I love the smell of Krylon in the morning. Tagging is my favorite kind of public art: raw, off the…read morecuff, available to anyone with an idea and a can of spray paint. I don't condone writing on private property, but dang it if I don't love to see it. I am probably in the minority with this one. It might be because of where I spent several of my formative years (in gang territory, surrounded by graffiti). So when I visited Wheeling, I made sure to stop and see Mt. Wood Overlook, because it's a little spot in this small West Virginia city that's covered with tags and writing. This place is a hidden gem, especially if you like quirky public art. The space itself looks like it's the cement foundation of a former building, and taggers have just taken over and written all over it. There are drawings and messages (happy birthday wishes, dates of first kisses, angry statements to exes) scrawled over every inch of this place. From the parking lot, you enter on the top floor, then you can take two flights of stairs down into what looks like a castle full of graffiti. It's seedy and creepy, but it's so cool to see what's going on in the minds and hearts of people who stopped by and left a message. There are some trails near the overlook, and just from the look of them, I would not recommend going down them. The trails are littered with spray paint cans and liquor bottles, and I read that this is also a popular spot for drug use, so who the heck knows what you might come across. Mt. Wood Overlook would make an excellent spot for a photo shoot. It's also located across the street from a cemetery! It's an awesome place to feel life breathing off the walls from fresh art, with the background of death looming in the periphery. Whatta place! You gotta visit if you're in the area.

It was a cool artistic place yet at the same time it was very sketchy. Any time you see graffiti…read morethat's what usually gives people first impressions. But this had graffiti all over, that you can step in it and not worry about paint being on your shoes. They have a small parking lot with maybe a few spaces - but there was one scary-looking dude just sitting and chilling in his car looking at everyone -like he was getting ready to snap. But I let it go. I did not go to the lower levels, as I just stayed at the top. The top is where you get a great view of the city of Wheeling. It's very interesting that the city is separated by a mountain. Bring your cameras, folks!

First time coming here with my 6 month old son! He loved the swings and this park is in great…read morecondition. Be sure to bring a mask for Covid protection as there are signs posted.

Went for a walk after work I was really impressed with the park it was really relaxing and well…read moremaintained. It's a nice park to take the family for a picnic lots to do for the kids there's a nice playground with a castle in it. I didn't play frisbee golf but the course looked really nice. I was really impressed how well maintained the park is plus the restrooms are clean if your in the area it's worth stopping.

Close to I-70 but without the noise, brings you close to Mother Nature with many walking &…read morebicycling paths

Very nice, clean park. I was here for an event in a pavilion with a park right there which was…read morenice. Pavilion was clean and seems to be nicely upkept.

It's a very nice place. If you have any physical limitations the somewhat short walk to the falls…read moreis a bit of a challenge. There are a few kind of steep uneven wooden steps. Then at the actual fall there are large uneven rocks you must walk on if you want to get to a swimming hole there. Definitely not for older people with balance issues or small children.

While working in Beaver County I have passed this sign to Buttermilk Falls countless times, but…read morenever had occasion to stop until yesterday. It was a gorgeous, sunny, unseasonably warm March day & I was the first car in the tiny dirt parking area on the left as soon as you turn in. The Falls is now directly across from the new entrance to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. There is a big stone covered with graffiti on the right. After you park, you just hop out and hit the path and follow the sound of gushing water. it is a short distance to the Falls, but it is uphill and it is steep and rocky and this is not a suitable path for anybody with physical limitations of any sort. It can also be dangerous for young children. It's very beautiful and it is worth the hike up. If you're sturdy footed (muddy & rocky), you can walk right behind the falls and it's quite beautiful. Highly recommended for a sightseeing but I'm sure it gets crowded and warmer weather.

My wife and I visited here yesterday after stopping at "Marsha Cassel's Kitchen on Main" Restaurant…read morejust up the road. I had never been on this side of the lake. They have a nice boat ramp, dock. and fishing pier suitable for handicapped people. There is a playground nearby, picnic pavilions, and a hiking trail leading to a Historic 1881 Truss Bridge. It wasn't the most exciting thing in the world, but it was cool to see and walk over this old bridge. Cheers!

What a beautiful park in SW PA. We stopped by on a sunny Sunday to check out the boat docks,…read morefishing areas, and trails. There were several people out fishing from the dock and multiple people on kayaks in the lake. The bathroom facilities near the docks and shelters were clean and honestly smelled like flowers. The park seems very well maintained and even has a wooden track/course for biking that was pretty cool looking.

We live nearby and never really thought about grabbing breakfast at the park--but wow, we're so…read moreglad we finally did! Tomlinson Run State Park offers breakfast at the campground on Saturdays from 8am-12pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day, and it's truly a hidden gem. The food was absolutely delicious--hot, fresh, and made with care. What's even better? It's all prepared by amazing volunteers, and every dollar goes right back into supporting the park. You can really feel the community pride in every bite. We'll definitely be back again before the season ends. If you're local (or even just passing through), make the stop. It's a great way to kick off a Saturday morning surrounded by nature and good people.

