'''Elkins''' [http://www.randolphcountywv.com/] is a city of 7,032 people (as of 2000) in West Virginia. It was incorporated in 1890, and named for Stephen Benton Elkins, a US senator from 1891 to 1893 who came from West Virginia. Because of its size and convenient location, you'll likely want to use Elkins as a base to get to a variety of nearby sights and attractions: 1 hour east will bring you to the Monongahela National Forest, Canaan Valley, Timberline and the region's caverns; 1 hour north will bring you to Blackwater Falls State Park and the pretty mountain town of Thomas; and 1 hour south will bring you to Snowshoe Mountain.
Get in
Elkins lies at the intersection of three major roads: '''US-33''', which goes through Buckhannon and Harrisonburg, Virginia; '''US-250''', which goes through Grafton and Staunton, Virginia; and '''US-219''', which goes through Somerset, Pennsylvania and Marlinton.
Get around
Elkins has no public transportation. You will need a car to get to most destinations.
See
'''Monongahela National Forest''', 200 Sycamore Street, 304-636-1800, [http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/]. Over 19,000 acres of forest spread across 10 counties in West Virginia. 23 campgrounds, 17 picnic areas and over 500 miles of hiking trails. Mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, boating, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, hunting, and fishing.
:* '''Seneca Rocks''', US-33 and WV-28, 304-567-2827. 900-foot-tall formations made of Tuscarora quartzite with over 375 mapped climbing routes and a self-guided interpretive trail with a viewing platform.
:* '''Spruce Knob''', Forest Road, 304-567-2827. The highest point in West Virginia, at 4,861 feet. A stone and steel observation tower provides 360-degree views, and there's a half-mile trail circling the Knob. Fishing, hiking and an on-site campground with 43 sites.
'''Blackwater Falls State Park''', Blackwater Falls Road in Davis, 304-259-5216, [http://www.blackwaterfalls.com/]. Approximately 50 minutes north of Elkins. A five-story-tall amber-colored waterfall, which is one of the most photographed sites in West Virginia. Lodge with gift shop, indoor pool and on-site restaurant. Camping, hiking, horseback and pony rides, swimming, boating and fishing, cross-country skiing, sledding, and a petting zoo during the summer.
Do
Bike the '''Allegheny Highlands Trail''' [http://www.highlandstrail.org/], a regional mountain-biking trail system in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. The backbone of the Trail goes from Elkins to Thomas.
Caverns
'''Seneca Caverns''', WV-9 off US-33 east of Riverton, 800-239-7647, [http://www.senecacaverns.com/]. West Virginia's largest caverns, also called "West Virginia's Underground Wonderland", were discovered in 1760, and commercial tours have been running since 1930. Gemstone mining also available. On-site gift shop and restaurant. Admission $12.
'''Smoke Hole Caverns''', route 55 (8 mi south of Petersburg), 800-828-8478, [http://www.smokehole.com/]. Open year-round. Caverns are always 56 degrees, so dress warmly. Tours given every half-hour. Riverside log cabins on-site. Admission $9.
Skiing
'''Canaan Valley Resort''', route 32 north of Harman, 304-866-4121 or 800-622-4121, [http://www.canaanresort.com/]. 250 guest rooms. Indoor lap pool, outdoor pool, whirlpool spa, fitness room, sauna, 18-hole championship golf course, mini-golf, tennis courts, hiking, biking, wall climbing, hay rides. On-site gift shop, restaurant (the Aspen Dining Room), food court (the Bear Paw Lodge), lounge (the Laurel Lounge) and snack bar. 37 ski slopes, including a vertical drop of 850 feet, and a chairlift ride.
'''Snowshoe Mountain''', 10 Snowshoe Drive, 304-572-1000, [http://www.snowshoemtn.com/]. Mountain biking, and a golf course named "#1 Public Access Golf Course in West Virginia" for four straight years by GolfWeek Magazine. On-site lodging, 14 restaurants, 17 shops, groceries and markets, tame to wild nightlife, pool, hot tub, sauna and spa. Skiing and snowboarding lessons and kids' programs. 114 trails, including vertical drops of up to 1500 feet, and 27 lifts. Season passes are $215 - $629; winter lift tickets are $30 - $67.
'''Timberline Four Seasons Resort''', route 32 N to Canaan Valley, 800-SNOWING, [http://www.timberlineresort.com/]. 36 slopes and trails, with a vertical rise of 1,000 feet, for skiiers of all abilities. 3 chairlifts. NASTAR racing. Skiing and snowboarding lessons $45 - $95. Lifts $19 - $54 , rentals $12 - $25.
