9 Most Neighborly Towns In West Virginia
America’s 35th State, West Virginia, is a beautiful, singly landlocked state situated in the American South’s Appalachian region. With an average elevation of around 1,500 ft above sea level and featuring bumpy alpine summits, rolling hillocks, verdantly wooded gorges, and unsullied bodies of water, West Virginia justifies in all respects its moniker, “The Mountain State.” Lodged in mountain passes along sinuous streams and country byways are innumerable neighborly towns that, for the most part, remain under the radar in comparison to the state’s metropolitan centers like Parkersburg, Huntington, and the capital city Charleston, all of which receive substantial tourist attention. Below are nine such towns that offer oodles of coziness, warmth, and friendliness that make them feel no less than home.
New Martinsville
New Martinsville, the administrative capital of Wetzel County named after the colonist Presley Martin, sits by the Ohio River, around 71 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Hundreds of beguiling Victorian-age buildings in New Martinsville’s downtown commercial district house clothing stores like Bealls, craft stores like Christy’s Antiques Crafts, and buffet restaurants like Quinet’s Restaurant. The Wetzel County Museum and Wetzel County Courthouse are must-visits for history buffs, while the New Martinsville Walking Trail and city parks like Lewis Wetzel Park are perfect stops for outdoor lovers. Take some time off from your crazy routines to attend various yearly events such as the Back Home Festival in June, New Martinsville Area Regattafest in September, and the New Martinsville Christmas Parade on the first Saturday in December.
Hinton
The seat of government of southeastern West Virginia’s Summers County, this quintessential railroad town is situated directly north of the New River’s merging with Greenbrier River, nearly 90 miles from Charleston. Aside from checking out the plentiful local retail stores like Jack’s Bargain Barn and restaurants like Lucky Rivers Café & Catering LLC, do take note of the well-preserved Summers County Courthouse, Campbell-Flannagan-Murrell House, and C&O Railway Passenger Station. History mavens must not miss the Veterans Memorial Museum and Hinton Railroad Museum, whereas the Pipestem Resort and Bluestone State Parks offer copious fun activities for thrill seekers. Annually, show up at the Railroad Days Festival, John Henry Days, and West Virginia State Water Festival hosted by the town.
Harpers Ferry
Nestled in the lower Shenandoah Valley at the meeting of Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia is Harpers Ferry - an old Jefferson County settlement. The bottom-level flood-susceptible sectors of this 269-resident town form a portion of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park whilst the raised upper sections are a part of the Harpers Ferry Historic District. Contained within the historic district are central town portions left out of the National Historical Park as well as the many Federal government constructed 19th century properties for the workforce of Harpers Ferry Armory. With time, Harpers Ferry has incrementally grown from an antebellum manufacturing and transportation locus to a tranquil suburban community and an outstanding getaway paradise. Supplementarily, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, John Brown’s Fort, Lower Town Loop Trail, and Murphy-Chambers Farm Loop Trail are must-sees while on a visit to this town.
Buckhannon
Likely christened after Buckongahelas - the illustrious Lenape chief, this 5,299-resident Upshur County seat sits next to the Buckhannon River at the Allegheny Mountains’ base approx. 88 miles northeast of Charleston. Auxiliarily housing the central campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon has dozens of red-brick buildings, unique gift shops like Artistry on Main, boutiques like Caroline & Co. Boutique, and Italian restaurants like Mama Roma on its Main Street - widely recognized as the finest Main Street shopping district of West Virginia. A tour of the Audra State Park & Campground, Upshur County Historical Society & Museum, and West Virginia State Wildlife Center are not to be missed, along with being there at the West Virginia Strawberry Festival celebrated each year in the third week of May.
