5 really (really) unconventional WV activities
So you think you’ve tried everything the Mountain State has to offer? Check out these unconventional activities that are uniquely West Virginian.
Fly (upside down!) over the New River Gorge
Feeling brave? Take a stunt flight in an authentic WWII Stearman biplane! Wild Blue Adventure Company pilot Christian Kappler guides passengers through barrel rolls and other adrenaline-charged acrobatics high above the beautiful New River Gorge. (But if stunt flying is not your thing – no worries – WBAC has standard scenic flights, too!)
Eat “roadkill”
At the Autumn Harvest Festival and West Virginia Roadkill 
Cook-off, you won’t find real roadkill … but you also won’t find beef, chicken or pork. Chefs gather in Marlinton every year to compete for the tastiest and most creative wild game recipes. Here’s your chance to sample exotic meat like wild boar, snapping turtle and black bear, served up with a wink and a smile by the masters of roadkill cuisine.
Soak in George Washington’s favorite warm springs
Our nation’s first president was a big fan of the curative
effect of the Berkeley Springs – but he wasn’t the first to discover these warm mineral waters. Long before the first European settlers, Native Americans traveled from as far away as Canada and the Carolinas to bathe in the springs. Today this water, flowing at a constant temperature of 74.3 degrees, is the centerpiece of Berkeley Springs State Park. Spa services at the park include everything from Roman baths to massages. (While you’re there, be sure to check out George Washington’s Bathtub – a replica of the scooped-out bathing pool he frequented!)
Join the Hatfield and McCoy feud
These famous feuding families may have long since buried the hatchet, but they still enjoy a friendly competition every year at the Hatfield and McCoy Reunion Festival. Crowds gather on the banks of the Tug River to root for their favorite team – the Hatfields of West Virginia or the McCoys of Kentucky – as the families play tug of war across the river that separates the 2 states.
Take a meditative stroll on the grounds of a real palace
In the early 1970s the New Vrindaban community began construction of a spectacular golden palace in the forested hills outside Moundsville. The 
palace was to have been the living quarters for A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the Hare Krishna movement, but he died before its completion. So, it was turned into a tourist attraction instead. The Palace of Gold’s brilliant stained-glass windows and crystal chandeliers are a feast for the eyes, but the grounds are just as beautiful. Walking paths wind through a landscape dotted with peacocks and rose gardens, while swan boats glide on the adjacent lake.
Plan around these wild, weird events:
This post was last updated on March 16, 2022