Family Activities

Outdoor Activities

For an introduction to local outdoor recreation options, we suggest:

• Coopers Rock State Forest. Suggested hikes:
  • Visit the Overlook, and hike Underlook Trail
  • Visit the Overlook, then hike Eagle Trail to Ridge Trail, Ridge Trail out to Shelter #4, then take Rattlesnake Trail back to Underlook Trail, and take it back up to Shelter #1.
  • Hike the Hemlock Loop Trail, on the North Side.
  • Hike the new loop around Trout Pond, 1/4 mile from the I-68 Coopers Rock Exit.
• WVU Zip-line Canopy Tour
• Core Arboretum
• White Park
• West Virginia Botanic Garden
• Caperton Rail Trail. You can walk, run, or cycle! Bicycle rentals are available from Wamsley Cycles, 304-296-2447.
• West Virginia Black Bears Baseball Games. Show your NSO registration or name tag from NSO at the ticket booth to purchase discounted tickets.

Indoor Activities

Prefer staying indoors? We have suggestions for you too.

• Morgantown History Museum. Open Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, Noon to 6 p.m.
• Seneca Center
• WVU Art Museum
• Brohard Hall of Traditions at the Milan Puskar Center at Mountaineer Field. This space is filled with interactive displays, photos, videos, records, current and past team information, trophies, memorabilia, and more, dating back to 1891. Open weekdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Petroplus Hall of Traditions, essentially a WVU Basketball museum at the WVU Basketball Practice Facility. Open weekdays, 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m.

Meeting Your Student

Day 1 is a cell-phone limited experience. If your student leaves their phone with us, we will return it on Day 2 as they get on the bus to the Mountainlair (around 8-8:15 a.m.).

On the way to the Mountainlair on Day 2, your student’s bus will stop at the Hope Coliseum. We encourage you and your student to plan a meet-up location at the Hope Coliseum, especially if you are keeping your student’s phone or would like to unload your student’s overnight materials and store them in a car.