Family Fun in Eastern West Virginia

The Eastern panhandle of wild and wonderful West Virginia is one of our favorite destinations for finding family fun. It is a great place to enjoy the great outdoors.

The eastern section (and most of the entire state) is very rural. Small cities are spread out, so if you want to stay in a chain hotel you’ll have to drive a bit to get to some of your destinations.  But the drive lies in the midst of beautiful, wild surroundings which are truly wonderful.

Family Fun in Harper’s Ferry in Eastern West Virginia

From the east, Harper’s Ferry is a great first destination.  This historical town is right at the borders of West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia.  Park at the Visitors Center and check it out, then take a 5 minute shuttle down to the town. Walk up to “the Point” where the Shenandoah River, C&O Canal, and the Potomac Rivers intersect. Here you can see all three states. Check out the historical buildings including famous abolitionist John Brown’s fort. Next, climb the hundreds of steps up to Jefferson’s rock to admire the view. Find more details about Harper’s Ferry at this post.

Berkeley Springs

There are also some weird and interesting little towns parked in various valleys that are just plain fun to visit. Berkeley Springs is one such town. Nestled into the Appalachians, this eclectic little town is brightened throughout with murals and art galleries, and warmed by natural hot springs that also bring many tourists to the area.  There is a tiny, urban state park here, where the hot springs are fed into stone channels. From here, the water is pumped into old Roman bathhouses that can be rented in half hour increments. 

We had the pleasure of trying one out several years ago. The staff kindly lowered the temperature for the kids, and we were able to add as much cold water as we needed. We could also open the window to the chilly mountain breeze.  Still, we were all red-faced by the end of our half hour.  It was crowded for the six of us, but definitely pleasant.

Cacapon State Park

Cacapon State Park is nearby, and a wonderful place for a hike, though perhaps not with the frigid November wind that was blowing when we went there! We did stop and enjoy the waterfalls at the entrance. The kids took the opportunity to roll down the giant grass hill next to it until I felt nauseous just looking at them.  We had lunch at the lodge, and found the food and service to be fine, and the views to be lovely.

Make sure to stop at several overlooks to enjoy the views.  Do yourself a favor and bring a selfie stick!  You may be the only people at the overlook, and you want to get your whole family and that spectacular view for your memory bank. October sports gorgeous fall foliage against the backdrop of more distant mountains in violet blue, with the closer ones adorned in scarlet and auburn. 

Family Fun in Blackwater Falls, West Virginia

Keep driving west and you hit Tucker County and Blackwater Falls.  The towns of Thomas and Davies are charming stops along the way to Blackwater Falls State Park, or places to stay with easy access to all kinds of beautiful spaces. The falls are impressive and the hike there easily doable with small children. 

You can reach the more secluded Elakala falls via a longer hike, but our children were quite young when we visited so we did not try it. The hike is known to be slippery, steep, and scrambling. Now that our children are older, we hope to go back and try it. We’d also like to go in winter and enjoy the longest sled run on the East Coast! Make reservations here. Another hike that is likely not safe for younger kids, but very enjoyable for an adventuring-loving adult, is Seneca Rocks. This is located about 45 minutes southeast of the park.

Canaan Valley

There are plenty of other parks, natural areas and ski resorts in the general area around Blackwater Falls, such as Canaan Valley. Staying in a cabin with a hot tub in this area makes for a heavenly retreat.  Be prepared for the fact that there is not much there, and you can go for miles without seeing a town or city.  This is part of the appeal, but it can be disconcerting when you are unfamiliar with the area and trying to find your cabin – get there during daylight hours if possible.  (Yes, we learned this the hard way!)  But, if given the chance to drive out in the fall and see the views of the Allegheny Mountains, you will not be sorry you did.

The hike to Pendleton Overlook is short and sweet (and great for kids) to see yet another beautiful view. There are also plenty of opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing at nearby Canaan Valley during a winter visit as well. If you go in the fall, you can still ride the ski lift to see the beautiful fall foliage views. This is an area that is truly beautiful in any season.