Oil & Gas Museum
Parkersburg

Engines, drilling rigs, oil tanks, and more are spread throughout the grounds of the Oil & Gas Museum, housed in an old warehouse built in 1874. After a fire burned it down in 1900, the building was rebuilt. Oil was first discovered in this area in the late 1700s, and the museum's collection is "one of the best on the history of oil development," displaying the strong connection between the oil and gas industry and the history of "River City." Read more.

Palace of Gold
Moundsville

Devotees spent seven years building the Palace of Gold (known as America's Taj Mahal), located in the middle-of-nowhere. It is a "religious, historical attraction" that shows each visitor an aspect of "Eastern religion in the rolling hills of West Virginia." The palace is a replica of a Hare Krishna palace in India, and is where "Hare Krishna followers and many families live and worship." The palace itself is quite ornate, the rose gardens host numerous rare species, and there are peacocks roaming the grounds. Tours are given throughout the year, and there is a gift shop and a restaurant on the premises. Read more.

Mountain State Forest Festival
Elkins

Bass fishing, archery, horseshoes, and lumberjack events take place throughout the weeklong Mountain State Forest Festival. Since it occurs during the fall, the "leaves on the trees are beautiful and the air is full of excitement." Follow your nose to the "fresh-baked goods, all of which you will want to sample." The scenery is "breathtaking" at this "multi-cultural, historical area." Read more.

Cheat Mountain Overlook
Morgantown

Coopers Rock State Forest spans about 12,000 acres of land and is home to "one of the most beautiful overlooks in the entire state." This unbelievable 1,200-foot overlook of the Cheat River on Cheat Mountain represents "pure and raw nature in its most beautiful sense." In response to "many, many, many attempts to build a restaurant on top of the mountain" there is now a committee set up to preserve the "beauty for everyone to see and enjoy." Read more.

West Virginia Coal Festival
Madison

Boone County, West Virginia hosts the annual West Virginia Coal Festival the third week in June. Celebrating the discovery of coal in southern West Virginia in 1742 and the heritage behind it, this unique festival features "live entertainment, crafts, food, and most of all--coal mining machinery and related equipment." There is "lots of family fun, with a carnival to entertain the kids and fireworks on Saturday night." Madison is about a 30-minute drive from the state capital, Charleston, on a big four-lane highway. Read more.

Book-n-Bean House of Coffee
Fairmont

The atmosphere at the Book-n-Bean House of Coffee is unique, complete with literary, artistic, and musical talent all around. The house, built in 1901 for the first editor of the local paper, will have you thinking there's "something special about entering this old building with the original woodwork and bar stools." Grab a cup of coffee or tea and retreat to one of many rooms "set aside for small groups or interests." Or "sit outside under the stars, and enjoy music or conversation." There's lots of local talent on display here.

Former WV State Penitentiary
Moundsville

Built in the 1870s, the building served as the West Virginia State Pen until 1995. The cells measure about 5' x 7', which was ruled by the West Virginia Supreme Court as "cruel and unusual punishment" back in 1986, and eventually lead to its closure. Once it closed, it was put on the National Register of Historic Places and is now open for tourists to visit. The "former WV Pen is full of history, intrigue, sinister stories--and some say there are ghosts." The Gothic architectural style alone "makes this a great destination." Read more.

Mario's Fishbowl
Morgantown

Mario's Fishbowl has been in business for decades and "has a special kind of ambiance." This is a locals' hot spot, known for its cold beer and delicious sandwiches and burgers. Located off of "the main throughway, many out-of-towners don't find it." But it's a "slice of Americana that's rarely found in operation these days." On the walls, you'll find "notes people have left after stopping by for a fishbowl and burger." It's a great place, and "no one leaves feeling disappointed with the food or ambiance."

Sweet Shoppe
Lewisburg

It's neither a bakery nor a candy store, but it is actually a bar. Come to the Sweet Shoppe "if you are looking for authentic Bluegrass music." Located near the historic Greenbrier Hotel in the Allegheny Mountains, this quaint pub also features blues and jazz, and there is no cover charge. The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys are worth catching: "the band members include: state-champion banjo, mandolin, and guitar players."

New River Gorge Bridge
Fayetteville

Construction of the New River Gorge Bridge was completed in October 1977. One of the things that makes the bridge stand out is that it is the second longest single-span, arch bridge in the world. So every year since 1977, the county hosts Bridge Day to commemorate the accomplishment of building this unique site. It's the only day when the bridge is open to pedestrians, when people rappel from it, when BASE jumpers parachute from it, when aircraft fly over it, and when people whitewater raft under it. Read more.