West Virginia factories to visit and tour

West Virginia has factories to visit and tour. Below, first are the active, working factories. The next section has historical operations which often have demonstrations or renactments. These incluse both large and small operations, from several person chocolate factories and cheesemakers to large manufacturers making paper towels, wood products, beverage cans and bottles, are open to the public with real tours, exhibitions and fun education.

In some cases, such as a manufacturing process that is no longer in use, the only way to see it and learn about it is a museum or living history center. So, we also provide information about engineering facilities and museums, dinosaur digs, even government facilities, like NASA, astronomy oberservatories and more that are open to the public on certain days and times. And if there is some place that is just plain fun to visit, we add that, too!

These are perfect for homeschooling, for STEM and for fun! Kids love visiting these places! They're learning and getting an education without even realizing it. And most of these are either free or under $10! What's better then fun, entertaining, good for children and families, educational and free?

Here are some of the top factory tours in West Virginia and contact information and tips about visiting them.

Factories, Engineering, Museums and other fun demonstrations and exhibits to visit in West Virginia

• Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Maine to Georgia, CT,GA,MA,MD,ME,NC,NH,NJ,NY,PA,TN,VA,VT,WV.
  

  The Appalachian Trail is a 2,180+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.

  
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• Bluestone National Scenic River, Athens, Pipestem, and Hinton, WV.
  

  The Bluestone River and the rugged and ancient gorge it has carved is a richly diverse and scenic area of the southern Appalachians. Bluestone National Scenic River is preserved as a living landscape that provides an unspoiled experience for visitors and a haven for a variety of plants and animals. The park protects a 10.5-mile section of the Bluestone River in southern West Virginia.

  
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• Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac River, DC,MD,WV.
  

  Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures.

  
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• Chesapeake Bay National Watershed, Chesapeake Bay Watershed, DC,DE,MD,NY,PA,VA,WV.
  

  NPS helps you learn about and enjoy the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America. Here, you can visit major league cities, colonial towns, American Indian landscapes, farms and fishing villages. You can learn to kayak, pick crabs, go fishing, tour a lighthouse, slurp oysters, and slow down to enjoy the natural beauty of the Chesapeake.

  
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• Gauley River National Recreation Area, Summersville, WV.
  

  The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features. The Gauley River contains several class V+ rapids, making it one of the most adventurous white water boating rivers in the east.

  
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• Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry, WV,VA,MD.
  

  A visit to this quaint, historic community, at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, is like stepping into the past. Stroll the picturesque streets, visit exhibits and museums, or hike our trails and battlefields. Spend a day or a weekend. We have something for everyone, so come and discover Harpers Ferry!

  
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• Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, Sixteen States: IA,ID,IL,IN,KS,KY,MO,MT,NE,ND,OH,OR,PA,SD,WA,WV.
  

  The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is approximately 4,900 miles long, extending from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River, near present day Astoria, Oregon. It follows the historic outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as well as the preparatory section from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Wood River, Illinois.

  
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• New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Hinton, Beckley, Glen Jean, and Fayetteville, WV.
  

  A rugged, whitewater river flowing northward through deep canyons, the New River is among the oldest rivers on the continent. The park encompasses over 70,000 acres of land along the New River, is rich in cultural and natural history, and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities.

  
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West Virginia State historic sites and parks

These are state-run parks, museums and historic sites that present the history of some manufacturing process, industry, or living settlement

