New River Lodging

One surprising thing about arriving at romantic cabin getaways in the town of Fayetteville, West Virginia is discovering how many great restaurants there are in this little town.  Taking the one you love out to eat at the New River Gorge is easy.  Just a short drive from New River lodging are so many choices for dining no one will go hungry.

From Italian to Mexican to Southern Style, there is a place to eat for every food and taste.  For those looking to spice things up, there is Gumbos, voted Best Restaurant in the Area.  This great lunch and dinner spot specializes in Cajun, Creole and Low Country cuisine.  Visitors can dine on Cajun traditional fare such as crawfish and shrimp as well as unexpected entrees like alligator.  Spice and romance go together in Fayetteville.

Gumbos Cajun Restaurant
103 South Court Street
Fayetteville, WV   25840
304-574-4704
Lunch & dinner ~ Closed Monday & Tuesday
Enjoy our 1 to 4 bedroom, fully furnished rental log cabins with private hot tubs just minutes from Fayetteville, the coolest town in WV.

West Virginia Family vacations can include a visit to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine where visitors can explore underground in man-cars, and through an old company store turned museum. The history of Coal Mining is West Virginia is not just a history of digging fuel from the earth.  It is the history of the industrial revolution, the beginnings of unions in our country and the battle for worker safety. 

The story of coal is the story of mechanical and technological progress early in our country's history. Coal ovens, specifically, were designed and redesigned to continually increase efficiency.  The evolution of their design was a series of mechanical and brick revolutions that lead to greater effectiveness of heating systems, and coke production.  (Coke is the solid fuel material derived from the distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal.)  

To explore the effect of coal in West Virginia, its people and its history is to do more than just visit this state, it is to understand part of what makes West Virginia special. Within an hour from our New River lodging and Hawk's Nest lodging is a chance to walk into WV coal mining history.

Winter in West Virginia has been called the secret season, but it's becoming less so with each passing year.  People are discovering the fun that can be had beyond the summer rafting season.  A stay in our New River lodging puts visitors in the middle of winter adventures and is within a day's drive of most mid-atlantic cities.

Ski resorts, such as Winterplace and Snowshoe, offer great skiing for the entire family.  Mountain biking at the New River Gorge is a year round offering.   Treetops Canopy Tour ziplines are open all year with winter views like no other.    New this year, the New River Gorge Bridge Walk allows folks to experience the famous New River Gorge Bridge from a totally unique perspective.  At the end of a day of play, cozy West Virginia log cabin rentals with hot tubs await. In fact, you can find 19 different cabin options, all with private hot tubs, here. This is more than anywhere else in the New River Gorge area!

Winter is not a time just to stay inside and wish for warmer weather, it's a season that offers new and different options for exploring the great outdoors.

The New River Gorge area of West Virginia is well known for its world class whitewater rafting and the internationally famous BASE Jumping Festival known as Bridge Day.  Bridge Day takes place in October and West Virginia whitewater rafting happens from spring through fall.  Our New River lodging — deluxe West Virginia log cabin rentals — are often used as the a luxury basecamp from which to explore these adventures.

In the last few years, however, the West Virginia's adventure offerings have come to include year-round activities.  Our New River cabin rentals have been discovered by folks undertaking new kinds of adventures in all seasons.

Mountain Biking trails are open all year, cool and shady in the summer, offering striking views when the leaves are down in late fall and winter.

The Treetops Canopy Tour operates year-round, allowing visitors to experience a bird's-eye view of new leaves in spring, lush green in summer, turning leaves in fall and snow-etched wonder in winter.

Brand new the this year is the New River Gorge Bridge Walk Tour, which takes the intrepid on a walk along a 24 inch wide catwalk beneath the New River Gorge Bridge.  Talk about breathtaking year-round fun!

We look forward to more people discovering year-round fun in our corner of West Virginia.

New River lodging is a must if for those who want to experience the ultimate in BASE.  BASE is an acronym that stands for Building, Antenna, Span and Earth -- all the types of ojects that BASE Jumpers leap off.  BASE Jumping is the sport of jumping from a tall, stationary object with a parachute and landing  - hopefully - safely.  It is an extremely dangerous activity undertaken by only a small number of people and which should never be practiced by amateurs -- but it is wildly exciting to watch!  Even if the idea of hurling yourself off a perfectly good bridge makes your head spin, watching others do it is a rush.

