TOP 10 THINGS
TO DO IN MOUNTAINEER COUNTRY, WV

  • Top 10 Thing to Do and More

    Your Essential Guide to Adventure, Cultural Gems, and Scenic Escapes

Whether you’re after heart-pumping outdoor thrills or a laid-back day exploring local hotspots, Mountaineer Country has it all. Discover the area’s top 10 attractions, from breathtaking natural landscapes to one-of-a-kind cultural experiences, ready to be discovered by both visitors and locals alike.

1

Explore Coopers Rock State Forest

Popular for hiking, rock climbing, and scenic overlooks. Don’t miss the panoramic view from the main overlook.

2

Visit West Virginia University (WVU)

Tour the historic downtown campus, enjoy a game at Milan Puskar Stadium, or visit the WVU Core Arboretum for nature walks.

3

Hike or Bike the Mon River Rail-Trail

This flat, scenic trail along the Monongahela River is perfect for cycling, walking, or jogging. Great for all skill levels!

4

Take a Brewery Tour

Mountaineer Country boasts a growing craft beer scene with local favorites like Apothecary Ale House and Cafe, High Ground Brewing, and Short Story Brewing.

5

Adventure at Cheat Lake

Enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding, or picnicking at Cheat Lake Park and Trail. It’s a popular spot for families and outdoor lovers.

6

Visit the WV Botanic Garden

Relax and enjoy the diverse gardens and walking trails, perfect for a quiet escape into nature.

7

Explore Arthurdale Heritage

Step back in time at this New Deal community, museum, and historical site founded by Eleanor Roosevelt.

8

Experience Mylan Park

Visit this multi-sport complex for recreation, swimming, or attending events. It’s also home to the Aquatic Center, Sports Complex, and future (2025) attractions like the Mountaineer Bike Yard, Ice Rink, and KOA Campground.

9

Catch a Show at the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park and Ruby Amphitheater

Spend your summer nights enjoying live performances or films along the Monongahela River at this gem in downtown Morgantown.

10

Mountain Biking at Big Bear Lake

Known for its well-maintained trails, this is a go-to spot for mountain biking enthusiasts. Ideal for both beginners and experienced riders. Check out Mountaineer Country Gravel to explore our area’s gravel routes.

… AND 102 MORE!

This list will get you started enjoying some of what Mountaineer Country has to offer, but be sure to sign up for our newsletter before heading out on your adventure.

ARTS ( TO TOP )

  1. Check out the performance schedule for the historic Met Theatre.*
  2. Paint your own pottery at the WOW! Factory.*
  3. Stroll through the current art exhibit at the Mesaros Galleries at the WVU Creative Arts Center.
  4. Discover Arts Walk, with handmade works of art on display in downtown Morgantown.
  5. Get a taste of Broadway with the WV Public Theatre.
  6. Create a custom piece of pottery at Zenclay.
  7. Check out the featured artist at the MAC Benedum Gallery.
  8. Get your ticket to concerts, comedians and touring Broadway shows from the WVU Art Series.
  9. Enjoy a local performance by Morgantown’s Community Theater.
  10. Enjoy music all summer long at the Ruby Summer Concert Series.
  11. Celebrate America in Morgantown with music, a parade, contests and ending with a fabulous fireworks display over the Monongahela River.
  12. Tour the Art Museum of WVU, 5,400 sq. ft. of exhibition space housing 3,000 pieces, including paintings, prints, sculpture, ceramic and folk art.
  13. Listen to the sweet sounds of jazz while sipping on delicious West Virginia wine at the Wine and Jazz Festival.
  14. Check out the local music scene at 123 Pleasant Street.
  15. View all the public art Morgantown has to offer with the Public Art Passport.

FOOD & DRINKS ( TO TOP )

  1. Enjoy extraordinary menus alfresco along the Mon River and Rail-Trail.
  2. Get your fill of buckwheat cakes, sausage, firemen’s parades and the midway at the annual four-day Preston County Buckwheat Festival starts the last Thursday in September.
  3. Enjoy a wine tasting and tour at Forks-of-Cheat Winery.
  4. Try cool brews at one of our local brew pubs for a taste of local ales.
  5. Be seen at the historic hot spot, Mario’s Fishbowl…from the frosty fishbowls of beer to the delicious sandwiches and award-winning chicken wings.
  6. Sample craft beers and food in Downtown Morgantown at Hops on the Mon each Fall!
  7. Try the state delicacy, the pepperoni roll, at one of these popular locations(voted by locals!).
  8. Stop in at the Blue Moose Cafe and see why it’s been a local landmark for over 20 years.*
  9. Enjoy a hearty weeknight dinner or delicious Sunday brunch at Flour and Feed.*
  10. Satisfy your sweet tooth at The Sugar Bar.*
  11. Enjoy some good eats while listening to live music or playing trivia at the Morgantown Art Bar.*
  12. Get a taste of Hawaii at Tropics.*
  13. Enjoy modern twists on beloved classics at Von Blaze.*

HISTORY ( TO TOP )

