Make your summer a sizzling one packed with fun at West Virginia State Parks and Forests. Whether you prefer a heart-pounding adventure or a relaxing getaway, you’ll never run out of things to do in Almost Heaven. To help you get started, here’s a bucket list of 10 activities to tackle this summer. See how many you can check off before school starts up again!

Take a zipline ride

Experience the thrill of a lifetime at Pipestem Resort. The Pipestem Peaks Zipline Tour will have you soaring up to 50 mph through the treetops high above the Bluestone River. This exciting adventure features nine zips, a cable bridge and a belay—fast enough to get your heart racing but at just the right pace to take in the beauty of your surroundings.

Splash in a water playground

Feel like a kid again at the Adventure Lake at Tygart Lake State Park, where children and adults alike can bounce, climb and slide on 25 giant inflatables in the park’s 1,750-acre lake. If you get tired, you can always take a breather in a lounge chair at the sandy beach area while the kids battle it out on their aqua adventures.

Challenge your friends to a round of FlingGolf

Tackle a new sport that’s all the rage—FlingGolf! This sport can be played on the golf courses at Twin Falls Resort, Pipestem Resort, Canaan Valley Resort or Cacapon Resort. But instead of hitting a golf ball with a club, you’ll use a FlingStick thrower to hurl the ball and shape your shot from tee to hole. Don’t forget to yell, “Fore!”

Treat yourself to spa time

All that summer adventure is bound to leave you with tired, sore muscles. Schedule a rejuvenating massage or skin treatment at the spas at Cacapon Resort, Pipestem Resort or Berkeley Springs State Park. Relax and feel your cares slip away with an experience that’s truly Almost Heaven.

Plan a paddle excursion

Get your exercise in while you enjoy a leisurely day on the water with a paddling excursion on the lake at North Bend State Park.  If you don’t have your own canoe or kayak, you can rent one from the marina. (P.S. Pack your fishing gear and double your fun! You can purchase a license here before hitting the lake.)

Slide down a waterslide

Turn up your swimming pool game with a refreshing dip at Chief Logan State Park. The park’s outdoor pool boasts a water slide with twists and turns that will have you screaming for joy as you hit the water. For the little ones, there’s also a kiddie pool with a splash umbrella feature.

See the stars

Explore space from the comfort of your camp chair at Watoga State Park. Set in the remote, rugged mountains of eastern West Virginia, this official Dark Sky Park offers prime opportunities for a spectacular viewing of the heavens, including the awe-inspiring Milky Way.

Get back in the saddle

See the trails from a new perspective — on horseback! Experience the beauty of rippling streams and creeks, lushly forested hills and towering rocks at Kanawha State Forest, where Circle B Stables will set you up with your very own trusty steed. Git along, little dogies!

Beef up your mountain biking skills

Test your skills on single-track and multi-level trails at Cacapon Resort. Experience 12 miles (and growing!) of professionally built trails and a skills course area where riders of all levels can practice or just enjoy some rip-roaring, adrenaline-fueled fun on two wheels.

Camp out

No activity captures the essence of summer better than camping out under the stars. Set up a tent at family-favorite Audra State Park. After a long day of splashing in the crystal waters of the Middle Fork River, you can roast marshmallows by the campfire and fall asleep to the sounds of nature. And if you spot any fireflies winking, help the WVDR out by participating in their Firefly Survey. 

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