With a weekend free, we went for an impromptu adventure weekend to the Canaan Valley in West Virginia. For those of us in Baltimore and Washington DC, West Virginia is a great destination, filled with mountains, white water, and trails.
We snagged a good deal at the Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center. The Mountain Weekend package offered us a room, miniature golf, pool and spa access, lift tickets to the top of Canaan’s ski peak, and breakfast. If you want kids to get all the perks, you need to book them as adults.
The drive from Baltimore takes about three and a half hours. We’ve done it several different ways. The most scenic route, and the one we took this time, is to head west on I70 and I68. The highway transitions from rolling hills to the Appalachian mountains as you drive through the Cumberland pass. Then we headed south through back roads of West Virginia until we reached Davis and then the resort.
Canaan Valley (note that it’s pronounced Kin-Ane, rhyming with insane) in West Virginia. We were given a room in the south wing. The rooms are updated and comfy. I was happy with the many outlets but did note the lack of an in-room coffee maker. The ski lodge and peak are a short drive away. You can take the lift both up and down the mountain, for a scenic view and great vistas. Make sure you check out the hang gliding runway on the back side of the mountain. Our son decided the only way down was to (literally) run all the way down the mountain. Luckily, in about 0.90 miles we were back at the bottom, breathless but intact.
The mountain also has a summer slide. Kids take an inner tube with a bottom to a rope tow, which takes them up a bunny slope, and then slide down on a plastic runway. While it sounds fun, the execution is lacking. The kids have to drag the tube up part of the hill to the tow; it’s heavy and wears them out. The slide itself is fairly short and not very fast. While two hour slots are booked, none of the kids I saw, mine included, went longer than an hour.
Miniature golf is fairly perfunctory but fun for any young kids. Our son then also went for a short climb up a climbing wall set up next to the golf course. He also jumped on the bungee trampoline as well. It was a nominal fee to add both activities.
This part of West Virginia is magnificent. The Mongahela Wilderness is one of the country’s largest. It features beautiful, verdant montains, and incredibly varied terrain. Over the years, we’ve hiked rhododenrum tunnels near Canaan, and wind-beaten high plains in Dolly Sods. I can’t stress enough how many great day and overnight hikes are within a short drive.
We also took a short drive to Blackwater Falls. This beautiful waterfall gets its name from the tannins that tint its waters. A wooden path leads down (lots of) steps from the lodge to the waterfall. Several vantage points give a great view and feel for the power of the water.
White Water: Yea!
Sunday morning, we booked with Blackwater Outdoor Adventures for the Cheat Narrows Express rafting trip. The meet point at BOA’s headquarters is a 50 minute drive, in St. George. Use their directions, not GPS. GPS will take you astray on closed roads. The Cheat is a classic East Coast rafting trip: fast rapids alternating with calm pools. It’s a good balance for kids: enough adventure with Class II and some Class III rapids, but with easy stretches and places to swim. The Express trip hits all the good rapids on that section of the Cheat (called the Narrows, because the valley turns to gorge). All the guides were terrific, and logistics were straightforward. We met at 9 am, and were back by 1pm (note that there’s a 30-minute drive to and from the river).
Davis
Canaan Valley has two restaurants, but with Davis a 15 minute drive away, you may want to head into town. We had an adequate breakfast at Canaan. Super friendly people but food not particularly memorable
Davis is becoming a great little mountain town. We always head into Hellbender’s Burritos for burritos as big as my head. It’s served up quick and kindly, and with a rotating selection of craft beers to wash it down. You can build your own, or choose from some interesting combos. It’s also very veggie and vegan friendly, including offering seitan as a protein. Because every mountain town needs a burrito shop.
Wicked Wilderness opened last year. It’s a basic pub with decent grub. The menu does have some surprises: Reuben egg rolls, served with Russian dressing (yes, filled with corn beef, sauerkraut, and swiss); and chicken pot pie served in a Mason jar, with a big, flaky biscuit on top. A good beer selection (but, guys, could you please make more of it local, and don’t serve good beer in plastic cups). Did I mention they have funnel cakes for dessert?
The Trailhead Coffee Shop is key for my coffee needs. They can both pull a decent espresso and brew good American-style coffee. Extra kudos for brewing West Virginia’s Stone Tower Joe, keeping it local and real.
Stumptown is brewing some solid craft beer. Several of the restaurants in Davis feature their beers, and you can also drink in their brewpub, Stumptown Ales. No food, but a full selection of their beers on tap. And you can pick up one of their trucker caps to look stylish on the trail.
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Looks like a lot of fun. We visit family in NOVA a lot so maybe we will stop over in West VA next time
This is so much fun! I am currently looking for some activities to do with my older kids and this would be perfect for our next holidays! Thank you so much for sharing!
The pictures are absolutely great. I love water so it looks amazing to me. I really hope u all had a great time.
That looks like a fun family vacation! That tube slide looks so fun, but I imagine it was super exhausting. I think I would only be able to handle one trip up the slop. LOL!
Beautiful writeup n lovely pics…
Looks like a fun place …
Regards
These are amazing pictures, and the place looks beautiful. Maybe I will give it go, next time I am nearby
I love West Virginia, I’m from Kentucky so my family used to visit alot
Wow, looks like fun. I have been to VA beach, but I have never visited West Virginia. I will definitely add to my list.
