When I say West Virginia, what comes to mind? When we first started taking road trips to West Virginia in 2019, our friends were perplexed. But we fell in love with the lush, gorgeous forests and the calm way of life. In 2020, we built a cabin in Wardensville, West Virginia and offered it for rent on Airbnb. We’ve since sold that place, but our happy associations with the area persist. A few weeks ago, we found ourselves with no kids to watch over the weekend, and we packed up and headed out to Lost River.

If you haven’t heard of this area before, it’s truly a jewel. Lost River is a very gay-friendly area of West Virginia, which is pretty cool. (This article is a great summary of the recent changes in the area, but fair warning that reading it will make you want to move there!) Lost River has fantastic restaurants (really!) and beautiful spots to hike or just sit and enjoy nature.

Any trip to this area must start in Wardensville. Do yourself a favor and buy some cinnamon rolls at the nonprofit Garden Market, where local teenagers learn business skills. Pair them with a coffee at the nearby Trading Post — and be sure to build in time to peruse all the gifts, antiques, and art work for sale. Maybe grab a beer and drink it on their deck, enjoying the peace of country life. Pick up a book or puzzle at WordPlay, and then settle in for dinner at new restaurant Mack’s Bingo. (Reservations definitely recommended.) The decor at Mack’s Bingo is absolutely amazing!

If you’re there on a weekend, definitely try to get reservations for a meal at the Guesthouse — a historic, gay-friendly, cozy resort. And if it’s the summertime, check out their pool passes. The pool is divine.

If you’re looking for a more casual atmosphere, Lost & Found Pizza in Lost River is delicious!! We enjoyed fresh pizza and salads on their screened-in porch (pictured below) during a summer thunderstorm. We stayed cozy and dry and very well fed!

There are lots of good hikes in the area, but in the summertime we always end up at Trout Pond. (Bring a few dollars for parking.) Take a dip in the cool water, walk on the path around the pond, or just relax on a bench and take in the view.

If you’re a little country, like us, take a drive down Trout Run Road and find a good spot to pull over and walk down to the creek. In the summer, it’s lovely to bring foldable chairs and set them up right in the water. Dangle your feet and enjoy a nice beverage — life doesn’t get any better than that.

For accommodations, check out Airbnb for some beautiful homes to rent. Or, if you’re lucky, you may be able to snag a cabin at Lost River State Park. We stayed there during our recent visit and loved being immersed in the forest. Plus, the prices are fantastic! And Lost & Found Pizza is right outside the park — win, win.

To be clear, the state park cabins are pretty rustic, but they were clean and have air conditioning, fireplaces, porches, and full kitchens. We had everything we needed, including Wifi! What a beautiful view on a workday.

If you’re driving back to DC, I highly recommend stopping by Washington, Virginia. The very fancy and extremely expensive Inn at Little Washington now has a less-expensive sister restaurant, Patty O’s Cafe. The food is a little pricey, but much less costly than at the Inn, and it’s out-of-this-world good.

If you’re short on time, you can grab a pastry and a coffee from the attached bakery and take a quick walk through the beautiful gardens. Guaranteed to lower your blood pressure!

Let me know if you check out any of these spots. If you try them, I hope you’ll love them as much as we do!