There's plenty to do in West Virginia's cities, but sometimes you want a more laid back place to visit. Here are some West Virginia towns that are worth a trip when you want to get away from it all.
Civil War enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to this small town, with several historic buildings and the Beverly Heritage Center in town, and the Rich Mountain Battlefield nearby.
Mannington is well known for its annual district fair each summer. It's also a pleasant stop year round to shop at the small businesses and see the historic buildings, like the Hamilton Round Barn.
This little river town in Greenbrier and Monroe counties came to fame when Martha Steward was incarcerated in its Federal Reformatory for Women. The town planted a flower garden in her honor. The Alderson Historic District has 196 historic buildings.
This county seat of Tucker County came back to life after nearly being destroyed by the 1985 flood. It has several beautiful historic buildings, and it's a favorite stop for people seeking outdoor adventure on the nearby Cheat River.
The center of the National Quiet zone and home of the Green Bank Telescope. A visit here will force you to unplug from some of your technology, and give you a chance to connect with the stars.
Marlinton has many historic buildings like the Marlinton Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Station, Marlinton Opera House, Pocahontas County Courthouse and Jail, and Pocahontas Times Print Shop. Located near Marlinton is Droop Mountain Battlefield.
There a surprising little Swiss village in the mountains of Randolph County, Here you can taste traditional Swiss foods, see locally made crafts, and attend the town's many festivals.
advertisement
For more small towns in West Virginia, check out this small town road trip.
It's our small towns that make West Virginia such a unique place. Charlestown and Huntington certainly have their charms, but the Mountain State's small towns are where you'll find that strong sense of community and rich history that makes our state so special. If you feel the same way, we think you'll love the amazing small-town road trip featured today. It's a lengthy one, and you'll want at least three or four days to explore all the stops, but these little towns are so amazing, and each is worthy of a visit.
Of course, you can always opt for a shorter trip if you don't have the time or budget to explore all five towns. You can get the itinerary from Google Maps, and it's fully customizable, so feel free to add or remove stops as you please. The entire trip requires 525 miles of driving and takes you through much of the Mountain State: it's quite the adventure!
Aerial drone shot of the ancient historic native American burial mound in Moundsville, WV
We'll start our trip in the town of Moundsville, population 7,800. It's easy to see where the town's name came from. One of the main attractions here is the Grave Creek Mound Historical Site, one of many Native American mounds in West Virginia. Fans of the spooky and scary won't want to miss a visit to the West Virginia Penitentiary, thought to be one of the state's most haunted locales. It's no longer used to house prisoners, but paranormal tours are offered throughout the year.
We'll head southeast, and our next stop will be Capon Bridge, which is home to under 500 residents. Like many small towns, Capon Bridge is home to some incredibly delicious restaurants. The Farmer's Daughter Market & Butcher is a meat market that sources locally procured beef to make some of the best hamburgers you've ever tried. Another of our favorite spots is El Puente Mexican Restaurant. This is definitely a great place to stop for a bite to eat, but you'll find plenty more to enjoy here. The charming little town has a thriving art community and is home to the Cacapon River, allowing for fun outdoor recreation.
Love history? You'll adore our next stop: Harpers Ferry. It lies at the crossroads of several major transportation routes and plays an important role in the area's economic development as a trade hub. John Brown's famous 1859 raid took place here - this attempted slave rebellion was one of the matches that was to start the Civil War. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park features several 19th-century buildings, including John Brown's fort. This is also one of the state's best areas for outdoor recreation, and there are some wonderful hiking trails in Harpers Ferry. Honestly, you'll probably want to spend at least two days here because there's so much to do in this town of 270.
This historic covered bridge (c. 1884) provided access to the S.S. Herns mill and is one of only two covered bridges remaining in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The bridge is 54 feet long and spans Milligans Creek about four miles from downtown Lewisburg.
The next leg of the journey is quite lengthy, but it's through a scenic area of the state, and you'll end in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest. Lewisburg is the county seat of Greenbrier County and has a population of around 3,800. Despite its low population, this is quite the happening place! Concerts and festivals occur regularly, and you'll also find natural wonders to visit, like the Lost World Caverns. Lewisburg's Herns Mill Covered Bridge, pictured above, is one of just two remaining covered bridges in Greenbrier County.
For our final stop, we'll head to the outdoor wonderland of Fayetteville, West Virginia. It lies just beside the stunning New River Gorge National Park. This 70,000-acre park is one of the most beautiful areas of the state, and Fayetteville is the perfect entrance point. It's really no wonder that it's been recognized as one of the top small towns in America. With Appalachian charm, delicious restaurants, and adorable boutique shops, there's a lot to enjoy here, and it's a great final destination for this small-town road trip.
advertisement
Which of these small towns in West Virginia have you been to? Do you think anything should be on the list? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Before hitting the road for your travels, make sure to check out the great gear available through the Only In Your State Amazon storefront. We've got all kinds of wonderful road trip equipment featured!
There are some great Christmas towns in West Virginia, many of which feature iconic scenes straight out of something warm and homey like a Norman Rockwell painting. One of the best - for the last weekend in November and the first weekend of December at least - is the town of Beckley. That's because the ever-popular Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, which is typically closed for the winter season, reopens. Not only does it reopen, but it also reopens, transformed by the magic of Christmas - an Appalachian Coal-Town Christmas, to be precise. It's the classic, quintessential West Virginia Christmas town.
Over 20 years. That's how long the Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum in Beckley, West Virginia, has hosted the Appalachian Coal Town Christmas—two decades and counting. What an honor! This magical festival is even the star of its very own HGTV Christmas special. I'm not shocked, really; I mean, it fits. It's perfect for it. Christmas in West Virginia is an astonishingly magical time, with all sorts of things to do, see, and experience - many of which take pride in the sense of community present here.
In fact, this coal town experience is so amazing and so real and so all-American that if Norman Rockwell were here for it, we're absolutely certain he would immediately pull out his paintbrushes and get to work on a painting or two. He loved hard-working, down-to-earth families, didn't he? And holiday scenes, of course. We've got plenty of each!
Caroling in the church, a coal miner whistling a Christmas tune, a young man buying homemade fudge from the gift shop for his sweetheart, ice skaters on the skating rink... these are exactly the types of scenes you can expect to see at Appalachian Coal Town Christmas, and they are exactly the type of scenes that make this unique West Virginia Christmas town something straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
Appalachian Coal Town Christmas features underground mine tours, above-ground activities (like carriage rides and ice skating), and festive decorations everywhere you look. It typically occurs the last weekend of November and the first weekend of December, and there is a small fee for admission that's well worth the price to see the Beckley Exhibition Coal town transformed into a holiday wonderland! Of all the delightful West Virginia Christmas towns you ought to visit, this one should be toward the top of the list!
Plus, in addition to the two-weekend Appalachian Coal Town Christmas festival, the town of Beckley sponsors several other fun Christmas events for the season: a Christmas parade, beautifully decorated city parks, festive menus, and shopping opportunities galore.
For more information on every year's Appalachian Coal Town Christmas, check out the Visit Southern West Virginia website. Have you gotten to go to this classic celebration? Are you planning to go this year? We would love to hear all about your experiences in the comments. And while you're getting in the holiday spirit, take a look at the OnlyInYourState Holiday Gift Guides to find the perfect presents for your loved ones! It will be a very merry West Virginia Christmas this year... I just know it!
