Check the tire pressure. Power up your GPS. Dust off the maps. We’re off on a family-friendly road trip across North America, Great Britain, and Australia in the #Gr8Blogs Summer Road Trips 2018.
My writerly pals and I are sharing insiders’ touring tips for your summertime fun. I’m excited to guide you around my part of the world. Then you can pop about the globe for more inspiring road trip ideas from other great bloggers, who are linked at the bottom of this page. Summers not over yet, so pack your shorts, tees, sandals, sunblock and let's go!
Welcome to wild, and wonderful West Virginia! There are things to love and hate about where you live I believe, but I can’t imagine living anywhere but where I do. I would miss the beauty of this state. There may not be any oceans around here, but we have fun on the water! You can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, boating, fishing and more on one of our large lakes found in the Mountain Lakes region. Or enjoy some of these activities on the rivers as well. Whitewater rafting is one of the most popular attractions but it’s a "never gonna try"activity for me. Haha.
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| Summersville Lake |
Not a fan of
water? That’s okay, there is so much to do and see here. Maybe you like to hit
the trails? The Hatfield and McCoy
trails are a must for you. These trails
offer beautiful scenery with trails labeled for your skill level. Plus, there are plenty of campgrounds
available, so you can hit the trails straight from there. Some cabins even offer hot tubs. I love hot tubs!
Okay, so
what is my favorite thing to do here?
That’s easy….Jeep or side by side trips. My hubby and I love taking the
top off the Jeep and hitting the backroads or taking the side by side on the
trails. Finding waterfalls is my goal on
these trips. As many as I can find. I
even talked my hubby into marrying me in front of one.
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| Blackwater Falls |
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| Bergoo Falls |
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| You have to take a train in order to see this beauty! |
Day road
trips are the best and there are so many amazing destinations for you to
explore while you are here. We have
State parks galore that offer hiking trails, fishing, lake and river activities
and more! Not your thing, how about a
resort? We have those too.
Beartown is one of my favorite parks to go even though it has no waterfalls to be seen. Instead it offers a half a mile boardwalk that takes you through massive boulders, cliffs, unusual rock formations and some extremely deep crevices. It really is a sight to be seen. It was formed from an ancient sea that used to be there. If you are a history buff, while you are in that area, head on up the road to Droop Mountain Battlefield which is where WV had their last major Civil War battle. You might hear and see some ghosts along with learning more about the history of the place. The site is reportedly haunted.
Beartown is one of my favorite parks to go even though it has no waterfalls to be seen. Instead it offers a half a mile boardwalk that takes you through massive boulders, cliffs, unusual rock formations and some extremely deep crevices. It really is a sight to be seen. It was formed from an ancient sea that used to be there. If you are a history buff, while you are in that area, head on up the road to Droop Mountain Battlefield which is where WV had their last major Civil War battle. You might hear and see some ghosts along with learning more about the history of the place. The site is reportedly haunted.
Like the
paranormal? WV has plenty of that as
well; Mothman may come to mind. Point Pleasant, WV is home of the
Mothman Statue, where the incidents occurred back in the 1960’s. That story is one of chills, mystery and
fascination. It’s one of my favorite
stories to share with my students during Halloween.
That one, and the one where it is recorded in history that a ghost
solved her own murder! I could go on and
on about the hauntings in WV but it would take me months to type them all out!
Hahaha Instead you can find one of the many WV Ghost story books out
there. I recommend Haunted West Virginia by Patty Wilson.
If you’re going to be traveling through WV around August 11, then you may just want to join Steve and Tango, yes, the same Steve and Tango from the show Ghost Hunters, on their paranormal night tour at Lake Shawnee Amusement park. You can find out more about that on their website, www.ghosthuntweekends.com
The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is also a must-see attraction. It wasn’t always called that. It was known as the Weston State Hospital and was a hospital for the mentally ill from all the way back in the mid 1800’s!. You can take a paranormal tour and learn some history about the location while also hearing about some past and present ghost stories. I have been there. I didn’t see any paranormal activity, but we definitely had some weird things occur. They also offer a history tour where you can learn more stories about such events like the Civil War Raids. This location is a historic landmark and the building really is a must see!
If you’re going to be traveling through WV around August 11, then you may just want to join Steve and Tango, yes, the same Steve and Tango from the show Ghost Hunters, on their paranormal night tour at Lake Shawnee Amusement park. You can find out more about that on their website, www.ghosthuntweekends.com
The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is also a must-see attraction. It wasn’t always called that. It was known as the Weston State Hospital and was a hospital for the mentally ill from all the way back in the mid 1800’s!. You can take a paranormal tour and learn some history about the location while also hearing about some past and present ghost stories. I have been there. I didn’t see any paranormal activity, but we definitely had some weird things occur. They also offer a history tour where you can learn more stories about such events like the Civil War Raids. This location is a historic landmark and the building really is a must see!
