Top Tourist Attractions in West Virginia: A Regional Travel Guide

Below is a region-by-region guide to popular in-state tourist destinations, featuring a mix of scenic parks, historic sites and attractions for all ages.

Whether you’re a nature lover, history buff or traveling with family, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia has something for everyone.

North-Central West Virginia (Mountaineer Country)

Coopers Rock State Forest – Just east of Morgantown, this 12,000-acre forest is a haven for hikers and nature lovers. Its iconic cliff overlook reveals a breathtaking view of the Cheat River Gorge from 1,200 feet above​. Visitors can enjoy 50 miles of trails, rock climbing and picnics while taking in panoramic vistas of autumn foliage or spring wildflowers.

Prickett’s Fort State Park – Step back to the 18th century at this living history site near Fairmont. A reconstructed log fort commemorates the frontier refuge of 1774, complete with costumed interpreters demonstrating colonial-era blacksmithing, weaving and even musket manufacturing. History enthusiasts can tour the fort and the 1850s Prickett House to learn about pioneer life on Virginia’s western frontier.

Valley Falls State Park – Straddling the Tygart Valley River between Marion and Taylor counties, Valley Falls delights visitors with four picturesque waterfalls cascading over terraced rocks. Families often come to this quiet day-use park for riverside picnics, easy hiking trails and photography. The roaring falls—remnants of an old milling town—provide an idyllic backdrop for outdoor relaxation and weddings.

Eastern Panhandle

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park – At West Virginia’s eastern tip, Harpers Ferry offers a unique blend of history and outdoor recreation. The charming 19th-century village is preserved as a national park where you can stroll quaint streets and tour Civil War-era buildings. History buffs can follow in John Brown’s footsteps at the armory and fire engine house, while hikers can trek up to Maryland Heights for sweeping views of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers converging below. Learn more about hauntings and paranormal tourism in Harpers Ferry, read our article on America's oldest ghost tour.

Berkeley Springs – Famed as America’s first spa town, Berkeley Springs (also known as Bath, W.Va.) has drawn visitors since colonial times to its warm mineral springs. George Washington bathed here, and today travelers come to soak in the historic Roman bathhouses at Berkeley Springs State Park. The town’s walkable streets are lined with art galleries, bath spas and eclectic shops, offering a relaxing retreat for couples and families alike. Visiting Berkeley Springs? Check out our in-depth feature on this lovely town.

Cacapon Resort State Park – Nestled in the Panhandle’s wooded mountains, Cacapon Resort provides an outdoor playground for all ages. The park boasts a sandy beach lake for summertime swimming, 20+ miles of hiking trails, fishing streams and an 18-hole golf course. A hike up Cacapon Mountain (the Eastern Panhandle’s highest peak at 2,300 feet) rewards adventurers with an overlook spanning three states. After active days, visitors can unwind at the park’s modern lodge or rental cabins.

Potomac Highlands

Seneca Rocks & Monongahela National Forest – One of West Virginia’s most photographed natural wonders, Seneca Rocks is a sheer quartzite formation soaring nearly 900 feet above the North Fork River valley. Rock climbers challenge its towering crags, while other visitors hike a trail to an observation platform for stunning mountain views. Surrounded by the Monongahela National Forest, the area offers abundant hiking, trout fishing and backcountry camping. Nearby, the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center provides exhibits and guides for exploring this Appalachian landscape.

Blackwater Falls State Park – This beloved state park near Davis showcases the rugged beauty of the Allegheny Mountains. Its namesake Blackwater Falls tumbles 60 feet over amber-tinted sandstone ledges, creating an iconic cascade that’s accessible year-round via boardwalk steps. Visitors can also seek out Elakala Falls and Pendleton Point Overlook for more vistas of the canyon’s gorge. With campgrounds, cabins and easy trails, Blackwater Falls is a must-see for nature photographers and family travelers in any season.

