The “Mountain State” as it is called, West Virginia is famous for its skiing, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, caving, fishing, hiking, mountain biking and hunting. The capital of West Virginia is Charleston. New River Gorge National River and Beech Fork State Park offers a lot of outdoor activities and adventure for the entire family.
West Virginia has a humid subtropical climate. At higher elevations, the summers are not as hot and winters are colder. West Virginia is a state that may be visited any time of the year. The Washington Dulles International Airport is the main airport through which most international travelers reach West Virginia. There are also other airports such as Pittsburgh International or Reagan International which may be used to reach West Virginia.
Charleston is believed to be a city at the crossroads between the north and south as well as east and Midwest of USA. Area festivals include the Multifest and Capital City Arts and Crafts Show, the Rhododendron Arts& Crafts show, and the Vandalia Festival. The annual Sternwheel Regatta along the beautiful Kanawha River is a must-see.
The Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences (1 Clay Square – WV 25301) is a museum that presents a plethora of arts and sciences to educate and entertain the visitors. This center opened in 2003 and has many attractions including the Avampato Discovery Museum which has two levels of interactive science presentations. ElectricSky is a planetarium that regularly offers shows to educate the public on the stars and other galactic objects in the sky above us. This Center also includes a small black-box theater and a museum shop where we can get mementos to take back home.
Craik-Patton House (2809 Kanawha Blvd – WV 25311) was bought by the grandfather of George S Patton, one of the famous American Generals during World War II. This house was called “Elm Grove” and it was built near the beautiful surroundings of the Kanawha River.
Haddad Riverfront Park (700 Kanawha Blvd – WV 25301) is a riverfront auditorium which hosts special concerts and other events for the public and rarely for private occasions. The theater can accommodate up to 2500 people and enables the audience to see the river and downtown Charleston at the same time. People who are enjoying boat rides can also dock at this riverfront park and enjoy the festivities.
Athletic Club Grill (300 Court Street, Embassy Suites Hotel – WV 25301) is a popular destination for the late night crowd. Here, the menu is as good as the fun offered by the crowds, the large screens and the exciting drinks. Visitors can choose from traditional American menu or enjoy fresh off-the-boat grilled grouper and other seafood varieties.
Charleston Town Center Mall (3000 Charleston Town Center – WV 25389) is located at the downtown Marriott hotel. This shopping center is also adjacent to the Civic Center and includes over a hundred specialty stores. The usual array includes Macy’s Ann Taylor, Christopher & Banks, Pendleton, Victoria’s Secret, etc. There are several restaurants on the third floor which is dedicated to the food court.
