VACATION AND TRAVEL
West Virginia is a great place to see many historical towns. They don't have these well-known touristic things you see in other states, but they have a nice charm to them, with the scenic rugged Allegheny mountains and bridges, it seems everywhere, and great scenic roads where you can get in touch with nature. This place has a lot to offer. This state is referred to as the "mountain state" because it's the only state that lies completely within a mountain range. Eighty percent of the state is forested with over 110,000 square miles of hardwood forest, having 30 major cities with many smaller charming towns mixed in. I've been here on many occasions, and I love all the old historic towns, some being smaller in population, the waterways, and all the bridges I crossed over, plus West Virginia is home to many scenic roads that are a great drive during the changing of the leaves, or any other time of the year. Almost everything to do there is outdoors!
Some well-known scenic roads are U.S. Route 33, Washington Heritage Trail, Historic National Road, Highland Scenic Highway, Appalachian Waters Scenic Byway (Route 39), Midland Trail Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike National Scenic Byway, and Mountain Parkway Byway. These roads are considered to be the most scenic! This entire state when driving is an attraction in itself! The first attraction that's a great stop is Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. At the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, a visit to this quaint,
historic community is like stepping into the past. Stroll the picturesque streets, visit exhibits and museums, or hike the trails and battlefields. This city looks like everyone moved out and abandoned this old historic town. You will find that the entire town is one big museum. I enjoyed just strolling the streets and stopping at some which have a museum inside, plus you can enter the church, which looks like its still having service going on there. You will snap off a lot of photos in that town, just like I did. Their physical address is 171 Shoreline Drive. See the website for all details!
The next attraction is New River Gorge. It is a 53-mile stretch on the river that is set aside as a national park. It was a great day of adventure with views, trails, and a driving loop that takes you through the old road and bridge. They offer white water rafting, kayaking, fishing, hiking, mountain biking trails, climbing, and zip-lining opportunities. These are just some of the recreational activities that can be found and enjoyed there.
Boaters and people base-jumping off the bridge with only a parachute every October