Did you know that several of my road trip ideas have come from what I stumble across on social media? My algorithm knows me well! As it would, right? Sometimes even too well. Hmmm?
I have a long list of travel spots and ideas saved away in folders in my Instagram and Facebook account. (Who remembers when we drove the dragon? It was one of my first saved trip ideas.) Several years back, I came across this cool looking bridge in West Virginia and this awesome catwalk that was underneath. We have to do this! When can we do this? Is this on the way to Niagara Falls?
Something I do enjoy about living in Tennessee is that there are so many things to do within a 6-8 hour drive. We usually head south, but this time we were going north to Niagara Falls and we needed a mid point to stay. We had to stop in West Virginia to walk under a bridge, of course.
I’d never been to West Virginia, almost heaven I’ve heard. The whole state was beautiful. The drive and the time of the year, late October, perfect! I had never seen so many colors of leaves all in one place. I was in awe. And the last bit of the drive from Charleston to our final destination of Lansing, WV was somewhat comparable to driving the dragon except in a RAV 4 instead of a Mini Cooper. I drove this part of the trip and as fun as it was to drive, I almost wished I was in the back seat taking pictures! We will have to do it again and make a lot more side of the road scenic stops.
Lansing, West Virginia is where we stayed, just on the other side of the New River Gorge Bridge from Fayetteville. We rented a little cabin not far off the main road. From Nashville it was about a 7 hour drive. The only purpose of this stop was to see the New River Gorge Bridge. Had we been a weekend earlier, we would have made it for Bridge Day. The only day of the year where the bridge road is closed and all extreme things you can think of to do off of a bridge take place. Even though I will never bungee jump or base jump off of anything, it would be something to see others do it. However, I am not sure I would appreciate the amount of people in the area for all of that. Over 120,000 people were there for that weekend before, so I am still glad we went the week we did, the weekend after Bridge Day.
The weather for the trip was great but the coldest part of it all was that morning under the bridge! They suggested beanies and gloves when we checked in at the gift shop, we thought we’d be fine without the extra souvenirs, we regretted it. We should have bought the beanies and gloves. It was windy and that wind was cold! I am grateful that I had a warmer jacket in the vehicle that I was able to wear.
Things to know: It takes about 2 – 2.5 hours for the bridge walk. You are harnessed the whole time and the walking platform is wider than I thought it would be at 24 inches. Every time a car drives over the bridge, you feel it. The bridge moves. This is not for those who are afraid of heights. Once you get started on the walk, you have to walk to the end. No turning around. It is stop and go and the tour guide has lots of information to give about the bridge and surrounding area. The walk is 3,030 ft long and you are 876 ft high. You are higher than birds fly! I saw birds flying below us. It was breathtaking! I highly recommend doing the Bridge Walk if you’re up for adventure while keeping your feet on something beneath you.
The views were epic and it was pretty fun walking behind my boy who is afraid of heights! In the middle of the bridge we stopped long enough to have a seat. Ethan almost didn’t make it down to sit but we talked him in to it.
It was a lot of fun and a great way to spend a few hours while in West Virginia. Another thing checked off of my ever growing bucket list!
Have you ever been? What do you think; would you walk under the bridge? :-D
Rejoice for the Day 