“Hip, Historic, Almost Heaven.” This is what Charleston, WV, wants tourists and visitors to think when they come to the city. Located at the meeting point of the Elk and Kanawha rivers, Charleston is a city offering unique experiences and a range of adventures. This state capital is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Here you will find plenty of sights and attractions that make it worthwhile exploring. After all, where else can you explore forests, learn history, and then get barbeque from a former NFL player? Intrigued? Here are the best things to do in Charleston, West Virginia.
Tour the West Virginia Capitol Building
This magnificently domed renaissance and classically-styled building is one of Charleston’s landmarks and most easily recognizable structures. Rebuilt after a fire, the Capitol was officially completed in 1932, and features an interior so impressive that the design was reused for the US Supreme Court chamber. You can’t miss it, thanks to the massive 292-foot gold-covered dome on the top, and you shouldn’t miss a tour inside.
Tours are free and operate throughout the day, guiding groups through an interior every bit as lavish as the exterior. Fans of architecture and design will marvel at the marble and the massive chandelier, which weighs nearly 2 tons. The grounds are worth exploring too, featuring statues, information plaques, manicured gardens, fountains, and memorials. And the Capitol keeps on impressing, as it is lit up and night and visible for miles. Even if politics isn’t your thing, it’s a beautiful and iconic structure to admire.
Downtown Charleston Art Walk
If you’re in Charleston on the first Friday of March, May, October, or December, then be sure to take in a free art tour. The Downtown Charleston Art Walk is organized by over 40 local art galleries and stores, and invites visitors to stroll along streets and through participating shops to soak in some of Charleston’s local artistic talent.
Taking place mostly in the historic French Quarter, maps for the Art Walk can be picked up from any gallery along the tour. Then, take your time and stroll along, enjoying paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and textiles, and maybe also a free drink or snack along the way. These tours also let you meet the artists, so it’s a great way to really connect with a growing art scene. Operating from 5pm to 8pm, the Downtown Charleston Art Walk is a great night on the town, and lives up to the “hip” part of the city motto.
Browse the Capitol Market
Open year-round, the Capitol Market is an attraction beloved by visitors and residents of Charleston, WV. Located inside a repurposed train station, the Capitol Market offers farm-to-table goodness, arts and crafts, unique products, and all kinds of local goods you can’t get anywhere else.
With a wide range of indoor and outdoor vendors, there is plenty to see and sample. Besides the numerous vendors and stalls, the Capitol Market also offers several restaurants and cafes just waiting to be tried. And with seasonal produce available daily, it’s always a good time to visit. If you’re still not convinced, the market even hosts events, like mixers or chilli-cooking contests.
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West Virginia State Museum
With a recorded history dating back to the 1700s, the West Virginia State Museum is the best place to learn about the state’s past, and lives up to the goal of “Historic”. Open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, and with free admission, there’s no reason not to visit. With so much to learn, this is one of the best things to do in Charleston, WV, for families.
The museum houses a permanent display of a wide range of artifacts. Spanning all areas of West Virginian life and history, visitors can see fossils, minerals, firearms and armor from multiple conflicts, art, hats, and recreated historical buildings, to name a few. The museum even houses pioneer’s cabins, and special collections giving you an in-depth look at the history of coal mining in the area. Be sure to check out the Coal Forest for all you could want to know about this industry.
Heritage Towers Museum & Cultural Center
African people played a large role in the growth and development of Charleston, and the Heritage Towers Museum & Cultural Center honors that role. The Museum positions itself as the “Premier black culture and African heritage facility in the state of West Virginia”. And with its transformative tours and insightful exhibitions, it’s easy to see why.
Heritage Towers Museum & Cultural Center was built around the exhibit of a sunken slave trade ship, and was established in 2002. It tells the story of West African people in West Virginia, and the world at large, detailing how they were enslaved and brought to America. It shows how black slave labor was integral to coal mining, and gives insight into the Civil Rights Movement. Besides all this, the Museum also showcases West Africa art and culture, through paintings, traditional costume, and dances.
JQ Dickenson Salt Works
While the idea of a salt mine usually conjures images of back breaking labor, a visit to J.Q. Dickenson Salt Works is anything but. Instead, a trip to this unique location will give you insight into one of the industries that put Charleston on the map. This family business is run by 7th generation salt-makers, and is worth a visit. And given its beautiful location, it’s one of the best things for couples to do.
J.Q. Dickenson Salt Works obtain their namesake by extracting it from briny underground water. This fascinating and eco-friendly process can be viewed, as the owners operate tours through their facilities. Artisanal salt is not something you come across every day, but here you get to see it made, and even buy some of the unique products made from it.
The Clay Center
The Clay Center is a unique destination in Charleston that is perfect for families, or art and music lovers. The Center acts as an all-in-one location showcasing performance, learning, interactive discovery, and a lot more. There’s something for all ages.
For children and curious adults, the Avampato Discovery Museum sprawls over 3 floors and offers all kinds of interactive scientific displays. Kids can learn about water dynamics, the science of sound, the basics of color theory, and more at limited-time exhibitions. For art lovers, the Juliet Art Museum exhibits travelling collections from around the world. The Clay Center is also home to the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and their performances, as well as productions spanning all kinds of music genres, can be caught here. And last but not least, all ages will be amazed by the Caperton Planetarium, a 61-foot dome showing films that will take you into the stars.
Kanawha State Forest
Located just 7 miles from Charleston, WV, the Kanawha State Forest is as beautiful as it is accessible. This sprawling forest offers over 25 miles of hiking and cycling trails, and invites visitors to soak in the nature of West Virginia. This part is definitely “Almost Heaven”.
While perfect for a day trip and a short hike, the park also has camping and fishing for a longer stay. In winter, several of the trails can be cross-country skied across. The Forest is truly for everyone, even offering a hiking trail with Braille-descriptive signs for visually impaired guests, and level ground for those with mobility struggles. Ideal for families, couples, friends, or solo travellers, the Kanawha State Forest is a perfect escape into nature.
Charleston Light Opera Guild
In operation since 1949, the Charleston Light Opera Guild is a not-for-profit community-run theater group, and a highlight of visiting Charleston. The group has survived a tumultuous past, but has emerged as a premium and classy attraction. If you’re looking to catch stage productions that could rival bigger cities, then here’s where to do it.
The Guild performs year-round in three locations. Its headquarters in a former church present smaller productions, while larger and more grandiose plays and musicals are presented in the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater, and The Clay Center’s Maier Performance Hall. Performances include well-loved classics, adaptations of films, and entirely original pieces, performed to award-winning standards. Art and theater lovers will certainly consider this one the best things to do in Charleston, and it’s a perfect opportunity to introduce a newcomer to the art.
Dem 2 Brothers and a Grill
No matter what kind of adventure you’re planning, you’re going to get hungry. And some of the best food in Charleston, WV, is served at Dem 2 Brothers and a Grill. Where else can you get served delicious barbeque and sides by a former NFL player? Aaron Wright, former running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is the chef of this black-owned family business.
If you can beat the queue, the menu gives you plenty of barbeque classics to choose from. Ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, smoked meats, and a world of sides are ready to be tried. And if the food isn’t wholesome enough, Aaron’s charity work is. The chef frequently pitches in to help feed people affected by natural disasters, and he even runs a program to supply school equipment to underprivileged children. It’s a highlight of Charleston’s foody scene, and is not to be missed.
Those are our picks, but what about yours? What do you think are the best things to do in Charleston, WV? And if you’re planning a trip, what are you most excited for?