A Winter Getaway: Road-tripping through West Virginia
I grew up on the East Coast – how had I never thought about visiting West Virginia?! I spent 5 sweet winter days road-tripping through this dream state with West Virginia Tourism exploring its scenic roads, mountain views, small towns & historic sites. The Mountain State also happens to be the ONLY state that is entirely within the Appalachian Mountain Range, how incredible is that?
Discovering this beauty was such an eye-opening experience. I’m sharing our crazy fun-filled 5-day itinerary with YOU so you can see why :)
Day 1: Arrive in Beckley, WV
We flew into Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) in West Virginia and drove 20 minutes to Glade Springs Resort, where we stayed the first two nights. There are heaps of activities to do here: boating, hiking, swimming, escape rooms, horseback riding (you name it). We spent our first day exploring the resort + dined at Glade’s Grill & Bar where we had the most delicious Appalachian-inspired cuisine!
Day 2: Snowboard/Ski Day at Winterplace Ski Resort
BREAKFAST – started our morning at the resort’s breakfast bar, The Rotunda, before having a full day out on the slopes!
A short 20 minute drive from Glade Springs Resort is Winterplace Ski Resort – known to be the most accessible & affordable ski resort in the Southeast. They offer snowboarding, night skiing AND the largest snow tubing park. I love that their Ski & Snowboard School also offers a beginner’s program designed for people with disabilities–it makes this place a much more welcoming playground for everyone to enjoy :)
For those that would like to skip out on the snow adventures, you can cozy up inside the Mountain House with some hot cocoa!
DINNER – just 5 minutes outside from Glade Springs Resort is The Dish Cafe. This was my favorite foodie stop of the trip. I love any farm-to-table experience filled with yummy healthy eats and here you could find just about anything!
Day 3: Bramwell, West Virginia + Atv riding
We checked out of Glade Springs & drove one hour to Bluefield.
BREAKFAST - The Blue Spoon Café. This is a locally-owned coffee shop filled with yummy treats + comfort food.
Just 20 minutes away is the most historic little town I’ve ever visited: Bramwell (with a population of just 364). There is only ONE diner here (pictured below). Make sure to stop for lunch at this quaint little soda shop & try some of their homemade ice-cream!
Speaking to the locals here was my absolute favorite, and I feel so so lucky to have been able to meet a handful. It’s so heartwarming when you meet people from such a small town like Bramwell, learning about their life and what brought them here. We even had the opportunity to go inside one of the local’s victorian house filled with so many ancient gems. Sweetest cherry on top. 💛
Next stop: ATV riding with Hatfield-McCoy Trails System through the Pocahontas trail. You can ride more than 700 miles of trails through the Appalachian Mountains. *Fun fact: the Pocahontas trail is actually connected to Bramwell, so it’s a perfect way to cover both in one day!
Lastly, we checked into Buffalo Trail Cabins for one night and dined at their restaurant on property. They have cabins, cottages, treehouses & even a campground with wood burning fire-pits all around.
Day 4: EN ROUTE TO STONEWALL RESORT & STATE PARK
Back on the road! 20 minute drive from Buffalo Trail Cabins to the next stop: Princeton. Love the vintage feel this city has! It was named to be “the best up-and-coming” city in West Virginia.
BREAKFAST – Coffee & fresh scones at Appalachian Coffee House. If you know me, you know I’m always on the hunt for cute coffee shops & THIS one was a gem.
*Brownie points: they offer all kinds of nut milks & dairy free pastries. Heavenly!
Continuing our drive to Stonewall Resort, we made a pit stop at Tamarack, known to be one of the greatest showcases in West Virginia offering artisan made foods, live music, art galleries, glassblowing lessons–pretty much everything that speaks to this state’s sweet culture. So much to see and learn here!
After a full 2 hour & 30 minute drive, we arrived + checked into our final stay of the trip: Stonewall Resort & State Park, nestled in the heart of West Virginia. It’s such a special stay here – the hospitality, tranquility, on-site restaurants and overall amenities were incredible (you can even have fireside cocoa + s’mores with this scenic lake view).
We couldn’t have ended our West Virginia visit without a sip of wine to celebrate! Just a few minutes away from the resort is Lambert’s Winery. This family-owned business offers a daily tasting tour in their adorable self-built winery.
Cheers…
to the locals of West Virginia for being SO warm and welcoming, the incredible mountain views, scenic country roads & Appalachian culture this state has to offer.
Thank you West Virginia Tourism for hosting me on this incredible road-trip.
Here’s to exploring a new state & hopefully inspiring YOU to someday visit this beauty too :)
Day 5: departure
As we headed on a one hour & 30 minute drive to Charleston, West Virginia, we stopped for a quick bite at Capitol Market, a renovated 1800’s railroad station that is now a year-round farmers market. So many great finds here and it’s the perfect way to end your 5-day West Virginia road-trip! x
