There are many regional attractions around Mineral County, West Virginia that serve a wide variety of interests:
Allegany County Fairgrounds (17 miles from Keyser) hosts a year round schedule of events including concerts, drag racing and Street Rod Roundups.
Cumberland, MD: (21 miles from Keyser) Charming historic town with several art galleries, restaurants, specialty and antiques shops at the northern end of the C&O Canal, which connects to Washington, DC in the south (along with a its continuous 185 mile bike trail). Visit Canal Place and the Western Maryland Historic Railroad - take a ride on an authentic steam engine train and enjoy murder mystery theater on board. LaVale, MD, a suburb of Cumberland, is a major shopping destination for the area.
Mt. Storm, WV: (22 miles from Keyser) has become a significant spot for vacationing and interest in power production - both wind turbine and coal generated. The massive thermal lake at Mt. Storm covers 1200 acres at a elevation of 3,100 feet elevation above sea level. The super 1.6 giga watt coal burning power plant, owned and operated by Dominion Virginia Power, heats Mt. Storm Lake 20 – 25 degrees above normal. The power plant supplies 2, million people in the Washington, DC area with power. The power plant consumes 15, 000 tons of coal per day and circulates 234,000 gallons of water per minute to cool the turbines (the entire lake is recycled in 2 and ½ days.) The warm temperatures and the 160 feet depth attracts scuba divers from the tri-state area. Popularly known as Vepco Lake, this area is fast becoming very popular with para-sailing, water skiing, jet skiing and boating. The Route 55 Corridor H Super Highway exit ramp will ease access to Mt. Storm and encourage more travel to the area.
The Shell/Dominion Wind Farm operates adjacent to the plant and feeds directly into the electric grid from 170 wind turbines. The towers are 340 feet high and can be seen for miles from all directions. The wind farm is the largest east of the Mississippi.
Frostburg, MD: (23 miles from Keyser) Perched atop in the Appalachian highlands, Frostburg is a historic main street community in Western Maryland and home to Frostburg State University. The community offers the blend between rural economic development, Amish culture and the modern atmosphere of a university town.
Deep Creek, MD: (24 miles from Keyser) The Deep Creek Lake Resort Area including the State Park and Wisp Ski Resort is a popular vacation destination year round. There are numerous condos, cabins and hotels for lodging. Along with skiing (snow and water), snow tubing, boating, camping, hiking, educational nature programs, bird watching expeditions and a nature center there are also specialty restaurants, cultural festivals, live entertainment, the Garrett County Fair and numerous activities like the gathering of the Scottish clans.
Wisp Ski Resort near Deep Creek, MD (36 miles from Keyser)
Canaan Valley Ski Resort: (47 miles from Keyser) Canaan Valley Resort State Park is one of two downhill ski resorts in Canaan Valley. Canaan includes 34 slopes, tubing and snowboarding parks, restaurants, lounges, conference facilities, 25 kilometers of cross-country ski trails, 23 cabins, and a 250-room lodge.
Bedford Springs, PA: (50 miles from Keyser) Home to the luxurious Omni Bedford Springs Resort, a National Historic Landmark that includes aconference center, 30,000 square-foot Springs Eternal Spa, A.W. Tillinghast and Donald Ross designed 18-hole golf course, aquatic center featuring outdoor pool and heated mineral springs-fed indoor pool, on-property trout fishing and a collection of superb restaurants.
Timberline Ski Resort near Davis WV (54 miles from Keyser) is one of two downhill ski resorts in the Canaan Valley. Timberline and Canaan are part of a large ski resort area. Timberline includes 36 slopes, tubing and sledding areas, restaurants, clubs, conference facilities, and slope-side homes.
Lost River, WV: picturesque get-a-way (58 miles from Keyser)
Berkley Springs, WV: (64 miles from Keyser, WV) - Berkeley Springs is an historic spa and art-filled town protected by the West Virginia mountains. It boasts warm mineral springs, world class dining, dozens of unique shops, full-service spas and more than 100 lodging choices from elegant B&B's and historic inns to cabins and resorts. Golf, hiking and swimming share the schedule with year 'round festivals, live music and theater.
Winchester, VA: (66 miles from Keyser) Winchester has a charming historic downtown area with many specialty shops and restaurants as well as thriving surrounding areas that provide for extensive shopping, suppliers and manufacturers. Site of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, an annual event held in Winchester, attracts crowds in excess of 250,000 people. The Festival includes over 30 events such as the Old Town Wine & Fine Arts Festival, Apple Blossom Carnival, dances, parades, band competitions, a circus, and much more.
Blue Knob Ski Resort: Claysburg, PA (77 miles from Keyser) has 34 trails with a vertical drop of 1072'.
Charles Town, WV : (85 miles from Keyser) Home to Charles Town Races and Slots and the Old Opera House.
Morgantown, WV: (88 miles from Keyser) Urban center on the banks of the Monongahela River, home to West Virginia University.
Shepardstown, WV: (100 miles from Keyser), WV) is the oldest town in the state of West Virginia. German Street is the location for more than an dozen fine dining and casual restaurants. Unique locally owned specialty shops offer everything from baby clothes to local arts and crafts. Shepherdstown offers the perfect place to stay, eat and shop.
The Contemporary American Theater housed at Shepherd University provide performing arts in drama and classical music. Local restaurants and pubs provide stages for live music from budding and experienced artists.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C & O) is less than a mile from Shepherdstown and is an excellent path for biking and hiking along the Potomac River. Several outfitters in Harpers Ferry off er rafting and tubing adventure.
The entire area around Shepherdstown provides historical investigation: Antietam Battlefield, site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War; many well preserved buildings, many on the Historical Register; and the building where General George Washington called local troops to join him in Boston for the Revolutionary War.
Throughout the year the area hosts significant, crowd-drawing events; Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival, Ghost Tour through historic Shepherdstown, Over-the-Mountain Studio Tour and the Christmas in Shepherdstown – all showcase the best of the area.
Harpers Ferry, WV: (100 miles from Keyser) Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia. In many books the town is called "Harper's Ferry" with an apostrophe. It is situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers where the U.S. states of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia meet. The town is located on a low-lying flood plain created by the two rivers and surrounded by higher ground. Historically, Harpers Ferry is best known for John Brown's raid on the Armory in 1859 and its role in the American Civil War.
The lower part of Harpers Ferry is located within Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Most of the remainder, which includes the higher, more populated area, is included in the separate Harpers Ferry Historic District. Two other National Register of Historic Places properties adjoin the town: the B & O Railroad Potomac River Crossing and St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church.
DelGrosso's Amusement and Water Park, Tipton, PA: (100 miles from Keyser)