7 Best West Virginia Towns For First-Time Visitors
For anyone visiting the Mountain State for the first time, be prepared for an array of available activities that range from historical to adventurous to scenic, and so much more. West Virginia officially became a state during the Civil War, so history buffs visiting will take pride in viewing the milestone landmarks from the war. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the vistas and landscapes in the country's most recently established National Park, New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. However you choose to explore this state for the first time, there is no shortage of activity in these seven best West Virginia towns for first-time visitors.
Charleston
In the town of Charleston, there is a forest that ironically was previously a logging and mining site. The Kanawha State Forest was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993 and today provides 9,300 acres of forest with more than 60 miles of trails for hiking and biking. The forest canopy provides a nesting habitat for 19 species of wood warblers, bringing in bird watchers from all over. For a historical visit, stop at the West Virginia Veterans Memorial. The memorial honors thousands of West Virginians who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of their countrymen. Four major wars are represented at the memorial: World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War. For another, more historical monument, but a more lighthearted one, visit Shoney's Big Boy Museum. Classified as a museum, the solitary structure commemorates the first location of a Shoney's restaurant and features a Big Boy mascot standing atop a pedestal. The base of the pedestal does not have an interior, but the windows are stacked with memorabilia and a plaque that details the restaurant and the founder's history.
Morgantown
In the college town of Morgantown, it may come as no surprise that a majority of its local attractions can be found on the school's campus. Start your journey in Morgantown at West Virginia University and take a tour of their public green space and botanical garden. The WVU Core Arboretum can be found on a 91-acre area of hillside and bottomland near the WVU Coliseum. Three miles of trails, over 150 species of trees and shrubs, old-growth temperate forest on hillside and floodplain sites, interpretive signs, and a small woodland amphitheater all combine to create the interactive garden. Another beautiful, natural attraction that includes flora and fauna is the West Virginia Botanic Garden. Eight gardens located at Tibbs Run Preserve include the Butterfly Garden, the Secret Garden, the Eclectic Garden, and more. Stop and smell the roses or take one of the seven trails, all less than one mile through the preserve. After some nature attractions, learn the history of the town at the Morgantown History Museum. With a mission to collect, record, and preserve artifacts and information related to Monongalia County and its history, the exhibits feature artifacts from prehistory to the present. Permanent and rotating exhibits that feature historical events, renowned individuals, and accomplishments are showcased through a vintage printing shop, local glassware, pottery, musicians, and more.
Harpers Ferry
Harper's Ferry offers a variety of sites ranging from historical to picturesque. To get both of those attractions, enjoy some time at the Harper's Ferry National Historical Park. Loaded with over 20 miles of hiking trails that vary in difficulty and sights, ranging from easy walks along the river to poignant strolls through Civil War battlefields, and to the most difficult of hikes to the mountain tops, there is a trail for every level. Another exciting endeavor in town is that it is the "psychological mid-point" of the 2,178-mile Appalachian Trail. Running through 14 states, join the segment that traverses through West Virginia, in the town of Harper's Ferry. Within Harper's Ferry, while on the Appalachian Trail, don't miss the opportunity to visit Jefferson Rock. This landmark is a significant spot to view the mountains, the Potomac River, as well as the Shenandoah River. The vista is the same that Thomas Jefferson witnessed in 1783 while passing through Harper's Ferry.
Beckley
Beckley is a town for visitors to partake in many scholastic and interactive visits at a variety of educational centers. Start your learning journey at Tamarack Marketplace. The marketplace stands by its mission to create an industry, jobs, market opportunities, training, and educational resources that are readily available for West Virginia's artists, artisans, craftsmen, and food producers. By preserving the state's rich cultural heritage and artisanal skills and traditions, the thriving marketplace provides art exhibits, culinary experiences, and entertaining events to the public. Make Tamarack Farms your one-stop shop for a local experience. For an additional learning museum, visit the Exhibition Coal Mine. Take a unique underground tour of the mine and a recreated coal camp. Guests board a "man trip" and ride it for the duration of the tour. Above ground, more tours await. Visit the period coal camp buildings located throughout the grounds, as well as the restored Coal Company House, Superintendent's Home, Pemberton Coal Camp Church, and the Helen Coal Camp School. As an additional knowledge-related exhibit, tour the Wildwood House Museum. The historical home of the town's founder, General Alfred Beckley, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, with the original structure, the double log cabin, being constructed in 1836. Adorned with the Beckley family's period antiques, the home is open to public tours.
