One of the most photogenic places in the whole of West Virginia, Blackwater Falls State Park certainly is majestic; the glorious waterfall that lies at its heart is undoubtedly the highlight of what is on show. Covering a vast swathe of territory in the Allegheny Mountains, the state park is centered around Canaan Valley and Blackwater River, with lots of lovely forests and woodlands found to either side.

Named for the dark waters of the Blackwater River, colored by tannic acid from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles, Blackwater Falls drops 60 feet over sandstone ledges before the river continues to rush through an eight-mile-long gorge. Also popular places to visit in the park are Elakala Falls, which cascade down the wall of the canyon and can be reached by a short trail, and Pendleton Falls, easily seen from a roadside pull-off.

The view into the Blackwater Canyon from Lindy Point, one of the most beautiful places in West Virginia, is another park highlight, as is Pendleton Point Overlook, at the canyon's deepest point. It is well worth camping overnight in the park if you have the opportunity. The park has a boating lake, as well as swimming, fishing, and camping. And it is one of the best places to visit in West Virginia.

Official site: http://www.blackwaterfalls.com/

Address: 1584 Blackwater Lodge Road, Davis, West Virginia

Phone: 304-259-5216

Entrance fee: no entrance fee

Google rating: 4.8/5.0

With elevations ranging from around 1,000 feet to 4,863 feet above sea level, the Monongahela National Forest offers beautiful views, wildlife, and the highest point in the state. The variety of terrain and rainfall across its more than 900,000 acres gives it one of the most diverse forest ecosystems in the country, supporting more than 225 bird species; 75 species of trees; and 70 fish species, both game and non-game.

Seneca Rocks is one of the best-known landmarks in West Virginia. These rocks have long been noted as a scenic attraction and are popular with rock climbers. The park are designated as the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, offering some of the best traditional multi-pitch technical climbing on the east coast. Seneca Rocks Trail is actually a well-maintained hiking trail to an observation platform with a gorgeous view of the rock faces.

Benches along the trail make great places to catch your breath. The trailhead features picnic areas and a visitor center. Some routes are moderate, but experts are challenged by the exposed summit pinnacle. You don’t need to be a climber to enjoy the park. Non-climbers can visit the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center, stay in the campgrounds at Seneca Shadows and Big Bend, go fishing, or hike and spot birds in the park’s thousands of acres of wildlands.

Official site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf

Address: 200 Sycamore Street, Elkins, West Virginia

Phone: (304) 567-2827

Entrance fee: N/A

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

The Greenbrier has earned its designation as a National Historic Landmark several times over. Located at White Sulphur Springs, which has been in use as a natural spa since the 1700s, the grand hotel has hosted 26 presidents, foreign dignitaries, and royalty, including Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. However grand and luxurious it is as a resort, it has played other historic roles, too.

Early in World War II, it was used as a detention center for German and Japanese diplomats who were in the United States when war was declared. Later in the war, it was commandeered by the U.S. Army to use as a hospital, where nearly 25,000 patients were treated. More than 50 different activities are available in the resort and in the 5,100-acre Greenbrier State Forest. Along with horseback riding, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, adventure courses, and a 40,000-square-foot spa, the resort has multiple golf courses (even an indoor one for winter) and a distinguished golf history as the venue for numerous championships.

Greenbrier State Forest offers cabins and campsites, swimming, fishing, bike trails and hiking - the 78-mile-long Greenbrier River Trail is a multi-purpose rail trail that is also used for cross-country skiing in the winter. A getaway in one of the centuries-old Legacy Cottages is one of the most romantic things to do in West Virginia.

Official site: https://www.greenbrier.com/

Address: 300 W. Main Street, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

Phone: (855) 453-4858

Entrance fee: $3 per person weekdays and $5 per person on weekends. Kids in car seats get in free.

Google rating: 4.6/5.0

Snowshoe is an unincorporated community in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States, centering on the Snowshoe Mountain ski resort. It is situated in the Allegheny Mountains at a bowl shaped convergence of two high mountain ridges — Cheat and Back Allegheny Mountains — at the head of the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River. Snowshoe is site of the second highest point in the state and the peak elevation for Cheat Mountain, at Thorny Flat.

Located on Cheat Mountain, Snowshoe Mountain Resort is the largest ski resort in the area. Consequently, every winter, hordes of skiers and snowboarders from all around the US and further afield descend upon its many slopes, pistes, and trails. With cute, cozy cabins for you to stay in, the resort is a lovely place to vacation. This year-round resort is best known for its skiing, with three separate areas to choose from, all with 100 percent snowmaking.

