Ways To Make Your Trip More Memorable In West Virginia: Sporting Events, Historic Sites & More

Sporting Events To Check Out/Bet On In West Virginia & Virginia

West Virginia is among the U.S. states that lacks a “big four” professional sports league franchise — the NFL, NBA, NHL or MLB. 

But make no mistake, West Virginia residents love their collegiate and minor league-level teams. The West Virginia Mountaineers and the Marshall Thundering Herd headline the state’s NCAA sports programs. 

In 2018, West Virginia became the fifth U.S. state to legalize sports betting after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). The historic ruling allowed each state to launch sports gambling if they so desired.

The Caesars Virginia sportsbook is among the most popular apps for customers to use in both Virginia and West Virginia. The sportsbook is running a promo where new customers can get up to $1,250 in risk-free wagers plus 1,000 in tier credits and 1,000 in reward credits among signing up.

There are all sorts of different wagers that users can place through the Caesars Virginia sportsbook, including point spreads, futures, props and moneylines.

The Mountaineers, Thundering Herd and Virginia Cavaliers NCAA football teams will conclude their regular seasons on Nov. 26. If you’re not in town to attend any of those teams’ home games this year? Don’t worry, because the NCAA basketball season is starting up.

The powerhouse Virginia Cavaliers men’s NCAA basketball team will commence their 2022-23 season this month, with their final regular season game scheduled to take place against Louisville on Mar. 4. The No. 13 ranked Virginia Tech Hokies’ women’s basketball team will open their season on Nov. 7, with their final regular season home game of 2022-23 taking place against NC State on Feb. 19.

The Mountaineers’ men’s basketball team will conclude their regular season on Mar. 4, against Kansas State.

Residents of West Virginia also love their many baseball teams, including the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and the West Virginia Black Bears (based in Granville) of the MLB Draft League.

If you’re here during the spring or summer, you should prioritize a baseball game in West Virginia. You don’t even have to be a sports fan to enjoy your time out at the old ball game!

Visit New River Gorge, Shenandoah River And/Or Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Outdoor and exercise enthusiasts will be blown away by the beautiful nature that West Virginia has to offer.

If you want to spend several days in these areas, you should look into the many campgrounds available. The New River Gorge, Shenandoah River and Harpers Ferry National Park are among the state’s best places for nature lovers to check out.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve offers a wide range of recreational activities, including fishing, rafting, climbing, biking and more. Some of the more popular places to check out here include the New River Gorge Bridge and the Sandstone Falls.

Millions of people know about the Shenandoah River, even if they’ve never actually seen it in person. This location, of course, is referenced in the “Take Me Home, Country Roads” 1971 hit song by John Denver:

“Almost heaven, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River

Life is old there, older than the trees

Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze.

Country roads, take me home

To the place I belong

West Virginia, mountain mama

Take me home, country roads.”

In fact, Denver’s timeless hit is one of four official West Virginia State Songs. The other three are “This Is My West Virginia”, “The West Virginia Hills”, and “West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home.”

Shenandoah River, part of the Potomac River, is 55.6 miles long and stretches through both states of West Virginia and Virginia.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is home to several historic sites such as the John Brown Wax Museum, the Provost Marshal Office and the Industry Museum. If you love both outdoor activities/nature and history, you may wish to spend several days here.

Visit The West Virginia State Museum

The West Virginia State Museum, located in Charleston, is a must-see place for history fanatics. 

You can learn everything about the history and formation of West Virginia at the WV Museum, which offers free admission to the public. Keep in mind that the museum is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays and closed on Sundays and Mondays.

The West Virginia State Museum is also one of the state’s oldest buildings, having opened in 1894. At the West Virginia State Museum, you can learn all about the state’s performance arts, culture and history that shaped this state into what it is today.

If you’re visiting the state in the coming weeks, you may want to check out the Faces From the Past Exhibit that will be on display until November.