West Virginia

West Virginia keeps tourists engaged with its Capitol Complex in Charleston, abundant natural wonders in locales such as Ansted and White Sulphur Springs, and cultural opportunities that stretch from Charleston to Lewisburg and Beckley.
Beginning with West Virginia’s State Capitol Complex in Charleston, tour the unique Capitol building with the gold-leafed dome, visit the state museum and galleries, or attend a concert at the theater in the West Virginia Cultural Center. After your Capitol tour, treat yourself to a memorable meal or shop ‘til you drop in the Downtown Village District.
From Charleston, go all the way to White Sulphur Springs on US-60 east, with stops in Ansted and Lewisburg. Are you ready for some nachos? Make sure and, if so, put Ansted’s Blue Smoke salsa factory on your hit-list. Through observation windows, watch the actual production of Blue Smoke’s celebrated recipe and stock up on fresh-bottled salsa from the factory store. At Hawk’s Nest State Park, board a fast-paced jet boat for a spin around the river or fly high above the New River Gorge Canyon on the park’s aerial tramway.
Lewisburg’s Carnegie Hall invites guests to browse through its art galleries or catch a live performance. At Lost World Caverns, you can go 120 feet under the surface of Greenbrier Valley for an easy, self-paced cave walk past intricate stalactite and stalagmite formations. While you’re visiting Lewisburg, keep in mind that it’s also a promising spot for fly-fishing. You can keep your outdoor adventure rolling with biking in Caldwell and bass fishing in White Sulphur Springs.
From White Sulphur Springs, take I-64 west to Beckley. The town’s namesake Exhibition Coal Mine operates fascinating seasonal underground tours conducted by experienced coal miners. The Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia features hands-on activities, a pioneer village complete with log cabin, and Mountain Homestead exhibit. Also in Beckley, take in a summer outdoor drama at Theatre West Virginia. At the marketplace known as Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia, allow plenty of time to savor a delicious meal then observe, and support, regional crafters while they work in their studios.
www.callwva.com; 800/CALL-WVA.