Experience the outdoor fun

Don't just take a photo of West Virginia's foliage; be in the photo. This year, challenge yourself to do more than just see autumn in Appalachia. Experience it.

The opportunity to be in the midst of fall foliage is what brings tourists to West Virginia every year. Vacationers have numerous ways to see nature come to life all around the Mountain State, whether by foot, mountain bike, raft, canoe or motorized recreation vehicle.

Couple West Virginia's network of 50 state parks and forests with numerous local scenic public parks open to hiking enthusiasts, one is hard-pressed to find city life. Federal lands like the Monongahela National Forest and New River Gorge National River confirm that West Virginia is indeed an outdoor Mecca.

Another fine way to cover ground in West Virginia is via bicycle. While world-class mountain bike races held in West Virginia confirms the state's challenging single-track trails, there are more than 300 miles of rail trails sure to make any family outing a pleasing one.

The Hatfield-McCoy Trails system has received rave reviews from media and consumer alike since opening in October of 2000. More than 400 miles of easy to difficult riding trails throughout southern West Virginia are open to motorized and non-motorized devotees. Trailheads and facilities continue to grow toward the long-range goal of 2,000 miles of mapped trails.

One can always experience nature with some of nature's finest animals. A few outfitters offer trail riding trips by horseback or walking with llamas.

Need a better vantage point to see the foliage? Grab some climbing gear and ascend up some of the finest mountains anywhere east of the Mississippi. In the heart of the New River Gorge, above formerly active coal-mining communities, try one of the1,400 established rock climbs. In the Potomac Highlands region, there's Seneca Rocks, a one-time training ground for Army troops during World War II. Today, there are 375 mapped routes ranging in difficulty from 5.0 (easy) to 5.12 (difficult). Seneca Rocks, which juts 900 feet high above the North Fork River, is one of the state's most scenic gems.

Not all viewpoints of the state's splendor comes from being on a trail. West Virginia has five national and 11 state-designated byways that allow motorized enthusiasts the perfect avenues to see the state's most vivid locales. Motorcycle clubs come to West Virginia for the first-rate riding opportunities on these byways and other concrete getaways.

Caving is another popular activity in West Virginia and there are guided tours at four such locales while "wild" cave exploration is available with outfitters and clubs throughout the state.

West Virginia's mountainous topography provides challenging terrain for golfers and golf course designers alike. Top-notch golf courses combined with impeccable resorts mean that the Mountain State offers a unique golfing experience that is among the best in the world.
In June 2002, Condé Nast Traveler named The Greenbrier the best golf resort in the world, ranking it ahead of 284 other world-famous golf resorts considered for its reader poll. The Greenbrier also was ranked #2 in the world for service by readers of Travel+Leisure magazine, as published in the June 2002 issue. The Raven Golf Club at Snowshoe Mountain is recognized by national publications as one of the best mountain golf courses in the country. Stonewall Resort's Arnold Palmer Signature Course was awarded "Top Ten" best new course in North America by Golf Magazine. 

West Virginia's state parks provide championship golf opportunities and a natural setting with dozens of other outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as camping and lodging. The state resort parks featuring golf courses are Pipestem and Twin Falls in southern West Virginia, Canaan Valley in the Mountain Highlands, Cacapon in the Eastern Panhandle, and the all-new Stonewall Resort in north-central West Virginia. Each of the parks features courses created by legendary designers including George Cobb, Geoffrey Cornish, Robert Trent Jones Sr., and Arnold Palmer.