Charleston West Virginia

This place has been something of a surprise in many ways. I say that because it simultaneously had more and less to offer than I expected. Whatever I was expecting, the place is beautiful, especially in the fall when I visited.

Let's get to the part it didn't have. As I mentioned, this is the capital of the state. Coming from China I may have this all wrong, but typically the capital of a state or province is the most influential, and the best dressed as far as shopping and restaurants are concerned. Charleston as it turns out is quite small. There is one street with restaurants and shops that is pretty good looking, but not much outside of that. There is a giant mall, but it's currently in a downward spiral. Most of the stores and shopping have moved out of the city.

So shopping isn't a big draw, but there are a couple restaurants worth stopping in. If you want something especially fresh, there are several options at the capital market. Just go in and browse, I got a fresh salad that was delicious. Another option that I tried while there is Cozumel Express. It's a delicious tex mex style place on Capital Street. We got our food to go, and enjoyed it in Coonskin Park, which I will get to later.

There is a great museum covering the history of the state that is a must visit if you come to town. It is over on the capitol grounds. Look around the capitol building, which is very beautiful with its golden dome, and then check out the museum. The exhibits are top notch. Also around the capitol are a lot of monuments, be sure to have a look, many are honoring heroes.

If you like trails, there is a great one just across the river from downtown. It can be a little tricky getting to it. As you cross the Southside Bridge (Dickinson St) there is a turn between the Ferry St turn and the end of the bridge. It's hard to see, but trust me it's there. Go down the hill and you will find a parking lot for the Sunrise Carriage Trail. The trail goes up the hill via several switchbacks. It's a very beautiful spot, and has some great views of downtown toward the top. A little tip if you are only interested in the views, you can get to them without the hike by turning right onto Bridge Street at the end of the South Side Bridge, then turning right onto Myrtle Road partway up the hill (turn right when you see the church). There is a place to park at the intersection of Myrtle and Crawford Roads. From there you can access the upper part of the trail and get easy access to the city views.

There are some other places for hikes and outdoor activities. As I mentioned earlier, we went to Coonskin Park to enjoy a sort of take out picnic. This is a very beautiful park with a nice pond and some trails. Don't miss out on the upper part of the park for a bit quieter walk. The playground equipment looks a bit old if you have kids, but I think they will enjoy it just the same. There is also a nice river walk in the park that is paved.

If you have kids, you may be interested in the Clay Center. This place has a lot of exhibits for kids to enjoy. In the basement they have a small town complete with restaurants (fake ones for kids to play in) and supermarkets. Upstairs there is a small art museum to enjoy as well.

My overall impression of Charleston is that it is a friendly quiet place. The primary attraction is the environment (outdoor activities). If you are starting a sort of West Virginia/Appalachia roadtrip adventure, this is probably a good place to start, especially if you are flying in.