Does your family love to travel and have a thirst for adventure? Or are you just looking for somewhere new and different to disconnect with your kids? Our family of four recently had the opportunity to travel to West Virginia in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Tourism, and we all had such an amazing time! It was the perfect way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of John Denver’s famous song, “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Within a days drive from nearly 2/3rds of the U.S. population, West Virginia offers something for everyone. Our summer trip to West Virginia focused on activities in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. We also had the chance to sample cuisines from cozy Fayetteville eateries. We had a jam-packed itinerary, but we loved every minute of it!
The Upper New River
Upon arrival to Charleston Yeager airport, we grabbed a rental car and began our one hour road trip to Adventures on the Gorge, our home base for the trip. The drive was gorgeous and we stopped a few times along the way for photos. Coming from California, just seeing that many trees was awe-inspiring!
Our Front Yard at Adventures on the Gorge
We checked into our spacious vacation home at Adventures on the Gorge and headed to Chetty’s Pub on-site for a quick lunch. There were several groups of people returning from their whitewater rafting trips and they were showing all of their videos on the TVs at the pub. It was the perfect inspiration for us since were heading out rafting the next morning!
TimberTrek Adventure Park
After lunch, we headed over to TimberTrek Adventure Park, an aerial obstacle course offering 5 levels of difficulty. There are even options for children as young as 4! It was an exhausting but fun way to unplug and spend time together as a family. We then enjoyed a delicious comfort food buffet at Smokey’s on the Gorge before heading back to our house for the night.
Smokey’s on the Gorge
The next morning we enjoyed a quick breakfast at Java Falls Coffee Shop, conveniently located near the whitewater rafting meet-up spot at Adventures on the Gorge. We headed out around 9:30 for our 30 minute trip to our launch point on the Upper New River. This part of the river is perfect for families and beginners and is open to ages 6 and up.
Whitewater Rafting on the Upper New River
During our rafting trip, we stopped for a brief lunch on the river bank and also took breaks to swim and jump off of a rock into the river. It was a very long and exhausting experience, but so memorable and so much fun! Pizza and beer at Pies & Pints in nearby Fayetteville, followed by ice cream at The Stache, was the perfect ending to the day.
Whitewater Rafting on the Upper New River
On our last full day in West Virginia started with a delicious breakfast at the adorable Wood Iron Eatery. We then went on a peaceful 3-mile out-and-back hike on Long Point Trail. We were covered by a canopy of trees for most of the hike and rewarded with gorgeous views of the New River Gorge Bridge at the end! After the hike, we cooled off at ACE Adventures Wonderland Waterpark and enjoyed lunch at The Lost Paddle, adjacent to the park.
ACE Adventures Wonderland Waterpark
The grand finale of our trip was the Bridge Walk experience. Bridge Walk gave us the thrilling opportunity to walk along a two-foot wide catwalk directly beneath the New River Gorge Bridge. We were over 800 feet above the river and the bridge is over a half-mile long, so it was definitely an adrenaline-pumping experience. The views from up there were just stunning!
The View from Bridgewalk
On our way back to the airport the next morning, we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at the charming Cathedral Cafe in Fayetteville. We only wished we had more time to wander around Fayetteville, it’s such a cute little town! But, back to reality it was for us.
New River Gorge Bridge
Our trip to West Virginia was one of the most memorable family vacations we’ve taken. It was action-packed and full of adventure. Our family was able to unplug and experience so many new things together. West Virginia was the perfect summer escape, and I bet it’s even more gorgeous in the fall as the leaves start to change colors!
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Guess what?! You have a chance to win your own 4-night customizable vacation to West Virginia! Just visit The West Virginia Tourism website for details on how to enter. While you’re there, check out all of the amazing activities that West Virginia has to offer. See more photos from our trip on my Instagram Page!
#AlmostHeaven #WVTourismPartner
West Virginia is home to some fantastic family adventures. With all of the beautiful waterfalls and scenic byways, West Virginia is a great place to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors with your family. The state has a lot of great activities and attractions for families, and we want to share our favorites with you!