Beckley is a small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of southern West Virginia. Because of its location, Beckley is rich in natural beauty; sweeping mountain views and cool, rushing mountain streams are all around the area. But visitors to Beckley will find more than just scenery in the area. The following list will guide travelers to the best of Beckley and the surrounding area.
Hike in Grandview National Park
With its sweeping views of the Appalachian Mountains and the New River Gorge, Grandview National Park really lives up to its name. This park spans 52 acres and includes six hiking trails ranging in difficulty from easy to challenging. The trails will take guests through calm woodlands, past mountain streams, and up to the top of beautiful scenic overlooks. Grandview is also famous for its rhododendron bushes, which bloom from mid-May to July. The park contains picnic areas, playgrounds, boating, fishing, camping, and a 1200-seat outdoor amphitheater, and it is open year-round. The visitor center is open June through August.
Tour Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum
Coal mining has played a vital role in the history and development of West Virginia. That history is on display at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum. Guests can tour an actual coal mine, see real mining equipment, and learn about the mining process. Located next to the coal mine is the Beckley Youth Museum, which features four boxcars each with a different exhibit. Science, art, and history exhibits can all be found here. The youth museum also features a recreated mountain homestead to show visitors what life was like for the earliest residents of Appalachia.
Address: 513 Ewart Avenue Beckley, WV 25801, Phone: 304-256-1747
Go fishing and boating in Bluestone State Park
With its mountains, forests, and rolling hills, West Virginia is rich in natural beauty, which visitors can experience at Bluestone State Park, located five miles south of Hinton. The park covers 2,100 acres of forested mountain terrain and sits next to Bluestone Lake. Bluestone Park contains miles of hiking trails, basketball, volleyball, and shuffleboard courts, an outdoor swimming pool, and a campground that includes 26 cabins for rent. Fishing, boating, and water skiing are available at Bluestone Lake. The lake’s marina is open April through October and offers boat rentals, weather permitting.
Address: HC 78 Box 3 Hinton, WV 25951, Phone: 304-466-2805
See an at exhibition at the Beckley Arts Center
With two locations in the city, the Beckley Arts Center showcases an unwavering commitment to promoting the arts, cultivating emerging artists, educating the public about the arts, as well as creating opportunities for members of the community who may not have the means to explore careers in the arts. The Beckley Arts Center does this by hosting regular art exhibitions featuring works by established and up-and-coming artists, and by offering educational programs like visual and performing art classes to the public. The Center also offers workshops and private lessons for people of all ages and skill levels. Visit the Art Gallery, gift shop, and art lab at the Johnstown Road location, or try a private music class at the Neville Street Location.
Address: 600 Johnstown Road, Beckley, West Virginia 25801, Phone: 304-253-9226
Take the kids to Calacino’s Pizzeria
Calacino’s Pizzeria has been a Beckley institution for over 80 years. The restaurant opened in 1934 and has been providing locals with hot, delicious pizza ever since. Calacino’s cooks their pizza in a high heat stone oven. The result is a delicious hot pie with a thin, crispy crust! In addition to pizza, Calacino’s offers appetizers, salads, pasta, and special French bread pizzas called “stackers.” Guests can enjoy college sports on the many flat-screen televisions in the restaurant. They even offer live music on occasion.
Address: 3611 Robert C Byrd Drive Beckley, WV 25801, Phone: 304-253-1010
Enjoy the lake in Little Beaver State Park
Little Beaver State Park is the place to be for outdoor family fun. This 562-acre park showcases the natural beauty of West Virginia through a series of short hiking and biking trails in varying degrees of difficulty. From easy, flat walks to challenging climbs, there is a trail for every experience level. The park also contains an 18-acre lake where visitors can fish for trout, bass, bluegill, and crappie year-round. Boat rentals are available seasonally. In 2011, a 46-site campground opened at the park, and it contains water and electric hook-ups, paved and gravel roads, and a bathhouse with laundry facilities.
Address: 1402 Grandview Road Beaver, WV 25813, Phone: 304-763-2494
Spend an afternoon at Mountain State Miniature Golf
Mountain State Miniature Golf features 18 holes each dedicated to a unique feature of the Mountain State. Holes with mountains, forests, wildlife, a coal mine, and a mountain gorge bridge can be found here. There is even a hole dedicated to West Virginia’s legendary Mothman! Next to the golf course, visitors will find Outside-In, the area’s only indoor climbing range. Skilled climbers and beginners can test their skills on the range’s 35-foot climbing wall. When they’re ready for a treat, visitors can grab a cup of coffee, smoothie, or a shake at the Chocolate Moose Coffee Shop, located next door.
