Morgantown

Throughout Morgantown, you’ll find upscale dining rooms along with neighborhood bistros, family-owned eateries, spirited pubs and tastes from around the world. The Blue Moose Café is a casual café where you can find fresh roasted coffee and tasty eats. Iron Horse Tavern is a local favorite. Their menu offers smoked BBQ chicken, burgers topped with poblano peppers and hickory smoked bacon and pulled pork nachos. You’ll also find craft beers to quench your thirst. Since 2007, Sargasso has been serving cutting-edge cuisine with authentic hospitality. They pride themselves on being able to offer dishes from afar that you’re not able to find anywhere else. For your wine fix, stop by Forks of Cheat Winery, a family owned winery offering tours and tastings. 

Often referred to as West Virginia’s most beautiful playhouse, the Metropolitan Theatre is a center for drama productions, dance recitals and other activities. The WVU Coliseum is a 14,000-seat arena that is the home of the WVU’s basketball team and features a statue of iconic basketball player Jerry West. Catch a ballgame at the Monongalia County Ballpark. The West Virginia Black Bears are an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. For some original live music, head to 123 Pleasant St. Morgantown’s premier rock venue hosts a diverse selection of bands, from local to national acts.

Up for a shopping spree? Morgantown has it all. Visit the Morgantown Mall and find a variety of the core brand name stores. To shake things up on your shopping list, try stopping by the Seneca Center. This shopping center is packed with specialty shops that offer everything from luxurious bath and body products to high quality quilting fabrics. For the ladies, Latch Boutique sells an array of designer fashion pieces and outfits for all occasions. Hoot and Howl is a great stop to shop for plants, unique pop-up greeting cards, art planters and so much more. Let out your inner outdoor enthusiasm at Pathfinder with a large selection of bikes, ski and hiking equipment and apparel.

For outdoor enthusiasts, there’s no shortage of adventure! Coopers Rock State Forest provides beautiful hiking trails and overlooks. Dorsey’s Knob, one of the highest points in Monongalia County, offers panoramic views. Take a bike ride along the Caperton and Deckers Creek rail trails or a hike along the Core Arboretum, which is home to hundreds of native trees and plants. You can even fly through the trees on WVU’s Outdoor Education Center’s zipline canopy tour.

Morgantown was first settled in 1772 by Zackquill Morgan and the Virginia Assembly chartered the territory in 1785. West Virginia University was founded as a public, land-grant institution in 1867, just four years after West Virginia became a state. Woodburn Hall is the centerpiece of the university and one of the oldest buildings on campus. 

Finding a place to rest up in Morgantown is easy thanks to the majestic Hotel Morgan, which was included on National Geographic’s list of the best places to stay in West Virginia. The epicenter of Morgantown’s history, this historic hotel bears a new era of sophistication as the building was renovated in 2020. Enjoy the complimentary European-style coffee from Anvil + Ax, free Wi-Fi and Wyndham Rewards Loyalty Program. In the Wharf District, Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place features 205 guest rooms and suites — some with scenic views of the Monongahela River — and 50,000 square feet of meeting space. 

Travel is made easy with the Morgantown Municipal Airport, which offers direct, daily flights to both Pittsburgh International and Baltimore-Washington International.