Ah, summer. It’s time to put the top down, or jump on your hog, or load up the family truckster and get out of town.
You know a place that’s perfect for that? The New River Gorge.
You are here. Well, you could be.
- Here’s our favorite driving tour:
- Start the tour with the Canyon Rim Visitors Center. There’s a great boardwalk overlook of the big bridge, and a great gift shop. Check out the museum, which has 3 or 4 exhibits on local history, plus a movie! Learn about stuff.
- Drive down the gorge to the bottom, and walk around next to Fayette Station rapid. Throw rocks in the river.
- Drive up the other side of the gorge into Fayetteville. There are art galleries, boutiques, gear shops, and restaurants. Lots of restaurants. Chow down.
- Take Rt 16 out of Fayetteville and stop at the New River Dries. This is a section of river that is dammed up, so you can often see the riverbed. If there’s been a lot of rain, though, one of the best surfing waves in the world appears out of nowhere. Watch for kayakers.
- Follow the road to Chimney Corner for a quick stop at the gift shop, and then head East on RT 60. As you near the town of Ansted, you’ll see the a quonset hut with a VW crashed into the side and a giant gorrilla sitting on top of it. That’s the Mystery Hole. Stop. Experience the mystery.
- Just up the road a piece from the Mystery Hole is Hawks Nest State Park. Behind the lodge is a tram that will take you down to the river, where you can ride on the New River Jet Boat. Jet up the gorge.
- Stop in Ansted for a tour at Blue Smoke Salsa and Gift Baskets. Robin Hildebrand, the owner, makes all natural stuff that’s beyond delicious. Chow down again.
- When you get to US 19, go north until you get to Songer. Pull in, chill out and relax. Go whitewater rafting with us. Enjoy.
- Done.
Tags: Adventure Vacations, driving tours, New River Gorge, road trip, vacation ideas