taking the kids, Adventures on the Gorge, West Virginia, theme parks, outdoors, water parks, rafting, kids activities, family vacations
By Joanna Mazewski, Taking the Kids Correspondent
LANSING, West Virginia — My children love their summer break from school. For them, it’s two months of no morning wake up calls, complete relaxation and according to them, unlimited screen, text and social media time. Of course, that would only happen in a world where no rules and boundaries existed and the pitfalls of too much screen time were not known to man.
Now, that’s not to say that my children are couch potatoes. In fact, it’s quite the opposite as they love to run, play, chase each other, jump on our oversized trampoline in our backyard and swim in our community pool. They love to stay active, but it’s just a matter of me reminding them that they need to. But they are the kind of kids who would spend endless hours in a playground, releasing all the bottled-up energy they keep indoors.
Kids getting ready for ziplining at Adventures on the Gorge
And this summer, that playground just happens to be Adventures on the Gorge in Lansing, West Virginia. While a lot of people are still trying to figure out what an “adventure resort” is, Adventures on the Gorge is showing their guests of all ages what a vacation destination should look like. Guests can swim, participate in obstacle challenges, rock climb, zipline, learn to paddleboard and so much more.
If you asked my 4th grader and 2nd grader what they thought about Adventures on the Gorge, they would tell you that it’s the best place on Earth. In fact, it’s better than a mountain of sugary sprinkles at the chocolate factory or an all-access pass to endless hours of YouTube.
Kids activities at Adventures on the Gorge
During our stay at the resort, they were faced with a multitude of sky-high challenges they’ve never faced before in their lives. Luckily, they tackled each one with courage and confidence. Their favorite activity by far was the TimberTrek challenge. They go to zip line from one treetop to the next, their adrenaline allowing them to conquer each obstacle course with ease.
If that weren’t enough, my kids also had the opportunity to experience White Water Rafting on the Gorge, which just happens to be the second oldest river in the world (and only behind the Nile). They also rock climbed, paddle boarded, and even got to make pink slime (a highlight!) in the Kid’s Club. They were so engaged in their daily activities, that by the time we returned back to our cabin each night, they didn’t even open up their tablet and laptop computer. And the reason why fills my heart with gratitiude: they were too tired being adventurous children.
Meeting the challenge on the Ziplining course
Of course, my kids already have plans to visit Adventures of the Gorge in the future. My son has even declared that he plans to apply for a job as a TimberTrek guide just so he could spend his afternoons and evenings climbing and zig-zagging the treetop canopies. My daughter, on the other hand, wants to come back to tackle the next level of White Water Rafting. Because apparently, 12 miles of currents wasn’t enough.
And for myself, I’m incredibly happy that Adventures on the Gorge gave my children an opportunity to reconnect with the outdoors. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to unwind, unplug and reconnect with Mother Nature in the heart of West Virginia.
Know Before You Go:
219 Co Rte 60/5, Lansing, WV 25862
1 855-379-8738