Such an adventurous family, well done!! Beautiful photos and I am keen to try these craft beers too! Thanks for the information!
I have traveled a lot of state in the US and only a few remain to be explored. WV is one of them..:)
Wow! This looked like an action-packed trip! I’m glad you had a safe good time! Thanks for sharing!
what a beautiful place to have a weekend visit
this place looks amazing. man my daughter would love that climbing wall!
Seems like an excellent place for a family vacation! would love to visit it someday 🙂
So fun! I can’t remember the last time we had a free weekend to just get away for a few days! Good for you!!!
This place looks awesome.. Wish I lived in America rather than bloody Africa so I could come and do some of this fun stuff. Inspiring me for another visit out west.
This looks like so much fun! I can’t wait until my kid are bigger and can do things like this!
Looks like a fun trip! I’ve always wanted to go white water rafting! It’s nice that they had so many activities for kids there!
That is a great adventure. I would love to do the white water rafting!
I never think about white water in WV, will have to check it out!
Summer slide!!! Love it!
Looks like a fun getaway! One day I will be brave enough to do some white water rafting. Need to get over my fear of drowning first.
It is so fun
Looks like so much fun for a family vacay! Thank you!
Reuben Egg Rolls and Stumptown Beer would make this trip worthwhile — not to mention White Water Rafting which is on my bucket list!
Reuben egg rolls sounds ridiculously washed down craft beer, yes!
That looks like a great place for a family weekend! It’s a pity some of the activities weren’t that great but it still seems like you had a great time, especially the white water rafting!
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Looks like an amazing place for an outdoor family adventure. Love a bit of white water rafting 🙂
This looks like a super fun weekend, we have never been to Virginia, or really many of the states! Thank you for sharing.
It looks like a fantastic place for family trip! Funny and relaxing at the same time! Love your pictures 🙂
I haven’t been back to WV since I was going to camp there in middle school, but this has given me reason to go back. White water rafting? Yes please!
This sounds and looks like a fun family vacation. Never ever tried white water rafting. I am just so scared!
It’s super fun, but can be scary.
White water rafting and good food. Sign me up!!
super fun! looks like a packed adventure! love it!
Wow! This looks like so much fun. Amazing photos 🙂
West Virginia is so beautiful. I spent a Labor Day weekend there once for their annual “Hick Festival” (and no I’m not making that name up – that’s what it’s really called). Such a wild beauty.
Looks like a place for those who like doing something active on vacation. I would love to go down the river on a kayak.
What a wonderful time with your family. I am pretty sure you guys had a good time together. To more adventures like these..
This definitely looks like a must-see, thank you for sharing about your trip with us!
The Cumberland pass is so beautiful. Especially in the fall. I’m glad to know of another place to visit in seedy Virginia!
Great write up. Looks like a fun family weekend was had.
This looks like such a fun place to visit! So many activities to do! I love to go white water rafting and that slide would be so much fun!
Sounds like tons of fun and also a great way to bond with the family.
Oh man, I would totally go for the summer slide until they threw me out or I dropped exhausted on the ground haha. Family fun alarm! 🙂
Hey mega post! Love the depth of your content 🙂
Canaan Valley looks like a great outdoor activity spot and a fun destination for the entire family to enjoy. The slides I really want to gen onto 🙂
What a fantastic weekend! It looks like you’ve made tons of memories with the whole family in an absolutely beautiful setting!
It sure is well worth the trip right?
Being rewarded with spectacular views, go on fun adventures and enjoy a cozy place where you can fully recharge batteries is what a great holiday is about!
This looks like so much fun! I’m totally unfamiliar with West Virginia, so it’s nice to read about these kind of places. I’d like to try these rapids, they must be quite challenging!
What a fun weekend! We live down in RVA, and clearly haven’t taken advantage of WVA the way we should 🙂 new weekend ideas! Thanks for the excellent post!
Canaan Valley seems to be a promising and adventure filled experience. Something we would definitely enjoy. So many thrilling activities for the entire family makes it ideal for a fun-filled family getaway. The climbing wall and the white water rafting look really exciting.
canaan valley it seems as the most promising and adventurous place to visit. In these images it seems like the most thrilling activities place for the entire family to spend the quality time with them. Thanks for sharing this awesome place with us. Please take a look at our website Farenexus.com we also write blogs on Canada. I hope you will like it!!
Farenexus I will and am finishing up a post on LaMalbaie Quebec
Wow! What an adventurous trip! It looks like you guys had so much fun. I love the rafting part the most. We have tried river rafting a couple of times and it’s quite an adrenaline pumping activity. The wall climbing and bunny slope also sound great.
Seems like you had a lot of fun. The pictures are so inviting that I just can’t hold myself from booking the flights. River rafting must be a good experience.
Hi! how do you manage travelling with in a group of 5? I usually travel alone because it i hard to be in a group, I mean it takes time for everyone to get ready.
nice blog as well.
Thank you. Yes it’s more complicated with 5 but three are under 18 so they can’t vote yet. 😁
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