Nontraditional getaways for you and your sweetheart
Still want to plan time with your sweetheart but aren’t exactly a dinner ’n’ a dozen roses type of couple? We’ve got some ideas for you to have a memorable and unique date in the Mountain State.
Scuba Dive, WV style…
Imagine floating through crystal-clear water, looking for signs of a forgotten underwater town … in West Virginia? Yes! It’s a total possibility at Summersville Lake and an incredible way to have that special someone by your side. Of course, you’ll both have to get certified first. Luckily, Sarge’s Dive Shop in Summersville has a complete line of scuba courses (including winter classes) so you’ll both be ready to hit the water come summer time! They say that the couple that gets scuba certified together, stays together…right?
Mountain Stage, and its post-jam celebrations!
When Mountain Stage Radio Show host Larry 
Groce says, “Go out and see some live music, wherever you are, just as soon as you can,” he means it! No one takes this advice more seriously than the locals in Charleston, where you can find live music on any given night of the week— making it a perfect, not-so-cookie-cutter getaway for couples looking to get lost in the moment.
It’s also a longstanding tradition for The Empty Glass in Charleston’s East End to hold a “post-Mountain Stage Jam” hosted by The Carpenter Ants immediately following each live radio recording. This is where the true magic of live music happens; you never know who’s going to walk through that door! In recent memory, just to name a few, members of Ra Ra Riot and Leftover Salmon, Langhorne Slim, Andrew Bird and West Virginia native Christian Lopez have all stopped in, whether to join in on the jams or to relax and mingle with the locals.
Traditional date, non-traditional venue!
A treasured American pastime and go-to date regains its original charm when you take your love to the historic Robey Theatre in Spencer. The best part is, they’ve got modern equipment— even a 3D projector— so you can still enjoy the cinematics of the 21st century!
Built in 1911, the Robey is the oldest continuously operating movie theater in the U.S. and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places back in 1989. The theater’s Neoclassical, Italian Renaissance architecture will inspire you to go all-out with the old-timey, charming theme with a trip to the Church Street Deli!
Explore the open railroads of WV!
Whisk your love away on a train and leave the 
civilized world behind … for a day or two! West Virginia has several railroads and a variety of trains for your riding pleasure, stretching from the north to the south. Cass Scenic Railroad, Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, New River Train Excursions and Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad all offer train excursions that will take you and your belle/beau past beautiful, vibrant mountain scapes, some of which aren’t even accessible by vehicles! These excursions can range anywhere from a 2-hour roundtrip ride to an overnight stay— so you can easily work in a few other sites nearby whether you’re in Elkins, Romney, Cass, or Huntington.
Explore more romantic adventures >
This post was last updated on March 16, 2022