Lewisburg
Greenbrier County’s government headquarters, Lewisburg, is located to the west of White Sulphur Springs, exactly 1 mile north of the Greenbrier River. Wander through the aesthetic Main Street of this town named for Andrew Lewis - an Ireland-born American surveyor, teeming with women’s clothing stores like Wolf Creek, art galleries like Young at Art, and spacious restaurants like Food & Friends serving ingenious dishes like crab dip and bourbon salmon salad. Browse the exhibits at Greenbrier Historical Society & North House Museum apart from watching literary events, live music shows, and theatrical presentations at both Carnegie Hall, Inc., and Greenbrier Valley Theatre. Also, joyous events like the Old Christmas with Shanghai Parade on New Year’s Day, the state’s biggest Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, the Chocolate Festival, and the Lewisburg Literary Festival are held here.
White Sulphur Springs
Home to 2,231 inhabitants as per the latest US Census, White Sulphur Springs is an impressive resort destination in Greenbrier County set in the Allegheny Mountains of southeastern West Virginia, around 10 miles east of Lewisburg. Vacationers who are on a visit to this ‘Spa City’ should survey Main Street’s eclectic shops like The Village Wine Shop and family-friendly restaurants like Cook’s Country Kitchen. The deluxe Greenbrier Resort and adjoining forests and recreation areas like Greenbrier State Forest, George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, and Lake Sherwood Recreation Area are some of White Sulphur Springs’ noteworthy sites.
Berkeley Springs
A classical Morgan County spa town, Berkeley Springs is located in the Appalachian Mountains of the state’s Eastern Panhandle, grossly 36 miles west of Hagerstown, Maryland. This appealing town, forming a portion of the Hagerstown-Martinsburg Metropolitan Area, invites vacationists to de-stress in its therapeutic spa waters. Additively, stop by artistic venues like Ice House Art Center, eating establishments like the County Inn Restaurant & Morgan Tavern, craft breweries like Berkeley Springs Brewing Co., shops like the Berkeley Springs Antique Mall, and the elegant Roman Bathhouse and historic mineral spa of the Berkeley Springs State Park.
Elkins
This Randolph County seat, called after U.S. Senator Stephen Benton Elkins, is situated in eastern West Virginia at the conflux of Tygart Valley River and Leading Creek, approx. 35 miles southeast of Clarksburg. As the principal administrative headquarters of the entire 910,155-acre Monongahela National Forest, Elkins is a Shangri-la for nature enthusiasts. With over 3 million holidaymakers visiting yearly, the Monongahela National Forest is admired for its hilly landscape, dramatic views, blueberry bushel, and a vast array of floral and faunal species. The Mountain State Forest Festival - one of West Virginia’s oldest and largest festivals, is celebrated at Elkins in the autumn season every year with lumberjack competitions, headline concerts, parades, arts & crafts shows, and savory local fare.
Shepherdstown
Primarily labeled Mecklenburg and later relabeled Shepherdstown after Thomas Shepherd, this enchanting town is set in the state’s Eastern Panhandle in the upper Shenandoah Valley alongside the Potomac River. Embracing this college town’s historic heart, the Shepherdstown Historic District features numerous carefully maintained properties built using Greek Revival or Federal architectural styles such as the Baker House, McMurran Hall, Entler Hotel/Rumsey Hall, etc. At present times, many of these historic structures on German Street house gift shops like Creative Procrastinations & Whimsical Necessities, women’s clothing stores like The Good Shop, and top-class restaurants like MJ’s on German DeliCafe. Participate in haunted quests with Shepherdstown Mysteries Walk and witness cutting-edge plays at the Contemporary American Theater Festival hosted by Shepherd University every summer.
From White Sulphur Springs - the “Spa City” to the aesthetic Elkins, the closely linked communities in the 12th least populous and 10th smallest state of the country are waiting to welcome excursionists from all over the globe. Regardless of the season you are sojourning to the Mountain State for your self-discovery retreats, these palsy-walsy towns are preferred environs for finding solace in nature likewise captivating out-of-towners with their inherent cuteness, native histories, mountain ethos, and inexhaustible Appalachian recreational opportunities.
