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West Virginia

Outdoor adventure is everywhere in West Virginia, where visitors can go whitewater rafting down the Gauley River or in nearby New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and riding ATVs along the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System, which includes state parks and forests. Hike and camp in Coopers Rock State Forest. Towns like neighboring Thomas and Davis, known for their craft breweries, and Harpers Ferry, which played a role in the abolitionist movement, are especially lively when autumn leaves change color, generally mid-October through the first week of November.

The New Bridge at the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia

Views of the gorge and iconic New River Bridge can be seen on several hikes throughout the park.

West Virginia Department of Tourism

Overview

Planning Your Trip

Use these articles, resources, and guides to plan and inspire your next trip to West Virginia.

Read Before You Go
The United States Just Got a New National Park
National Parks
The United States Just Got a New National Park
The New River Gorge in West Virginia marks the country’s 63rd national park.
January 05, 2021 05:18 PM
 · 
Sarah Buder
10 Small Towns in the U.S. to Visit This Winter
Weekend Getaways
10 Small Towns in the U.S. to Visit This Winter
December 03, 2019 05:31 PM
 · 
Ashlea Halpern
James Beard Foundation Announces 2019 America’s Classics Winners
Restaurants + Cafés
James Beard Foundation Announces 2019 America’s Classics Winners
February 05, 2019 06:47 PM
 · 
Lyndsey Matthews
Resources to help plan your trip
Dishes Worth A Drive from Charleston
Okay, some of these restaurants are technically still in Charleston, but what they have in common is food that merits a trip outside the well-trodden tourist area. Get there however you can, but don’t miss the extraordinary things—soul food, Chinese food, barbecue, French-accented local, whatever!—being cooked up in these remarkable South Carolina kitchens.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
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AFAR Editors
Where to Find Charleston’s Best Southern Cooking and Soul Food
Food-lovers and chefs flock to Charleston and many limit their visits to the dining rooms of the latest thing, the just-minted award-winners, but locals (and regulars to town) know that the true taste of Charleston can be found in restaurants that cook from old recipes, making dishes from memories of hot nights, small kitchens, and big flavor.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
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AFAR Editors
The Best Biscuits, Sweets, and Desserts in Charleston
Visiting Charleston without conducting a personal biscuit survey? Not recommended. Leaving town without indulging in a slice of the Peninsula Grill’s coconut pie? Borderline crazy. This city, known for its history and gracious charm, can also put ridiculously decadent carbohydrates on its list of attractions.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
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AFAR Editors
The Best Beer Bars in Charleston
From a bottle of PBR enjoyed on the front patio of the Rec Room to a pint of just-brewed ale tapped at Edmond’s Oast, Charleston loves its beer. A town with so many breweries, brew pubs, and tap houses has a mighty thirst: Charleston Brewery List website said there are 20 tap houses in the city (and that doesn’t factor in the bars and restaurants that have solid lists of craft beer), as well as eight breweries in the city, and 17 in the surrounding area. Pull up a stool with the locals at these great watering holes and find your favorite beer. Or beers.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
 · 
AFAR Editors
Where to Find the Best Chicken in Charleston
No matter how you like your poultry prepared—chicken wings, roast chicken, fried chicken either shellacked and crispy with Sichuan spices, or simply crunchy drumsticks cooked from a traditional Southern recipe—we’re divulging our favorite chicken joints in Charleston.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
 · 
AFAR Editors
The Best Places to Eat Oysters in Charleston
Eating oysters in Charleston can be a delicate affair, of course, with open shells served on beds of ice with lemon wedges, but it’s more likely that you’ll be served up a cluster of steamed oysters, pried open in front of you, ready for the slurping. Find the refined—and the local Lowcountry—bivalves at our selection of great restaurants for oysters.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
 · 
AFAR Editors
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