1) hike up to the farmer's field from behind the cabin (see below for info)
2) swallow falls mini-hike through the old growth forest
3) bike the rails/trails section from Ohiopyle or Confluence (maybe in combination with Falling Water visit since in same location)
4) Rattlesnake/City of Rocks hike at Cooper's Rock park
5) Swimming holes on Cheat Narrows
6) Dolly Sods, Blackwater State Park, Canaan Valley
The primary reason we bought the cabin was because it is near whitewater. Most of the properties in Beaver Creek are owned by whitewater paddlers. I highly recommend for the beginning/intermediate paddle to take a trip on the Lower Yough (Class II/III). My recommended outfitter is Wilderness Voyageurs. For someone looking for something more exciting, the Upper Yough (Class IV/V) is one of the best sections of whitewater in the US. I recommend Precision Rafting in Friendsville, although Wilderness Voyageurs is good too. If the Cheat (III/IV) is running, I would recommend it for something a little more challenging and less crowded that the Lower Yough but not over the Upper Yough. Ask the outfitters, they will direct you. If you are up for the 2 1/2 drive to the Gauley and New, those are both world-class big water rivers worth the trip. The New River Gorge area has lots of other outdoor activities too. There are many down there, none of which I would suggest avoiding. For food in Fayetteville, the Cathedral Cafe is really good and there a few other places. The Tudor's Biscuit World chain does an excellent NC style country ham biscuit.
Beaver Creek: Everyone in the development allows people to hike through their property and there are a number of trails. Maps here and here There are some maps floating around the cabin (look in the drawer of the old desk on the loft landing) and it is on the Beaver Creek website. Our favorite short hike in orange here is take the trail directly behind the cabin up to the field, walk along the field to the right until you come to the pond and take the trail (a little tricky to find - look for where the water is draining from the pond in the reeds) behind the pond back down to Beaver Creek Dr. or for a longer walk keep going up the hill with big grey house on your right (you are not trespassing) staying on edge of woods until you see an old logging road on the right. Stay on the logging road for a bit looking out for a trail down the hill on the right marked by a cairn
Another good hike in blue here is to walk down the road a little bit towards the entrance of the development looking for an old logging road on the right slanted away from you maybe 100 yards from the cabin. Keep on taking lefts when you come to forks in the road and follow the trail along the creek behind the houses on the other side of the road. Soon after you pass a pond there is a trail on the left that goes back across the creek and back up to Beaver Creek Drive road (a little tricky to find - need to bushwhack through some weeds). At that point, you can head back to the cabin on the road or cross the road and head up to the field along one of the old logging road and walk along the field until right past a hunting stand there is a trail that leads to right behind the cabin. Pretty hard to get lost in there given you are surrounded by two developments and cell service is good so don't be afraid to wander. These trails are blazed
Cooper's Rock State Forest: Not too far right off of I-68 two exits past Hazelton (20 min). Good hiking. Recommend rattlesnake trail to city of rocks trail.
Friendsville Yough River Trail: Nice easy old rail trail on the other (east) side of the river goes upstream about 7 miles to the whitewater. Cross the bridge in town and take your first right and go a couple blocks to the sign. Ok to park on street.
Big Bear Lake: Trails are mostly maintained for mountain biking, but they are pretty nice for hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing too. Recommend the Voodoo Rocks trail for hiking. Plus it is only 5 minutes away. There is an entrance fee of $10, but I have a season pass you can use that should be in the 4Runner.
Cranesville Swamp: Nice easy hike and not too far. From the cabin driving towards Friendsville, take a right onto White Rock Road soon after entering MD. White Rock turns into Cranesville Road in about 6 miles (veer right at the Cranesville sand sign instead of staying on White Rock road).
Swallow Falls: This is my favorite park in the area. There is a nice popular trail in the State Park entrance but also really nice (and free) trail on opposite side of the river that is much less well known. Park in the lot right next to the bridge above the falls and trail is across the street. http://goo.gl/maps/bsRs,. People like to swim around the two falls.
Ohiopyle State Park (35 min): Tons of great, if popular, hiking, rails-to-trails biking, swimming, etc. My favorite short hike is the Meadow Run loop but there is lots of other stuff to see. Wilderness Voyageurs is there and is the go to place for bike rentals, advice, etc.
Upper Yough: There is a really nice hike on river left down to the meat of the rapids on the Upper Yough I recently discovered, although it is tricky to find. When driving on White Rock Road toward the Sang Run bridge there is a big dip in the road near where some power lines cross. After you get to the top of the valley there is a gate that says something like motorized vehicles prohibited. You can park there and follow the power line cut back around to the left. (You can also park on the other side of the valley where the power line cut comes across which is a little closer but river side of the road is posted so park across the street on the grass and be discrete) Right after it crosses a stream there is a road to the right that goes down about a mile or so to the river (about 1/2 mile down take the single-track path on the right). When you get to the river there is a somewhat hard to see trail going downstream.
