The first places out-of-staters should visit when they come to West Virginia, according to locals

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — We asked, and you answered. Here are the first places that West Virginians recommend that someone moving or visiting from out of state should go.

These results are based on answers received from our 12 News viewers on Facebook.

It’s unsurprising that most of the top responses were natural outdoor features in the mountains—West Virginia is the Mountain State. Some of the places were specific landmarks, like Seneca Rocks and Blackwater Falls. Although both are in pretty remote areas, the landmarks themselves are easily accessible. Seneca Rocks, which was previously named the most Instagrammable view in West Virginia, is visible from the road, and Blackwater Falls is just a short boardwalk hike from the parking area.

Although the landmarks draw the crowds, there are plenty of other things to do around them. Both the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area and Blackwater Falls State Park have opportunities for hiking, fishing, camping and other outdoor recreation.

Other landmarks that viewers mentioned were Coopers Rock State Forest, which is known for its overlook built on top of a boulder, and Spruce Knob, which is the highest point in West Virginia.

Some people recommended visits to areas rather than landmarks, like Canaan Valley, Dolly Sods and the New River Gorge National Park. Both Canaan Valley and Dolly Sods are located in the Monongahela National Forest and have some of the most unique terrain, weather and ecosystems in West Virginia. Canaan is also known for its ski resorts and is incredible to visit any time of year, although it does have its own microclimate and can be substantially colder than the surrounding area. You can now also hike between the Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge and the Dolly Sods Wilderness in the new Dobbin Slashings Preserve.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is more than 70,000 acres of land, so there’s plenty to explore. If you aren’t sure where to start, the New River Gorge Bridge draws tons of visitors for iconic photos, especially for Bridge Day, the annual one-day festival where people are allowed to BASE jump off the arch 876 feet above the New River. The gorge also has some of the best rock climbing on the East Coast.

Although most West Virginia tourists come for the outdoor recreation, there are other options, too. Some viewers recommended that the first thing visitors should do is take a ride on the Cass Scenic Railroad, where a historical train will transport you through West Virginia’s history and beautiful views.

Some other viewers recommended that out-of-staters come for an event. The West Virginia Buckwheat Festival or a West Virginia University Football game were some of the top options. If you want to fully immerse yourself like a West Virginian, these are two great options.

The West Virginia Buckwheat Festival is a week-long festival in Preston County every September, offering unique local food (buckwheat cakes) and the small-town fair experience with everything from live music to livestock auctions. Make sure you stop by the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department booth for a buckwheat cake or one of their new buckwheat ice cream cones.

If you decide to go to a WVU football game in Morgantown, just know that Mountaineer fans are loyal to a fault. Make sure you allow time before the game to tailgate in the Blue Lot because it’s considered one of the best tailgates in the country.

These were just some of the top answers that our viewers gave, but as several viewers said, there is magic in almost every area of West Virginia if you are willing to look for it.