If your group is planning a retreat, you’ve gotta check these stops out

Researching the activities. Booking the tickets. Collecting the money. Making the cabin reservations. Packing the sandwiches (2 with no mayo!), Neosporin, extra hiking socks, bug spray.

We get it— planning a group getaway is tough. These 6 resources can take the stress out of planning your gals’ weekend, your bro’s bachelor party or your yoga group’s zen-cation.

1. New River Gorge

In this neck of the woods, there might be too much nature for you to handle on your own. Get guidance from the friendly folks at the New River Gorge Convention and Visitors Bureau, who know all the best places to eat, drink, play and stay.

They’ll be able to point you to the area’s most gorgeous vistas and book the adventures best suited for your group’s adrenaline levels, from horseback riding to whitewater rapid-riding.

ACE Adventure Resort:

This mountain playground is a jungle gym for group travelers. They customize each group’s experience to meet individual needs, whether you’re on a wild bachelor party or a more tame corporate retreat.

The Challenge Course and Mud Obstacle Course are fun, adrenaline-inducing ways to bring your group together. Whether you want to run some rapids, fire some paintballs or simply kick back and cast a line, the expert planners at ACE can help you craft a perfectly customized getaway, complete with a luxurious (or primitive!) place to lay your head at the end of the day.

River Expeditions:

Group bonding is a snap when there’s whitewater, rock climbing, and zipline canopy tours to do. After a day of rapids and sky-high flying, all ice is broken! River Expeditions also has a scout merit badge program for young adventurers.

If your group isn’t all that gung ho, sign up for something slower instead. Join a guide for spectacular hikes through the New River Gorge, or go on a relaxing horse ride.

Adventures on the Gorge:

Indoors or out, your group will have a blast at this mountaintop resort. Restaurants like Smokey’s Steakhouse boast Wi-Fi and projectors, plus gorgeous forest views. You can also book a sports bar or the conference center.

After that, it’s play time. Plunge into famous whitewater rivers, climb sandstone crags, go boating on the turquoise Summersville Lake, or break everybody in with team-building games. Name your recreational plan, and odds are, AOTG can make it happen.

2. Southern West Virginia

There’s a lot to learn in the southern part of the state! Let the masterminds at Visit Southern West Virginia accompany your group so that you don’t miss an ounce of history.

They’ll color your trip with lively tales and make sure you don’t miss out on any of the big stops, like the charming historic town of Bramwell.

3. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

This expansive abandoned lunatic asylum in Weston is big enough to give every single person in your group a good scare!

For the faint-hearted, there are informative heritage tours, which focus on the history of the mid-1800s hospital and the surrounding property. Stroll through all 4 floors or tour the cemetery and farm area on a 4.5 mile-ride through the original 269 acres of the asylum.

For those more inclined to exploring the paranormal, your group can band together for a flashlight tour or huddle up for a full night at the asylum.

4. Snowshoe Mountain Resort

This mountaintop, nearly 5,000 feet in the sky, is a gorgeous group getaway.

With their pre-planned “groupventures,” you have all the fun while they do all the work. The “Full Steam Ahead” group itinerary includes snowmobile tours, whiskey tastings and a chef-inspired dinner in the primitive backcountry hut. Their “Family A Go Go” package features a horse-drawn sleigh ride, a campfire with s’mores and kids’ night out. The best part? Each groupventure is completely customizable!

5. River Riders

Spend your weekend in Harpers Ferry, right where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers merge.

Your cohorts will mix and blend just like the water, too. River Riders’ team-building exercises encourage bonding with lively “action learning” games. You can also sign up for group packages that involve zip lines, aerial park challenges, and bike rides.

As its name implies, the resort boasts water activities, too. Go kayaking, canoeing, or whitewater rafting for the day. The scenery is breathtakingly romantic, so why not take full advantage of it?

6. Oglebay Resort

Enhance your team’s communication skills— learn nuanced skills with horses, go on a scavenger hunt with smartphones, or build a racer!

At Oglebay Resort, imaginative group programs break the mold. Some even task you with dollhouse building for needy kids (themes and detailed notes keep things lively)! If you have specific goals or interests, though, you can always request a customized plan.

Which trip are you booking?

This post was last updated on March 17, 2022