I love living in West Virginia! West By-God Virginia is wild and wonderful and full of the most beautiful scenery in America.
West Virginia is a beautiful place to be in all year long – for those of you who don’t know, the state is located in the Appalachian region of the U.S., which gives it an incredible Southern-American vibe.
Some of the most interesting activities to pursue, especially for younger individuals, here are hiking the Appalachian Mountains, taking romantic trips in nature, engaging in athletics, climbing via ferrata, riding the trails, or base jump off river cliffs or bridges.
However, if you are a busy student with tons of assignments or, worse, a pending dissertation, consider finding a reliable paper writing service. Let professionals write my thesis or that complicated research paper, and enjoy West Virginia!
You could also ride the hot air balloon at the Morgantown Hot Air Balloon Festival or go ghost hunting in one of the creepiest penitentiaries in the country! During the winter, West Virginia is your go-to for skiing or snowboarding, while in the summer, skydiving is another cool activity to pursue here.
5 Places Students Should Visit in West Virginia
Here are the coolest places you should visit in West Virginia and the reasons why you should try them out.
The Blackwater Falls State Park
This nice park offers lots of trails for those of you passionate about hiking! The park is named after the nearby river, Blackwater River. Access to the fall trails is fairly easy and parking is spacious. The falls are incredibly beautiful and are definitely worth the trip!
Everything here is worth a glance, from the amazing viewpoints to the outstanding hardwoods. The river plunges into a pool of no less than 60 feet, which makes the falls tower nature beautifully.
No matter the season, Blackwater is always a cool park to explore. Besides hiking, you could also try sledding or cross-country skiing. There are many cabins within the park with good restaurants, so you don’t have to worry about carrying tons of food with you.
The Seneca Rocks and Caverns
Seneca Caverns is another place that should be on your bucket list. They were formed when the land was still under the sea – the limestone set on the bottom of the sea for a very long time and so they formed. Most of these cavers were firstly used by Seneca Indians walking the Appalachian Mountain trails.
According to historical accounts, many tribes used to walk this route and so the caverns became a good place for storage, shelter, and other Indian ceremonies. Hundred years later, Germans came and settled in – somehow, the caverns were left intact. If you decide to take a walk here, you’ll learn lots about the caverns’ age, temperature, as well as cool facts about speleothems, cave life, and the German Valley.
West Virginia State Museum at the Culture Center
This museum is super inspiring and lively! It is educational and it helps students understand the deeper history of West Virginia. The museum at the Culture Center focuses on presenting every bit of West Virginia culture, art, and history, making it one of the cultural hotspots for students.
Admission to this museum is free of charge. You should also probably know that the museum operates Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday and Monday being closed.
Depending on the time of your visit, the museum will feature different exhibits. Some of the most popular at the moment are We are Marshall, Ron Moxley Collection, and Railroads and Coal in Southern Virginia.
The state museum galleries make great essay ideas for those of you passionate about writing; and with a free plagiarism checker polishing your writing, I’m quite sure you could get an easy A in your history class.
West Virginia Penitentiary
One of the creepiest but coolest places to visit in West Virginia is the West Virginia Penitentiary – this is, according to legend, home of many ghosts and hurt spirits. Many worldwide paranormal researchers travel to the penitentiary to explore its haunted locations.
This prison has seen the execution of almost 100 prisoners over the time it was open; and they have died most horribly. Many reports confirm that prisoners have died either through electrocution or hanging.
If you are one of the braves, you could take a walk on this property from April through November each year. The penitentiary offers some creepy midnight tours for those interested; you can hang around in the prison on your own afterward until 6 am.
West Virginia State Capitol
The West Virginia State Capitol is another checkpoint you’ll have to explore. The capitol is located in Charleston, West Virginia, and is part of the historic district of the West Virginia Capitol Complex, place registered on the National Register of Historic Places.
In fewer words, it is a place worth seeing! This capitol is higher than the one in D.C. and used about 700 train carloads of limestone or more to be constructed.
Conclusion
West Virginia is a great place for students who are excited to get out of their comfort zones and explore the country! You can do some of the coolest things here, as you’ve seen above – from seeing ghosts to hiking outstanding mountains, you will never get bored!
More West Virginia Travel Posts
Here’s even more information about traveling around this great state of Wild and Wonderful West Virginia!
Traveling as a student is all about finding cool spots without spending too much. West Virginia has some great places that are worth the trip scenic parks, historic sites, and small towns with a lot of character. Planning ahead always helps, especially when figuring out essentials like lodging, food, and even healthcare options. I was checking out insurance providers, and having dominion national phone number handy is useful for anyone looking into dental plans or coverage while on the go.