TO WELCOME ALMOS Y REGION! CIT AL APIT T HEAVEN C TORIC … HIS , HIP GINIA’S WEST VIR Live on the Levee SITTING ATOP AN ANCIENT ocean and nestled amid lush hillsides, Charleston is full of surprises. Historic homes and buildings beckon young cre-atives, who are transforming downtown districts with hip art galleries, chic boutiques and independent restaurants, breweries and distilleries. A historic destination with a fresh edge, this river city is not alone in its appeal. The entire Kanawha Valley – Charleston , South Charleston , Dunbar , St. Albans and Nitro – is an inviting collection of small-towns reinventing themselves into welcoming destinations that are getting attention from national publications 2 charlestonwv.com like The Washington Post , Southern Living and Taste of the South . Millions of dollars in new investments have helped spark the area’s renewal. Visitors are welcomed by new and refurbished hotels, restaurants with outdoor dining, improved green spaces, the new Shaw-nee Sports Complex and the stunning newly renovated Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center with huge glass expanses, bountiful outdoor space and exceptional public art. two popular, yet different, attractions: a gourmet salt manufacturer, J.Q. Dick-inson Salt-Works , and a full-on casino with sports betting, table games, slots, live greyhound racing, restau-rants and entertainment, Mardi Gras Casino and Resort . In between these spots are three recreational rivers and historic towns with locally-owned restaurants and shops that harken to a simpler life. Charleston’s magnificent gold-domed State Capitol sits in a park-like setting along the river, and its state museum offers free tours. The region has a youthful vibe as the home of the University of Charleston and West A Region Full of Surprises One surprise you’ll find is the Kanawha Valley is flanked by
Charleston Area Travel Planner Charleston Area Travel Planner 2019: Page 2
