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Did you know that West Virginia鈥檚 most enchanting towns remain hidden behind its mountains, unexplored by mass tourism? While the state is well-known for its picturesque parks and landmarks, its smallest towns, with populations under 10,000, hold its most historic treasures and breathtaking views. Surrounded by five neighboring states, West Virginia is characterized by its Appalachian Mountains, bent rivers, and valleys of great expanse. It offers the perfect backdrop upon which its off-the-path towns are set. Many of its towns trace their roots to early settlements of Appalachia, Civil War battlefields, and coal mining鈥檚 heyday. Still, nowadays, each community is a mix of heritage, nature, and small-town charm. From Thomas鈥檚 art-lined avenues to Berkeley Springs鈥檚 natural hot springs, each is a hidden gem waiting to be explored. Are you up to leaving behind hordes of people and discovering West Virginia鈥檚 best-kept secrets?

Berkeley Springs

A go-to spot for more than 200 years, Berkeley Springs made it onto USA Today鈥檚 2022 listing of America鈥檚 Top 10 Historic Small Towns. At Berkeley Springs State Park, people can soak up mineral water that George Washington enjoyed, historic Roman baths, and outdoor pools that are open throughout the year. The Berkeley Springs Castle, looming over the town, was built by Colonel Samuel Taylor Suit in the 1880s for his wife, Rosa.

Creativity thrives outside of the springs, too. The Ice House, built around 1910 as a storage building, is home to art galleries, live performances, and art workshops. A hop skip away is Berkeley Springs Brewing Company, which makes small batches of beer flavored by the region鈥檚 legendary spring water. It also has Bed N Brew rooms, where people can indulge in a craft beer experience during their stay.

Lewisburg

A town of chronicle, culture, and hidden marvels, Lewisburg is an unforgettable experience. At Carnegie Hall, one of only four still in continuous use 海角社区wide, live performances, art displays, and stage performances fill the historic building throughout the year. Close by is Lost 海角社区 Caverns, 120 feet beneath ground level, where self-guided tours uncover towering stalactites and rock formations of gleaming crystal. For adventure enthusiasts, the 鈥淲ild Cave Tour鈥� takes adventurers through narrow passageways and hidden rooms, bringing out the natural beauty of the caverns.

Legacies come alive through the doors of the Greenbrier Historical Society and North House Museum, where 19th-century items, Civil War memorabilia, and rustic furniture guide visitors through times gone by. Only seven miles outside of town, Greenbrier State Forest boasts over 15 miles of cycling and hiking trails that wind through woodsy areas and quiet fields. The Kate鈥檚 Mountain Trail leads hikers to one of the region's tallest peaks, where panoramic views of the Greenbrier Valley unfold.

Harpers Ferry

Straddling the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, Harpers Ferry is a town where the past lingers in every corner, road, and landmark. The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, visited by over 300,000 people annually, preserves its 19th-century buildings, cobblestone roads, and historic landmarks. Tourists can stamp their passports at The Bookshop within Lower Town on their way to visit John Brown鈥檚 Fort, where abolitionist John Brown led his 1859 raid.

Beyond its preserved historic streets, Harpers Ferry is also deeply connected to the Appalachian Trail鈥檚 past. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters, along the symbolic midpoint of the trail, contains decades of hiker photographs and histories. Uphill is St. Peter鈥檚 Roman Catholic Church, a survivor of the Civil War, one of the town's most striking historic landmarks.

Fayetteville

Perched along West Virginia鈥檚 most famous canyon, Fayetteville is a big-town adventure on a small-town scale. The New River Gorge Bridge, looming 876 feet above the water, is one of the longest free-span arch bridges on the planet and the star of the annual Bridge Day Festival. During the event, thrill riders leap off its giant steel arch using bases attached to specialized suits that shoot out parachutes upon leaping off. Below, raft riders float out New River鈥檚 rapids while hikers trek along scenic trails that wind through verdant woodlands and towering rock faces, ending in breathtaking views within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

Beyond its natural beauty, Fayetteville鈥檚 downtown is full of character, too. The Historic Fayette Theatre, a restored 1930s building, hosts live performances and film presentations. For history closer to home, the nearby Contentment Museum, housed within an 1830s home, contains items of historical interest to the town.

Thomas

A mountain town that is artsy by nature, Thomas blends creativity and tradition. The Purple Fiddle, a lively cafe and concert venue, fills its rustic building with indie, bluegrass, and folk performances that draw locals and visitors alike. Down the street is Invisible, an art gallery that is owned by artists dating back to 2008, offering modern painting, sculpting, and ceramics. A quick ride gets one to Blackwater Falls State Park, where amber water plunges 57 feet into a rocky gorge.

The town鈥檚 yesteryear is preserved within the Buxton and Landstreet Company Store, originally a coal-era hub that is now converted to a gallery and cultural use. TipTop Coffee is located within the historic Schilansky-Rubenstein Building, built around 1905 by two of Thomas' earliest Jewish settlers. It offers a warm spot for espresso and pastry.

Shepherdstown

West Virginia鈥檚 oldest incorporated town, Shepherdstown, blends a thriving arts scene with a chronicle that predates the American Revolution. The Historic Shepherdstown Museum, located within the 1786 Entler Hotel, represents the early town era with its collections of Civil War-era objects and presentations of river commerce. A short distance away is the Bavarian Inn, Resort, and Brewing Company, where fine dining, on-the-spot brews, and views of the Potomac River are brought together by German touches combined with regional flavors.

Creativity thrives here as Shepherdstown is home to the Contemporary American Theater Festival, where innovative new plays are premiered each summer. The C&O Canal Towpath runs immediately outside of town along the Potomac River, with easy access next to Lock 38. The historic lock once connected boats between river and canal, adding yet another dimension to Shepherdstown鈥檚 rich maritime legacy

Point Pleasant

A town defined by its past and myth, Point Pleasant is where the Kanawha and Ohio rivers meet, where the 1774 battle of Point Pleasant took place. The battle, commemorated by Tu-Endie-Wei State Park, is by others tallied as the first battle of the American Revolution. A memorial of stone honors soldiers, the historic Mansion House Museum, built in 1796, contains items of the era of the frontier.

Beyond its olden days of combat, Point Pleasant is also famous for its Mothman folklore. The Mothman Museum takes on strange reports of red-eyed creature sightings that terrorized the town throughout the 1960s, including eyewitness accounts and clippings of vintage newspapers. Outside, its 12-foot-tall Mothman statue is also a road-stop favorite spot. A quick stroll is also provided by the Point Pleasant River Museum, presently under restoration, on maritime history and steamboats of the town.

Uncover West Virginia鈥檚 Hidden Treasures

From mineral water springs and mountaintop trails to battlefields and unexplained myths, West Virginia鈥檚 seven off-the-beaten-path towns share its most compelling secrets. Lewisburg takes people below ground to Lost 海角社区 Caverns, while Harpers Ferry reveals its Civil War times along with a stop by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters. Fayetteville鈥檚 New River Gorge Bridge, Thomas鈥檚 Front Street of art galleries, and Berkeley Springs鈥檚 healing waters celebrate West Virginia鈥檚 natural beauty. Shepherdstown mixes its colonial epoch with live theatre, while Point Pleasant mixes its Revolutionary history with its eerie Mothman myth. Full of adventure and culture, West Virginia鈥檚 seven best-kept secrets have demonstrated that its most amazing things can lie off of maps.