Cedar Creek State Park

For a truly pastoral Appalachian experience, come stay at Cedar Creek State Park in the middle of West Virginia’s wide valleys and sprawling colorful hillsides. The park has a historic schoolhouse complete with potbelly stove and inkwells on desks, while a regular old check-in station just happens to also be a restoration log cabin from the state’s pioneerin’ days. Even the names of rivers lend a quaint charm to the grounds—Little Kanawha River, Sugarcamp Run, and Long Lick Run are great for fishing trout or catfish. The three lakes rent out paddleboats, and there’s even a swimming pool for those wary of the catfish. On muggy days, the recreation building has A/C, in addition to a kitchen, tennis courts, and even a mini golf green! And to really hammer home the charm of this old-time good time, try to visit around the third Thursday in June, when the nearest town of Glenville hosts the West Virginia State Folk Festival! Quilters, crafters, and fiddlers take to the streets, and you can munch on BBQ and cornbread while you take in the dueling banjos and antique car shows.