Family Activities and Adventures in the New River Gorge National Park Region with Country Road Cabins

From the tranquil pools and inviting rapids of the Upper New to the roaring whitewater of the Lower New River, part of what makes the New River Gorge an ideal family vacation destination is the variety of options available to suit adventure lovers of all ages. 

Traveling with kids is rewarding. Nothing is better than watching your child light up at the sight of nature, hearing them say they haven’t missed their phone all week, or feeling their sense of pride as they call on their courage for a zipline adventure. Traveling with kids can also be challenging, a battle between ensuring education and entertainment for the kids and wanting some time to unwind for the adults.

Here are just a few of the benefits spending time in nature offers kids and families:

Increase Health and Fitness

Children who experience positive interactions with nature on the river, on a hike through a forest, or during camping trips, tend to be more eager to play outside on a regular basis. More outside time means more movement, which means healthier bodies.

Help for ADHD

There’s some great news for families with children living with ADHD: spending time in nature may serve as a natural treatment. A national study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that spending time in green settings appeared to drastically reduce ADHD symptoms in children. The surprising results applied to all children and did not seem to vary by gender, location, age or income groups. These findings offer families the potential for a natural, side effect-free way to help their children with ADHD.

Better Self-Esteem

A report from the University of Sydney in Australia found that teens who spend time outdoors have an easier time socializing and making friends resulting in a huge boost in confidence. Their peers, who use free time to participate in indoor activities like gaming, report feeling more shy, lonely and isolated.

Reduce Stress & Depression

Numerous studies have shown that a dose of the outdoors reduces stress and depression in both adults and children. Vitamin D from time in the sun battles the blues, while getting some distance from the constant buzz of the city helps relieve anxiety and stress.

Now that you know the benefits of a vacation based in nature, here are activities in our area that you can experience on your family getaway at Country Road Cabins.