FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park & Preserve is one of the best places to travel to in the world, according to National Geographic.
Gov. Jim Justice and the state Department of Tourism announced Tuesday that the magazine’s “Best of the World” Top 20 Travel Experiences for 2024 includes the New River Gorge in Fayette County.
Justice said it’s a prestigious honor.
“If the world didn’t know before about the beautiful state we get to call home, they surely do now,” Justice said in a statement. “I’ve been saying for years that West Virginia is a diamond in the rough. Well, now we’re shining for all to see, and it’s much deserved.”
Rafting in West Virginia made this year’s list along with highly acclaimed experiences such as an eclipse in Niagara Falls and glacier treks in Chile.
Amy Alipio, Senior Editor of Travel at National Geographic, said West Virginia made the list in large part because of its rich culture and natural wonder. She said it’s a way to highlight a place that not many hikers and outdoor enthusiasts are aware of.
“The combination of outdoor adventure plus the rich Appalachian history and culture there, so that speaks to Nat-Geo DNA. We do like to highlight lesser-known places and so that’s why it surfaced this year,” she said on Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
Huge announcement—National Geographic names West Virginia to prestigious “Best of the World” list.
I’ve been saying for years that West Virginia is a diamond in the rough. Well, now we’re shining for all to see, and it’s much deserved. @WVtourism https://t.co/MUH1utdPH8
— Governor Jim Justice (@WVGovernor) January 30, 2024
Not many people know that the New River is actually one of the world’s oldest rivers, Alipio said.
“Despite its name, it’s one of the oldest rivers on Earth. The forest there is one of the most biodiverse on the continent. We feel that highlighting the white-water rafting there is lesser known than maybe more well-known white-water rafting like the Grand Canyon,” she said.
Alipio said West Virginia is also in a great location that attracts visitors from larger nearby cities.
“It’s near so many metropolitan areas — D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. It’s really accessible,” she said.
The designation follows a series of recent announcements by Forbes Advisor, Thrillist, Condé Nast Traveler, Outside Magazine, Lonely Planet, TIME, USA Today and Frommer’s among others, that together rank West Virginia as a leading global destination for travel.
State Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby said in a news release she’s “thrilled to see major publications continue to recognize how incredible West Virginia really is.”
“In my very first meeting with Gov. Justice 7 years ago, he told me that we were going to show the world just how great West Virginia truly is, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” Ruby said.
Rafters from around the world have traveling to West Virginia for years, but the new national park designation has brought even greater attention to region.
The New River Gorge became a national park in Dec. 2020.