These 5 Unique West Virginia Adventures Will Level Up Your Summer

Are you looking for adventures that you’ll remember and tell all of your friends about? We promise that West Virginia will lead you to some of the most elevating experiences you will ever have. From taking on the catwalk of a lifetime over the New River to exploring waterfalls that overflow with beauty, Almost Heaven boasts many creative opportunities for you to cross items off your 2024 West Virginia Summer Bucket List.

Level up your summer by trying out these five unique adventures found throughout the Mountain State.

Experience Bridge Walk

If you dare to walk differently, then Bridge Walk is for you. Stroll on a path among the structural beams of the New River Gorge Bridge at 851 feet above the New River. A unique belay system keeps you harnessed at all times while your guide educates you on the history of the New River Gorge and the building process of the bridge. Enjoy this West Virginia-exclusive adventure all year round.

Chase Waterfalls

Chasing waterfalls takes on a whole new meaning in West Virginia with the nation’s first-ever statewide Waterfall Trail, which has 43 waterfalls. Whether you are a solo explorer or the trendsetter among your group of friends, you will enjoy exploring waterfalls on the West Virginia Waterfall Trail passport. Check into iconic spots like Blackwater Falls, Sandstone Falls, Elakala Falls and several others to earn waterfall-themed prizes as you explore!

Enter Abandoned Landmarks

Feeling a bit spooky? You’ll be pleasantly surprised by some of these spine-chilling spots. The West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville is a gothic-style prison that is one of West Virginia’s most recognized structures. Operating from 1876 to 1995, this prison had the reputation of being one of the most violent in the entire country. You now have the freedom to tour the building and even book an overnight investigation. In Weston, the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum served as a hospital for the mentally ill beginning in the mid-1800s. Daytime historic tours include museum rooms, nighttime paranormal tours, overnight ghost hunts, photo tours, festivals, flashlight tours and a haunted house.

Lake Shawnee Amusement Park is a very mysterious and haunted slice of Mercer County. It was constructed on a Native American Burial Ground and recorded multiple accounts of violent deaths and freak accidents between its debut in the 1920s and its closure in 1966. Who would have thought that a small amusement park could have turned into a big scare? Explore this creepy land by scheduling a tour.

Tour the World’s Largest Steerable Radio Telescope

Swing by the Green Bank Observatory in the Potomac Highlands to view the largest fully steerable telescope. In the center of Green Bank’s National Radio Quiet Zone, this 8,500-ton telescope only works without interferences caused by Wi-Fi, cell phones, radio and television. Explore one of the quietest spots in the country, which has earned mentions from major publications like Thrillest and Travel + Leisure. Discover what radio waves are, how the Green Bank Telescope works, take planetarium sessions and learn what radio astronomers have uncovered about the universe.

Explore West Virginia’s Historic Island

West Virginia is all about slowing down the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Turn back the clock and operate on “island time” on Blennerhassett Island. Located on a small island in the Ohio River, Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park features a replica of the original Palladian mansion from the 1800s. The island is via a 20-minute sternwheeler riverboat ride from Point Park on 2nd Street in Parkersburg. Once on the island, enjoy tours of the mansion, explore the scenery, rent a bicycle and hop on a horse-drawn carriage ride. Shop for local goods at the gift shop and enjoy lunch at the outdoor seating area. Tours are offered when the park is open, from May through the last weekend of October.

You can also learn more at the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History located in Parkersburg.

Discover What’s Different about #AlmostHeaven

There are plenty of other amazing, unique destinations to explore in Almost Heaven. Request our free West Virginia Vacation Guide to uncover more and plan your adventure today!

This post was last updated on July 16, 2024