Best Ways to Play in SWV In Summertime!

Families that travel together find ways to play together, and southern West Virginia offers some of the best ways to play in the summertime fun time.

Get active…or chill outside!

Ready to cool off? Look no further than ACE Adventure Resort! Here, you’ll find some of the swimmingest fun around. ACE’s Wonderland Waterpark offers fun for the entire family: inflatable mountains, lake zip line, launch friends into the water with the infamous BLOB or race down one of the 200 ft. twin water slides. When you need break, grab a slice of pizza and lounge on the beach.

Speaking of water parks, Lake Stephens is the perfect place for a relaxing day! Pack a picnic and plan a day of play at the Sprinkler Splash Pad and Aqua Water Park. The lake is also perfect for fishing! Teach the little angler in your life how to reel in a big catch, or take a boat out on the calm water.

If your traveling troupe wants something a little more dry, hit the trails! Map out a day filled with some of West Virginia’s most stunning sites and scenery. There are plenty of hiking trails in the New River Gorge National River, with over 100 miles of trails to choose from.

The Other Kinds of Family Fun

Southern West Virginia has more than just outdoor adventures! Enjoy an outdoor drama, or celebrate our heritage at one of the many summer festivals.

Take the family to see a rousing outdoor performance at Theatre West Virginia. This year you can catch shows like the infamous “Hatfields and McCoys,” “Rocket Boys the Musical,” “Willy Wonka Jr.” and more! Be sure to check the calendar for show dates and times to coordinate with your visit. Or you can check out what’s happening at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg.

And upon your visit to southern West Virginia’s there’s a good chance that any one of numerous fairs and festivals are coinciding with your visit! Classic events like Talcott’s John Henry Days in July, the Rocket Boys Festival in Beckley in September or the State Fair of West Virginia in Fairlea, WV, in August are delightful events for the whole family! These celebrations can have you and your family enjoying the beauty and heritage of West Virginia at your own pace.

Don’t forget, there’s several ways to have a relaxing day outdoors by taking in a game of America’s pastime with several minor league baseball teams residing in the area.

Rainy day blues? No way!

So mother nature’s thrown you a curveball? Throw one back with these non-soggy activities.

Catch a show at Greenbrier Valley Theatre in Lewisburg, the State Professional Theatre of West Virginia. Shows are year round and offer fun and culture for the whole family. This summer, catch productions of “Honky Tonk Laundry” featuring fun renditions of classic songs like “Wide Open Spaces” and “Stand By Your Man,” or see a new spin on Shakespeare’s classic play “Julius Caesar.”

If theatre isn’t exactly your family’s thing, catch a glimpse of the state’s rich history in coal mining at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. There are numerous other museums and locations with fascinating accounts of West Virginia’s storied past in the region.

When rain is in the forecast curate your own culinary tour by exploring some of southern West Virginia’s best summertime eating establishments: Arrowhead Bike Farm, the Market at Courthouse Square, plus many more! And afterwards grab a fantastic smoothie or a satisfying milkshake at Cathedral Cafe in downtown Fayetteville, or grab a coffee and ice cream at The Chocolate Moose in Beckley or something to satisfy that sweet craving at one of Lewisburg’s Downtown restaurants!

What summertime fun time activity is your family most looking forward to in southern West Virginia?