A Wild and Wonderful Christmas
The holidays have always been a time of great joy for me. Growing up Christmas meant waking up at the crack of dawn to see what Santa brought, playing with new toys and falling asleep with them still clutched in my hands, and eating all the cookies my stomach could handle. Today, Christmas is about experiencing time with the people I love and care about. Decorating the house with my parents, spending the holiday with my grandparents and extended family, and still eating all the cookies my stomach can handle. Looking back at all the holiday activities I’ve done with my family are some of my favorite memories. I wanted to put together a list of activities you could participate in to make this time of year in West Virginia all the more memorable.
I think most of us are dreaming of a White Christmas. Luckily for us, West Virginia is home to 4 different ski resorts! Winterplace, is the southernmost of these resorts, and is conveniently located 5 minutes off I-77. Winterplace is known for its lit slopes and tubing park, making it the perfect place for night skiing! Maybe you’re located further north in the state, Canaan Valley Resort is about a 2 hour drive from both Martinsburg and Morgantown. In addition to 47 runs of varying difficulty, this resort also has a tubing park, some cross-country skiing trails, and an ice skating rink! Looking for somewhere to practice your tricks? Timberline Mountain is only a 9 minute drive from Canaan Valley, and home to two terrain parks and a brand new high speed chair lift (which is also the only one in the state). The fourth ski resort in WV is also the biggest, Snowshoe Mountain covers 251 acres and has the biggest and longest slopes on the east coast south of New England. With runs extending 1,500 ft and its own mountain village it’s easy to see why Snowshoe would be the perfect place for a holiday getaway. (Make sure to check the resort webpages for snow info before you go.)
After you’ve finished on the slopes at Snowshoe, you can head to Autumn Breeze Stables for a horse drawn sleigh ride through the snow. Perhaps you’re interested in other means of holiday transportation. Look no further than Romney, WV for a ride on the Polar Express! Every year the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad transforms into a ride to the North Pole! This magical train experience is filled with caroling, milk and cookies, storytelling, hot chocolate, and a visit from the man himself Santa Claus! Every child receives a special gift from Santa on this ride, but will also walk away with memories that last a lifetime.
After a full day of skiing and a trip on the polar express, no holiday weekend is complete without a light show. West Virginia just happens to be home to one of the best light displays in the US. Located in Wheeling, the historic Oglebay Park has hosted the Festival of lights since 1985 and currently sees more than one million visitors each year! The festival of lights is spread over 300 acres of land, you can tune your radio to Oglebay’s personal station and listen to christmas music while thriving through the impressive light show.
Speaking of historic places, Harpers Ferry might be one of the most famous in West Virginia. Each year Harpers Ferry hosts the Olde Tyme Christmas Celebration and the town transforms. The celebration always kicks off with the much anticipated tree lighting ceremony, and leads into two jam packed holiday weekends. There’s a blacksmith in town, fresh kettle corn, children's programs, caroling, craft fairs, live music, and a visit from Santa! With all these activities and more, it’s easy to feel like you’ve stepped into a Hallmark Christmas Movie.
All you’ll need to do to complete your Wild and Wonderful Christmas is the perfect cookie recipe. Luckily, I’ve got you covered. Out of all the cookies we make for Christmas, this is my personal favorite. With only 4 ingredients, it’s easy to make and the perfect cookie to leave for santa!
Hopefully you all have found some activities that make your day merry and bright during the holiday season. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, West Virginia has a ton of activities everyone can get out and enjoy this time of year. Make sure to bundle up, pack some extra cookies, and get out to make the most of the time we have with each other. Thanks for reading, and happy holidays!
