Weekend getaways to W. Va? (Charleston, Parkersburg: to rent, houses, theater)
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I live in Columbus, Ohio and am looking for weekend getaways to W. Va. Ideally, 2-4 hours from Columbus. I am looking for small town Americana, close to a lot of nature. They could be bed and breakfasts, or cabins in the woods. Anything where I can get away from the 'hustle and bustle' and enjoy nature and relax for the weekend.
I live in Columbus, Ohio and am looking for weekend getaways to W. Va. Ideally, 2-4 hours from Columbus. I am looking for small town Americana, close to a lot of nature. They could be bed and breakfasts, or cabins in the woods. Anything where I can get away from the 'hustle and bustle' and enjoy nature and relax for the weekend.
Thanks
Many state parks have cabins or cottages to rent: WV State Parks. Personally, I prefer Watoga (Pocahontas County, near Hillsboro) and Blackwater Falls (Tucker County, near Davis), but Tomlinson Run and North Bend are closer to Columbus.
Elkins (Randolph County) is a nice smallish city to spend a weekend in. Many houses and buildings from the heyday of the coal and timber industries (~1900) remain. The rail yard is being redeveloped; you can see the Branson-style musical theater show at American Mountain Theater one night and ride the Mountain Explorer Dinner Train the next. In between, you can drive or hike in part of the million acre Monongahela National Forest.
There are no shortages of things to do and see in West Virginia... I'm sure others in this forum will be chiming in with their own favorites.
I would also recommend North Bend State Park as well if coming from Columbus and you want something not too far away. Just 20 miles or so from Parkersburg/Marietta area, maybe 2 1/2 hours from Columbus to the park. It's on Route 50 going east to Clarksburg. It may not be as grand and scenic as some of our other state parks, but it's closer, and if you just want to relax and be with nature, it will fit the bill. They do have a nice restaurant, lodge, and cabins there. It's very isolated and not crowded. Our very best state parks are naturally way up in the mountains. If you want to drive further, Blackwater Falls or Canaan Valley would be my top 2 choices, about 5 hours from Columbus.
We always enjoy Pipestem (another state park) in the southern end of the state and riding the tram down the side of the mountain down to the Bluestone River at the bottom. There is actually a lodge down there accessed via the tram and also a restaurant. There is also another lodge (the main one) that has an indoor pool as well as a good restaurant but plenty of outdoors to explore as well.
Not small town America but, one of our favorite places to go in the state is Stonewall Resort on Stonewall Lake. There is a wonderful lodge and a fabulous restaurant but also cottages on the lake. You can take the boat tour around the lake or rent boats and cruise around the lake yourself. Maybe not the getaway you are thinking of but just throwing it out there as a nice place to visit in WV.
There are lots of scenic places in West Virginia. Depending on what you are looking for, I'd suggest
Chestnut Ridge County Park near Morgantown, or Oglebay Park near Wheeling.
Both have nice cabins and so forth. Chestnut Ridge is more rustic and in nature, if you will, while Oglebay is a world class municipal park, easily the best municipal park in West Virginia and possibly in the world.
The West Virginia state parks are also all very nice.
Another option, Lewisburg, is a bit farther than you were looking at but only by about 30mins. The town is in the Greenbrier River valley and is perhaps the most historic looking town in the state.
There are lots of scenic places in West Virginia. Depending on what you are looking for, I'd suggest
Chestnut Ridge County Park near Morgantown, or Oglebay Park near Wheeling.
Both have nice cabins and so forth. Chestnut Ridge is more rustic and in nature, if you will, while Oglebay is a world class municipal park, easily the best municipal park in West Virginia and possibly in the world.
The West Virginia state parks are also all very nice.
If he believes what he said how is that a stretch for him?
It's like me saying Charleston's public transit is on par to NYC's. It might be my opinion, but it would obviously be a very large stretch to anyone I told it to.
It's like me saying Charleston's public transit is on par to NYC's. It might be my opinion, but it would obviously be a very large stretch to anyone I told it to.
Not really because that is criteria based. Why is Charleston's system better? You could measure routes, prices, etc. It is quantitative. You could directly compare them.
If CT finds that Oglebay, or whatever it is called, the most beautiful state park that is qualitative. If you found Charleston more beautiful than NYC that would be qualitative too. Neither of these examples are a stretch since there is no way to measure them together.
However, if you said Charleston is bigger than NYC it would be quantitative and would be proven wrong.
So, I dont see how anything CT said is a stretch. It is like saying, "Pepperoni rolls taste better than Filet Mignon." Is that a stretch? Depends on the person.
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