Romantic Getaways in West Virginia

With some of the most exquisite natural locales in this part of the country as well as a treasure trove of historic and cultural attractions, West Virginia offers a wide range of options for couples seeking a romantic getaway.

Canaan Valley

The beautiful Canaan Valley is one of the most popular draws for vacationing couples in West Virginia, not only for its scenic vistas but also for the wide variety of recreational activities the site offers. Shaped as oval, bowl-like upland valley, it is home to extensive wetlands and the headwaters of the Blackwater River which spills out of the valley at Blackwater Falls. In addition to the two state parks – the Canaan Valley Resort State Park and the Blackwater Falls State Park - and one wildlife refuge - Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge - the valley is home to two Alpine ski resorts - Canaan Valley Ski Resort and Timberline Four Seasons Resort – as well as one Nordic ski area. Other areas popular for skiing during West Virginia vacations include Snowshoe and Winterplace Ski Resort. The Valley's unique climatic and natural features attract a steady flow of outdoor recreationalists. Apart from skiing and snowboarding around the ski areas, you and your partner can go camping, hiking, fishing, cross-country and downhill skiing, leaf-peeping, and wildlife viewing through the valley. The Canaan Valley is brimming with rentals like townhomes, condos, cottages, private homes and rustic West Virginia cabins, any of which are ideal for a romantic getaway.

The Midland Trail

If you have your own transportation, the Scenic Highway 60, or The Midland Trail, is a wonderful drive to take with your special someone. The entire trip comprises 120 miles of beautiful scenery throughout southern West Virginia. Get out of the car and give your legs a stretch during a hike along the Greenbrier River Trail where miles of cycling and hiking trails await. The Highway 60 also offers a taste of history at fascinating historic sites like the Old Stone House, which recreates what life was like for the industrial pioneers.

Charleston

With its abundance of scenic attractions, charming inns and cultural opportunities, Charleston is a romantic place to escape to for a day or weekend. During your getaway, spend a day exploring Charleston's local attractions, such as the historic Craik-Patton House. Built in 1834, the house now hosts Civil War encampments and frontier living exhibits but you can take in its romantic ambience located as it is located along the banks of the Kanawha River. After the tour, visit the adjacent Daniel Boone Park for a picnic lunch. Another place to enjoy a leisurely picnic lunch is the Kanawha State Forest, a natural haven. Rent mountain bikes and hit the park's trails or go swimming in the public pool during the summer months. Spend a romantic evening enjoying some of Charleston's local talent. The Charleston Light Opera Guild provides the community with musical theater performances. The Kanawha Players is the second-oldest continuously operating amateur theater in the country and produces classic shows. Finally being the capital city of West Virginia, Charleston has no scarcity of lodgings and here you can wind down at a pretty bed and breakfast, a historic inn or at a luxury hotel for a truly indulgent end to your romantic vacation.

Summerville

Situated in the center of Nicholas County, Summersville is a pretty resort town that is quite popular as a romantic getaway. The highlight of this town is the pretty Summersville Lake surrounded by Gauley River National Recreation Area with Babcock State Park lying due south.. Snorkeling and scuba diving are especially good at Summersville Lake because of the crystal clear conditions throughout much of the year. Water skiing, swimming, boating, hiking and mountain biking are among the many other fun things that you and your partner can do in the area. Best of all, Summerville offers many kinds of vacation rentals including romantic cabins, cottages and lakeside chalets as well as a campgrounds and a RV site too.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

If you and your partner are avid hikers and especially love the outdoors, then a great romantic idea can be hiking part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail that crosses through West Virginia. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail in all is a 2,174-mile footpath along the ridgecrests and across the major valleys of the Appalachian Mountains from Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in northern Georgia. Only 4 miles of the trail are in West Virginia, where it runs through Harpers Ferry, headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Apart from acting as the "psychological midpoint" of the trail, Harpers Ferry is also the biggest stop where you can access lodging and dining options in the West Virginia part of the trail. If however you are keen to hike through more of it, the trail has more than 250 shelters and campsites available for hikers . in this part of the state, the Appalachian Trail is a comfortable hike with the Appalachiantrail.org rating the West Virginia trail difficulty at 2 to 3 on a scale of 1 to 10 where in 1 means flat and 10 means that the use of hands for climbing.

Harpers Ferry

The village of Harpers Ferry is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. much of the town is part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. A visit to this quaint, historic community, is like stepping into the past. Here you can Join a guided ranger tour, visit numerous exhibits and museums, hike through historic trails and buy a book at the Historical Association's bookshop. If you and your partner like to keep things unstructured, you both can simply Stroll the picturesque streets exploring the fascinating place on your own. A short walk takes you into the town of Harpers Ferry where you will find restaurants and shops as well as residents still living in Civil War-era homes. Harper’s Ferry is best known as the location where notable abolitionist and Union fanatic John Brown staged his infamous raid on the US Arsenal. Yet another historic site is the Antietam National Battlefield when Gen Robert E. Lee first sought to invade the North in 1862, his army was stopped near the Antietam River on Sept. 17--23,000 were killed or wounded in battle in what has been called the “single bloodiest day in American history.” The park service offers a number of hiking trails around the battlefield that highlight different aspects of the battles.

However if your idea of romance is to woo your beloved in the midst of beautiful natural surroundings, Harpers Ferry again makes the perfect couples destination. From the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains that steeply rise above the historic district to the rushing waters of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers bordering the town, you are sure to be in awe of the surrounding beauty. When visiting the park, you can hike up to Jefferson Rock and enjoy the view of the water gap where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet, or take a trip up to the Maryland Heights overlook to get an amazing view of Harpers Ferry. Wildlife lovers can look forward to observing some of the over 170 bird species and more than 30 mammal species in the park.

At Harpers Ferry you can choose from a wide variety of lodging options ranging from cozy bed and breakfasts and quaint inns to scenic camping and historic homes on rental – all of which are sure to enhance your romantic getaway experience.