9 West Virginia resorts perfect for a winter family getaway

Winter brings with it shorter days. Less natural light. Colder temperatures. Trees reaching toward the sky with barren limbs. The “winter blues” aren’t far behind—unless you head toward one of the West Virginia resorts specializing in seasonal fun for the entire family.

Think about vistas of in-your-face snowy mountains. Lodges and cabins that make “cozy” seem inadequate. Bonfires that lead to sticky chocolate s’mores grins on every face. And air so crisp and clean you’ll savor each deep breath.

The cure can include downhill skiing and snowboarding. Among the best in the East, Mountain State ski resorts usually open their slopes for Thanksgiving. They are known for aggressive snowmaking and the occasional “lake effect” snow carried from the Great Lakes and dumped on the mountains as fresh powder.

But there are ways to enjoy winter in addition to—or instead of—downhill skiing or snowboarding. Check out what these family-friendly (and often pet-friendly) resorts have to offer.

Where you stay is as important to family fun as what you do. Lodging choices here range from RV hookups to rustic cabins with lots of beds. You can also opt for hotel-style cabins with mini-fridges and microwaves, and deluxe cabins with full kitchens, hot tubs, and other amenities. All cabin styles have pet options, so Fido is welcome. If no one wants to cook, the resort has several dining venues.

Wherever you stay, it’s just a short walk to activities such as aerial adventures (treetop walks, swinging bridges, zip lines, rock climbing); guided hikes, mountain biking, and horseback rides; and ATV exploration and outings in the adjacent New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

Most activities are open to youngsters 8 years or older, although some have a 4-year-old minimum. Lodging rates start at $39 for campsites.

When the leaves are off the trees, there’s so much more to see from a bird’s-eye view from the walkway under the New River Bridge, 800 feet above the river. During the breathtaking Bridge Walk, you’re clipped into a cable and escorted across the 1.5-mile catwalk.

Back on land, ACE offers ATV tours on more than 100 miles of trails—and paintball on snow, a different experience. Bundle up for cold weather mountain biking, hiking, or rock climbing. The zip line at night at the Aerial Adventure Park is another special thrill (open to children with at least an 18-inch waist, maximum weight for anyone is 250 pounds). After the trees have lost their leaves, the zip lines provide stellar views of the adjacent New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

Dining at the resort in winter is somewhat limited on weekdays, but Oak Hill has more than a dozen good restaurants. Some of the resort’s 50 cabins and chalets are pet friendly. Lodging rates start at $15 for campsites.

The park’s 57-foot waterfall, a star summer attraction, is equally spectacular when frozen and surrounded by snow. It’s a 10-minute trek to the falls via a wooden walkway and steps. Without the sound of cascading water, it’s so quiet you can hear critters in the forest.

It’s also peaceful on the park’s 20 miles of trails, which can be explored in hiking boots, snowshoes, or cross-country skis (gear is available to rent). From mid-December through February, sledding on the park’s quarter-mile run is a popular family activity. It’s open at night, too, and a conveyor belt carries riders back to the top of the hill.

Built in the 1950s, the lodge has 54 comfortable guestrooms that have been extensively renovated over the years. Staying there gives you easy access to the Smokehouse Restaurant and indoor pool and hot tub, but the resort’s 39 fully furnished cabins (with fireplaces and furnaces) are great fun for families. Pets are allowed in 10 of those cabins. Rates start at $150.

Canaan Valley is among the region’s most inviting family ski resorts. More than half of its 47 runs are suitable for less experienced skiers or snowboarders. Instructors in the Snowsports School stand ready to make youngsters feel comfortable on the snow.

Everyone from a family’s youngest to eldest can enjoy the multilane tubing hill. At 1,200 feet, it’s one of the longest in the Mid-Atlantic, with a “magic carpet” that takes riders back to the top. The resort is also a good place to learn to ice skate on the rink next to the lodge.

While some family members skate, the others can warm themselves before the outdoor fireplace and enjoy spectacular views of the Canaan Valley and Allegheny Mountains. Canaan Valley is a natural wonderland with 18 miles of scenic wooded trails to explore on cross country skis, snowshoes, or hiking boots.

The resort is home to a modern lodge with 160 rooms and suites, several dining options, and an indoor pool (great after winter activities). Cabins and cottages, 11 of which are pet-friendly, are also available. Rates start at $115.99 per night plus $18 resort fee; AAA discount available.

The state’s most luxurious resort also has the most family activities in any season. Touring the resort in a horse-drawn sleigh or carriage is a family “must do,” especially when it snows. For a wilder, muddier ride, climb in a 4-passenger Polaris RZR off-road vehicle to explore the resort’s 11,000 acres (drivers must be 16 or older, passengers at least 12).

