Foliage.org: What are the projected dates for West Virginia peak foliage season?
Projected dates are from late September thru late October, depending on what area of the state you are visiting.
Are there areas, vistas, scenic lookouts or other destinations within West Virginia that are known for their uniquely beautiful fall foliage displays?
New River Gorge, Grandview National Park, Hawks Nest State Park overlooks, Germany Valley near Canaan, Blackwater Falls State Park, Highland Scenic Highway in Pocahontas County, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, Babcock State Park, Coopers Rock State Forest, Spruce Knob, the highest point in the state, Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park in Parkersburg, Potomac Eagle Train in Romney and The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad in Durbin and Elkins.
What are the local and regional roads or highways that are favorite scenic routes for fall tourists?
Major interstate routes are I-79, I-77, I-68, I-64 W and I-64 E. Local routes include: U.S. Rt. 219 from Peterstown in Monroe County to Thomas and Davis in Tucker County; U.S. Rt. 119 from Morgantown to Buckhannon; U.S. Rt. 33 from Franklin in Pendleton County to Seneca Rocks; State Rt. 55 from Seneca Rocks to Rt. 33 and Elkins; State Route 33 from Weston to Ripley; U.S. Rt. 50 from Clarksburg to Parkersburg; State Rt. 50 West from Capon Bridge in Hampshire County to Bridgeport in Harrison County; U.S. Rt. 119 from Spencer to Clendenin and State Route 4 East to Clay and Junction Rt. 16 to Gauley Bridge; State Rt. 150 in Pocahontas County also known as the Highland Scenic Highway; State Rt. 60 East from Charleston to Hawks Nest State Park and the Canyon Rim Visitor’s Center; State Rt. 60 East from Hico to Lewisburg, etc.
What festivals or other public events are taking place during the fall foliage season?
New River Gorge Bridge Day Festival in Fayetteville, Preston County Buckwheat Festival in Kingwood, West Virginia Pumpkin Festival in Milton, West Virginia Black Walnut Festival in Spencer, Mountain State Forest Festival in Elkins, Apple Butter Festival in Berkeley Springs, Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival in Martinsburg and the Salem Apple Butter Festival in Salem.
Are there historic or cultural sites that are popular destinations for fall foliage travelers? What are they?
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, Blennerhasset Island Historical State Park, the WV State Capitol and Cultural and History Museum, Grave Creek Mound in Moundsville and Independence Hall in Wheeling.
What are some other popular tourist attractions for autumn travelers to West Virginia. What are some of the less well known, but much loved local attractions?
Cathedral Falls and Kanawha Falls in Glen Ferris on Rt. 60 East of Charleston.
Are there favorite destinations for history, literature, architecture buffs, or antique collectors? What are they?
West Virginia is the only state born out of the Civil War. Therefore, our state is rich in Civil War history. Some of our sites include: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park, Bulltown Historic District, Cheat Summit Fort, Fort Boreman Civil War Park in Parkersburg, Fort Mulligan, Philippi Covered Bridge, General McClellan’s Headquarters in the Anna Jarvis Birthplace Museum and the Craik Patton House in Charleston and many more.
In Charleston, the West Virginia State Museum in the Culture Center houses records, artifacts and displays about our rich coal, gas, oil and wood industry, ancestry and our contributions to the military.
In historic Bramwell, the Millionaire’s Coal Town, you will find many homes of architectural significance. Tours are presented in the spring and at Christmas. Antique shops abound in the towns of Berkeley Springs, Lewisburg and South Charleston.
What are some favorite destinations or activities of families traveling during the Fall travel season?
Gauley Season offers premier whitewater rafting; hiking, leaf peeping, birding, rappelling, mountain biking, ATV trails, civil war trails, treetop canopy tours and zip lining, etc.
What are some helpful resources for discovering local inns, bed and breakfasts, lodges, boutique hotels, and other local lodging and dining?
800-CALL WVA, www.wvtourism.com, local convention and visitors bureaus, chamber of commerce offices, welcome centers and printed material from the Division of Tourism.
Is there anything else you would like to tell visitors thinking about traveling to West Virginia for the fall foliage season?
West Virginia has some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States. From our lush forests and rushing whitewater to our cultural heritage and endless mountain vistas, you can find almost any activity or event to please the entire family. However, our greatest assets lies not in the state itself, but in the friendly, hardworking residents that make up our Wild and Wonderful state! Remember, it only takes one match, carelessly thrown cigarette or unattended campfire to destroy an entire forest.
Foliage.org thanks Andy Ferguson from West Virginia Division of Tourism for granting us this interview on West Virginia Foliage.