Center. Home tours are available in the spring and during Christmas (2nd Saturday in May at 2pm and 2nd Saturday in December at 5pm). Located eight miles from Bluefield, WV. Complete your visit by staying overnight Princeton.