Adventure Outdoors Magazine Summer 2016 | Page 120

Weekend Adventure Getaway in Greater Morgantown, West Virginia Your action-packed weekend is closer than you think! Located just 70 miles south of Pittsburgh, Greater Morgantown is rich with natural beauty, challenging terrain and a cool university culture! Your adventure starts with whitewater rafting on the roller coaster rapids of the Cheat River. If the weather is questionable go underground for some “wild caving” – no experience is necessary to see the natural wonders down below! In late afternoon, hit the rail trail that winds along the might Mon River. Rent a bike or take a hike . . . from the trail you can choose a cozy riverside restaurant for dinner. Then venture downtown to experience the cool university culture: neighborhood bistros, family-owned eateries, and sports pubs feature live entertainment nearly every weekend. Head out to Coopers Rock; where you will find 50 miles of trails winding through old growth forests, but it’s just a short hike to view the mile-wide Cheat River Gorge from a 1,200 ft. overlook. Make your way to the famous Rock City with 30’ boulders and an abundance of top rope routes. "Sunset Wall," "Big Blocks," "Greenback Wall," and "Haystack Block" feature a proliferation of hemlock, which forms shady groves for a cool break after climbing. Head back down the mountain to Forks-of-Cheat Winery for a tour and tasting. A number of outdoor events: Cheat River Festival, 10 miles of thrilling whitewater that rushes through infamous rapids (May 7) . . . Hillybilly Roubaix, 72"ish" mile dirty road bicycle race in the hollers and on the hills 118 Summer 2016 Adventure Outdoors around Morgantown, West Virginia and South Western Pennsylvania (June 25). . . Wild and Wonderful MountainFest Motorcycle Rally, more than 50,000 bikers and attendees (July 26-30) . . . West Virginia Bass Championship, 50 of WV’s best bass fishing teams compete on the rich waters of the Monongahela River (June 25), Morgantown Marathon, 26.2 almost heavenly miles of scenic beauty (September 18)… WVU Sports, along with hundreds of events each year. Planning a full weekend is easy, just check out the Greater Morgantown Convention & Visitors Bureau Web site calendar of events at tourmorgantown.com