Callie and I have a thing — anytime we can kill two birds with one trip, we do it. So when March finally gave us a nice day, we pointed toward Beaver and made a plan around two of our favorite ways to spend a Sunday: antiquing and getting outside. One new trail a month was her idea, and so far she keeps picking the days right.
First stop was Beaver Creek Antiques. It’s a big multi-vendor mall — booths stacked with glassware, old tins, books, collectibles, some furniture, handcrafted stuff mixed in with the vintage. The kind of place where every vendor has their own thing going on and you never quite know what’s around the next corner. We spent more time there than we planned, which is how it always goes.
From there we headed over to Little Beaver State Park, which we’d driven past plenty of times without stopping. 562 acres, an 18-acre lake, nearly 20 miles of trails. It’s been sitting right there off I-64 and we just kept rolling by. Not anymore.
We started with the Lake Front Trail It’s paved and easy, perfect for the dogs. Event on a March weekend afternoon, families were already out fishing the lake, which is always one of my favorite things to see.
After two years of living full-time in our RV before we landed in WV, I can’t pass a campground without scoping it out. This one is solid with 46 sites, electric and water hookups, and several spots that back into the woods, with rhododendron between them. It’s going to be something in the spring when everything’s green. We’ll definitely be back with the camper.
We looped down to the primitive campground, then took Laurel Creek Trail back to Nature Ridge and out to the car. There were a few climbs, but nothing serious. The kind of hike where you’re moving but still actually talking. The dogs were in full approval mode the whole time.
Here’s the thing about WV State Parks that doesn’t get enough credit. The state runs 36 of them, and 10 have full resort lodges. Not basic lodges, but lodges with restaurants, pools, and golf. Places like Pipestem and Canaan Valley would easily cost you twice as much if they were privately run. And every single one is free to walk into.
Little Beaver is on the simpler end of the spectrum, with more of a neighborhood park feel, but it’s clean, well-kept, and the lake is the kind of place you bring your kids and let them be kids.
After the hike, we were hungry, and we drove past The Dish Café on the way in, making a mental note to check it out. We stopped on the way out, and their take on falafel was on point. Good food in a spot we almost missed. Go if you’re in the area.
Not a big adventure day. Just a good Sunday — nice drive, a barn full of antiques, an easy hike with the dogs, and dinner with my best friend. Those add up.
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