12 Unforgettable West Virginia Day Trips, One For Each Month Of The Year
Pull out the calendar, West Virginia! Let’s make 2020 our best year yet by adding some unforgettable fun to each month of the year. Each of the West Virginia day trips listed below (you’ll find a link to more information for each one) promises a ton of fun – whether you’re on the lookout for a family-friendly day out or you prefer just hanging out on your own.
Note: Remember to contact the attraction featured in the day trip, before hitting the road, to check for current hours, prices (if applicable), and to ensure it is still open.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
Pack your swimsuit – yes, you read right – for your day at Snowshoe Village. (Actually, you’ll have to stay overnight to use the pool, but who doesn’t need a getaway in bitter cold January?) Don’t expect to swim indoors, however, when you can admire the winter landscape all around you as you lounge in the heated outdoor pool at Split Rock Pools. If you’re really up for a winter adventure, slide down the snow-covered slide right into the warm water. Read more here.
Can you think of a better way to spend a day than on horseback, exploring the winter landscape? Autumn Breeze Stables welcomes guests to embark on an enchanting winter ride of two, three, or four hours. After your horseback riding adventure, inquire about taking a leisurely sleigh ride. Learn more here.
Make the most of every remaining moment of winter (spring starts this month – yay!) with a winter ziplining adventure at ACE Adventure Resort. Buckle in for a breathtaking winter adventure 100-feet above the ground. (It’ll be even prettier if it’s snowing.) Read more.
If you’ve been yearning to welcome spring with a leisurely day trip, we’ve got the perfect one for you. The day trip will take you to nine of West Virginia’s beautiful covered bridges – starting at Sarvis Fork Covered Bridge in Sandyville, winding all the way to Dents Run Covered Bridge in Morgantown. Click here for the entire itinerary, including a map.
Lift your glass in a toast to the lovely weather of May and the blossoming of flowers, thanks to April’s showers. The five-hour long (driving time only; you’ll have to figure in time to visit each destination) drive starts at Valley Falls State Park in Fairmont. Click here for everything you need to know, including checking out the directions, before you hit the road.
Summer’s heat will soon be taking over, if it hasn’t already, making June the perfect time to hang out on the water. Hop aboard a tube with River Riders in Harper’s Ferry. Floats along the river typically last two hours. However, that doesn’t have to be the end of your day. Follow up with canoeing, kayaking, or river rafting. Keep reading here.
Stay cool and have a blast at Water Ways in Julian, perhaps the state’s wackiest water park. Time will melt away at the water park that features slides, a lazy river, and a swimming pool.
Click here to plan your day away at the water park.
August is beach weather, so why not spend a day at the beach at Audra State Park? (Don’t expect a sandy beach, however, as the beach is made of rocks and concrete.) Spend the day splashing in the water and don’t forget to check out the pretty waterfall, too. Read more here.
We’re quickly plowing toward autumn, and we all know what that means! Time to head to a farm for a little fall fun. Byrnside Branch Farm promises a memorable experience for the whole family. (Check the website to see when fall events kick off in 2020.) Go pumpkin picking in the pumpkin patch. Get lost in a corn maze, and go on a farm tractor tour. Read more here.
Editor's Note: Autumn Colors Express has been canceled for 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic. Check out the website for 2021 dates
Climb aboard the Autumn Colors Express for a colorful journey along the New River Gorge from Huntington to Hinton and back. Previously, the fall foliage excursion has run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. You’ll have a few hour stopover in Hinton before returning back to Huntington. Learn more here.
Climb aboard the Autumn Colors Express for a colorful journey along the New River Gorge from Huntington to Hinton and back. Previously, the fall foliage excursion has run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. You’ll have a few hour stopover in Hinton before returning back to Huntington. Learn more here.
We’re on the cusp of winter, and that means spending as much time outdoors as we can. Dolly Sods Forest, tucked in Monongahela National Forest, boasts an intricate network of trails, perfect for a little winter hiking. A total of 47 miles of trails crisscrosses the park, including the .7 Beaver Dam Trail. Read more here.
Celebrate the Christmas season with a visit to the annual Winter Festival of Lights at Oglebay. (You can even stay overnight, if you want.) Visit the animals at The Good Zoo. Drive through the light attraction, and stroll along The Garden of Lights. Read more here.
Which of these are your favorite West Virginia day trips? Let us know in the comments! If you’re in the mood for a scenic road trip, hit the road on this Ultimate Waterfalls Road Trip.
Address: Snowshoe, WV 26209, USA
Address: 1 Concho road, Oak Hill, WV 25901, USA
Address: 408 Alstadts Hill Rd, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, USA
Address: 628 Waterway Rd, Julian, WV 25529, USA
Address: Byrnside Branch Farm, 170 Byrnside Branch Rd, Union, WV 24983, USA
Address: 935 7th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701, USA
Address: Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia 26264, USA
Address: 465 Lodge Dr, Wheeling, WV 26003, USA