Address: 1818 Harper Road Beckley, WV 25801, Phone: 304-253-7242
See a show at Tamarak
The fine arts are on display at Tamarak! Since 1994, Tamarak has existed to showcase the work of West Virginia’s best artists and crafters. Their large art gallery hosts six shows a year and features paintings, photographs, ceramics, and more by area artists. Their large retail space offers art, craft items, glass, handmade soaps, and jewelry for sale. Tamarak also has a theater that hosts live performances every Sunday afternoon. Visitors to Tamarak can also grab a bit to eat at the facility’s food court, which features a deli, bakery, and a full-service restaurant.
Address: One Tamarak Park Beckley, WV 25801, Phone: 888-262-7225
Watch a live show at Theatre West Virginia
Citizens who wanted to bring the culture of the area to the public through the performance arts founded Theatre West Virginia in 1955. Today, the outdoor theatre is still producing high-quality live shows, all against the backdrop of the New River Gorge. Shows vary seasonally, but “Hatfields and McCoys” and “Honey in the Rock” are standbys that are preformed often.
Address: 4700 Grandview Road Beaver, WV 25813, Phone: 304-256-6800
Watch a planetarium show at the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia
The mind of a child is a beautiful thing, full of wonder, imagination, and limitless possibilities when it comes to education. Allow your child to explore the depths of his or her imagination and curiosity at the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia, an educational center designed specifically for children. The museum’s galleries are housed within four railroad boxcars with entertaining exhibits on various topics. Also found in the Youth Museum is a Planetarium, which introduces children to visible planets and key constellations, and the Mountain Homestead, which is a recreation of a typical Appalachian frontier settlement. Group tours may be booked ahead of time.
Address: 509 Ewart Avenue, Beckley, West Virginia 25802, Phone: 304-252-3730
Tour the Wildwood House Museum
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, the Wildwood House Museum is a jewel of Beckley’s historic past. Often referred to as the General Alfred Beckley Home, the Wildwood House was built between 1835 to 1836. Known for its double log structure, the home was preserved and restored by the Beckley Family before deeding it to the Raleigh County Historical Society in 1985. By 1993, the house was given to the City of Beckley and is now one of the city’s most popular historical landmarks. The Wildwood House Museum is open to visitors in the summer, and special tours may be arranged ahead of time.
Address: 121 Laurel Terrace, Bekley, West Virginia 25801, Phone: 304-252-8614
Go skiing and snowboarding at the Winterplace Ski Resort
A wonderland awaits all winter sports enthusiasts at the Winterplace Ski Resort. Less than 20 minutes from Beckley, the resort is perfect for beginners and advanced skiers alike and is even home to West Virginia’s largest snow tubing park. Skiiers and snowboarders can look forward to snowmaking runs with a base elevation of 2,997 feet and a top elevation of 3,600 feet. There is a 603-foot vertical drop and over 90 skiable acres, with the longest run being their Panorama Intermediate Trail at one 1.25 miles. Guests who wish to night ski can do so on 26 of the park’s slopes, which are accessible via Winterplace’s 10 ski lifts. While there is a snow tubing park specifically for children, there is also a SkiWee and Snow Explorers program perfect kids aged 6 to 12.
Address: 100 Old Flat Top Mountain Road, Ghent, West Virginia 25843, Phone: 304-787-2401
Enjoy the activities at The Resort at Glade Springs
The Resort at Glade Springs is your ticket to every recreational activity imaginable, and the best part is, it’s just a short drive from Beckley! Not only is it filled with all kinds of activities, but it’s also located at the base of the Appalachian Mountains, making it a gorgeous place to catch some rest and relaxation on top of everything else. Glade Springs is settled within an awe-inspiring 4,100-acre property and boasts 200 guest rooms ranging from stand-alone villas, lodges, suites, and classic hotel rooms. Adventures at the glades never run out either with laser tag, escape rooms, bubble soccer, pickleball, hiking, skiing, and a golf course being just a few of what can be enjoyed at the resort. Glade Springs is also just a stone’s throw from the beautiful New River Gorge National Park for those who want to explore its scenic views.
Address: 255 Resort Drive, Daniels, West Virginia 25832, Phone: 304-763-2000
