An anniversary getaway is not just an escape from your routine; it’s an opportunity to deepen your connection by spending quality time together making memories. With these helpful tips and our insider info you can easily put together a stress free trip to New River Gorge National Park that you both will enjoy and remember forever.
Before you dive in, sign up for the free Anniversary Getaway Guide we created to accompany this post. It contains our specific recommendations (with links), a sample itinerary, and info about a special package at Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals, the perfect place for an anniversary getaway. It was designed for couples!
1. Plan to be Awestruck
It sounds a bit dramatic, but it’s true. Experiencing awe together creates an opportunity to connect and learn new things about each other. In fact, it’s been shown that couples who experience very strong positive feelings together form NEW bonds. And what do new bonds lead to? A long and happy relationship.
In New River Gorge National Park, one adventure activity that gets almost everyone’s adrenaline flowing is Bridge Walk. This jaw-dropping tour takes you across a catwalk UNDER the New River Gorge Bridge (highest arch bridge in the western hemisphere)! But if heights aren’t your thing, we also recommend whitewater rafting, ziplining and paddleboarding.
2. Set the Mood by Slipping into Nature
A simple walk in the woods lowers your blood pressure and stress level, while improving your mood and energy. Add in the lush forests and beautiful vistas in the New River Gorge and you’ve got all the fixins for a restorative anniversary getaway with your partner.
The trick lies in knowing where to go to have the best experiences in nature. Which trail leads to that gorgeous overlook? How do I find that waterfall? How long is this freaking trail? This is where insider info really comes in handy. Use our website to find the perfect trail for you or schedule a New River Gorge Eco Tour. These private, guided forest walks are fun, educational, and offered to guests at Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals.
3. Include Rainy Day Activities
Years ago, we drove to Niagara Falls. It rained so hard that the falls were obscured by fog the entire weekend – we never actually saw them! But we always smile when we see our favorite photo from the trip: us in front of a SOLID what background with the caption, “Greetings from Niagara Falls.” In addition to our positive attitudes, it was our preplanning – in the form of finding indoor activities we both enjoy – that saved the trip.
We’ve already created a list of rainy-day activities for your New River Gorge getaway. Check out Tamarack Artisan Marketplace where you’ll find handmade West Virginia crafts, art, and yummy food. Or take a fascinating tour of an old coal mine with a veteran miner as your guide. There’s an escape room right next door to Lafayette Flats and a very cool bowling alley only 15 minutes away.
4. Soak Up Some Small-Town Charm
You probably deal with frustrating traffic and noisy city life every day. No need to put up with it on your anniversary getaway too! On the rim of the New River Gorge sits the tiny town of Fayetteville, WV, and it’s a real charmer. You’ll find great shops, restaurants, and pubs, it’s only a short drive from the best outdoor activities in New River Gorge National Park. In fact, you can access the trail system from Fayetteville Town Park!
Fayetteville is only a few hours’ drive from big cities like Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Richmond, but it feels worlds away. And Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals sits in the heart of town. Stay with us and you can park your car and relax, almost everything is within walking distance.
5. Enjoy a Delicious Meal (or Several)
There are many great places to eat in Fayetteville like the world-famous Secret Sandwich Society, cozy Cathedral Café, and the wildly popular Pies and Pints. We created (and regularly update) a list for our guests which you can sign up for here.
But we understand that you may want somewhere a little less casual for your anniversary dinner, so we made several recommendations in our Anniversary Getaway Guide with you an sign up for here. It’s free! These restaurants accept reservations and are only 20-60 minutes from Fayetteville.
The New River Gorge has filled us both with so much love for this place and for each other, and we want you to have this feeling too. Use this post and our free Anniversary Getaway Guide to plan a trip so special you both talk about it for years and years to come.
Who are we? Amy & Shawn – New River Gorge hikers, master naturalists, and owners of Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals in downtown Fayetteville, WV. We created an anniversary package at Lafayette Flats that includes the following:
- A stained glass suncatcher made locally by West Virginia artisan Karen Douglas.
- Early check-in and late check-out at Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals.
- A deluxe four piece box of Holl’s Swiss Chocolates handcrafted in Vienna, West Virginia.
You can add on the anniversary package during the booking process at our website.
You may also find these posts helpful when planning your anniversary getaway:
New River Gorge Spring Getaway Guide for Couples
