4 Best Sights in White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia

Tucked inside the Monongahela National Forest, a 20-minute drive northeast of White Sulphur Springs, this is one of the best spots in the area for hiking, swimming, and trout fishing. The 5-mile-long Blue Bend Loop Trail is popular throughout the year and has three lookout spots as well as a wooden shelter at its highest point. The forest is home to foxes, deer, coyotes, bobcats, black bears, and mink. The on-site campground is open March through November.

One of the many local activities run by the Greenbrier Resort, the falconry center offers tuition in this very old sport. Expert falconers teach the history and the practice of falconry to both beginners and intermediate students. The falcons (and hawks) are located a 10-minute drive away and transportation leaves from Greenbrier Outfitters at the resort. Children under 12 may accompany a paying adult, free of charge. Classes are generally held once a day, usually in the late morning.

Just minutes from Interstate 64 and White Sulphur Springs, this state forest spans an area of 5,130 acres, with 13 miles of hiking and mountain-biking trails; hunting, camping, and picnicking are also popular. There's an archery range, a horseshoe pitch, a volleyball court, and a heated outdoor swimming pool. If you want to stay the night, but prefer not to camp, you can rent a one- or two-bedroom cabin, complete with kitchen and bathroom, from April through October.

Historic reenactment meets golf at this 9-hole course built by Russell Montague in 1884. It's among the oldest courses in the country, and golf here is played with hickory clubs and balls made of gutta-percha sap, just as it was during Oakhurst's first golf competition in 1888. To add to the whole turn-of-the-20th-century atmosphere, guests are encouraged to wear Victorian period clothing, which is sold on-site. The greens fee includes a tour of the property's museum, a photo, and a commemorative certificate.