8 Most Relaxing West Virginia Towns
West Virginia, whose state motto promises it is "Almost Heaven," makes an attractive choice for those seeking the bliss of relaxation. Since 1863, a separate state from neighboring Virginia, the place, also known as the Mountain State, has long lured vacationers and longer-term visitors to its slower pace and higher sense of living. Add to that an abundance of nature-focused things to see and do, from hiking and fishing to snow skiing and mountain biking, and West Virginia offers ideal conditions for a truly relaxing experience or two. These eight great towns show where and how to unwind in West Virginia.
Davis
Davis, with fewer than 600 residents, holds points of interest much larger than its modest size. The town, at the gateway to the Eastern Panhandle, lies near the Dolly Sods Wilderness area, the Little Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge, and the impressive Blackwater Falls State Park. Fans of adventure sports come to Davis for its mountain biking courses, while winter athletes frequent Davis for its position near the Canaan Valley skiing zone. For indoor types, Davis offers a surprising variety of food and drink, including Hellbenders Burritos and Sirianni's for classic Italian.
The town also maintains two addresses on the National Register of Historic Places, a nod to its days as a logging and industrial hub. Fun fact: at over 3,500 feet, Davis is the highest incorporated town in West Virginia.
Elkins
Elkins, population 6,800, sits in central West Virginia. Once a busy railroad nexus, Elkins helped develop the state, and today, it boasts historic stately homes that match its former glory. Since 2018, the town has embarked on a major development agenda, with plans to make the downtown more walkable, boost local tourism and timber industries, and attract a larger population. Elkins serves as the seat of Randolph County, further emphasizing its importance in the surrounding region. Travelers looking for a break and some local flavor can stop for a taste of the Big Timber Brewing Company, a beer company headquartered right here. The town also hosts the Mountain State Forest Festival each autumn.
Fairmont
Fairmont, with a population totaling 18,200, is a quiet college town and is home to Fairmont State University. Located in north-central West Virginia, not far south of larger Morgantown, the Monongahela River runs through the middle of downtown Fairmont. For going out and dining, the town combines ample choices of local and chain restaurants. Palatine Park, with its riverside setting, makes for a pleasant and relaxing outing of its own.
Visitors can get a sense of Fairmont's history at nearby Pricketts Fort State Park, which features a reconstructed village showcasing bygone days of the frontier and the tumultuous moments of the French and Indian War. Outdoors fans may prefer Tygart Lake State Park outside town or the West Virginia Botanic Gardens.
Harpers Ferry
Set where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers come together, the hilly hamlet of Harpers Ferry, with fewer than 300 residents, is a terrifically photo-worthy location. The dramatic Shenandoah Valley forms one side of the village and makes a scene that Thomas Jefferson once called "worth a voyage across the Atlantic."
Harpers Ferry includes a section of the Appalachian Trail, which, in fact, runs through the very center of the historic village. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the organization that maintains the famous hiking path, is headquartered just up the hill. Nearby is Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and the spot where radical abolitionist John Brown tried to start a rebellion to end slavery. Most historic sites are managed by the National Park Service and are free to visit. And did you know? The Harpers Ferry Center, located above the village, is where the brochures, signs, tee-shirts, and other communication elements are produced for every national park in the United States.
Hinton
The town of Hinton, with 2,200 souls, sits tucked away in West Virginia's quiet southeast. As its marketing suggests, it is truly the place "where rivers, rails, and history meet." Hinton owes its founding in part to the fact that the Bluestone, Greenbrier, and New Rivers meet here and its former days as a center of rail-based travel and commerce. History fans can visit Hinton's railroad museum or scout the examples of Classical Revival, Late Victorian, and American Four-Square architectural styles.
Hinton sits not far from New River Gorge National Park, named to the list of U.S. parks only in 2022. Outdoorsmen and -women will no doubt appreciate Hinton's location near the Bluestone Public Hunting and Fishing Area and Bluestone State Parks.
Princeton
Set in the Appalachian foothills of Mercer County, Princeton, with 5,600 people, saw robust growth during the coal boom of the early 20th century. The town also served as a railway hub for shipping coal. These days, Princeton puts on the Mercer County Fair every summer, which honors its agricultural roots and offers rides, local food, and live music to festivalgoers of all ages. The town sits in the greater Bluefield area, a local hub that straddles the Virginia and West Virginia state lines.
For sports enthusiasts, Princeton likewise hosts the Princeton WhistlePigs, a minor league baseball team that belongs to the Appalachian League of ball clubs. Similar to Elkins, Princeton has, in recent years, undertaken a revitalization program, making itself more welcoming for relaxation-seeking travelers than ever.
Thomas
The mountainside village of Thomas, with a mere 600 souls, lies a few minutes from Davis. (The towns take their names from two statesmen and brothers who helped develop West Virginia in the 19th century.) In many ways, it is a quintessential coal town, and many foreign workers came to work in the mines once they were functioning here.
Thomas' short main street features a crop of vibrant cultural and culinary touchstones, from antique stores and art galleries to the Purple Fiddle, a cafe and performance venue that emphasizes bluegrass and other folk music forms. For a leisurely turn through Thomas' surrounding natural beauty, grab a bike and roll down the Blackwater Canyon Rail Trail, a bike zone converted from a former rail bed.
White Sulphur Springs
White Sulphur Springs, with 2,200 full-time residents, hides near the Virginia border in the Mountain State's southeast. Its place in defining American luxury reaches back centuries, and the town upholds that tradition with pride today. The town's leading historic draw is the Greenbrier, a luxury spa and mountain resort and an ideal place to relax in style. The destination calls itself "America's Resort" and features the legacy of 20th-century American design icon Dorothy Draper, whose work still stands and inspires on the Greenbrier's grounds today.
Should war ever come to Washington, plans exist to move Congress to the Greenbrier's ample meeting and lodging spaces, where the U.S. legislative chamber can continue its functions. Such was the plan during World War II, which was kept secret to most townsfolk at that time. Today, White Sulphur Springs is accessible by rail via Amtrak, with service running from Washington, DC, and points across the Midwest.
West Virginia's list of offerings for relaxation runs long, which may be why the Mountain State has been welcoming rest-minded travelers from its earliest days. Even in some of the state's smallest settlements, a quieter life and the chance for visitors to unwind have set the place apart as a magnet for vacationers and memory-makers. West Virginia's relaxing towns here show how restful the state's lifestyle can be without skimping on style or stimulation.