Parkersburg
The Blennerhassett family was extremely prominent in the town of Parkersburg. The wealthy Irish aristocrats built a sprawling mansion on Blennerhassett Island in the Ohio River. That mansion eventually became a local social hub before it was infamously used as the headquarters for the Aaron Burr conspiracy. Today, their namesake can still be found all over town. Visit the lush mansion at Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park. The mansion and now museum was abandoned by the Blennerhassett family when the Aaron Burr conspiracy came to light, but the house and grounds remain for tours, as well as horse-drawn carriage rides. Visitors can get to the island by a sternwheeler riverboat. For more of the family history, book a stay at The Blennerhassett Hotel & Spa. The hotel holds a poignant place in the town's history as it represents the wealth of the oil and gas boom of the 1880s. Designed to uphold superiority over other construction in West Virginia, the hotel provides suites, fine dining, spa treatments, and venues to its guests. For a final stop dedicated to the prominent family and their heritage in Parkersburg, visit the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History. The three-story museum focuses on the family history as well as the Mid-Ohio Valley region. Artifacts, arrowheads, tools, and clothing are all on display at the establishment.
Point Pleasant
Enjoy a truly unique and one-of-a-kind attraction in Point Pleasant. This small town features the only Mothman Museum in the U.S. Memorabilia and props from the movie The Mothman Prophecies can be found in the town, where residents have claimed Mothman sightings and encounters took place. Within the museum, documents containing eyewitness accounts, historical press clippings, and photos are all available for visitors to read the firsthand accounts of these interactions. Another homage to this mythical creature that stalked Point Pleasant is the Mothman Statue. The 12-foot-tall steel statue of the enigmatic creature represents the town legend, which has been claimed to be seen on multiple occasions. The legacy is so prolific that the statue was constructed to ensure the legend will continue and sightings will be claimed for years to come. For a more factually based monument, visit the Tu-Endie-Wei State Park. Residing in the park is an 84-foot granite tribute to the frontiersmen who fought, and ultimately died in the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant. The park also features the Mansion House, built in 1796. The house doubles as a museum featuring original artifacts from the battle.
Fairmont
Explore more commercial, military, and local history in the town of Fairmont. Start at Prickett's Fort State Park and enjoy the reconstruction of the fort that served as a refuge during colonial times. The park celebrates 18th-century life on the frontier. Additionally, the park offers tours, heritage workshops, and facility experiences. For more local history, war enthusiasts will want to stop at the Marion County Vietnam Memorial. Created by Alfred Knoll, who served in the Vietnam War, he wanted a place where soldiers of Marion County, who had lost their lives, could be recognized. This six-ton monument is carved with the names of the 27 men who died in war. Murals surround the monument and portray the various branches of the military, as well as a Huey Helicopter that was flown in Vietnam, and the Purple Heart Memorial. Include another distinctive learning experience to the itinerary and learn all about the history of the telephone at the Telephone Museum. Tours of the museum are led by individuals who previously worked in the industry. The exhibits include various switchboards, pay phones, booths, test boards, and other telephone equipment.
West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads. Take the country roads to and through West Virginia for a trip that won't soon be forgotten. Attractions range from historical to unique to geographical, and each one holds its own beauty and story. With sites ranging from infamous battlefields, natural landmarks, and the truly bizarre, it's sometimes the smaller towns that offer the truly unique locations, so don't miss out on any experiences with a visit to these seven best West Virginia towns for first-time visitors.
