West Virginia Cities by Day & Night

The Mountain State is home to a mix of vibrant, eclectic, unique and historic cities that are perfect for wandering and exploring. By mid-day, you can be shopping to your heart’s content at a beautiful market, and by evening, you could be having the best meal of your life. These cities love welcoming new and old visitors and introducing them to new and exciting experiences:

Charleston

The state’s capital city, Charleston, is the perfect mix of hip and historic. During the day visit the Capitol Market, a turn-of-the century train station turned into a beautiful indoor-outdoor market. Here, you can shop for seasonal goods, West Virginia-made gifts, grab a cup of coffee or sit down for a delicious meal at Soho’s Italian Restaurant. Afterwards, spend some time exploring downtown Charleston, which is full of amazing shops and restaurants like Pies and Pints, The Block Restaurant and Wine Cellar, Black Sheep Burrito and Brews, Buck and Bette, Ivor’s Trunk, Base Camp Printing Company, Kin Ship Goods and more. For an outdoor experience, head to Kanawha State Forest, which is known for its extensive network of hiking and biking trails and its diverse wildflower, tree and bird populations.

At night, hit the town we recommend starting the night with dinner at Ichiban for incredible pan-Asian cuisine. Afterwards, visit some downtown bars like Bar 101, Copper Pint and Sam’s Uptown Café for a night cap. But don’t stop there! Head to Mardi Gras Casino and Resort for a night of slots, poker, entertainment and more at this fun resort with New Orleans flair.

Huntington

The city of Huntington sits on the scenic and historic Ohio River. In Huntington, you’ll find everything from historical sites and fine dining to entertainment and shopping. Start your day the right way at Butter It Up, a farm-to-table restaurant and café. On the menu, they have huevos rancheros, avocado toast, omelets, french toast and more. From there, head just down the street to Pullman Square where you’ll find fun boutiques, dining and entertainment. Afterwards, visit the Huntington Museum of Art, which houses a permanent art collection of more than 16,000 objects, 10 exhibition spaces, interactive education gallery, tropical and subtropical plant conservatory, coral reef aquarium and two miles of hiking trails as well.

In the evening, pick from an array of incredible downtown restaurants like Huntington Ale House, 21 at The Frederick, Banhof WVrsthaus and Biergarten, Savannah’s Restaurant and Backyard Pizza and Raw Bar. After dinner, liven things up at the V-Club a live music venue, located in the heart of downtown Huntington. Or head to The Peddler for craft beers and old school arcade games.

Morgantown

Home to West Virginia University and a diverse multicultural heritage, Morgantown has many reasons why it has been named the best small city in the country time and time again. Begin your day with a little exploration of Morgantown by walking or biking the Caperton Trail. This trail is an urban trail, which passes by neighboring restaurants and shops. Along the trail, you’ll find Mountain State Brewing Company, which specializes in wood-fired flatbreads, house beers and relaxed vibes along the Monongahela River.  Next, head to Coopers Rock State Forest for a truly iconic West Virginia picture that you’ll cherish forever. Coopers Rock State Forest has incredible overlooks of the canyon section of the Cheat River that offer breathtaking views. The forest also has hiking and biking trails, fishing and a number of historical sites.

Morgantown has many evening hot spots, like High Street where you can find live music venues, clubs and a number of unique bars to enjoy a drink with your friends. For craft beers and specialty cocktails, stop by Apothecary Ale House and Café, The Bank, Iron Horse Tavern and Tin 202. Enjoy live music at 123 Pleasant Street, which features original live music from a diverse variety of national, regional and local bands. For a different kind of nightlife experience, stop by Tee To Green, an indoor golf sports bar featuring golf simulators available with over 40 courses and driving range options. Here you can have fun with friends but also work on your golf game – a win-win situation for all!

Parkersburg

Parkersburg is a city with an abundance of charm and a rich heritage. With the Ohio River as its backdrop, Parkersburg is not only a beautiful city but full of fun experiences and adventures. Wake up with some coffee and breakfast at The Coffee Bar. Their breakfast is delicious and features items like smoked salmon and cream cheese, breakfast quesadillas, pancake stack and french toast. From there, explore Parkersburg and immerse yourself in the city’s history. Parkersburg has a number of historical sites, including Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, Julia-Ann Square Historic District, Fort Boreman and more. After your exploration, stop by Chams Lebanese Restaurant for pita wraps, shish kabob, hummus, vegetarian stew and more. For fun a treat, pick up something sweet from JR’s Donut Castle, which was started in 1969 and continues to serve up amazing donuts, breads, pepperoni rolls, muffins, cakes and pastries.

Enjoy an incredible dinner at Spats at The Blennerhassett. The dinner menu features seared diver scallops, cherry cola-braised duck legs, pork milanese, spaghetti bolognese and more. After dinner, take advantage of Parkersburg’s incredible breweries. At North End Tavern and Brewery, enjoy delicious pub fare and hand-crafted beer from their onsite craft brewery. Parkersburg Brewing Company has incredible food and beer menus as well. Some of their beers include Cell Block 304, an American Brown Ale; Citrus Tsumani, a grapefruit IPA; and From Ash and Ember, a Cascadian Dark Ale.

Wheeling

Wheeling is a city with a little bit of everything. History, amazing food scene, family activities, shopping, outdoor adventures: Wheeling truly has it all. With all this to do in one city its important to fuel up on some tasty food so you have all the energy you can. We recommend starting your day at Sarah’s On Main. If you like croissants, quiche lorraine, quiche florentine and salty bread sandwiches, you’ll love this place. After your delicious breakfast, head to the gorgeous Oglebay Resort. At Oglebay, you can visit the Good Zoo, take a historic C.P. Huntington train ride, hike, golf, visit the spa and much more. If you desire a little shopping trip, visit charming and historic Centre Market, which is home to locally owned shops, boutiques and eateries. In fact, Centre Market is home to Coleman’s Fish Market, which serves the famous Coleman’s fish sandwich.

After your daytime adventures, explore Wheeling and its amazing restaurants like Vagabond Kitchen, Later Alligator, Tachoholix, DiCarlos Pizza and Wheeling Brewing Company. For some nighttime entertainment, head to Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino and Racetrack for a night of table games or visit the stunning Capitol Theatre for an incredible show at this historic location.

This post was last updated on March 1, 2022