Be Your Romantic Best

Dress it up or down. Southern West Virginia has dreamy dates for all styles and budgets!

Before you know it, Valentine’s Day will be at your doorstep. Plan ahead with a dinner date, hike or romantic cabin retreat!

Where to dine

Take your sweetheart out to dinner in southern West Virginia.  With an impressive list of dining options to choose from, we know you will find the perfect setting for romance.

Need a few examples? Here ya go . . .

For a swanky evening out, try Dobra Zupas in Beckley. Its innovative, modern fare draws inspiration from Mediterranean, American and Continental cuisine. Several dishes are seasonal, too, so there’s always something new.

Dobra Zupas also has an on-site brewery. Try the house blonde ales, oatmeal stout, wheat beer and more. You can order hard cider, West Virginia craft brews and American lagers, too.

No Valentine’s date can go amiss with The Dish Cafe, either. This upscale restaurant infuses each course with organic ingredients and plenty of imagination. Firecracker shrimp, falafel salad and artisan flatbread sandwiches are just some of the dishes you’ll find on the expansive menu.

Zen’s Cafe lives up to its name with soothing earth tones and Asian aesthetics. The menu, though, is full of gusto. Appetizers range from “drunken mussels” to pretzels with beer cheese and queso dip. Your options go even further with entrees like burgers, specialty sandwiches, calzones, strombolis and pepperoni pie rolls.

Zen’s doesn’t disappoint when it comes to beverages, either. Wine and beer aside, you can order espresso drinks and tea from the cafe itself.

Where to roam

If the great outdoors is more your Valentine’s style – well let’s just say, we have you covered.  There are lots of parks to choose from and here are a few of the things you will find…

Glade Creek Grist Mill, one of the most photographed sites in West Virginia, makes anyone’s heart skip a beat. The quaint wooden structure sits above foaming water and slick boulders, while trees stipple the background. It’s just like a storybook landscape. You can find the mill at Babcock State Park.

Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park has romantic views, too. Poised above the Gauley River canyon, this Civil War site overlooks bellowing rapids and glistening boulders. Survey the wilderness scenery with your Valentine’s sweetheart; it’s a view worthy of any landscape painting.

If you’d like to spend Valentine’s Day on a hike, you won’t regret Long Point Trail. It’s a moderate hike that leads to one of Southern West Virginia’s most romantic vantage points: unimpeded views of the New River Gorge Bridge. You’ll be treated to expansive views of the gorge, too. The last segment of the path gets a little twisty and steep, but your reward— a clifftop view from a sandstone promontory— is worth it.

Canyon Rim Visitor Center has a great view of the bridge, too. Take the short boardwalk path through the woods, which spirals downhill. At the end, you’ll be treated to incredible three-quarter views of the iconic span. Pine trees frame the view, and you can sometimes see rafters on the river, too.

Where to sleep

Nothing says romance like a cabin in the woods and southern West Virginia has some of the most romantic cabin options out there. With hot tubs, whirlpool baths, and the ability to arrange for groceries and flowers to be awaiting you and your sweetie – this gift will leave you looking like a romantic rock star.

What kind of cabins can you expect to find? Read on …

Southern West Virginia has dozens of Valentine’s retreats. Every log home at Mill Creek Cabins are handmade by the owner, so each one has character. Wrap yourself in a blanket by a glorious fireplace, make a special dinner in the full kitchen and soak in a hot tub. Cupid couldn’t have done a better job.

Instead of cabins, Pipestem Spa and Event Center has chalets. These cozy, modern homes boast slick TVs, kitchens and wifi. Best of all, your stay comes with discounts at the spa. Join your Valentine in a massage, facial or lavish body treatment!

The cabins at Four Fillies Lodge look like something from a glamour magazine. Each dates from the 1860s and is fully restored by the owners. Some have dark planks and masculine ambiance while others have delightful loft hideaways and warm lighting. The Lodge’s nature trails and babbling creek provide oodles of charm, too.

If you seek something more contemplative, head to Bluestone State Park, one of Southern West Virginia’s more remote destinations. Cabins are basic but modern. Amenities include a stone fireplace, utensils, blankets and a shower. Outside, 2,100 acres of prime wilderness ensure you’ll get privacy and peace.

How are you going to spend your Valentine’s Day in Southern West Virginia?