Planning your 2015 vacation

New River Gorge Bridge

From the New River Gorge to the “coolest small town” of Lewisburg, Southern West Virginia provides you with some ideal locations for your 2015 vacation.

If you are coming to visit, staying for an adventure, or simply passing through, there are many things you can find in between our rolling hills.

Since there are so many options to choose from, we narrowed down some suggestions to suit every type of traveler:

Families: The best way to spend a vacation with your family is at one of the many famous resorts and state parks in Southern West Virginia. Many people flock to these locations due to the inexpensive costs mixed with the natural beauty of wild, wonderful West Virginia. Some of the best places to visit are Pipestem Resort State Park or Babcock State Park, with their many outdoor activities, hiking and scenic vistas to explore. Yet, if you’re looking for something more aquatic, look to Bluestone State Park (where you’ll find the 3rd largest lake in the state) or Twin Falls Resort State Park with its 2 waterfalls.

Couples: With Valentine’s Day right around the corner Feb. 14, you may want to start planning your romantic vacation soon. Remember! This is the most perfect time to think about you and your partner. Grab some alone time in the woods camping or renting a cozy cabin for 2 or if you prefer to stay closer to town, choose from one of southern WV’s many bed and breakfasts and resorts. You and your partner can spend a relaxing day at a spa, or check out the many outdoor sports you both can explore, like horseback riding at Pipestem Resort State Park, take a canopy tour, or go skiing and snowboarding at Winterplace!

Explorers: Take yourself to the river this year in the New River Gorge, Fayette County, you will find tremendous views of the scenery and the New River Gorge Bridge. The bridge became famous in 1977, spanning 3,030 feet across the New River. For many years, it was known as the world’s longest steel single-span arch bridge, but today it is the 4th largest. You can still discover historical relics or hidden waterfalls when hiking the surrounding area, or coming for Bridge Day. It’s a thrilling event where people BASE jump off the bridge once a year. If you’ve never seen this before, then watch this amazing video of the BASE jumping action.

History Buffs: If you ever wondered about the extensive old coal fields in West Virginia, then you need to visit Bramwell. It is the start of the coalfields that extended more than 40 miles! In the late 1800s, it was one of the wealthiest areas in the United States, where you could find the largest number of millionaires per capita. The homes are well preserved, and still reflect what they originally looked like during Bramwell’s peak. You can take a walking tour of this city anytime of the year, but tours inside the mansions are only available twice a year.

Shoppers/Foodies: As the “Best of West Virginia,” at Tamarack you can find find thousands of handmade crafts and unique pieces of art. In addition, there are other places to shop and experience West Virginian culture. Two of those places are Lewisburg and Fayetteville. Both offer spectacular things to see and do:

• Lewisburg, W.Va. offers culture, adventure and some of the best shopping in the area. You can always find people walking along Washington Street downtown to visit the specialty shops, clothing and accessory stores, and antique shops. With plenty of parking, you can shop for hours! However, if you want to take a break, then you should stop at one of the many restaurants and cafes. Some great places to rest your feet are The Wild Bean for specialty drinks, or Food and Friends for more traditional dining.
• Fayetteville, W.Va. provides a unique place for you to shop and dine while staying close to the fun of the New River! Named as the “Best River Town” in 2013 by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine, it’s still just as great with its shops and eateries today. Downtown, you’ll find that you can walk to many of the shopping locations. One of the shops that holds onto history is the New River Antique Mall, where you can find special items. Great food is served at small, cool local restaurants, like Secret Sandwich Society, Cathedral Cafe, and DiOGis.

Need some help planning? Call us or order a copy of our 2015 Official Visitors Guide today! Where do you plan to take your 2015 vacation?