Charleston Area Inspiration Guide - Charleston Area Inspiration Guide 2019
Recreation from the Hip
2019-07-10 08:32:26
WHETHER OUTDOORS OR IN, MILD OR WILD, THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO PLAY
IT’S TIME YOU TAKE A BREAK from your day-to-day stresses to relax and recharge. From museums, casinos and water trails to kid-friendly or kid-free escapes, the Charleston area’s diverse recreational offerings let you rev up your adrenaline or enjoy the outdoors in a more relaxed way.
Have Kids? Have Fun!
Home to the West Virginia Power baseball team, Appalachian Power Park promises family fun all summer long. Look for special deals like Family Buck Night and Two-for-Tuesday, plus enjoy fireworks and summer concerts following designated games.
The little ones will love The Pottery Place, an all-inclusive paint-your-own pottery studio. With more than 300 pieces from which to choose, there’s something for every talent level and budget.
The Avampato Discovery Museum at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences boasts 12,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits, including a towering climbing sculpture and kid-size replica of the city, where the little ones can choose a career and get “paid” at the ATM.
The West Virginia State Museum at the State Capitol Complex features a chronological and interactive show path with exhibits on military history, coal mining, river transportation and even a flea circus.
Magic Island on the Kanawha River offers a cooling respite on the hottest summer days. The 5-acre park’s amenities include a splash pad where the kids can run and stomp through showers and puddles. During the summer months, bring a lawn chair or blanket for family movie nights.
Teach the kids that food comes from a farm. Country Road House and Berries offers spring strawberry picking, summer dig-and-takes and fall strawberry planting tours.
Explore the Outdoors
Just west of Charleston, the 88-mile Coal River Walhonde Water Trail is a favorite destination for paddlers and anglers. The annual 11-mile Tour de Coal float trip attracts more than 1,000 kayakers each June. Yak Fest (as in kayak festival) is held in conjunction with the Tour de Coal.
Surf’s “SUP” at Appalachian Boarding Company, a stand-up paddleboard outfitter that offers lessons, rentals, fitness classes and guided tours on local waterways.
Coonskin Park provides more than 1,000 acres for recreation, including an 18-hole golf course and several miles of hiking trails. The kids will love fishing in the big pond by the playground, taking a swim in the Olympic-size pool or playing a round of mini-golf.
Only 20 minutes from downtown Charleston, the 9,300-acre Kanawha State Forest offers more than 25 miles of trails for hikers and bikers of all skill levels. Also minutes from town, Waterways Waterpark boasts five water slides, a lazy river, a pool and a kiddie island with slides, a swing and a water umbrella for the wee ones.
Authentic adventure awaits less than an hour’s drive from Charleston. River Expeditions in Oak Hill offers everything from high-energy vacations to relaxing weekend getaways. Enjoy heart-pumping experiences like whitewater rafting, zip lining, ATV tours, rock climbing and mountain biking.
Discover what adrenaline junkies from all over the world have enjoyed: the Hatfield & McCoy Trails with more than 700 miles of off-highway ATV trails. It’s a great way to explore the history of West Virginia’s coalfields and have a whole lot of fun in the process!
Just the Two of You
Call the babysitter and get yourselves all decked out for date night at Mardi Gras Casino and Resort. Try your luck at the slot machines and table games, or place a bet on racing greyhounds. Wrap up your evening with drinks and dancing to live music at Louie’s before retiring to your deluxe accommodations.
Head to Capitol Market for periodic wine tastings at The Wine Shop. You’ll sample dry, sweet and semi-sweet varieties of reds, whites, blushes or sparkling wines as you learn about foods they pair well with. If there’s not a tasting scheduled, the shop’s knowledgeable staff will steer you in the right direction.
Enjoy a fun and romantic night out at the Comedy Zone at Holiday Inn & Suites Charleston West. Book an overnight package and enjoy an appetizer and dinner for two before or during the show, then take the elevator “home!”
Shop ’Til You Drop
Find locally grown produce, handcrafted West Virginia gifts and several dining options at Capitol Market. Shop for holidays and special occasions at the city’s unique boutiques at the Shops at Bridge Road, along downtown’s Capitol Street, or at Tamarack’s WV Museum Shop on the Capitol grounds. Just blocks away, enjoy popular American brands at Charleston Town Center mall.
Sunrise Carriage Trail
Just over the bridge from downtown Charleston at the train station lies the scenic Sunrise Carriage Trail. Originally built in 1905 by Governor MacCorkle to transport building materials for his governor’s mansion, aka Sunrise Mansion, this quarter-mile trail lined with mature trees and wildflowers is suitable for all skill levels. At the top, one can see the mansion, which also boasts some of the best views of the city and is just a hop from the Shops at Bridge Road.
READY TO PLAY?
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