Monongahela National Forest (Blackwater Falls/Canaan Valley/Dolly Sods, etc): An hour or so south of our cabin has much more of a wilderness feel. Blackwater Falls State Park and the Dolly Sods Wilderness are fantastic as are Seneca Rocks, Spruce Knob, and other sights further south. Davis and Thomas are somewhat quaint towns good for stopping at for a meal or beer to/from these parks. Highly recommended.
More at Garret Trails website:
Biking
Allegheny Trail: The Gap Trail is a fantastic rails to trails about 25 min. north of our cabin that extends from Washington DC to Pittsburgh that is considered one of the best in the country. Nice stretches are to start in either Ohioyple or Confluence and go either way but there are many others. If you don't need a rental, we recommend starting at the Hardnesville parking lot heading upstream toward Cumberland. There are bike shops in Confluence (http://www.confluencecyclery.com/) and Ohiopyle (https://wilderness-voyageurs.com/) that can provide further advice.
Big Bear Lake Mountain Biking: Apparently some of the best mountain biking on the east coast, 5 minutes away
Flatwater Kayaking/SUP
"Tupper" Yough
Deep Creek Lake
Kids:
There is a decent playground in the Friendsville town park, just follow the signs from the main (Maple) street
Alpine slide and ropes course at Wisp in McHenry
Bumper boats, mini-golf, alpine slide, zip lines, etc. at Deep Creek Lake. Check the chamber of commerce site. There is a vintage video game place that gets rave reviews from people who are into that stuff
Nemacolin Woodlands has lions and tigers and bears you can drive around in your car and see (free). They also have an indoor gym that is a hybrid between a real gym and a foam ball pit type place. They also have a free indoor kids swimming pool. We used to take our kids there in the winter.
Zoo in Kingwood
Corn maze, hayrides, etc. near Accident. There is a big fall festival type place about 30min away in PA sort of near Morgantown.
Swimming
**Harrington Lake Manor State Park: Where we go for a lake beach. Nice quiet kid friendly spot with a snack bar, cheap canoe rentals and hiking. Good to combo with Swallow Falls (where people swim in the river too) or a trip to Oakland.
***Cheat Narrows swimming holes.
*McHenry indoor community pool. They have a warm water pool that is awesome for kids and big windows so nice and light. Website is confusing but its open almost all the time. www.gccarc.com/
Deep Creek Lake State Park: Nice, but a little far. Good option if you are going to be around McHenry or Deep Creek.
**Ohiopyle: Meadow Run has a nice swimming area and there are lots of place people swim in right around town in the Yough. Also nice swimming hole below cucumber falls. These are nice if it's a little cloudy/drizzly because they are under trees and you don't notice.
Skiing
Wisp in McHenry is decent by Mid-Atlantic standards and close and has night skiing. Think it is a lot cheaper during the week. They also have snow-tubing and an alpine slide
Nemacolin Woodlands has a very small ski area that is significantly cheaper
Canaan Valley Resort or Timberline is where the skiers in Beaver Creek tend to go. It is a little farther, but it is apparently better and you can stop off at the Purple Fiddle or Sirianni's on the way back. http://canaanresort.com/winter/ski I think it is a little less expensive too
Whitegrass in Canaan Valley is apparently fantastic for x-country. The owner is really cool and they serve good food at their lodge.
Seven Springs in PA isn't too far
Snowshoe in WV isn't close but is apparently a legitimate destination spot.
Big Bear Lake
Shopping
Friendsville Dollar General (10 min). Note that they have some produce
Gas station at Hazelton exit (10 min)
Big Bear country store (7 min) is closest place for milk, etc. (and soft serve and fried seafood in summer) if you have hiking/biking pass.
Bruceton Mills (15 min.): Dollar store, large and apparently fairly well known antique store, closest hardware is the store next to to gas station right off the highway exit.
Oakland/Morgantown/Cumberland/Kingwood (30-40min.): Wal-Mart, Lowes, etc. Morgantown is the closest of the three to the cabin. Also there is a Lowes and Wal-Mart in Kingwood if you are down that way
Other
Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water (and Kentuck Knob) Probably the most famous attraction in the area. Right outside Ohiopyle (40 min.). Note that reservations are required.
Fishing: The Yough is a blue ribbon trout stream, and apparently a destination river. Closest access is trail from Friendsville or Sang Run bridge area
Frisbee Golf: Free 9 hole course in Cooper's Rock. There are discs in the garage.
Spruce Forest Artisan Village: My kids really enjoyed it it. Have lunch at Cornicopia cafe
You can rent a canoe/paddleboat in Bruceton Mills and paddle up the Sandy to a nice rope swing
Motorsports: Lots of lake/motorsport kind of stuff in McHenry and Cheat Lake I think High Country Sports is the place to call for all that
Antiques: There is a nice store right in Bruceton Mills and another just north on I-26. Another interesting place in Oakland. Probably more around.
Golf: High end courses in Wisp at Deep Creek and Nemacolin Woodlands. Couple other less fancy ones nearby
Mini-golf/bumper boats/arcades/etc. in Deep Creek area
Movies: Cineplex in Deep Creek or Morgantown
Some additional directions, maps, and info on the area and our development