Cass Scenic Railroad State Park – All aboard for a trip back in time on this historic steam railroad. Cass Scenic Railroad, in Pocahontas County, lets visitors ride vintage Shay locomotives that once hauled timber through high mountain switchbacks. The train chugs up to Bald Knob (4,700 feet elevation) – West Virginia’s third-highest peak – offering spectacular mountain vistas at the summit. Along the 4.5-hour journey, you’ll pass through a recreated 1940s logging camp and hear the haunting echo of the whistle in the wilderness. This attraction is family-friendly and educational, bringing the state’s logging and railroad heritage to life. For more information about the fun things you can do at Cass, WV, click here!

Green Bank Observatory – Located in Pocahontas County, the Green Bank Observatory is home to the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope. Visitors can explore the science of astronomy with guided tours, exhibits, and hands-on activities. It’s a unique destination for science lovers, nestled within the National Radio Quiet Zone.

Mountain Lakes

Summersville Lake – With 2,790 acres of water and 60 miles of shoreline, Summersville Lake is West Virginia’s largest lake and a hub for summer fun. Visitors can rent boats or kayaks to explore its clear waters set against scenic cliffs. Swimming, water-skiing and even scuba diving are popular in the lake’s coves. Rock climbers and cliff jumpers are drawn to the towering sandstone bluffs above the lake, while anglers come for bass and walleye. Nearby, the Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park overlooks the Gauley River and commemorates a key 1861 Civil War clash for control of the region.

Stonewall Resort State Park – Overlooking Stonewall Jackson Lake near Weston, this resort park offers a mix of outdoor recreation and relaxation. Boating and fishing are favorite activities on the 2,600-acre lake, which is one of five major lakes in this region. The park’s AAA Four-Diamond lodge, cottages and campground accommodate all travel styles. Families can hike lakeside trails or play golf by day, then enjoy s’mores by a campfire under the stars. The park is also known for its annual events and lakeside concerts that draw visitors throughout the year.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (Weston) – A National Historic Landmark, this imposing Gothic asylum was built between 1858 and 1881 and is steeped in history. It holds the title of the largest hand-cut stone masonry building in the Americas (surpassed globally only by the Kremlin). Originally a psychiatric hospital, today the asylum welcomes tourists for guided tours that explore its Victorian architecture, Civil War era origins and stories of patients’ treatments over 130 years. Specialty tours even delve into paranormal lore, as both the asylum and the region’s old West Virginia Penitentiary have become popular spots for ghost hunters.

Northern Panhandle

Oglebay Park (Wheeling) – Spanning 1,700 acres of rolling hills in Wheeling, Oglebay is a unique city park resort offering year-round activities for all ages. Visitors can tour the Good Zoo (home to 50+ species, including rare and endangered animals), stroll the botanical gardens, or enjoy horseback riding, hiking, golf and swimming on the grounds. In winter, Oglebay shines with one of the nation’s largest holiday light displays – the six-mile Winter Festival of Lights, which draws thousands of families to drive through its glowing exhibits. With a lodge, cottages and picnic areas, Oglebay Park invites family-friendly recreation in a beautiful setting. For more information about Oglebay bark and resort, check out our feature on it!

West Virginia Independence Hall (Wheeling) – Often called the birthplace of West Virginia, Independence Hall is a museum and historic building where the state’s creation took shape during the Civil War. Built in 1859 as a federal custom house, it hosted the Wheeling Conventions of 1861 that led to West Virginia’s statehood in 1863. Today visitors can tour the restored Victorian-era chambers and see exhibits on statehood and Civil War history, including original documents and Civil War battle flags. This National Historic Landmark offers an enlightening stop for history enthusiasts exploring Wheeling’s heritage.

