West Virginia in November 2025 turned out to be a really nice, quiet escape for us. We visited Blackwater Falls State Park after peak leaf season. The bright fall colors were mostly gone, but the tradeoff was fewer crowds and a peaceful atmosphere. The cold air in the mountains made everything feel extra crisp. The views from the lodge were still beautiful even without the fall colors. Waking up to the mountains and fog drifting through the valley was exactly the kind of reset we were hoping for. It felt a world away from busy New Jersey, even if only for a few days.
This trip also marked West Virginia as the 20th state our son has visited, which made it feel even more special. We were a little disappointed that the full moon was so bright that it completely eliminated any chance of stargazing, something we were really hoping to do while we were there. At the same time, the moonlit sky over the mountains had its own kind of beauty, even if it wasn’t what we originally planned. Sometimes trips don’t go exactly how you imagine, but they still end up being memorable in their own way.
