The New River Gore Bridge, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and Camden Park are all among the tourist attractions in West Virginia that are very well known, and for good reason. But there are a whole lot of other West Virginia places that may be less known, but are just as cool.
Here are some underrated places in West Virginia:
- Beartown State Park
Jarek Tuszynski It’s definitely the state park with the cutest name. Beartown is a 110-acre state park located near Hillsboro. It’s known for its unusual rock formations — massive boulders, overhanging cliffs and deep crevasses.
- The town of Buckhannon
Doug Kerr/Flickr When you think of cool small towns in West Virginia, Lewisburg and Fayetteville may come to mind, but Buckhannon in Upshur County should also. The town of about 5,000 people offers an artsy main street with art galleries, antique shops, dining and boutiques. Huffington Post named it one of America’s 15 Coolest Small Towns.
- The Museum of American Glass
Museum of American Glass/Facebook Blenko isn’t the only glass in the state. You can check out thousands of glass products at this Weston museum, which has been around since 1993.
- The Red Carpet Lounge in Charleston
The Red Carpet Lounge/Facebook This bar in Charleston doesn’t get enough credit for being as cool as it is. Each night (and especially on the weekends) a great variety of people walk through its doors to enjoy a drink and each other’s company. The staff knows its patrons by name and without a doubt it has the best patio in Charleston.
- The West Virginia Wildlife Center
The West Virginia Wildlife Center This is a great place to see the animals that are native to West Virginia without all the guilt that we sometimes feel at a zoo. The animals - 29 different species of mammals, birds, and reptiles - are kept in spacious chain-link enclosures within an actual West Virginian forest.
- The West Virginia Botanic Garden
West Virginia Botanic Garden/Facebook Not only is this place in Morgantown great place to enjoy flowers and plants, it’s also free to the public and open from dawn until dusk.
- The town of Gilbert
Magnolia677 Gilbert is the place to be if you’re into ATVs — the nationally known Hatfield-McCoy ATV Trails are located there. The town also has a number of lodges and restaurants and is host of the annual National Trail Fest, a celebration of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails.
- The V-Club
The V-Club/Facebook The V-Club in Huntington brings in some great music to West Virginia and has also been a place that a lot of local musicians play. In that way the bar and music venue has been a great help to the state’s music scene.
- Nelson Rocks
Adam Theo/Flickr You’ve heard of Seneca Rocks, but have you ever been to or seen Nelson Rocks? Nelson Rocks is a privately owned rock formation in Pendleton County. It’s currently operated under the name NROCKS Outdoor Adventure. Visitors can rock climb, hike, zip line and do canopy tours.
- The West Virginia Book Festival
West Virginia Book Festival/Facebook Literary lovers should flock to the West Virginia Book Festival, which was resurrected this year after a hiatus. The festival brought together several famous authors including Jodi Picoult, Neil Gaiman and West Virginia’s own Homer Hickam. There’s also a used book sale where you can find some great reads.
Have you ever been to these 10 places? What did you think? What do you think are the most underrated spots in West Virginia?
Jarek Tuszynski
It’s definitely the state park with the cutest name. Beartown is a 110-acre state park located near Hillsboro. It’s known for its unusual rock formations — massive boulders, overhanging cliffs and deep crevasses.
Doug Kerr/Flickr
When you think of cool small towns in West Virginia, Lewisburg and Fayetteville may come to mind, but Buckhannon in Upshur County should also. The town of about 5,000 people offers an artsy main street with art galleries, antique shops, dining and boutiques. Huffington Post named it one of America’s 15 Coolest Small Towns.
Museum of American Glass/Facebook
Blenko isn’t the only glass in the state. You can check out thousands of glass products at this Weston museum, which has been around since 1993.
The Red Carpet Lounge/Facebook
This bar in Charleston doesn’t get enough credit for being as cool as it is. Each night (and especially on the weekends) a great variety of people walk through its doors to enjoy a drink and each other’s company. The staff knows its patrons by name and without a doubt it has the best patio in Charleston.
The West Virginia Wildlife Center
This is a great place to see the animals that are native to West Virginia without all the guilt that we sometimes feel at a zoo. The animals - 29 different species of mammals, birds, and reptiles - are kept in spacious chain-link enclosures within an actual West Virginian forest.
West Virginia Botanic Garden/Facebook
Not only is this place in Morgantown great place to enjoy flowers and plants, it’s also free to the public and open from dawn until dusk.
Magnolia677
Gilbert is the place to be if you’re into ATVs — the nationally known Hatfield-McCoy ATV Trails are located there. The town also has a number of lodges and restaurants and is host of the annual National Trail Fest, a celebration of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails.
The V-Club/Facebook
The V-Club in Huntington brings in some great music to West Virginia and has also been a place that a lot of local musicians play. In that way the bar and music venue has been a great help to the state’s music scene.
Adam Theo/Flickr
You’ve heard of Seneca Rocks, but have you ever been to or seen Nelson Rocks? Nelson Rocks is a privately owned rock formation in Pendleton County. It’s currently operated under the name NROCKS Outdoor Adventure. Visitors can rock climb, hike, zip line and do canopy tours.
West Virginia Book Festival/Facebook
Literary lovers should flock to the West Virginia Book Festival, which was resurrected this year after a hiatus. The festival brought together several famous authors including Jodi Picoult, Neil Gaiman and West Virginia’s own Homer Hickam. There’s also a used book sale where you can find some great reads.
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