Moundsville Attractions – The city of Moundsville, south of Wheeling, features two remarkable attractions side by side. The West Virginia Penitentiary is a forbidding Gothic prison (operational 1876–1995) that now offers guided tours through its cell blocks and grim history. Visitors hear tales of infamous inmates, daring escapes and prison riots as they walk through one of America’s creepiest former penitentiaries. Right across the street, the Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex preserves the largest burial mound of the ancient Adena culture. The enormous earth mound stands 62 feet high and about 250 feet across, built by hand around 250 B.C.. At the site’s Delf Norona Museum, you can view 2,000-year-old artifacts excavated from the mound and learn about the prehistoric people who constructed this feat of engineering.

Palace of Gold (New Vrindaban) – Just outside Moundsville, the Palace of Gold is a breathtaking mountaintop shrine often called "America’s Taj Mahal." Originally built as a residence for the Hare Krishna community’s founder in the 1970s, it is now a public attraction adorned with marble, gold leaf, stained glass, and intricate carvings. Visitors can stroll the surrounding rose gardens and enjoy panoramic views of the Appalachian foothills. Guided tours provide insight into the site's religious significance and history, making it a spiritual and cultural destination unique to the region. Learn more abut the Palace of Gold in our article all about it's history!

Mid-Ohio Valley

Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park – History and adventure await on this Ohio River island at Parkersburg. A sternwheeler riverboat ferry carries visitors to Blennerhassett Island, where a grand 1800s mansion has been reconstructed on the estate of Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett. Costumed guides lead tours through the elegant mansion, bringing to life the story of the Blennerhassetts and their notorious association with Aaron Burr’s alleged treason plot. Visitors can also enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides around the island’s scenic grounds. With picnic areas and bike rentals, this excursion is a favorite for families – allow a few hours for the sternwheeler ride and exploration.

North Bend State Park & Rail Trail – Near Cairo, W.Va., North Bend State Park offers classic outdoor recreation with a tranquil 305-acre lake at its center. Fishing, kayaking and lakeside camping are popular in the park, as well as hiking trails that showcase wildflowers and wildlife. North Bend is also the gateway to the North Bend Rail Trail, a 72-mile multi-use trail that stretches west toward Parkersburg along a former B&O Railroad line. Bicyclists and horseback riders can traverse 36 bridges and pass through numerous tunnels (including a haunted tunnel, legend says) on this relatively flat trail that winds through rural countryside. It’s a draw for both outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs, as trail signage interprets the region’s railroad and industrial heritage.

Henderson Hall (Williamstown) – Overlooking the Ohio River north of Parkersburg, Henderson Hall offers a fascinating peek into 19th-century plantation life in western Virginia. This sprawling 29-room Italianate mansion was built in 1836 and remained in the Henderson family for five generations. Remarkably, the home’s original furnishings and artifacts are intact – from a 12-foot gilded mirror to an antique grand piano – giving it the feel of a time capsule. Now a museum, Henderson Hall welcomes visitors for guided tours through parlors and bedchambers filled with Victorian antiques. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and provides an educational stop for those interested in Civil War-era and Gilded Age history on the Ohio River.

Metro Valley (Charleston & Huntington Area)

West Virginia State Capitol (Charleston) – The gold-domed Capitol in Charleston is an architectural jewel and a must-see for visitors to the capital city. Designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert, the Capitol features a 293-foot dome coated in real gold leaf – 5 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol’s dome in Washington. Free guided tours inside showcase Italian marble interiors, crystal chandeliers and historical exhibits. Just next door, the West Virginia State Museum (admission free) offers a journey through state history – from prehistoric times to modern day – with artifacts like a telescope used by George Washington and a 19th-century flea circus exhibit. It’s an enlightening stop for families and history buffs alike.

Heritage Farm Museum & Village (Huntington) – This award-winning Appalachian heritage museum in Huntington immerses visitors in pioneer-era history. Heritage Farm is a recreated 19th-century village that includes multiple museums, historic log buildings, artisan workshops and even a petting zoo. Families can watch blacksmiths and potters at work, stroll through a frontier homestead, and see antique farm equipment. For kids (and the young at heart), there’s also an adventure park with zip lines, a high-ropes course and mountain bike trails. Recognized as West Virginia’s first Smithsonian Affiliate museum, Heritage Farm offers an interactive look at Appalachian culture and innovation, making learning fun for all ages.

