West Virginia is home to the United States’ newest national park. Last month, Congress passed a bill upgrading West Virginia’s New River Gorge from a national river to a national park. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve marks the 63rd national park in the United States.
Currently, the area spans about 73,000 acres in southern West Virginia, about an hour’s drive from the state’s capital of Charleston. According to the designation, the region will now be split into two sections: the park and the preserve. The park will encompass about 7,000 acres and the preserve makes up the remaining 65,000 acres.
New River is one of the oldest rivers in North America. It was established as a national river in 1978 and boasts 53 miles of whitewater, winding along cliffs reaching 1,000 feet. New River Gorge offers some of the best whitewater rafting opportunities in the country. It is also a great spot for fishing and hunting for those with permits. The area offers other outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and bungee jumping. West Virginia’s state flower, the great rhododendron, blooms in pink and white in the summer months.
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is one of five combination parks and preserves in the country, with the other four located in Alaska.
Read This Next
AI Makes Visiting Tahoe Easy for Families
Destinations / North America
Oct 11, 2024#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedHotels
Oct 9, 2024Destination by Hyatt Launches Complimentary Travel Program
The Destination by Hyatt brand, a global collection of hotels, resorts and residences, redefines multigenerational family travel with a new Roots to Reunion program. Available now through April 2025 at participating resorts, the program offers tailored experiences for families to reconnect and rekindle connections in a variety of settings, from ski destinations to beach getaways.
Sponsored Content
Travel to Madrid with the Family and Find Activities to Keep Everyone Happy!
If life were a city, it’d be Madrid. Sometimes it can be quite the challenge to find a destination just right for the whole family. Different tastes and ages make agreeing on where to go seem impossible. Unless, of course, the destination you have in mind is Madrid. With all of its new immersive museums, musicals, soccer stadiums and monuments like Royal Palace, anyone who suggests coming to the capital is sure to get a unanimous yes!
Hotels
Oct 8, 2024Corinthia London to Unveil Italian Dining Concept in 2025
Foodie family travelers have something to look forward to at Corinthia London. This property will debut a new dining concept in partnership with chef Francesco Mazzei. Slated to open in summer 2025, the signature restaurant will highlight southern Italian cuisine.
Hotels
Oct 7, 20246 Tropical Destination Hotels for the Holidays
Escape the cold weather and visit a tropical location for your holiday family travel. Consider a stay at one of these properties, offering holiday programming and plenty of sunshine.
Sponsored Content
Share Miles with Family and Friends with United Airlines
As you look ahead to winter travel, United Airlines and its MileagePlus loyalty program introduced MileagePlus miles pooling, which allows members to contribute and combine miles into a joint account. Groups of up to five members can now share and redeem miles in one linked account. As the first and only major U.S. airline to offer this feature, United also allows any MileagePlus member, whether relatives or close friends, to be in a pool with other members.
Age Specific / Multigenerational
Oct 4, 2024Travel Nannies Help Both Parents and Kids Enjoy a Hassle-Free Vacation
In a world where we always seem to be on the go, travel gives us invaluable opportunities to bond with the family in ways that only come from seeing new places and experiencing new things together. Our kids don't stay young for long, so time spent experiencing the world with them is priceless.
ShareThis