Events
'''International Ramp Festival and Cook-off''', Elkins City Park, 304-636-2780. Held at the end of April. One of the first vegetables to appear in spring are wild leeks, known as ramps, which are widely celebrated in the Appalachian region. Live music, entertainment, and ramps cooked every way possible. Admission free.
'''Mountain State Forest Festival''', 304-636-1824, [http://www.forestfestival.com/]. Held at the end of September, with hot-air balloon rides, a carnival, a gun show, bass fishing tournament, tennis tournament, horseshoe tournament, Irish road bowling, talent shows, cabaret, photography contest, lumberjack contest and log stacking, quilt show, exhibits, live entertainment, food vendors, buckwheat cake and sausage feed, and parades.
Augusta Festival, (http://www.augustaheritage.com). August festival is a 5 week long folk arts festival held annually in July and August. The Augusta Heritage Center offers over 300 classes in folk art and music, as well as concerts and dances. Mini workshops are held throughout the year.
Learn
The local area newspaper is '''The Inter-Mountain''', 520 Railroad Avenue, 304-636-2121, [http://theintermountain.com/].
The city directory for Elkins is '''ElkinsLive.com''' [http://www.elkinslive.com/] The place to find out about everything that's going on in the Elkins area.
Buy
'''Mountain Made''', 877-686-6233, Front Street, [http://www.mountainmade.com/]. A nonprofit store located in the nearby town of Thomas (45 minutes northeast on US-219), offering products made by talented West Virginia artists and craftspeople. Books, cards, stationery, jewellery, clothing, honey, jams and jellies, sauces, knives, home decor, music, instruments, garden and yard supplies, glassware, utensils and pottery.
Eat
'''Cheat River Inn''', route 33 east of Elkins, 304-636-6265, [http://www.cheatriverlodge.com/inn.htm]. Open 4 to 9 pm Sunday through Thursday, and 4 to 10 pm Friday and Saturday; closed Mondays. Fine dining, including hillbilly gumbo, fresh rainbow trout, appetizers and tapas, salads, seafood, beef, chicken and desserts.
'''El Gran Sabor''', Davis Avenue, 304-636-8200, [http://www.elgransabor.com/]. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch or dinner. Authentic Venezuelan food and spirits, including tostones, cornados, yuca, arepas, cachapas and tres leches. $7 - $16.
'''The River Car''', Faulkner Road off route 33, 304-636-4001, [http://www.rivercar.com/]. Open from 11:30 am Tuesday through Sunday, serving lunch and dinner. Riverfront dining on the Shavers Fork in Bowden WV. Appetizers, lunch sandwiches, salads, pasta and entrees including pistachio-encrusted trout.
'''CJ Maggies''', Davis Avenue, 304-636-1730, [http://www.cj-maggies.com/]. Open daily for lunch, dinner, and drink. Diverse menu including sandwiches and pasta plates. Also serves Appalachian Ale and other brews from the Appalachian Brewing Company.
Drink
'''Blackwater Brewing Company''', Thomas Avenue and Williams Avenue in Davis, ''+1 304'' 259-4221, [http://www.blackwater-brewing.com/]. 6 ales, stouts and porters. Also serves appetizers, soups and salads, sandwiches, traditional entrees, German and Italian entrees. Live entertainment. $7 - $19.
'''Mountain State Brewing Company''', 1 Nelson Boulevard in Thomas, ''+1 304'' 463-4500, [http://www.mountainstatebrewing.com/]. 4 ales and stouts. Provides handcrafted ales to Canaan Valley, Elkins, Morgantown, Snowshoe and surrounding areas. On-site pub.
Sleep
'''Cheat River Lodge''', route 33 east of Elkins, 304-636-2301, [http://www.cheatriverlodge.com/]. 6 rooms, and 7 cabins. Observation deck over the river, refrigerator, microwave. Cabins have fully-equipped kitchens and private 7-foot outdoor hot tubs. $68 - $83 for lodge, $171 - $196 for cabins.
'''Graceland Inn and Conference Center''', Davis & Elkins College, 800-624-3157, [http://www.gracelandinn.com/]. 11 rooms. A beautifully restored Victorian mansion with on-site restaurant. $93 - $166.
'''Snowshoe Mountain''', [http://www.snowshoemtn.com/].
'''Timberline Four Seasons Resort''' [http://www.timberlineresort.com/].
Get out
'''Buckhannon''' is about 30 minutes west on US-33.
'''Weston''' is about 45 minutes west on US-33.
'''Helvetia''', about 1 hour south on US-219 and CR-46, is a laid-back village with a strong Swiss cultural heritage.
'''Marlinton''', about 1 hour and 15 minutes south on US-219 and US-250, is a good base to reach the Cass Scenic Railroad.