Point Pleasant & Mothman Museum – In the river town of Point Pleasant, folklore and pop culture intersect at the world’s only Mothman Museum. This quirky museum chronicles the famous 1966 sightings of the red-eyed “Mothman” creature that inspired books and a movie. Visitors can see newspaper clippings, eyewitness sketches and props related to the legend. Outside, snap a photo with the iconic metallic Mothman statue on Main Street. Each September, the town hosts the Mothman Festival celebrating its paranormal heritage with guest speakers and costume contests. The museum and statue are open year-round, offering a fun and offbeat stop for families driving through the Metro Valley region. Aside from Mothman lore, Point Pleasant also features Tu-Endie-Wei State Park at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, honoring the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant and offering pleasant riverfront views.

Hatfield-McCoy Mountains

Hatfield-McCoy ATV Trails – This region in southern West Virginia is famed for the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System, a network of over 700 miles of off-road ATV and dirt bike trails​. Winding through the rugged mountains of Mingo, Logan, Wyoming and McDowell counties, these trails form one of the largest off-highway vehicle trail systems in the world​. Riders of all skill levels can find suitable paths – from scenic ridge rides to technical muddy climbs – while enjoying panoramic views of Appalachian valleys. Several trailheads are near ATV-friendly towns like Gilbert and Man, which welcome visitors with lodging, rentals and Southern hospitality. It’s an outdoor paradise for adventure seekers looking to kick up some dust.

Historic Matewan & Mine Wars Museum – The coalfield town of Matewan is a National Historic Landmark that preserves the turbulent history of West Virginia’s Mine Wars. On Matewan’s Main Street in 1920, union coal miners clashed with Baldwin-Felts agents in a famous shootout known as the Matewan Massacre, which left 10 men dead​. Today, travelers can walk the very streets where this battle for workers’ rights occurred – some buildings still bear bullet marks. The West Virginia Mine Wars Museum in Matewan is filled with artifacts and exhibits about the miners’ struggles to unionize in the early 20th century​. Knowledgeable local guides (many with family ties to the mine wars) vividly recount the events of the Battle of Matewan and the larger coal wars, making this a powerful stop for history enthusiasts.

Hatfield and McCoy Feud Sites – In these same mountains, you can explore remnants of the legendary Hatfield-McCoy family feud that gripped the Tug Fork Valley in the late 1800s. The bitter clash between the Hatfield family of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky unfolded in the hills and hollows around Matewan and Williamson​. Today visitors can take a self-guided driving tour to key feud sites, such as the Hatfield Family Cemetery in Sarah Ann (where patriarch “Devil Anse” Hatfield is buried beneath a life-size statue) and the Mate Creek area where the feud’s deadly 1882 skirmishes occurred. There’s also a Hatfield-McCoy Feud Museum in Williamson with photos and relics. These sites offer a tangible link to one of America’s most famous family feuds, giving travelers a dose of folklore and Appalachian history tied to the region’s identity.

Chief Logan State Park – For a more lighthearted outing, Chief Logan State Park near Logan provides a pleasant mix of recreation and heritage. This park features hiking trails that weave through lush hillsides, a small lake for fishing, and an outdoor amphitheater that hosts summer dramas. At the park’s wildlife center, families can see live animals like black bears, bobcats and birds of prey that have been rehabilitated. Chief Logan also houses a coal mining museum with exhibits on the area’s mining history, including a restored coal camp house. It’s an easily accessible stop off U.S. 119 that appeals to families, offering picnic shelters, a public swimming pool, and a playground in addition to its educational displays.