  1. Stop in at the Greatest Generation WWII Museum.
  2. Reflect from one of six pews inside “Our Lady of the Pines,” the smallest church in 48 states.
  3. Climb to the site of a strategic Civil War battle, Cannon Hill, in Rowlesburg.
  4. Remember Pearl Harbor at the USS WV Mast and memorial, Oglebay Plaza, WVU.
  5. Drop by “Eleanor’s Little Village;” historic Arthurdale is the first of FDR’s “New Deal” towns.
  6. Discover the story behind the “Whiskey Stone” at the 1775 Forks-of-Cheat Baptist Church Cemetery.
  7. Drive to Cool Springs, a roadside attraction on U.S. Rt. 50 that includes an old steam engine, old-fashioned cooking, and a true general store.
  8. See a great example of grist and roller equipment at the restored 1864 Easton Roller Mill Museum.
  9. Step back to another time and visit the 13 communities that were put together as coal camps when the boom attracted men from 19 countries to work the local mines.
  10. Discover tools, medicines, and furnishings of a typical 19th-century drugstore at the Cook-Hayman Pharmacy Museum at the WVU School of Pharmacy.
  11. Drive across Dent’s Run Covered Bridge (c. 1889) in Morgantown.
  12. Discover Preston County’s Historical Society Museum, containing 25,000+ artifacts housed in the former Terra Alta Bank Building built in 1892.
  13. Walk the Rail-Trail and stop by the JFK Memorial.
  14. Tour the B&O Railroad Museum in Rowlesburg.

KID-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES ( TO TOP )

  1. Visit Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo, home to 30 species of native and exotic animals.
  2. Go ice skating at Morgantown Ice Arena, White Park.
  3. Try cosmic bowling at Suburban Lanes.
  4. Bring the little ones to Kids’ Day in downtown Morgantown and the Wharf District in July.
  5. Take the kids to Spark! Imagination and Science Center at the Mountaineer Mall.*
  6. Watch the star show at the WVU Tomchin Planetarium & Observatory.*
  7. Schedule WVU facilities and campus tours with the WVU Visitors Resource Center.
  8. Browse the valuable, insightful WV Collection at the West Virginia University Library.
  9. Cool off in a public pool.
  10. Don’t miss the chance to participate in one of WVU’s Alumni Traditions.
  11. Make plans to be in downtown Morgantown for the WVU homecoming parade.
  12. Enjoy some quality family time together on a scenic trip through the flat waters of the Big Sandy River with Padlz Canoe and Kayak Rentals.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES ( TO TOP )

  1. Whitewater rafting on the Cheat River, Class II – V rapids!
  2. Hike Coopers Rock State Forest Tyrone Trail Loop to see Virgin Hemlock.
  3. Explore 91-acres of the WVU Core Arboretum with 45 flower species and 70 bird species.
  4. Take the self-guided Audio Walking Tour in downtown Morgantown.
  5. Rent a bike to take on the Rail-Trail.
  6. Participate in the Big Bear XC Classic or Ragnar Trail Appalachians events that take place at Big Bear Lake and Camplands each year.
  7. Look for the 50 species of wildflowers at Cathedral State Park.
  8. Climb the 30-foot boulders in Rock City at Coopers Rock.
  9. Witness a spectacular range of birds and mammals at Cranesville Swamp.
  10. Take a zip line canopy tour at the WVU Research Forest!
  11. Hike through the forest to the historic Henry Clay Iron Furnace, a 30-foot pyramidal stone structure (c. 1834) is all that remains of the state’s smelting industry.
  12. Climb Sky Rock at Dorsey’s Knob for a 360-degree panoramic view of the area – and play a round of disc golf.
  13. Visit the Suri Alpaca and Wensleydale Sheep at the Crimson Shamrock Ranch in Eglon.
  14. Take a tour of the WVU Animal Science Farm.
  15. Rent a boat, kayak or jet ski for a day on Cheat Lake at Sunset Beach Marina.
  16. Hike to the Coopers Rock overlook, a 1,200-foot drop to the mile-wide gorge below.
  17. Walk through nature and enjoy beautifully landscaped gardens along trails that weave from bright meadows into cool, shaded woodlands at the West Virginia Botanic Garden.
  18. Celebrate fall at the WV Chestnut Festival in Rowlesburg.
  19. Explore the trails, have a picnic, or take on the four sets of cascading waterfalls at Valley Falls State Park.
  20. Pitch your tent at Sands Springs Campground, just minutes from Coopers Rock.
  21. Fish the bass, walleye and catfish in the backwaters of Cheat Lake from the Rail-Trail.
  22. Enjoy the ancient sport of Irish Road Bowling at Coopers Rock in May.
  23. Spelunkers, go wild caving with Cheat River Outfitters.
  24. Join in the annual Cheat River Festival, a celebration in May to advance watershed projects, includes music, arts, and food.

