West Virginia is truly the Mountain State because it is in the heart of the Appalachia region where visitors can enjoy traditional mountain music, tales, food, and crafts, like carving, weaving, quilting, glass blowing, furniture making, and jewelry making. Early settlements occurred on West Virginia's navigable rivers which continue to provide recreational opportunities for visitors. The mountains provided natural barriers to expansion until railroads, like the B&O which is the oldest in the United States, opened the State to agriculture and commerce. History buffs and railroaders enjoy taking nostalgic rides on the old B&O. Controlling the railroads was a major part of the Civil War. Consequently, West Virginia has several sites on the Civil War Discovery Trail:

1. Camp Allegheny, Bartow
2. Rich Mountain Battlefield, Beverly
3. Bulltown Historic District, Burnville
4. Cheat Summit Fort, Durbin
5. Grafton National Cemetery, Grafton
6. Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, Harpers Ferry
7. Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, Hillsboro
8. Lewisburg National Register Historic District, Lewisburg
9. Belle Boyd House, Martinsburg
10. Phillipi Covered Bridge, Phillipi
11. Sheperdstown Historic District, Shepherdstown
12. Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park, Summersville
13. Jackson's Mill Historic Area, Weston
14. West Virginia Independence Hall, Wheeling

Natural resources, like lumber, coal, oil, and natural gas, which were inaccessible until the railroads, abound in West Virginia. The railroads and vast networks of tunnels opened West Virginia to people, industries, and legends, including the contest between John Henry and the steam drill commemorated with a statue near Hinton and the popular ballad "Steel Drivin' Man."

Because West Virginia has nearly 2,000 miles of mountain streams racing through the Appalachian Mountains, it has America's best whitewater adventures for beginners to advanced kayakers, rafters, and canoers. Professional outfitters provide paddling supplies and guides for the paddlers who want the thrill of steering through rocks and rapids in the foaming whitewater as they pass abandon coal mining towns and scenic waterfalls. West Virginia has whitewater classified from Class I for novices to Class V requiring skills and the leadership of professional outfitters.

The first organized golf course, established in 1884, is in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. It is still open for golf, but the guests must share the nine-hole course with sheep. Throughout the state, state parks, public parks, and resorts offer golfing with breathtaking mountain views.

West Virginia's winding mountain roads provide scenic automobile and bicycling tours. The State is known for its year-round bicycle races. Mountain bikers like traversing the trails in Monongahela National Forest. It also has motorized recreation trails for off-road, ATV, and dirt bike enthusiasts on the Hatfield-McCoy Trail. Its off-road trails are among the most scenic in the United States. Motorcyclists also enjoy touring the scenic mountain highways and byways. Visitors, who prefer a quieter way to ride through the picturesque mountains, can go horseback riding. Many state parks and forests have stables available for individual, family, or group rides.

Hunters, fishermen, and wildlife enthusiasts, including bird watchers enjoy the forests, streams, and public lands throughout the State. Most public lands are open to hunting while the streams are stocked with trout. West Virginia has the best fly-fishing in the east. From the Potomac Highlands to the New River Valley, hundreds of bird species find sanctuary. Educational and interpretive programs at the state parks help casual and serious bird watchers identify the waterfowl and other birds.

The Mountain State has vacation destinations and outdoor adventures for all interests. The rivers and lakes are perfect for canoeing, boating, paddling, fishing, and floating. The mountain terrain in West Virginia offers varieties of camping experiences from RV camping with all of the amenities to primitive and rustic in remote areas only accessible by backpacking, hiking, or canoeing to the site. Spelunkers can go caving in any of the hundreds of non-commercial caverns across the State, or novice cavers can visit the commercial caverns such as Lost World Caverns, Organ Cave, Smoke Hole Caverns, and Seneca Caverns.

Visitors to West Virginia can fly into Charleston via major airlines or ride on Amtrak. Interstates also provide easy access to the State.