Just a few minutes drive from our West Virginia log cabins rentals, the New River Bridge Day Festival is a Mecca for BASE jumpers.  One of the tallest bridges in the world at over 800 feet, the New River Gorge Bridge draws BASE jumping enthusiasts from all over the world.   Bridge Day is the oldest organized event in the history of the sport, and one of the most widely publicized.

This year's Bridge Day Festival will take place on Oct 16, 2010.  More information can be found at the Official Bridge Day website.

New River lodging is starting to fill up because it's that time of year again - Bridge Day is almost here!  The Official Bridge Day Website puts it best: "We've got a bridge, and we've got a gorge - it's time to jump into it!" 

Yes, for those not already familiar with this event, it's like nothing you've ever seen before.  One day a year, one of the longest, tallest bridges in the world, a major travel route, is closed down, covered in popup tents selling food and goods, and people wearing parachutes jump off of it into the New River Gorge.  Seriously.  They do.  Would we kid you about something like this?

October 16, 2010 is the 31st Annual Bridge Day Festival at the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia.  This festival celebrates life on the edge and is spectacular to watch.  It's the B.A.S.E. Jumping party of the season - and the party of the season in general even if you're here on romantic cabin getaways or West Virginia family vacations and not planning on jumping.

West Virginia family vacations can include a little bit of everything, from high action adventure to horseshoe tossing.  Carnifax Ferry Battlefield State Park is just a short drive from West Virginia log cabins rentals and well worth the trip, especially from those with children.

There is no entrance fee to Carnifex Ferry Park, and while the park is not large, but has walking trails dotted with historical markers, and old buildings and fences to explore and discover.  There is a museum, a playground and three overlooks allowing visitors to gaze down on the Gauley River, world famous for whitewater rafting. The three overlooks offer different views ot the same Pillow Rock Rapid, a famous and exciting rapid to watch rafters and kayakers negotiate. The views are pretty distant. There is a newer trail, almost a mile long, called Pearson Hollow Trail that will take you down to Pillow Rock Rapid on river right of the Gauley. Call the Gauley National Recreation Area for more info on that trail (it isn't part of Carnifex Ferry Park).  Those numbers are: Headquarters (304) 465-0508, Canyon Rim Visitor Center (304) 574-2115, Sandstone Visitor Center (304) 466-0417.

A picnic area with grills and tables is near the horseshoe pits, and not far from the softball and volleyball areas.  Fall turns the Park into a riot of color and below on the river bright rafts take adventurers through spectacular whitewater. 

For families looking for a casual day out — with a healthy does of historical significance — Carnifex Ferry Park is the perfect choice.  Enjoy!

A weekend away is always a good idea, especially to a place as beautiful as West Virginia's New River Gorge.  There is much to do here all year round, but fall is a special time to visit Country Road Cabins.  The fall foliage colors of West Virginia are often overlooked in favor of places like Vermont or the Great Smoky Mountains, but the New River Gorge and Monongahela National Forest are stunningly beautiful and worth a visit.  Romantic leaf-peeping trips and cozy New River lodging go together like fall weather and fleece jackets!

An added twist for those coming to West Virginia the weekend of September 18th, Oktoberfest!  From 10am-10pm in Montgomery, WV the day includes tours of the local college campuses for those interested, cornhole tournaments, classic car shows, Sternwheeler river boat rides, and of course an Authentic German Beer Garden which opens at noon.

After the festival, relax in a private hot tub at our West Virginia cabin vacation rentals.  Fruit and cheese wlecome baskets, sparkling cider and catered meals are available to take away all stress.  Settle in front of the fireplace to finish out the evening...

Nicholas County West Virginia has a great tradition of potato farming and what better way to celebrate that heritage than with a Potato Festival.  Just a short drive from West Virginia log cabin rentals and New River lodging, Summersville is a great little town to visit for a true taste of West Virginia life.

The 41st Annual Nichalos County Potato Festival is happening September 9-11th, 2010 in Summersville, WV.  From potato sack races to potato eating contests, there is something for visitors of all ages.

