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NewRiver/GreenBriar Valley
The rugged New River — actually the second-oldest waterway in the world, it’s said — leaps and tumbles through the narrow gorge it has carved over eons. The free-flowing Greenbrier winds its way through forests and farmland. Both rivers grace a land of bounty that has tantalized prospectors, luxury-lovers and adventurers for centuries.
Adventurers still arrive from everywhere for whitewater rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking and hiking in three national park areas — New River Gorge National River, Bluestone National Scenic River and Gauley River National Recreation Area. State forests and wildlife management areas make the region a fishing and hunting paradise.
Some excellent state parks are here, too. You can ride a tram into the gorge at Hawks Nest or Pipestem, bike along the Greenbrier River Trail, a rails-to-trails scenic recreation path, canoe at Bluestone or go camping with your horse at Camp Creek. For picture-perfect touring, don’t miss Babcock’s famous grist mill and both cascades at Twin Falls.
Three state parks cater to golfers, and the region boasts several other outstanding courses — including Oakhurst Links near Lewisburg, the first organized golf club in America.
When the snow flies, Winterplace is the place to be for skiing and sliding at the state’s largest snow-tubing park, or relaxing in elegant surroundings at its nearby sister resort, Glade Springs.
For more sedentary pleasures, board a fall foliage train or mystery train excursion through this region. Drive the Midland, Farm Heritage or Coal Heritage trails, all National Scenic Byways.
Historic and Heavenly
Have you been very good? You deserve a stay at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, where the art of luxury has been refined for more than 200 years. Championship golf, spa treatments, culinary masterpieces and chic shops are just the beginning. Guests can tour a top-secret bunker (under renovation throughout part of 2005), study falconry or shoot skeet.
Rated a top town in no fewer than four national surveys, nearby Lewisburg charms everyone. Something’s always happening at Carnegie Hall and Greenbrier Valley Theatre, and the West Virginia State Fair fills up the town in August. Lovely inns, shops and restaurants make Lewisburg the perfect base for exploring the area’s Civil War sites, museums and natural wonders — including Organ Cave, a National Natural Landmark.
Another place to go underground is the Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley. When you emerge, head for Tamarack, where the best of West Virginia arts, crafts, food and live entertainment are gathered under a round, red roof. At nearby Grandview Park, watch outdoor historical dramas in a dramatic mountaintop setting.
For Kids - Large and Small
There are fine children’s museums in Beckley and Bluefield, and you can treat the kids to a baseball game in Bluefield or Princeton —both towns have professional minor league teams.
Fayetteville, the gateway to whitewater territory, is a host town for Bridge Day, an annual celebration on the 876-foot-high New River Gorge Bridge.
Go a bit off the beaten track, and you’ll discover many more one-of-a-kind finds. Tour a train museum in Hinton. Marvel at millionaires’ mansions in Bramwell. Sleep in a historic inn at Pence Springs. Taste award- winning salsa in Ansted.
Listen carefully. Do you hear distant train whistles echoing off steep gorge walls? The New River-Greenbrier Valley is calling your name.
A Region Rich in African-American Heritage
The New River-Greenbrier Valley region holds several interesting stops along West Virginia’s African-American Heritage Trail.
In Ansted, the African-American Heritage Family Tree Museum includes a large collection of photographs. Camp Washington-Carver at Clifftop, dedicated in 1942 as The Negro 4-H Camp, now hosts music and theater festivals.
Talcott has an imposing statue of legendary steel-driver John Henry, and Revolutionary War hero Dick Pointer is buried in Lewisburg. More trail sites are in Bramwell, Bluefield, Kimball and Lewisburg.
Jump!
About 300 BASE jumpers (and 200,000 people!) participate in Bridge Day, held annually the third Saturday in October near Fayetteville. It’s the only day that jumping from the bridge is permitted.
Win A Date With Tad Hamilton!
In typical Hollywood style, downtown Fayetteville, WV, was chosen to stand in for another West Virginia town, Frazier’s Bottom, in the DreamWorks motion picture Win A Date With Tad Hamilton! released in January 2004. A film crew, along with star Topher Grace from “That ‘70s Show,” descended on this quaint town to capture establishing shots of the region, including a scenic view from Grandview Park and aerial footage of various Fayette County locations, the New River Gorge Bridge and along the Kanawha River. For details of filming sites, contact the West Virginia Film Office at www.wvfilm.com.
For more information on facilities and things to do in this region search our travel planner.
Phone: 800-CALL WVA (1-800-225-5982) Address: 90 MacCorkle Ave. SW in Charleston City: West Virginia Regions State: WV Zip: 25303 Region: New River/Oreenbrier Valley Url: http://www.wvtourism.com/spec.aspx?pgID=145 Canaan Valley - Albright - Davis - Mathias - Keyser - Thomas - Berkeley Springs - Potomac Highlands~ - Fayetteville - Harpers Ferry - West Virginia Regions - Roanoke - Moorefield - Beckley - Eastern Panhandle~ - Hico - Cass - Petersburg - Snowshoe - Elkins - Hatfield-McCoyMountains~ - Ansted - Franklin - Philippi - Fairmont - Buckhannon - NewRiverGreenbriarValley~ |
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