• Audra State Park - 8397 Audra Park Rd, Buckhannon, WV, 26201. Phone: 304-457-1162. Email: audrasp@wv.gov. Map.
• Babcock State Park - 486 Babcock Road, Clifftop, WV, 25831. Phone: 304-438-3004. Email: dnrbabcock@wv.gov. Map.
• Beartown State Park - 4800 Watoga Park Road, Marlinton, WV, 24954. Phone: 304-799-4087. Email: beartownsp@wv.gov. Map.
• Beech Fork State Park - 5601 Long Branch Rd, Barboursville, WV, 25504. Phone: 304-528-5794. Email: beechforksp@wv.gov. Map.
• Berkeley Springs State Park - 2 S. Washington St., Berkeley Springs, WV, 25411. Phone: 304-258-2711. Email: berkeleyspringssp@wv.gov. Map.
• Blackwater Falls State Park - 1584 Blackwater Lodge Rd, Davis, WV, 26260. Phone: 304-259-5216. Email: blackwaterfallssp@wv.gov. Map.
• Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park - 137 Juliana Street, Parkersburg, WV, 26101. Phone: 304-420-4800. Email: blennerhassettislandsp@wv.gov. Map.
• Bluestone State Park - H.C. 78, Box 3, Hinton, WV, 25951. Phone: 304-466-2805. Email: dnrbluestonesp@wv.gov. Map.
• Cabwaylingo State Forest - 4279 Cabwaylingo Park Rd, Dunlow, WV, 25511. Phone: 304-385-4255. Email: cabwaylingosf@wv.gov. Map.
• Cacapon Resort State Park - 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr., Berkeley Springs, WV, 25411. Phone: 304-258-1022. Email: cacaponsp@wv.gov. Map.
• Calvin Price State Forest - Phone: 304-799–4087. Email: watogasp@wv.gov. STARTADDR4800 Watoga Park Rd, Marlinton, WV, 24954ENDADDR Map.
• Camp Creek State Park and Forest - 2390 Camp Creek Road, Camp Creek, WV, 25820. Phone: 304-425-9481. Email: dnrcampcreek@wv.gov. Map.
• Canaan Valley Resort State Park - Phone: 304-866-4121. Email: group@canaanresort.com. Main Lodge Rd, Davis, WV, 26260
• Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park - 1194 Carnifex Ferry Rd, Summersville, WV, 26651. Phone: 304-872-0825. Email: carnifexferrysp@wv.gov. Map.
• Cass Scenic Railroad State Park - 12363 Cass Road, Cass, WV, 24927. Phone: 304-456-4300. Email: cassrailroadsp@wv.gov. Map.
• Cathedral State Park - 12 Cathedral Park Drive, Aurora, WV, 26705. Phone: 304-735-3771. Email: cathedralsp@wv.gov. Map.
• Cedar Creek State Park - 2947 Cedar Creek Rd., Glenville, WV, 26351. Phone: 304-462-8517. Email: cedarcreeksp@wv.gov. Map.
• Chief Logan State Park - 1000 Conference Center Drive, Logan WV 25601, Logan, WV, 25601. Phone: 304-855-6100. Email: chieflogansp@wv.gov. Map.
• Coopers Rock State Forest - 61 County Line Dr., Bruceton Mills, WV, 26525. Phone: 304-594-1561. Email: coopersrocksf@wv.gov. Map.
• Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park - 683 Droop Park Rd., Hillsboro, WV, 24946. Phone: 304-653-4254. Email: dnrdroopmountain@wv.gov. Map.
• Fairfax Stone State Park - 1584 Blackwater Lodge Rd, Davis, WV, 26260. Phone: 304-259-5216. Email: blackwaterfallssp@wv.gov. Map.
• Greenbrier River Trail - 4800 Watoga Park Road, Marlinton, WV, 24954. Phone: 304-799-4087. Email: greenbrierrivertrail@wv.gov. Map.
• Greenbrier State Forest - 1541 Harts Run Rd, Caldwell, WV, 24925. Phone: 304-536-1944. Email: greenbriersf@wv.gov. Map.
• Hawks Nest State Park - 49 Hawks Nest Park Rd, Ansted, WV, 25812. Phone: 304-658-5212. Email: hawksnestsp@wv.gov. Map.
• Holly River State Park - 680 State Park Rd., Hacker Valley, WV, 26222. Phone: 304-493-6353. Email: hollyriversp@wv.gov. Map.
• Kanawha State Forest - 7500 Kanawha State Forest Dr, Charleston, WV, 25314. Phone: 304-558-3500. Email: kanawhasf@wv.gov. Map.
• Kumbrabow State Forest - 219/16, Kumbrabow Rd, Huttonsville, WV, 26273. Phone: 304-335-2219. Email: kumbrabowsf@wv.gov. Map.
• Little Beaver State Park - 1402 Grandview Rd., Beaver, WV, 25813. Phone: 304-763-2494. Email: dnrlittlebeaver@wv.gov. Map.
• Lost River State Park - 321 Park Drive, Mathias, WV, 26812. Phone: 304-897-5372. Email: lostriversp@wv.gov. Map.
• Moncove Lake State Park - 695 Moncove Lake Access Rd, Gap Mills, WV, 24941. Phone: 304-772-3450. Email: moncovelakesp@wv.gov. Map.
• North Bend Rail Trail - 202 North Bend State Park Rd, Cairo, WV, 26337. Phone: 304-643-2931. Email: northbendrailtrail@wv.gov. Map.
• North Bend State Park - 202 North Bend State Park Road, Cairo, WV, 26337. Phone: 304-643-2931. Email: northbendsp@wv.gov. Map.
• Panther State Forest - 239 Ostenaco Road, Panther, WV, 24872-1200. Phone: 304-938-2252. Email: dnrpanther@wv.gov. Map.
• Pinnacle Rock State Park - 6407 Coal Heritage Rd., Bramwell, WV, 24715. Phone: 304-425-9481. Email: pinnaclerocksp@wv.gov. Map.
• Pipestem Resort State Park - 3405 Pipestem Dr, Pipestem, WV, 25979. Phone: 304-466-1800. Email: pipestemsp@wv.gov. Map.
• Prickett’s Fort State Park - Phone: 304-363-3030. Email: info@prickettsfort.org. 88 State Park Road, Fairmont, WV, 26554. Map.
• Seneca State Forest - 10135 Browns Creek Road, Dunmore, WV, 24934. Phone: 304-799-6213. Email: senecasf@wv.gov. Map.
• Stonewall Resort State Park - 940 Resort Dr, Roanoke, WV, 26447. Phone: 304-269-7400. Email: stonewallinfo@benchmarkmanagement.com. Map.
• Tomlinson Run State Park - 84 Osage Road, New Manchester, WV, 26056. Phone: 304-564-3651. Email: tomlinsonrunsp@wv.gov. Map.
• Tu-Endie-Wei State Park - #1 Main Street, Point Pleasant, WV, 25550. Phone: 304-675-0869. Email: tuendieweisp@wv.gov. Map.
• Twin Falls Resort State Park - Rte. 97, Mullens, WV, 25882. Phone: 304-294-4000. Email: twinfallssp@wv.gov. Map.
• Tygart Lake State Park - 1240 Paul E. Malone Rd, Grafton, WV, 26354. Phone: 304-265-6144. Email: TygartLakeInfo@wv.gov. Map.
• Valley Falls State Park - 720 Valley Falls Rd., Fairmont, WV, 26554. Phone: 304-367-2719. Email: valleyfallssp@wv.gov. Map.
• Watoga State Park - 4800 Watoga Park Rd., Marlinton, WV, 24954. Phone: 304-799-4087. Email: watogasp@wv.gov. Map.
• Watters Smith Memorial State Park - 831 RR 3, Duck Creek Rd., Lost Creek, WV, 26385. Phone: 304-745-3081. Email: watterssmithsp@wv.gov. Map.