• Thursday evening is Tater Tots time - with a selection of activities geared specifially toward children.
• Friday evening the festival hosts the Fireman's parade and a tailgating party to watch the WVU/Marshall game.
• Saturday is a full festival day with a 5k run, dancing, live music, and a Potato Weight Contest.

Take a day or an evening away from all the high-energy adventure activities available on West Virginia family vacations and spend a some time among the local folks celebrating our rural heritage.

Hurrah for festivals!  The Taste of Appalachia Festival is a three-day event that draws people from all over.  Just a short drive from great West Virginia cabin rentals, the Festival takes place each year in Beckley, West Virginia.  August 27-29, 2010 marks the 14th year!

Each day starts off with home-style breakfast fare served at the festival.   Throughout the day, there are dozens of booths to explore, filled with local crafts and arts.  Among the great events happening are Coal Mine Tours and Ghost Town Tours, as well as live music throughout the day. 

More than 100 classic cars are displayed to the thrill of automotive enthusiasts of all ages, and Theatre West Virginia presents a Friday night show by Phil Dirt & the Dozers - sure to get the whole family laughing.

Great food, great fun - this Festival is worth the short trip from our New River lodging!

For those pets planning to stay in New River lodging on West Virginia family vacations with their people, we announce a special event around which to plan your getaway!  Beckley Art Group Inc, a non-profit organization in Beckley, West Virginia is offering PET ART DAY.  Pets can bring their person and create a colaborative work of art with him or her.  Professional photographers Ed Rehbein and John Blankenship, will then take a portrait of you, your person and your creation! 

Cost is $25.00 per pet - humans get in free!  Pet's you must leash your people or make them carry you.

All participants will be entered to win a pastel pet portrait by artist Rose Dobbins, a free professional framing of a pet's artwork, and a $75.00 gift certificate to Pet Supplies Plus. 

30% of proceeds will go to Raleigh County Humane Society.  Event to to place on August 21st, 2010 10am to 4pm at 6000 Johnstown Road in Beckley, WV


http://www.beckleyartgallery.com/

Everyone loves hummingbirds, those little airborn jewels that zip by in the blink of an eye offering just enough of a glimpse to leave you thrilled by what you have seen.  Sitting on the porch of a West Virginia cabin vacation rental, you often hear the Ruby Thoated Hummingbirds flying by even before they see them.

The New River Gorge Hummingbird Festival, August 13-15, 2010, celebrates the uniqueness of these little birds with a variety of birding and nature presentations.  The Festival is an outreach program of New River Birding & Nature Center at Wolf Creek Park in Fayette County WV, born of the internationally acclaimed New River Birding & Nature Festival. 

Bill Hilton Jr., Hummingbird expert, Consulting Director of New River Birding & Nature Center, and cited by Discover magazine as one of “50 Best Brains in Science” , will lead the presentations.  Bird lovers should take a break from everyday life, bring the family to stay at some lovely New River lodging and spend a few days in hummingbird heaven.

One advantage to West Virginia cabin rentals with fully equipped kitchens is saving money on vacation by cooking meals instead of eating out every night.  For visitors looking to add fresh, local food to their evening fare, a visit one of the Farmers' Markets just down the road from your New River lodging in Beckley, West Virginia or Fayetteville, West Virginia, is a great option.  Buying local food means helping local farmers and saving money to because you're not paying for the cost of shipping the food across the country to a grocery store.

From Mid-July through September, the Beckley Tailgate Farmers Market is held 10 am - 1 pm  on Wednesdays at Trail Lot on 3rd Ave and Fridays at Word Park on Neville Street Beckley.  More information is available at WVU Extension Service 304-255-932.

Fayette County Farmers' Market is held in Fayetteville, West Virginia, beside the Fayette County Courthouse in the Courthouse Parking Lot from May 12 through October 12 on Saturdays 7:30am – 11:30am.  Contact Belinda Huebner at 304-574-0609 for more informaiton.

As the mercury hits record temperatures all the way up the coast we're even happier than usual that we get to spend our days near West Virginia's most beautiful Rivers. 

