8 Off-The-Beaten-Path Towns In West Virginia
In 1748, a 16-year-old surveyor named George Washington stopped to bathe in the warm springs at what is now Berkeley Springs, and the town has run a public spa on the spot ever since. That kind of staying power turns up across West Virginia: Beckley sells the work of artisans from all 55 counties under one roof, Hinton still wears its Victorian railroad downtown, and Shepherdstown keeps landmarks from both the Revolutionary and Civil War periods within a few blocks of the Potomac. Eight towns, eight different reasons to slow down and look.
Beckley
Beckley is a fine place to visit, spend the night, or even live, with views of plateaus, farmlands, and forests in every direction. The town's best-known stop is the Tamarack Marketplace, one of West Virginia's signature shopping areas. It displays more than 20,000 works from over 2,800 artists and artisans representing all 55 counties in the state, alongside an Appalachian-cuisine restaurant. The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine offers a different look at local history, taking visitors on a guided tour through actual underground mine works that trace the region's coal-mining past. For a dose of the outdoors, Theatre West Virginia stages live music and plays at an outdoor amphitheater on the rim of the New River Gorge, mainly through the summer season.
Fayetteville
Fayetteville is an outdoor adventurer's paradise with plenty to do in and around the area. It sits right beside the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, making it a convenient base for anyone wanting to spend their days in the park.
The town is just outside the New River Gorge and its famous bridge. One way to take in the bridge is to walk across the catwalk beneath the deck on a Bridge Walk tour, which runs roughly two to three hours and pairs wide views with the history of the structure. The historic downtown is reasonably sized and walkable, with independent shops and small museums. Another historical spot is the Historic Morris Harvey House, the former home of one of the county's most notable residents, Morris Harvey. And for some great food, head to Pies and Pints, which serves pizzas on its signature dough with locally sourced toppings and sauces.
Hinton
A Victorian-era railroad town, Hinton is one of the gateway towns to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and sits close to Bluestone State Park and Pipestem Resort State Park. Its natural setting pairs nicely with a deep local history.
For food and a great view, Kirk's has a covered outdoor patio overlooking the New River and serves home-style food all day. Another testament to Hinton's history is The Ritz Theatre, a venue for movies, plays, and live music that sits on the West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail alongside other restored theaters around the state. The historic downtown district has restored many of the town's original buildings, now home to various stores. One such shop is Grandma's House, which sells antiques, collectibles, furniture, and more, with plenty waiting to be discovered inside.
Berkeley Springs
Long billed as America's first spa town, Berkeley Springs has built its reputation on the warm mineral waters that drew George Washington as a young surveyor in 1748. The town has attracted those waters' visitors for centuries and shows no sign of stopping.
Several massage and spa facilities cluster within a short walk of Berkeley Springs State Park, where the historic Old Roman Bath House offers private mineral soaks. For a more active day, Cacapon Resort State Park has trails suited to mountain biking, and there are paddling options along the Potomac River, where bald eagles are sometimes spotted.
Keyser
About 21 miles southwest of Cumberland, Maryland, Keyser mixes mountain scenery with Appalachian heritage. It is the town where historian and filmmaker Henry Louis Gates, Jr., got his start in higher education, attending Potomac State College. One of Keyser's best outdoor recreation areas is Jennings Randolph Lake, a 952-acre reservoir on the North Branch Potomac with boating, fishing, swimming, camping, picnic areas, and a trail to explore. Keyser also has more than two dozen churches, like the First United Methodist Church on Davis Street, first built in the late 1800s.
Shepherdstown
About an hour and a half from Baltimore and Washington, DC, Shepherdstown is a historic college town overlooking the Potomac River. Its streets are lined with 18th- and 19th-century architecture and full of locally owned shops and dining options.
Many of Shepherdstown's historic sites date to the Revolutionary and Civil War periods, among them the Pendleton Property. The building went up in the early 1800s and survived a major fire in 1912. Local stores have their own character, like Whimsical Necessities, a specialty retail shop selling gifts, art, and novelty items on East German Street. Walk far enough and you will spot the James Rumsey Monument, a 75-foot granite column commemorating the local inventor who demonstrated a working steamboat on the Potomac in 1787.
Lewisburg
Often named one of the best small towns to retire in and home to one of America's prettiest main streets, Lewisburg has plenty in store for visitors. The downtown core combines great dining and shopping, and the hills of the surrounding Greenbrier Valley make a fitting backdrop for the town.
Lewisburg is home to the Greenbrier Historical Society, a museum dedicated to the history of the Greenbrier Valley. Tours, archival research, historic programs, and rotating exhibits keep each visit different. The town is also home to Carnegie Hall, one of a handful of halls built with Andrew Carnegie's funding that still operate as performance venues worldwide. The Hall runs a full range of arts education classes, rotating gallery exhibits, free outdoor summer concerts, and public tours.
The shopping is a cut above the usual, with places like The Fancy Pheasant, which specializes in classic men's clothing, accessories, and gifts. Restaurants round out a visit, among them The Humble Tomato, a bar and restaurant serving fresh Italian dishes and classic favorites.
Davis
On the edge of the Monongahela National Forest, Davis is a high-elevation mountain town that offers the outdoors and good eateries in equal measure. It is also conveniently placed, with two state parks nearby for the warmer months and a ski resort for winter.
The signature natural draw is Blackwater Falls State Park. The park's centerpiece is Blackwater Falls, a 62-foot cascade where the Blackwater River drops into its canyon. Canaan Valley Resort State Park, a few miles south of town, adds golfing, skiing, and lodging.
In town, there are plenty of local favorites for a good meal. Sirianni's Pizza Café turns out traditional pizzas along with pasta, hoagies, and salads. The theme continues at Stumptown Ales, a brewery serving handcrafted beers in a relaxed, woody setting.
Eight Towns Across West Virginia
West Virginia packs a lot of variety into a short distance, and these eight towns show its range. Berkeley Springs leans on its centuries-old mineral springs, Beckley and Hinton draw on coal and railroad history, and Davis and Fayetteville sit at the doorstep of the state's best-known parks. Each one rewards a slower visit, whether the appeal is a soak in spring water, a walk across a gorge, or an afternoon among local artisans.
