Come to West Virginia for a couple’s holiday, and you’ll leave enriched by the experiences you’ve shared. Though there is one potential source of conflict – agreeing on an itinerary.
After all, you’re spoilt for choice in West Virginia: do you pay a visit to a bustling town centre, or head for the wide open spaces of the Appalachian Mountains? In the interests of happiness, harmony and seeing everything the state has to offer, it might be wise to do both.
Where towns are concerned, take your pick. You could drop in on Hinton, where a range of great shops and restaurants is housed in handsome Victorian buildings. Or try Buckhannon, small town with a huge arts scene: discover Main Street Gallery, the Lascaux Theater (for rare films) and an eclectic antiques mall.
As for peaks, there’s a reason West Virginia is nicknamed the Mountain State. There are all manner of walks you can do and many are fantastically named – who can resist hiking along the Endless Wall Trail to Diamond Point? Meanwhile, the Dolly Sods Wilderness Areais a great spot for a picnic with your loved one, after which you can choose your route from among 47 miles of rugged trails.
There are plenty more activities to enjoy with the mountains as your backdrop. For a different perspective, the two of you could check out the view from the back of a horse. Many trails can only be navigated if you’ve got an equine companion, so this mode of transport really does give you the chance to get off the beaten track. Trek along streams and across hills in Lost River State Park, spot deer and bears in Canaan Valley, or experience a moonlit ride in Cacapon Resort State Park.
If you’d like your ride to be a little smoother, you could consider a scenic train journey. Revel in a romantic meal for two on board a dinner train along the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, taking in some stunning landscapes along the way. Or savour the scenery with a trip on a steam engine. The lovingly maintained locomotives of Cass Scenic Railroad State Park will take you up Cheat Mountain, all the way to a 1,475-metre-high outlook; on a cloudless day you can gaze into two states.
Chase waterfalls and set out on the West Virginia Waterfall Trail. There are waterfalls located throughout the state, including the impressive Cathedral Falls. And there’s an added incentive to see as many of them as you can: sign up for the trail’s digital passport, tick off the waterfalls you see on your way and you will unlock some fun prizes together.
Keep the liquid theme going by exploring the state’s many wineries (we’ll leave it to you to decide who’s the designated driver). Lambert’s Winery in Weston, Daniel Vineyards in Crab Orchard, Forks of the Cheat Winery in Morgantown – and that’s just a taster. If your refreshment preferences don’t feature grapes, you could also try Hawk Knob Hard Cider & Mead in Lewisburg, the Bridge Brew Works in Fayetteville or Short Story Brewing in Rivesville. We’ll drink to that.
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