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Tags: West Virginia Staycation | Family | Fun | Travel

West Virginia Staycation: 6 Fun Things to Do While Staying Close to Home

By    |   Tuesday, 10 March 2015 02:56 PM EDT

West Virginia is known for its grand resorts, natural scenic beauty and architectural feats families on a staycation can relish. From numerous outdoor activities to a variety of arts and science museums, the Mountain State has something for everyone.

Here are six great places to visit in West Virginia:

1. Oglebay Park: Located in Wheeling, this 1,500 acre municipal park has a hotel, petting zoo, swimming pools, a planetarium and museums. They also offer lodging and golfing packages families on a staycation can enjoy.

VOTE NOW: Is West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin Doing a Good Job?

2. Kanawha State Park: Located in Charleston, this park offers a large swimming pool, playground, hiking and biking trails and a 9,300 acre forest. Families can go camping and picnicking in designated areas.

3. Clay Center: Located in Charleston, this facility strives to present a variety of arts and sciences all under one roof. The Avampato Discovery Museum is two floors of fascinating interactive science exhibits, while the ElectricSky™ Theater features planetarium shows. In addition, there are is a large performance hall and a small black-box theater, as well as an art museum, fun museum shop and a cafe. There's something interesting scheduled virtually every night.

4. Harper's Ferry: A historic town in Jefferson County with 20 miles of hiking trails, Harper's Ferry National Historical offers more than a one-weekend getaway. Covering over 4,000 acres in 3 states (WV, VA and MD) at the scenic confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers and the Potomac River water gap through the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Park features an amazing diversity of American history all in one place. Great figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and many others have made their mark here.

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5. New River Gorge Bridge: Located near Fayetteville, this steel arch bridge stretches 3,030 feet long over the New River Gorge in the Appalachian Mountains. It is considered one of the highest bridges in the United States and the most photographed sights in West Virginia.

6. Snowshoe Mountain: Located amid the Allegheny Mountains, this 251 acre ski resort has over 10,000 acres of wilderness. For some winter fun, families on a staycation can spend the day at Snowshoe Mountain Tubing Park. Ride an inflatable tube down six stories. Guests are only allowed one person per tube, but tubes can be "hooked" together so that groups can go down as one.

URGENT: Do You Approve of the Job Joe Manchin Is Doing as a West Virginia Senator?

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West Virginia is known for its grand resorts, natural scenic beauty and architectural feats families on a staycation can relish. From numerous outdoor activities to a variety of arts and science museums, the Mountain State has something for everyone.
West Virginia Staycation, Family, Fun, Travel
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2015-56-10
Tuesday, 10 March 2015 02:56 PM
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