8 Weekend Getaways in West Virginia with Ziplines, Spas, and Civil War History

A town with a name like Snowshoe might put images of snow-capped hills in your head, but all year long, visitors can find plenty to do during a weekend getaway. Skiing is the main sport, but since I’m not too fond of flying down a mountain on two fence posts, I prefer the Coca-Cola Tube Park for snow-related fun. Kids love it just as much, and since the equipment is provided with the cost of your two-hour pass, family fun isn’t cost-prohibitive. In the warmer months when the tube park is closed, Camp Wildcat offers plenty of different kid-friendly activities like horseback riding, paddle boarding, swimming, and archery.

While visiting Parkersburg, take a riverboat to the Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park. People have inhabited the island for 9,000 years — first the Ice Age hunters, then Native Americans before white settlers arrived in the late 1700s.

When on the island, a horse-drawn covered wagon tour allows you to save your walking feet while covering a much larger area of the island. You should also tour the Palladian mansion-turned museum which was built by Harmon Blennerhassett, the lesser-known co-defendant of Aaron Burr in their trial for treason. Gore Vidal spent a considerable amount of time in the mansion while writing his novel, Burr.

After a visit to this state park, you’ll see why the state slogan is, “Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.” The Blackwater Falls themselves appear on much of West Virginia’s tourism brochures and postcards thanks to their unique appearance. They’re considered the highest above ground falls in the state, cascading over the uppermost ledge of sandstone and dividing into separate formations halfway down. Seeing them in person is worth a weekend visit.

Hikes through the forest vary in skill level from casual meander to “I own my own hiking poles.” The natural rock formations are delightful to explore and can even provide shelter from an unexpected rainstorm in a pinch.

Berkeley Springs is synonymous with tranquility, a respite from the cacophony of the city. Start your Saturday morning with some caffeine at Fairfax Coffee House to recharge from your Friday night out at the Mountaineer’s Sports Bar and Grill.

For travelers in need of some pampering, Berkeley Springs offers several spa options. For those seeking an authentic, natural experience, the Old Roman Baths within Berkeley Springs State Park have private baths of mineral water. Nearby Atasia Spa provides more modern treatment options ranging from mud treatments to traditional massage.

Fall visitors might consider scheduling their trip around the annual Apple Butter Festival, where for two days, the town celebrates apple butter through parades, games in the town square, and yes, giant copper vats of apple butter being cooked in the middle of it all. Attendees can purchase raffle tickets to win the official Apple Butter quilt, handmade then machine-finished by members of Berkeley Springs’ own quilting guild. The quilt raffle has been a part of the festivities for 40 years.

Pasta lovers should make dining at Maria’s Garden a top priority. The menu may be simple, but don’t be fooled, the homemade food is excellent. Owner Peg Perry is a fascinating character who believes providing good food and lodging is her mission from the divine. Iconography and other religious artwork hang on most walls within the restaurant, and the property even has its own chapel. But there’s no religious requirement for enjoying lasagna at Maria’s, so don’t worry: heathens and heretics are all welcome.

Perhaps the most well-known destination in Charles Town is the Hollywood Casino at the Charles Town Races, where you can enjoy thoroughbred racing as well as slots and tables. I’m not the gambling type, but watching the horses is thrilling, and I’d never had the opportunity to see them in person. What a difference it makes from watching on television.

Harper’s Ferry is a fully immersive experience where visitors can learn 19th-century trades. At different times of the year, children and their caretakers can learn how to run a historical bakery, candy shop, and even try their hand at the blacksmith trade.

Right on the Appalachian Trail, Harper’s Ferry is an ideal weekend excursion for outdoor folks. Although if you prefer enjoying nature from a distance, Potomac Grille serves excellent food and drink while you gaze upon the densely-forested mountains from a comfortable chair.

After enjoying your lunch, make your way to the most famous spot in Harper’s Ferry, John Brown’s Fort. This was the site of an abolitionist revolt against slavery before the Civil War even began. This building has traveled out of state, having been moved to Chicago in the late 1800s before being returned to West Virginia where it has resided on two additional plots of land before finally coming home to its original location.

Shepherdstown is a quaint university town which maximizes its square footage. Shopping enthusiasts must stop into German Street Coffee and Candlery for coffee, teas, wines, West Virginia-made signs and gifts, and of course, a wonderful variety of candles. The Historic Shepherdstown Museum offers a history of the oldest town in West Virginia, as well as a permanent room for William Payton Smith, the ghost of a young man who died there after being shot during a card game. Visitors swear they can sometimes hear him crying out for his mother.

Yes, there’s both a Charles Town and a Charleston — and both are fantastic weekend getaways in West Virginia. If you don’t have a fear of heights, a zip line canopy tour at Ace Adventures Resort provides an otherwise inaccessible viewpoint of the New River Gorge while you walk atop the trees.

You’re fully harnessed as you alternate between short bursts of hiking and zip lining. Walking across the wobbly bridge can be intimidating, but as you shuffle underneath the forested canopy over dirt trail with the sound of squirrels rustling in the leaves and birds chirping overhead, you’ll be too pleasantly distracted.

​Established in 1867 as an agricultural college, West Virginia University’s (WVU) red brick buildings reflect the architectural style of the post-Civil War era. The school has grown tremendously from its first class of just under 200 students, and while the programs of study have expanded far beyond agriculture, its arboretum remains a testament to WVU’s commitment to nature and industry.

There are crags and hills to conquer at the arboretum, so be sure to wear sensible hiking shoes for your visit. But it’s all worth the effort to see the native West Virginia PawPaw trees, the native moths, and birds.