By Steve Keenan
The Register-Herald
FAYETTEVILLE — During the ongoing cold snap, thoughts may very well have turned to enjoying some vacation time.
On Jan. 28, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey and state officials added fuel to the lure of vacation by unveiling the state’s official travel magazine, the 2026 West Virginia Vacation Guide. In revealing the guide, the governor was joined by Secretary of Tourism Chelsea Ruby, legislators and state tourism partners.
While the Mountain State can’t fulfill the yearning for sunny beaches and tropic weather that might occupy the minds of many during the chill of January and February, it does have a lot to offer — including quality skiing opportunities and numerous outdoor activities geared toward better weather — for locals and travelers alike. The new vacation guide outlines many of those potential destinations and activities, whether you’re planning for a winter vacation or a respite later in the year.
“The quality and usefulness of this guide is astounding,” said Morrisey. “From rich history and world-class outdoor recreation, to small businesses and amazing locals, it highlights every piece of what makes West Virginia truly special.”
October alone brought more than 270,000 travelers to the New River Gorge, up from 215,000 the year before, according to a press release from Morrisey’s office. That follows a record-setting year where the state surpassed $9.1 billion in annual tourism economic impact and over 77 million people in visitor volume, the release noted.
“These numbers represent more than statistics,” said Morrisey. “They represent jobs, small businesses and real opportunity in every corner of the Mountain State.”
“Just when I think our vacation guide can’t possibly get any better, it exceeds my expectations once again,” Ruby said via the release. “In just over a month, we’ve had nearly 81,000 pre-orders for the 2026 guide, up more than 460 percent compared to pre-orders for last year’s guide.”
Request a free copy of the Almost Heaven trip planner at wvtourism.com, and it will be sent directly to your doorstep. The new vacation guide will also be available for visitors at each of the state’s welcome centers.
To order the free guide, visit https://wvtourism.com/information-and-press/free-travel-guide/get-a-free-wv-travel-guide/.
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