West Virginia Seasons, bugs, topography and climate

West Virginia is a mountainous and humid eastern state except for a marine modification in the eastern panhandle. ... Mean annual temperatures, reflecting latitude and elevation, range from about 56 °F (13 °C) in the south to 52 °F (11 °C) in the north and 48 °F (9 °C) in the most mountainous regions.

Camping in West Virginia

If you're looking to save money on your trip, camping may be a fun alternative to hotels and motels, especially, if you already have the gear, or are looking to get some. BTW, this websites ( https://RoadTrippingAndCamping.com ) explains everything you need to know about camping gear and where to the best gear at the lowest prices.

• Campgrounds: West Virginia has more than 1,500 campsites at 27 different state parks and forests. Be surrounded by forest views with tent camping at Audra State Park or Coopers Rock State Forest or hook up the RV at and relax lakeside at Beech Fork State Park. Looking for a uniquely West Virginia experience? Try yurt camping at Tomlinson Run State Park or stay overnight in the restored Thorny Mountain Fire Tower at Seneca State Forest.
• Cabins: There are more than 350 cabins that vary in size and feature various accommodations. If you want a quiet getaway for two or a family vacation, we have just the cabin for you. Most cabins have modern amenities, while a few provide a rustic, off-the-grid experience. Different types of cabins are available at different parks across the system. Need help picking the perfect cabin? Give us a call at 1-833-WV-PARKS.
• Lodges: WV has ten lodge parks with a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities and amenities.

There are both state parks and private campgrounds in West Virginia.