RECREATION ( TO TOP )

  1. Ride on the Personal Rapid Transit system (PRT).
  2. Tee up at one of seven 18-hole golf courses.
  3. Or make it mini at Cryptid Mountain Miniature Golf* and Morgantown Miniature Golf.*
  4. Take your furry best friend to Stanley’s Spot Dog Park.
  5. Check out the activities and events at Mylan Park, Mountaineer Country’s recreational crown jewel.*
  6. Skateboard at Marilla Skate Park.
  7. Take in a movie! There are 27 commercial screens in Morgantown!
  8. Relax and get a massage at one of Morgantown’s renowned spas.
  9. Go mountain biking at Big Bear Lake.
  10. Blow off some steam and get in touch with your inner lumberjack at Mountain Man Axe Throwing.*
  11. Test your puzzle-solving skills at the Morgantown Escape Room.*

*Mountaineer Deals Partner   |   View More Fun Things to Do

SHOPPING ( TO TOP )

  1. Go antique-ing!
  2. Shop ‘til you drop at University Town Centre, Suncrest Towne Centre and the Morgantown Mall.
  3. Visit the specialty shops at Seneca Center, a restored glass factory.
  4. Join Allegheny Treenware “spooners” in their wood shop.*
  5. Stroll through the Old Stone House for unique gifts.
  6. Buy fresh, local produce at the Farmers Market.
  7. Buy a West Virginia University souvenir at a campus store, Mountaineer Zone, Mountaineer Nation or The Book Exchange.
  8. Create one-of-a-kind jewelry at the Silver Pennies Jewelry Design Co.
  9. Find a unique collection of curated artisan items at Hoot and Howl.*

SPORTS ( TO TOP )

  1. Tailgate at Milan Puskar Stadium during the WVU Mountaineer Football season.
  2. Grab a seat at the Kendrick Family Ballpark at the Monongalia County Sports Complex and watch America’s favorite pastime with the WV Black Bears, a minor league baseball team in the New York Penn League and an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.*
  3. Take your photo with the life-sized, bronze statues of basketball greats Jerry West and “Hot Rod” Hundley, at the WVU Coliseum.
  4. Watch dozens of sports tournaments from little league baseball to Olympic Diving Trials at Mylan Park.
VMCCVB Bronco!

25 Free (or Cheap) Things
to do in Mountaineer Country

A guide to the best free attractions and activities.

Whether you have one day or a whole weekend, this list of the best things to do will help you create the ultimate itinerary for your time in Mountaineer Country.

  1. Climb Sky Rock at Dorsey’s Knob for a 360-degree panoramic view of the area
  2. Download the Public Art Passport and take a tour around Greater Morgantown where you’ll see the life-sized, bronze statue of the most famous athlete to ever wear the Gold and Blue, Jerry West, at the WVU Coliseum. You can also walk the Rail-Trail in Star City and stop by the JFK Memorial.
  3. Drop by “Eleanor’s Little Village;” historic Arthurdale is the first of FDR’s “New Deal” towns
  4. Hike or Bike the Mon River and Deckers Creek Rail-Trails – Download Map
  5. See the star show at the WVU Tomchin Planetarium & Observatory
  6. Stroll through the current art exhibit at the Mesaros Galleries at the WVU Creative Arts Center
  7. Enjoy a wine tasting and tour at Forks-of-Cheat Winery
  8. Explore the WVU Core Arboretum
  9. Visit the specialty shops at Seneca Center, a restored glass factory
  10. Reflect from one of six pews inside “Our Lady of the Pines,” the smallest church in 48 states
  11. Remember Pearl Harbor at the USS WV Mast and Memorial, Oglebay Plaza, WVU
  12. Walk the West Virginia Botanic Garden, inspirational landscapes and displays of a rich variety of ornamental plants appropriate to the region
  13. Join Allegheny Treenware “spooners” in their wood shop
  14. Discover the story behind the “Whiskey Stone” at the 1775 Forks-of-Cheat Baptist Church Cemetery
  15. Check out the featured artist in Benedum and Davis Galleries
  16. Look for the 50 species of wildflowers at Cathedral State Park
  17. Paddle the Monongahela River – Download Map
  18. Take the kids to Tugboat Depot playground
  19. Browse the valuable, insightful WV Collection at the West Virginia University Library
  20. Schedule WVU facilities and campus tours with the WVU Visitors Resource Center
  21. Hike to the Coopers Rock overlook, a 1,200’ drop to the mile-wide gorge below
  22. Climb to the site of a strategic Civil War battle at Cannon Hill
  23. Visit the historic Dent’s Run Covered Bridge (c 1889) in Morgantown
  24. Grab a picture with WVU Basketball legends Jerry West and Hotrod Hundley at their sculptures in front of the WVU Coliseum.
  25. During the summertime, enjoy concerts on the water at the Ruby Summer Concert series.

Get Mountaineer Country in your inbox.

Get the latest updates as well as story-worthy inspiration each month via our Visit Mountaineer Country e-newsletter, which highlights events, tourism partners, and promotions.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

UPCOMING EVENTS

Feb 15

Mountain State Maple Days

VIEW

Feb 16

“Let’s Play a Musical Game” Class

VIEW

Feb 19

Early Explorers: A Magnifying Discovery!

VIEW