With an 800-foot vertical drop, Snowshoe Basin's 38 trails cover all experience levels, served by seven lifts, including a high-speed detachable quad. Of Silver Creek's 18 trails, 12 are open for night skiing. Steeps on Cupp Run, designed by legendary Olympian Jean-Claude Killy, and Shay's Revenge reach 52 percent pitch. In other seasons, activities include mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, geocaching, horseback riding, Segway tours, ziplining, trampolining, climbing, pedal boats, paddle boarding, canoeing, hiking, fishing, and golf at the Raven Golf Club. Not far away, in Greenbank, is the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. To sum up, Snowshoe is one of the best places to visit in West Virginia.

Official site: http://www.snowshoemtn.com

Address: 10 Snowshoe Drive, Snowshoe, West Virginia

Phone: 877-441-4386

Entrance fee: Adult (19 yrs & over). Youth (7-18 yrs) ; Nordic Skiing & Backcountry Skiing. $29.50. $15.75 ; Snowshoeing. $16.50.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0

The bathhouse at Berkeley Springs State Park, in the center of Berkeley Springs, first opened in 1930, but long before that bathing in the warm and effervescent mineral waters was popular. Home to a magnificent mineral spa that has been used for eons, Berkeley Springs State Park is a lovely place to head to if you want to unwind, relax, and bathe in its restorative waters. Long known for their medicinal powers, the warm waters bubble up from natural mineral springs.

The historic Roman bathhouse is very picturesque with all the lovely trees, gardens, and pools around it. Visitors can go for a dip in one of the baths, enjoy a steamy sauna, or book an invigorating massage. Baths and treatments take advantage of the five main springs and several smaller ones, flowing at a rate of 2,000 gallons of clear, sparkling water per minute at a constant 74.3 degrees Fahrenheit.

Located in the center of the small town of Berkeley Springs, the state park facilities include the old-fashioned private bathing tubs, saunas, and massages at the Old Roman Bath Building and Main Bath House; elsewhere in town are more luxurious private spas with a range of health and beauty options.

Official site: https://berkeleysprings.com/

Address: 77 Fairfax Street Berkeley Springs, WV 25411

Phone: 304-258-2711

Entrance fee: $5 adults; $4 children under 12

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

Contrary to its name, New River is actually one of the oldest rivers on the continent. As it flows into West Virginia, it cuts through the Appalachian Plateau, forming the New River Gorge and plenty of white water for tubing, rafting, and canoeing. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve comprises well over 70,000 acres along the New River, which is a rugged whitewater river that flows through deep, scenic canyons. Easily accessible by Route 19 and I-64, the New River Gorge is one of West Virginia’s most photographed areas. The iconic steel arch bridge was once the longest in the world and welcomes travelers to this cherished region.

Widely known as the second oldest river in the world, the New River cuts through extensive geological formations that make way for diverse flora and fauna. Bald eagles and peregrine falcons call this park home, and you’ll often spot a few along your travels. Hiking trails here take you to spectacular overlooks and through remnants of old coal mining towns. The park features a wide range of recreational opportunities. The gorge boasts some of the best whitewater rafting in the United States, features several popular climbing areas with over 1,400 established trails, and is one of the most popular places on the East Coast for rock climbing.

The park has more than 50 miles of hiking and multi-use trails and two visitors centers to help orient and inform guests. Other recreational opportunities are all around it: hiking, ziplining, hunting, fishing, bird-watching, camping, biking, and rock climbing. One of the state's most photographed sights is the soaring New River Bridge, the longest steel span in the hemisphere and the nation's third highest. Therefore, the New River Gorge National River is regarded as one of the best places to visit in West Virginia.

Official site: http://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm

Address: 162 Visitor Center Rd, Lansing, WV 25862

Phone: 304-574-2115

Entrance fee: No fee

Google rating: 4.8/5.0

It's no secret that West Virginia is one of the best places to go White Water Rafting. Several rivers offer world-class rapids for experts, and others are well-suited to less experienced and learning rafters. The most famous waters are in the Gauley River, between Summersville and Fayetteville, in the Gauley River National Recreation Area. Both the Gauley and New rivers are easily accessed from a base in nearby Babcock or Hawks Nest state parks.

Here, the 25-mile river flows at high speed through gorges and valleys, providing the thrill of a lifetime to experienced rafters; it's no wonder the Class V rapids are nicknamed the "Beast of the East". Fall is the time to find the most challenging flow, but at any time it's a good idea to hire an experienced guide who knows the river and its quirks and can help you find the places that are best suited to your own experience level.