The Gun Club, home to skeet, trap, and sporting clays, has a new climate-controlled 5-stand, which combines skeet and trap shooting at 5 stations.

If the weather is not conducive to outdoor fun, there’s plenty to do indoors, including tennis, pickleball, bowling, and swimming. A golf simulator with international courses is a great way for young players to get a stress-free feel for the game. But if you and the kids crave some pressure, head to one of the resort’s 2 escape rooms to find a spy who is about to reveal a national secret in Greenbrier’s historic Cold War bunker.

On a milder note, young children can create custom stuffed animals (complete with hearts, names, clothing, and birth certificates) in Teddy Bear Mountain. Resort lodging ranges from luxurious hotel rooms to cottages and estate homes, and many superb dining choices are open year-round. Rates start at $359 per night plus $82.68 resort fee and 9.75% historic preservation fund fee.

The resort lights up in November with its annual Festival of Lights, which draws more than 250,000 visitors. The 6-mile self-driving route covers 300 acres and 100 displays with a million LED lights.

The festival kicks off the holiday season at the 250-room Wilson Lodge. Nightly entertainment includes elf hunts, gingerbread house decorating, breakfast with Santa, and other kids’ activities. Depending on weather conditions and snowmaking, the resort opens a groomed slope after Thanksgiving for weekend skiing and snowboarding, along with a rope-tow tubing hill.

Winterfest begins in January with a Polar Plunge into Schenk Lake and a variety of indoor and outdoor family activities including bingo nights, visits to the Oglebay Good Zoo, and ice skating at Wheeling Park. Rates start at $116 per night; AAA discount available.

Why pack up the family and head for Pipestem after the popular leaf-peeping season and when the equally popular golf courses are covered in snow? The resort is peaceful then, setting the stage for quality family time to enjoy nature.

When the snow is right, you can introduce your children to sledding. Be sure to take a family hike on trails of varying difficulty. The 3-mile Lakeshore Trail, a level loop around Long Branch Lake, offers lots of memorable views.

You can also make last-minute reservations in the McKeever Lodge, which overlooks the Bluestone River Gorge. Better yet, book one of the wooded cabins that are scarce during the summer.

Cabins are turnkey, with linens, full kitchens, Wi-Fi, TV, and fireplaces. The lodge and cabins have pet-friendly rooms, so furry family members can come along. After a day outdoors, the lodge’s indoor pool is a great place to unwind. Rates start at $45 for campsites.

This gated community/resort is 12 miles from New River Gorge National Park. Shuttles for skiers and tubers are available, as well as hiking, biking, and history excursions to the national park.

It’s also about the same distance from Winterplace Ski Resort, West Virginia’s southernmost ski resort. Its mixed bag of 27 slopes (10 are easy) is a good place for beginners to gain confidence on skis or boards. Along with the slopes, a 14-lane tubing park is open after dark to extend the fun on short winter days.

But families can enjoy plenty of activities on the resort proper, including a leisure center with indoor swimming, bowling, laser tag, basketball, pickleball, tennis, a game room, and escape rooms.

Accommodations range from lodge rooms to villas, some of which allow pets. Hungry families can choose from sports bars, buffets, and formal dining. Rates start at $198 per night plus $20.98 resort fee and $11.88 city hotel fee; AAA discount available.

One of the Allegheny Mountain Range’s high points, Snowshoe’s Cheat Mountain averages 180 inches of snow and usually opens most of its 60 trails by Thanksgiving. The resort is located on top of the mountain rather than at the base, so at the end of the day lifts deposit skiers and boarders in a lively village with lots of lodging, dining, and shops.

About 2 miles down the mountain, Silver Creek has gentle slopes for beginning skiers and boarders, but is also home to 3 of the resort’s 5 terrain parks for serious boarders. Some of Silver Creek’s ski slopes are lighted for night riding, as is the 8-lane tubing park.

Slope-side, the high-rise Silver Creek Lodge has furnished apartments and an indoor/outdoor pool. Other lodging choices on the mountain range from hotel rooms to condos and private homes.

Cross-country and snowshoeing trails lace the resort’s 11,000 acres. Horse-drawn carriage rides and tours by snowmobile or off-road vehicles are 2 great options for backcountry exploration. Rates start at $99 per night plus $46 resort fee, $24 facility fee, and $3.95 lodging fee.

West Virginia resident Dale Leatherman is a past president of the Society of American Travel Writers.