There are a dozen ways to escape the heat in West Virginia, from relaxing on hot nights in airconditioned West Virgnia log cabin rentals to playing in the water. 

Down in the New River Gorge, the rafting is adventurous and refreshing.  High up in the canopy, visitors create their own breezes as they fly along shaded ziplines.  Summersville Lake offers great swimming and boating. Visitors can even explore cooler temperatures underground in the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum.

In the evenings, front porches of New River Lodging provide great views of fireflies while cool drinks are sipped.  

Baseball?  In West Virginia?  Oh yes!  While most people looking for a West Virginia cabin vacation rental are planning to spent time in the great outdoors, hiking, biking, or whitewater rafting, sometimes it's nice to try something a little diffferent - especially if there are kids along.

The West Virginia Power is a Minor League Baseball team that is the Class A Affiliate proving ground for future Milwaukee Brewers players.  Located in Charleston WV, just an hour from New River lodging, the WV Power offer ticket pricing from just $5 for general admission and a ton of fun for folks on West Virginia family vacations.  Bring the whole family out; sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", eat hot dogs and have a cold drink - a true traditional summer evening!

The Stone Goddess Rock Shop in Fayetteville, WV has lots to see and examine whether a visitor is an expert rock hound or just curious.  Located at 142 South Court Street in Fayetteville, the Stone Goddess is a great place to visit on a West Virginia vacation.  Just a short drive from a number of great Wext Virginia cabin rentals, and Hawk's Nest lodging, this rock shop offers geodes, smaller crystals, stone dragons and incense burners and candlesticks.   Fun jewelry is available as well. 

Great gifts and lots of information about crystals, semi-precious stones and local geology is available at the shop.  Online, the Stone Goddess Blog provides information about specific stones and crystals in a great blog. You will learn a lot about rocks in a visit to their store, online or in person!

Just to the south of the New River Gorge Bridge is the wonderful little town of Fayetteville, West Virginia.  Located near great New River lodging, rafting, canopy tours and other adventures, Fayetteville has a lot to offer.  Among the many great things about this little mountain town are the restaurants.  Take a break from cooking in the kitchen of a West Virginia cabin vacation rental and grab a hearty, classic meal at Tudor's Biscuit World. 

Located right off the highway, Tudor's is easy to spot and a great place for those on romantic cabin getaways or West Virginia family vacations to fill up for a day of play at the New River Gorge.

Tudor's is based out of Charleston, West Virginia and has locations throughout the state.  They are known for big hearty servings, and the one in Fayetteville is no exception.  As a sample of Tudor's menu shows, dining here is not for light eaters.  But what a great way to start of a busy morning of playing hard on a West Virginia vacation!  

On of the main reasons people choose West Virginia cabin rentals in this area of our state is the fabulous beauty of the New River Gorge.  This unique natural feature forms one of the most stunning landscapes on earth, and visitors marvel at both the striking natural beauty and the range of abandoned historic structures that surround it.  The harsh history of the industrial past of the New River Gorge can be found in the many stories of loss and corporate cruelty surrounding the coal mining structures and history of the region. 

Part of West Virginia family vacations is getting away from it all, and part is looking back and wondering who has come before. The New River carved the earth and humans dug deeper, re-routing water, taking coal, leaving behind structures and tunnels to make current and future explorers ask "Who was here?",   "What did they do?",   "Where did they go?"  We encourage everyone who stays in our New River lodging to take a day and explore these places and questions and fit themselves into the history of the New River Gorge.

 

The Hawk's Nest River Nature Center at Hawk's Nest State Parks offers opportunities for kids of all ages to learn about and experience the life within the New River ecosystem. Nature exhibits features interactive nature displays that children love to explore.  The Nature Center also has an on-site naturalist who provides for answers to questions and information about the area.  It is a perfect, easy stop for all West Virginia family vacations to the New River Gorge area.

Head out from your lovely Hawk's Nest lodging to the Nature Center.  It's a great starting point for a day of exploring Hawk's Nest State Park's hiking trails, such as the Rail Trail or the Cliffside Trail. 

Open daily Memorial Day to Labor Day and on weekends only from Labor Day to late October, the Hawk's Nest Nature Center has a nature gift shop with apparel, snacks, and beverages.