Tracks and trails through West Virginia

West Virginia has introduced a series of driving itineraries through its Mountain State highlighting its natural splendour, historical sites and unique culture.

George Washington Trail: History Comes Alive
The George Washington Heritage Trail winds through several Eastern Panhandle cities and towns with impressive histories. Visit the bathtub in Berkeley Springs where George Washington “took the waters.” See the arsenal at Harpers Ferry where John Brown led his abolitionist raid and enjoy shops and fine dining in Shepherdstown.

Berkeley Springs, home to the winter International Festival of the Waters, is a year-round destination for arts, crafts and antique lovers. The annual Berkeley County springhouse tour allows visitors to see some of the historic homes and buildings in this quaint town.

• Nearest Airport: Dulles International Airport in Washington DC

Track the Cranberry Wilderness
Cranberry Glades is one of the real natural wonders of West Virginia. Visit the home to the largest fully steerable radio telescope in the world – The National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank. Take a free tour and learn more about how scientists are studying the world beyond our atmosphere. The Pearl S. Buck Homeplace in Hillsboro is a rural tribute to the Nobel-prize-winning woman whose books about life in the Orient touched millions of readers around the world.

Three fly-drive options for travellers include:

• New York and fly to White Sulphur Springs, WV
• Dulles International Airport, Washington, DC
• Charlotte, NC

Midland Trail: West Virginia treasures
Along the Midland Trail, learn about the state’s African-American history and industrial beginnings. Visit Mountain Stage, the acclaimed public radio music programme for a new perspective on arts and entertainment and understand why West Virginia is “almost heaven.”

Experience the state’s rugged beauty from a bike, on a raft or on foot when visiting the New River Gorge National River area.

• Nearest airports: From New York, Washington DC, Charlotte or Cincinnati, fly to Charleston, WV’s Yeager Airport or Beckley, WV’s Raleigh County Airport

Lewis & Clark Expedition: History along the Ohio River
Many of the cities and town on the banks of the Ohio River are steeped in state and natural history. This excursion recalls the travels of famed early American explorers, Lewis & Clark. Along the way, mix history with recreation by golfing at Oglebay Park, taking a critter cruise at Blennerhassett Island or counting the tunnels along a bike ride at North Bend State Park.

The city of Wheeling hosts a number of festivals, including the Festival of Lights in November and December, Oktoberfest in the fall and celebrations to the area’s African-American, Celtic and Lithuanian heritage.

Hatfield & McCoy Trail:
The Hatfield-McCoy Recreation Area Trails offer more than 350 miles of freewheeling and the challenges of all-terrain vehicle driving while learning a little about the Hatfields and McCoys, who fought their way into history books and became synonymous with “family feud”.

• Any international gateway airport on the East Coast to Charleston’s Yeager Airport

Holiday Shopping and Spa Luxuries
Experience the spa treatments in West Virginia’s mountains. Glade Springs Resort’s year-round activities include golf, equestrian, outdoor adventure, and spa treatments. Nearby Tamarack and a holiday tour of historic Bramwell take visitors through the mountains to visit some of the state’s southern treasures.

Winterplace is Glade Spring’s sister property and offers downhill skiing, tubing and snowboarding.

• Fly into Dulles International in Washington, DC and take the commuter flight to Beckley, WV and rent a car or fly into Pittsburgh International Airport and take the commuter flight to Beckley.

A Little Bit of Switzerland
Like other states, West Virginia is a melting pot. Early settlers came from all over the world to carve out a new life for themselves here in the Mountain State. Some communities, like Helvetia, still reflect the essence of the individual cultures of the people who established the towns. Late in February, the residents of Helvetia welcome spring and chase away “Old Man Winter” with their Fasnacht celebration. A ride across the mountains will take visitors to serene Holly River State Park for trout fishing and hiking along brooks.

How to Travel There:
• From East Coast international gateway airports, fly to Charleston WV’s Yeager Airport and rent a car.

For more information, log on to Wvtourism.com.