THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS

Click on little map to view larger Potomac Highland map.

The Potomac Highlands in West Virginia are located on the top of the eastern section of the state.  It covers Hampsire, Grant, Tucker, Hardy, Pendleton, Randolph, and Pocahontas.  The Allegheny Mountains are situated in the center of the Potomac Highlands.  There are two national forest (George Washington and Monongahela National Forest) located in the Potomac Highlands.  The Potomac Highlands is a great area for skiing, fishing, camping, taking walks and rock climbing.   (Please click on underlined titles to go to other sites about the attraction. )

Some of the places to visit in the Potomac Highlands are:

The state parks:

Canaan Valley State Park
Canaan Valley State Park has a year-round resort.  You can ski, ice skate and swim in an indoor pool in the wintertime.  In spring and summer, you can take a drive through the park taing in the beauty and serenity of the mountains while viewing the friendly deer.  Or ride up to the top of the mountain to see a wonderful view of the valley.  There is also an outside pool and you can play rounds of golf in the park.  Fall offers the beautiful colors that grace the hills and valleys of Canaan- Mother nature's patchwork quilt. 

Blackwater Falls State Park
This is a great place to visit.  There are a few great views of the falls, one handicap accessable, a wonderful souvenier shop, a beautiful drive (especially in the spring when the rhodadendrums are in bloom), pladdle boats, lodge and camping.

Close by Canaan Valley are two towns, Davis and Thomas.
Davis is the highest incorporated town in West Virginia.  The attractions in Davis are: 
MT Topswhere you can buy T-shirts and sweatshirts.  If you are looking for a bargain, go to the back of the store, there is a room with shirts on sale. The shirts are misprints and slightly damaged or discontinued.  I buy the shirts for my family there.  The prices range around 3 for $5, $7 or $10.  Sometimes, they sell individuals for $1-$5.

My Grandpa's Attic is a place that sells antiques,collectables, gifts, Christmas ornaments, angles, sports cards, etc...  I have bought a cookbook called FANNY FLAGG'S ORIGINAL WHISTLE STOP CAFE COOKBOOK.  The cookbook has good down home southern recipes based on the movie FRIED GREEN TOMATOES.  And yes, the recipe for the fried green tomatoes and it is MMMMM good.

If you are interested in mountain biking, Blackwater Bikes is a good place to go.  They offer sales, rentals, clothing, books, maps, guided cycling tours and whitewater rafting.  Call 1-800-737-1935.

The Art Company has fine art originals, prints, pottery, glass, wood, furniture, rugs, sculpture, iron works, leather, toys and baskets. 

Looking for places to eat in Davis:
I highly recomend Siriani's for Italian dining.  The pizza's are great. 
Sawmill restaurant
Muttley's Incredible Edibles- Steak house and soup kitchen
Davis Restaurant and Pub-featuring German and Italian cooking

Thomas is a quaint little town that looks like a western town because it was built in the 1800's when it logging and mining were big industries.  Thomas, at one time, had a population of 4000.  Today, it has 400 people living in town.  You can find some neat shops like:
The Christmas Shop, it is Christmas all year.
One World Concept- Gormet foods, gifts from around the world, art and collectables.
Antique shops- Opera House Antiques, Old Crow Antiques and my personal favorite is the Eagles Nest.

All aboard!  Take a ride on the Potomac Eagle or Cass Scenic Railroad.

The Potomac Eagle is a great ride.  Chances are, you will see eagles and eagle's nests.  Boarding is in Romney and goes to Petersburg and back to Romney.

Cass Scenic Railroad is nother great train ride up a steep mountain side with an 11% grade.  The engine was specially designed for the steep grade.  The train was also designed for lumbering high up in the mountains.  It was later converted to carry tourist to two points on the tracts, Whittaker Station and Bald Knob( the second highest point in  West Virginia).  A ride on the train will also give you a history of the Woodhicks ( lumberers) and a free pass to the museum after the ride.  Pack a lunch.  There is water on the train but it is best to carry some of your own water or drinks.  Also, it is a good idea to carry jackets , even in the summer time.  I had to bring gloves at the end of summer.  Don't forget your camera.

Elkins has nice places to visit or do shopping. 
Check out Graceland and Halihurst Mansions at Davis and Elkins College.

Hinkles Dying Art Glass Works in Buckhannon will demonstrate glass blowing with melted pieces of glass.  The owner, Ron Hinkle, once worked at Corning and has his own glass factory.  There is a gallery next to his factory where he sells his homemade creations- they are beautiful works of art. 
Route 9 Box 467
(304) 472-7963
(304) 472-6777
Go to I-79 to Rt 33 East, Buckhannon Exit.  Rt 20 South 5 miles to Sago/Hampton Rd.

White Water Rafting is another fun adventure in the Potomac Highlands. 

Or you can paddle a canoe down the Cheat River.  Great family adventure on the water.  Don't forget to take a fishing pole and a lunch.

Perhaps you will be interested in stalactites, stalacmites or other mineral deposits of the caves.  The Potomac Higlands offers two guided cave tours in close proximity of each other.  Visit the Smoke Hole Caverns and the Seneca Caverns.  Both are rich in history, geology and are about 56 degrees F year round. So take a jacket with you.  The Smoke Hole has the largest gift shop. Seneca Caverns has gemstone mining.  So grab your most comfortable pair of walking shoes and take a tour through the caverns.  Guarenteed good time.

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Click on mountain for Potomac Highland pictures.

Click on entrance to enter Seneca Caverns.