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| Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum picture found on gotowv.com |
Didn’t I mention resorts back there, you ask? Well, yes, I did. West Virginia has many resorts found throughout
the entire state. You can take your pick
from The Resort at Glade Springs, The Greenbrier, Stonewall Jackson, Lakeview
Golf Resort, Creekside Resort, Oglebay, Berkeley Springs and more! The
Greenbrier and Berkeley Springs are known for their rich history. The
Greenbrier might even ring a bell. It has a once-hidden government bunker built
back in the sixties that you can tour, which is a really cool place to visit and learn about. Berkeley Springs even has its own castle!
Photo found at: https://www.trekearth.com/gallery/North_America/United_States/South/West_Virginia/Berkeley_Springs/photo1116273.htm
Last but not least, the New River Gorge Bridge! The largest arch bridge in the western hemisphere. If you visit this unique bridge, make sure you make time to drive underneath it for a different and up-close view. If you're brave enough, you could do the bridge catwalk. This experience puts you 25 feet below the bridge and you walk the entire 3,030 feet length of the bridge! How high are you from the ground? 851 feet from the New River.
I’ve hoped
you enjoyed your virtual Road Trip to West Virginia even though there is so
much more to here than I covered. Maybe it inspired you to visit here for a
vacation one day?! As the song says....
Want to learn more about WV? Check out these sites:
"Country roads, take me home to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads."
Country Roads by John Denver
Thanks for your company! What are favorite road trip must-sees in your corner of the world? Please share in the comments section. We’d love to virtual visit! And if you blog and want to hop with us, add a live hyperlink to your family-friendly road trip post in the comment section. We’ll swing by and give you some blog love!
There’s more more fun and inspirational Summer Road Trips ahead! Click over to your next destination at my #Gr8blogs pals below.
North America
Carmela Dutra - California Bay Area
Julie Gorges - California
K. Lamb - California
Cat Michaels - North Carolina
http://bit.ly/2Mc4GQa
Rosie Russell - Kansas City, Missouri
http://www.booksbyrose.com/kidlit-blog-by-rosie.html
Rhonda Paglia - Western Pennsylvania
Australia
Sandra Bennett - Canberra
https://sandrabennettauthor.com/blog/2018/7/31/gr8t-blogs-winter-road-trip
https://sandrabennettauthor.com/blog/2018/7/31/gr8t-blogs-winter-road-trip
I would love to visit scenic West Virginia and take a walk by the beautiful waterfalls. Oh, and spooky...that is just up my alley! I would love to explore some of the more haunted places! Although, I do not know if my adventurous nature would be willing to walk below the bridge.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour!
I can't get my hubby talked into doing the bridge walk either. I want to do it but he keeps telling me if I do, I'll never be able to cross the bridge again. LOL
DeleteOur boat flipped when we went white water rafting - so I don't blame you for not trying it! Loved your article. West Virginia sounds absolutely beautiful. You've inspired me to take a trip there one day.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the whole white water rafting thing just doesn't appeal to me but people love it!
DeleteGlad that I inspired you to come here one day! I hope you do and love it!
Ooooh, loved this great visit to your part of the world Rebecca.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge water person so your jeep rides along the trails sound like a ton of fun.
I have a friend that will love the spooky paranormal sites you mentioned. I'll share this post with him and see if they have been to West Virginia. They do travel for these things.
No thanks for the walk across the bridge that's 851 feet from the New River. It does look like a fun thing to see from afar.
Your John Denver song was a perfect touch and closure for your post.
Thanks for your great article and have a wonderful weekend!
Rosie
Thanks, Rosie. You'll have to let me know if your friends have traveled here and if they have any stories to share.
DeleteHi Rebecca - I loved your blog about country roads, West Virginia, take me home. We've traveled through West Virginia and we've visited Oglebay, Berkley Springs, and the Castle. I had ancestors who lived in West Virginia during the Civil War, so I feel very connected to your beautiful, green, forested state. You mentioned paranormal - once when we were traveling through West Virginia on our way home to Pennsylvania, we thought we saw UFOs above those mountains! Love your state - thanks for sharing! <3 Rhonda / Grammy Pags
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool, Rhonda! I have to say, I have seen some unexplainable things here as well. You would love the story of the Green Eyed Monster in Flatwoods.
DeleteHi Rebecca, as soon as I read you were from West Virginia I started singing Country Roads, so glad you finished with that, so appropriate. I love driving along country roads and yours sound perfect. From the waterfalls to the rocky outcrops, all a must see. Oh and ghosts stories, you got me there, I'm coming over!
ReplyDeleteYay, Sandra! :)
DeleteYou live in a beautiful place Rebecca, with its natural beauty, Civil War history and haunted places in abundance. (Hub and I loved visiting Harpers Ferry on a magical Christmas stop there while driving north to be with family.) I am a water person, but like you, I skip white water rafting. Ditto for the catwalk under New River Gorge Bridge. A leisurely stroll on a mountain trail photographing waterfalls, followed by a comfy bed at the Greenbriar, are more my speed. Thanks for the tour of your amazing place!
ReplyDelete