New River-Greenbrier Valley

New River Gorge National Park & Bridge – The New River Gorge, a rugged canyon carved by one of Earth’s oldest rivers, is the centerpiece of West Virginia’s newest national park. Outdoor enthusiasts flock here for world-class whitewater rafting, rock climbing and hiking​. Trails like the Endless Wall and Long Point lead to stunning vistas of the New River Gorge Bridge, a steel arch bridge towering 876 feet above the river. Once the world’s longest single-span arch, this engineering marvel is celebrated every October on Bridge Day, when the bridge is closed to traffic and opened to BASE jumpers and festival-goers. Year-round, visitors can walk the catwalk beneath the bridge on guided Bridge Walk tours or simply admire it from viewpoints in the national park. With its mix of adrenaline-pumping activities and scenic beauty, the New River Gorge area is a top destination for adventure travelers. For more about the offers of the New River Gorge National Park, click here!

The Greenbrier Resort (White Sulphur Springs) – Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains, the Greenbrier is a luxury historic resort that has hosted guests since 1778, including 27 U.S. Presidents. This sprawling estate features exquisite architecture, manicured gardens, championship golf courses and a world-class mineral spa. History lovers can join the popular Bunker Tour to see the once-secret underground bunker built to shelter Congress during the Cold War – a facility hidden in plain sight until it was declassified in 1992. Beyond its rich history, the Greenbrier offers activities from falconry and carriage rides to boutique shopping and fine dining. Even if you’re not an overnight guest, you can visit for the day to stroll the grand lobby (designed in Dorothy Draper’s famous flamboyant style), enjoy afternoon tea, or attend seasonal events. The Greenbrier’s blend of elegance, history and hospitality epitomizes the appeal of the Greenbrier Valley region.

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine – Experience West Virginia’s coal heritage firsthand at this unique interpretive attraction in Beckley. Don a hard hat and ride a mining cart underground into a vintage coal mine as retired miners lead the tour. They’ll share personal stories to illustrate the harsh and often dangerous working conditions miners faced deep inside the mountain. Above ground, the recreated 20th-century coal camp features a miner’s house, company store, church and schoolhouse, allowing visitors (including kids) to wander through and imagine daily life in a coal town. A adjacent children’s museum offers interactive exhibits, making it a great family stop. This exhibition mine provides an authentic look at a cornerstone of West Virginia’s culture and economy, packaged in an educational and engaging experience.

Lost World Caverns – Near Lewisburg, an underground wonderland awaits at Lost World Caverns, a U.S. National Natural Landmark. A self-guided tour descends 120 feet below the earth into a vast cave chamber filled with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites. Highlights include the “Snowy Chandelier,” a 30-ton calcite formation documented as one of the nation’s largest stalactites, and the “War Club,” a 28-foot tall stalagmite that earned fame when a caver sat atop it for 16 days to set a Guinness World Record. The cave’s well-lit walkways make it easy for families to explore this subterranean landscape at their own pace (a constant 52°F temperature, so bring a jacket). After marveling at the cave formations, visitors can check out the Dinosaur Museum and fossil gift shop on site. Lost World Caverns offers a fun contrast to the region’s outdoor adventures, giving a glimpse into the ancient geological forces that shaped West Virginia.

Each region of West Virginia offers its own slice of “Almost Heaven”

– from adrenaline adventures in the New River Gorge to peaceful lake vistas in the Mountain Lakes, and from Civil War landmarks in the Eastern Panhandle to coal country lore in the Hatfield-McCoy Mountains. These popular in-state destinations showcase the state’s diverse appeal. With something for everyone, West Virginia invites travelers to explore its scenic roads and small towns year-round, discovering new favorites across its wild and wonderful landscape.

Ready to hit the road or plan your next local getaway? Check out these related WV News travel features for more ideas:

• Discover hidden gems in the Scenic Drives of West Virginia
• Find year-round wonder at the Waterfalls of West Virginia
• Discover Morgantown’s charm and attractions in our Morgantown Visitor’s Guide
• Dive into subterranean experiences in our West Virginia Cave Adventures
• Embrace winter activities with our Winter Fun in West Virginia feature
• Indulge in some self-care activities around the Mountain State