This is the perfect time of year for a road trip, but with all the places to see in West Virginia, there are any number of road trips you can take. Here’s one of them.
Your trip begins in Charleston, our capital city. While there, you can visit The Clay Center, The Charleston Town Center, The Capital Market, and the Capital Complex. While at the Capital Complex, do not forget to visit the West Virginia State Museum, which offers a walk thorough WV's timeline, from an ancient coal forest to the modern day.
Next, follow the Kanawha river along Rt. 60 (the Midland Trail) to Kanawha Falls. The falls are located on the east bank of the Kanawha River, you just have to cross the Depwater-Cottton Bridge (Rt. 13) and make a left on to Rt. 13/2 to the falls.
Next, return to Rt. 60 and follow the river two miles to Main Street (on the left), into the small town of Gauley Bridge, a historic little town dating back to the 1800s. Along the Gauley River, adjacent to Main St. you can observe the piers that mark the remains of a bridge destroyed by Confederate troops in 1861.
A little further down Rt. 60 will take you to Cathedral Falls, and not far past the town of Chimney Corner is Mystery Hole, an odd roadside attraction where the laws of gravity don't seem to apply, and all sense of balance is thrown askew.
Once you have delved into the bizarre Mystery Hole, a very short drive down Rt. 60 leads into Hawk's Nest State Park. While there, you can go hiking, visit a museum, ride the serial tramway, find lodging and follow a trail to the overlook, which gives you an impressive view of the New River from a height of 750 feet.
Next, continue along Rt. 60 for seven miles to the town of Hico, and turn left on Rt. 19 to the New River Gorge Bridge. There are two ways to experience this bridge. The first is to take the Bridge Walk, which leads you on a guided tour beneath the roadway. Check out this article for more information on the Bridge Walk.
The second way is to follow the Canyon Rim Overlook Boardwalk for a cool hike and incredible views of the bridge. Check out this article for more information on the trail.
Once you have experienced the bridge from several prospectives, return to Rt. 19 back to Hico, and turn right on Rt. 60 to reach the final location on your road trip. Follow 60 for about 50 miles, then turn right onto Rt, 219 into historic Lewisburg. While there, you can find a hotel, many dining opportunities and great shops to visit. Check out this article for more information about lewisburg and what to do there.
