One of the best parts of visiting a new area is finding all the surprisingly little spots that don’t always make it into the guidebooks. West Virginia has plenty of cool hidden places and surprises. Here are a few of our favorites.

1. Elk Springs Resort, Monterville
Elk Springs Resort
This 22 acre resort along the Elk River has some of the best fishing in West Virginia. Even if you don't fish, there are plenty of ways to relax in nature.

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2. Stephano's, Morgantown
Rachel Whetstone/Only In Your State
This fine dining restaurant is surprisingly hidden under a bowling alley. See why the food and atmosphere is an unexpected delight.

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3. Lake Sherwood
Chris Clark/Panoramio
This secluded forest lake looks like a place in a storybook. Relax on the beach or explore the island.

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4. Lambert's Winery, Weston
TripAdvisor/mmmatthews
This beautiful winery is surrounded by gardens and places to relax and enjoy the scenery. See where wines are made and try some samples before you buy.

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5. Thoney Pietro's Castle, Morgantown
Flickr/Zach McCormick
Also known as the Good Counsel Friary, this historic home looks like something from a fairy tale.

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6. The West Virginia Botanical Garden, Morgantown
West Virginia Botanic Garden/Facebook
Just down the road from the castle is this stunning garden and natural area. It's secluded enough that it feels like your own secret garden.

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7. Elk River Inn and Restaurant, Slatyfork
Elk River Inn and Restaurant
This secluded restaurant gets most of their customers from ski resorts in the winter, but they also have farm-to-table dinners throughout the year.

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8. Island-in-the-Sky trail, Clifftop
Panoramio/Dale Stafford
This short hike in Babcock State Park will lead you to a hidden pavilion that looks out over a cliff.

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9. Thurmond
Trixie.in.Dixie/Flickr
Nearly a ghost town, this little town has only 5 living residents today. However, the town is remarkably well preserved by the National Park Service, and you can visit.

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10. Buffalo Trail campground, Bluewelll
Buffalo Trail/Facebook
You can spend the night in a treehouse in this forested campground in the small community of Bluewell. Real buffalo roam the campground, and you can get a taste of the meat in the restaurant.

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11. The Sinks of Gandy
WikiMedia Commons/Valerius Tygart
This strange landmark is a natural tunnel through the rock where Gandy creek disappears into the ground. It's been the subject of both true and fictional adventure stories in West Virginia.

Read more here.

Looking to explore more of the Mountain State? Here are some of West Virginia’s most underrated places that deserve more attention.

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