When you think about America, West Virginia isn’t the first state that comes to mind. In fact, it may not come to mind at all. But if you’re visiting the US and want to go somewhere amazingly cheap without a dense tourist population, but still wild and wonderful, look no further than West Virginia. One of the most beautiful states in the country, any nature lover will fall in love with the hills and forests of the Mountain State.
As someone who has visited multiple times, here are my favorite things to do in West Virginia.
If you find yourself in the area, you want to start around the city of Morgantown. It’s neatly tucked in the north-central portion of WV near the Pennsylvania border. Coopers Rock State Forest is just over 10 miles from downtown and has nearly 50 miles of hiking trails, and the view from the top of the canyon and forest is incredible. It’s definitely worth checking out while you’re there. It also has multiple museums and historical sites littered throughout, which showcase the state’s blue-collar history. The backbone of West Virginia is in coal mining, which is something long-time residents take great pride in. If you’ve ever watched The Hunger Games, District 12 is located in real life West Virginia… which is why it’s full of coal miners in the film. It’s a 1-to-1 reference to the actual history of the region.
When you’re actually in the city of Morgantown, though, I’d walk or cycle along the Monongahela River on Caperton Trail and visit Woodburn Circle. It’s a college town… meaning the backbone is West Virginia University, an R1 doctoral university classified as having the ‘highest research activity’ by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, along with nearly 200 other schools in the country. Woodburn Circle is home to the Reed School of Media, one of the university’s top programs where future journalists hone their craft. College towns are a massive part of America’s culture, so getting to experience one should be a top priority for those wanting to learn more about the country. And Morgantown is one of the most iconic ones out there.
If you want somewhere nice to eat, my absolute favorite is Oliverio’s, an Italian restaurant located right on the river and connected to Caperton Trail. Mountain State Brewing Co is also excellent and probably has the best pizza in town. For something more laid back, there’s a wealth of great options on High Street for both shopping and dining. If you want even more shopping, head down to Morgantown Mall. And definitely get a Pepperoni Roll at some point… It’s the state’s most popular snack. You can’t leave West Virginia without trying one. You can get them from supermarkets, convenience stores, or restaurants.
Relax a little longerWe'd love your views on these
Outside of Morgantown
If and when you do venture away from Morgantown, you want to visit the New River Gorge National Park located in southern West Virginia. It covers over 70,000 acres and is famous for its large and historic river, vast canyon, and the monstrous 925 meter-long New River Gorge Bridge. The park is a premier destination for whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking, and other outdoor activities in the Appalachian Mountains. It’s the most recent addition to the National Park Registry, being officially recognized in 2020 by the US government. It’s a few hours away from Morgantown, but an absolute must-see. You have to make a day out of it.
So if you’re in the northeast United States and want a break from the big cities like Pittsburgh or New York, it may be worth your time to visit what John Denver once called “Almost Heaven.”