First time visiting this park. It is on the small side compared to other WV State Parks. This means…read morethat it is faster to get to where you are going in the park (no long road in). As you enter the park there is a road to the right that takes you to the campground (BTW, I have rated the campground separately under Campground at Tomlinson Run State Park). As you drive forward you will pass the Park Superintendent's house (on the right). Behind the house is a tiny building that serves at the park HQ. This is where you need to go if you want to stamp your VIPP card. Not obvious and you feel like you trespassing on the residence there but just drive past and then to your right and find the stamp. Along this road on the left you will find a picnic area and shortly after you will come to the edge of a small lake (on the left). On the right is the entrance to a road the winds up and around to the top of a hill (through the woods). There are two picnic areas. The first is off to the left before really heading up the hill. This one was buggy when I was there. At the top of the hill there is a parking lot and picnic areas. Nice spot! The road that goes through the park continues onward and then there is a parking area on the right above the lake. At the lake's edge are paddle boat rentals. If you continue on the road straight on the road you will end up exiting the park.

I've been coming to Raccoon Creek State Park for over 50 years now, and it's one of those rare…read moreplaces that has somehow kept its magic across generations. My earliest memories from the 1970s are filled with the smell of charcoal smoke at the picnic groves and the freezing shock of jumping into the lake on hot summer afternoons. As a kid, that beach felt massive, and a simple day trip with packed lunches (the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches melted to goodness from the sun) and blankets spread out on the grass was the best part of summer with my sisters and mom. As I grew into adulthood, the way I used the park changed, but I never stopped going. I didn't always go swimming but instead would explore the miles of hiking trails. The best part, though, was getting to experience it all over again through my daughter's eyes. Taking her there when she was little and watching her hit the water and run around the playground were special times indeed. Raccoon Creek isn't just a park to me; it's a constant in my life. Over five decades later, facilities might get updated here and there, but the familiar feeling of the place hasn't changed a bit. It's serene, nostalgic, and always feels like coming home.

Nice and quiet. Surprisingly nice mountaintop view from our primitive campsite…read more But we visited on a weeknight after a long rainy stretch of weather which cleared everyone out

The waterfall is small but it's pretty and a nice hike to get to it. Our dog loved playing in the…read morewater

I was here to see a Pelican. Yes, it was freak occurrence, but a Pelican appeared at the South…read moreShore boat rentals. But I've been coming to this state park for years, especially for kayaking and birding. One summer we decided to keep kayaking until we had explored the entire perimeter of the lake. It took several trips, but we never finished because the lake is too vast. There's a great mix of vendors for rentals, food and boat rides, but there are still plenty of wild spaces to enjoy. Whether it's sailing, hiking, swimming, or kayaking, you will find some great recreational opportunities here.

Beautiful park not too far from Pittsburgh. The park has many trails and nice bike paths across the…read moresurprisingly large park area. A generous amount of well kept up restrooms throughout the park. We started at a cabin that was modern and good looking. Each cabin sleeps six. Note: the cabins have nice showers and furniture but there are no other things aside from a refrigerator. Stove with oven, and microwave. Bring your own plates, cutlery bedding and glasses/cups. We were aware so we brought a press for coffee. Great park for families.

This lovely conservation area is 450 acres of beautiful forest with lots to see and a very shadowy…read morepast. The ruins of an old pipe factory are very visible and there are informative signs that tell the story. These occurrences took place in the 1800's. There is history of criminals murdered, accidental death(pipe factory), a hanging, an explosion, a drowning, a giant snake sighting, all taking place in the park. For this reason many people think that the sight is haunted by the people who met their fate here. I hate to burst the excitement, but I have never experienced ghosts, or any other paranormal activity while spending time there. In fact, despite it's dark past Dead Man's Hollow is a very tranquil place. If you have been there during May when Spring season really kicks off you will see tons of wildflowers that are spectacular. The pipe factory had a fire and the ground was burned. This happens to be very good for re-growth and as a result we get to experience a lot of beautiful flora. Also, the old pipe factory remains are covered with cool graffiti. The trails are at times narrow, but they are very clean. You are at some point going to climb up and down hills, so it is a very good workout. I would say that the hiking is a bit more challenging. To find it I would suggest searching via a trailhead name and not just the park name. One example would be "cat fish pond trail." There is a nice parking area near that trailhead. There is also another parking area on the other side of the park(more on that later). This other side is closer to the ruins.

We checked out the catfish pond today. It looked promising at first but soon discovered that there…read moreis very little accessibility to fish there. The spots that are open are at an incline sloped towards the pond and are very slippery and hazardous. I do not recommend taking young kids there. My daughter and I fished for an hour or so and only saw bluegill in the 3-4" range and smaller minnows. We used lures and worms and had many bites but the fish were too small to get hooked. We did see many water turtles and even a few babies whose shell was about 2-3" in diameter. We also saw one large snapping turtle appear for a few seconds. There are also a bunch of bullfrog minnows whose bodies were the size of golf balls (early June). It's a cool place to see but we won't be returning to fish.