Schools are out for summer, and it’s time for a family road trip! Southern West Virginia is within a day’s drive of many major cities on the East Coast, making it a great option for a weekend getaway or a week-long escape. From waterparks to museums and classic summer pastimes, a Southern West Virginia vacation is the perfect place to create lifelong memories.
Make a splash
Family-friendly water adventures await. Most whitewater rafting outfitters in the area, such as River Expeditions, ACE Adventure Resort, Cantrell Ultimate Rafting, and Adventures on the Gorge, let kids ages six to eleven raft for free on the Upper New River. This tract features class I-III rapids, offering a perfect introduction to whitewater.
If your crew isn’t exhausted yet from a trip down the river, stop by the ACE Adventure Resort Waterpark. This spring-fed lake has giant inflatables and waterslides. Parents can join the fun or watch from the shore, knowing there are on-site restaurants for when the kiddos work up an appetite.
For a more low-key day on the water, check out some of the local and state parks. Pass on favorite childhood memories like canoeing, paddle boating, or fishing. Lake Stephens and Little Beaver State Park are both located right outside of Beckley. They offer boat rentals, picnic areas, and quiet places to fish.
Play together
Family game day is on! Nestled on Harper Road in Beckley is Mountain State Miniature Golf. This West Virginia-themed putt-putt course is in the shaded backyard of Chocolate Moose Coffee. Try your luck hitting a ball across a scale model of the New River Gorge Bridge and get your ball around Mothman. Once you’ve conquered the course, head inside for ice cream and fresh roasted coffee.
While Mountain State Miniature Golf is all-ages, older kids who love solving puzzles will enjoy Escape-A-Torium in downtown Fayetteville. The Feud Escape Room is where you play as a member of the McCoy Clan trying to steal back an heirloom from the Hatfields. The other group experience, Scare BnB, is where you’re paranormal investigators trying to figure out why no one has lasted one night in a vacation rental.
If the challenge you’re looking for is more physical than mental, hit up the Spartan Trifecta Race. Every summer, in August, racers of all skill levels from across the country and around the world gather at the Summit Bechtel Reserve to tackle various obstacle courses. This can be a whole family event, as there are kids’ races for one to three kilometers with obstacles. Adults can test their mettle with any or all of the trifecta races—the 5K sprint, the super 10K, and the Beast 21K.
Go underground
Lying beneath the rolling hills of Lewisburg is an expansive cavern network. Lost World Caverns offers a self-guided tour of a half-mile trail through otherworldly formations that loom more than 200 feet underground. As you stroll through, you’ll see a 30-ton stalactite named “The Snowy Chandelier.” The temperature hovers around 52 F, so remember to bring a light jacket.
Hold on to that extra layer because cool subterranean experiences continue at The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. Hop into a mine cart and ride into a coal mine. This guided experience is led by veteran miners who go into the history of the mining industry and what working in a mine is like. After the tour, explore the surrounding buildings as an immersive experience to learn about life in coal company towns.
At the base of the hill is the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia. Open year-round, this museum features rotating exhibits as well as permanent interactive exhibits that educate kids on dinosaurs and local wildlife. Behind the museum is the Mountain Homestead, which transports visitors back in time to when West Virginia was the American frontier.
Southern West Virginia is a hub for fun, adventurous, and educational family experiences. Whether you’re here to spend a weekend relaxing by the water, teaching your little ones to fish, cruising down rapids, or exploring a hidden corner of American history, Southern West Virginia will help you craft lifelong memories.