Although it's known for its Class V rapids the Gauley has some stretches of Class III that are suitable for intermediate levels. For those with less experience, the Tygart River, Cheat River, and Potomac River are good options, as is the Upper New River, which has good stretches for beginners. Lower New River has Class IV rapids that offer runs past the New River Gorge Bridge.

Official site: https://whitewater.org/

Address: 1 Concho road, Oak Hill, WV 25901

Phone: 844-895-4176

Entrance fee: $65 - $110 per person (full day trips typically include lunch)

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole of the state, Harpers Ferry is located at the point where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet, with enchanting, forest-coated mountains all around it. Due to its strategic location, the small town was fiercely fought over during the American Civil War. As such, there are a number of interesting historical sights for you to check out, with plenty of old buildings and important landmarks on show.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park has museums, historical exhibits, and programs, plus about 20 miles of hiking trails. You can explore the rocks where the rivers meet and walk up to St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church and the old cemetery on the hill behind it. While many visitors come to learn more about the role Harpers Ferry played in the Civil War and to see its many sights, just as many come to enjoy the magnificent wilderness in the area.

Whether it’s ziplining, whitewater rafting, or inner tubing, there are loads of fun activities for you to try out. You also can hike along the scenic Appalachian Trail is a must if you’re looking to immerse yourself in nature. While Harpers Ferry is undoubtedly quite a touristy place, there is a lovely laidback vibe to the town, with lots for you to see and do.

Official site: https://www.nps.gov

Address: 767 Shenandoah St, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425

Phone: 304-535-6029

Entrance fee: from $7 to $10

Google rating: 5.0/5.0

At the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, you can relive the Golden Age of Steam on a line built in 1901 to haul lumber from the forest to the mill, riding in refurbished logging flat-cars pulled by an original Shay steam locomotive. The full 4.5-hour trip includes switchbacks that allow the train to climb grades as high as 11 percent to reach Bald Knob. At an altitude of 4,700 feet, this is West Virginia's third highest point, overlooking spectacular views.

At Whittaker Station, a 1940s logging camp has been recreated, with the living quarters and the equipment. At the base, you can tour a museum and the depot and see restored company houses that can be rented for overnight stays. As well as taking you through some lovely countryside, the Cass Scenic Railroad also takes you into the past, as you ride in a beautiful old carriage pulled by a steam-driven locomotive.

Hearing the whistle blow and seeing steam billow out above the train is a magical experience, and train lovers will enjoy taking a ride on the heritage railroad. Surrounding the tracks is a delightful state park of the same name. Around the historic lumber mill town of Cass, there are many beautiful hills and valleys for you to explore, with hiking, mountain biking, and boating all on offer.

Official site: https://www.cassrailroad.com

Address: 12363 Cass Rd, Cass, WV 24927

Phone: 304-456-4300

Entrance fee: 45-85 USD per person

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

Known as one of the best places to visit in West Virginia, Cane Brook joins the New River a short distance east of Gauley Bridge, but before it does, the stream drops more than 100 feet from the mountains above. The lower 60 feet of its plunge are visible from a roadside stop on Route 60. The falls are one of the highest waterfalls in the state and are known for their impressive height and natural beauty. It is because of its stone formation around the waterfalls, it resembles that of a Cathedral’s pillars that is why it was named Cathedral Falls.

The stones are like the huge posts of a Cathedral, though they come in different shapes. It is also the boundary of the two Barangays of Kapatagan namely Barangay Cathedral Falls and Barangay Waterfalls. There are certain reasons making it not that attractive to tourists. One reason maybe, most of the tourists prefer to visit places not only for the view but for the activities around. For now, the local government is planning on the development of Cathedral Falls thereby making it attractive to tourists.

The waterfall, with its setting amid overhanging foliage, is a favorite for photographers, especially in the fall when the hardwoods are in their autumn colors. Along with being one of the most beautiful waterfalls in West Virginia, Cathedral Falls is also the most accessible, with a roadside viewing area. . For those who enjoy waterfalls, other nearby falls include Kanawha Falls, Mill Creek Falls, and the falls on Laurel Creek.

Official site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/

Address: Route 60, Gauley Bridge, WV 25085

Phone: N/A

Entrance fee: $135 per adult, $115 per child 4 to 12 years old (hiking option only)

Google rating: 4.8/5.0