Looking for the best places in West Virginia? We have those answers and more in this year’s Best of West Virginia issue. Each year our readers cast ballots, and this year they cast more than ever before. Nearly 200,000 votes rolled in selecting the very best in more than 70 categories. Read about this year’s winners use the 2020 Best of West Virginia awards as your personal guide to the state’s best eateries, towns, parks, cideries, museums, and more.
Travel Region Winners
Eastern Panhandle | Hatfield-McCoy Mountains | Metro Valley | Mid-Ohio Valley |
Mountain Lakes Region | Mountaineer Country | New River / Greenbrier Valley |
Northern Panhandle | Potomac Highlands
Eastern Panhandle
bakery
Charlotte’s Cafe
Berkeley Springs, 304.500.2629, charlottescafewv.com
Casual dining restaurant
Brix 27
Martinsburg, 304.616.1628, brix27.com
fair / festival / event
Apple Butter Festival
Berkeley Springs, 304.258.3738, berkeleysprings.com/festivals
fine dining
Lot 12 Public House
Berkeley Springs, 304.258.6264, lot12.com
Recreation venue
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
Charles Town, 1.800.795.7001, hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com
Place to shop
Inspire Chaos
Berkeley Springs, 304.258.3692, @inspiredchaoswv on Facebook
Place to stay
The Bavarian Inn
Shepherdstown, 304.876.2551, bavarianinnwv.com
Unique Attraction
Berkeley Springs State Park
Berkeley Springs, 1.833.WV.PARKS, wvstateparks.com
watering hole
The Bavarian Brothers Brewing Company
Shepherdstown, 304.876.2551
community champion
Annette Gavin Bates
As the CEO of Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Annette Gavin Bates works tirelessly for her community. She’s committed to making a difference and continues to lead an aggressive marketing campaign encouraging regional partnerships that have resulted in a 50 percent growth in tourism spending since 2013.
Hatfield-McCoy Mountains
bakery
A Dash of Faith Cakes
Gilbert, 304.928.6380, @dash123cakes on Facebook
Casual dining restaurant
Trail 12 BBQ
Gilbert, 304.664.5050, @trail12bbq on Facebook
Fair / festival / event
National Trailfest
Gilbert, 304.664.3477, trailsheaven.com/trailfest
fine dining
317 The Steakhouse
Logan, 304.752.2580, 317thesteakhouse.com
Recreation venue
Hatfield-McCoy Trails
Lyburn, 1.800.592.2217, trailsheaven.com
Place to shop
The Funky Flamingo
Danville, 304.307.2410, thefunkyflamingo.shop
place to stay
The Mountaineer Hotel
Williamson, 304.235.2222, mountaineerhotel.com
Unique attraction
Hatfield Family Cemetery
Omar, 718.673.0812, mywvhome.com/1900s/hatfield.html
watering hole
Starters Bar & Restaurant
Williamson, 304.235, 8600, starterssportbar.com
Community champion
Diana Barnette
Diana Barnette is an entrepreneur extraordinaire and an eternal optimist. Wherever she sees a need in her community, she opens a business to fill it. Her latest venture is called Appalachian Outpost and Dry Fork Cabins and is her effort to make the recreational opportunities in the HatfieldMcCoy Mountain region accessible to others near and far.
Metro Valley
bakery
Spring Hill Pastry Shop
South Charleston, 304.768.7397, springhillpastry.com
casual dining restaurant
Black Sheep Burrito & Brews
Charleston, 304.343.2739, blacksheepwv.com
fair / festival / event
FestivALL
Charleston, 304.470.0489, festivallcharleston.com
fine dining
1010 Bridge Restaurant & Catering
Charleston, 681.265.0599, 1010bridge.com
Recreation venue
Heritage Farm Museum & Village
Huntington, 304.522.1244, heritagefarmmuseum.com
Place to shop
Full Circle Gifts & Goods
Huntington, 207.522.7868, fullcirclegiftsandgoods.com
Place to stay
Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston
Charleston, 304.347.8700, hilton.com
Unique attraction
Capitol Market
Charleston, 304.344.1905, capitolmarket.net
watering hole
Summit Beer Station
Huntington, 681.378.0468, @summitbeerstation on Facebook
community champion
Jim Strawn
Jim Strawn helps civic organizations, nonprofits, and municipalities do more with limited resources as a marketing and public relations consultant. His passion is working to make West Virginia a better place to live, learn, work, and play. He’s also co-author of the Sad Mad Glad book series, which inspires kids of all ages to keep a positive attitude.
Mid-Ohio Valley
Bakery
JR’s Donut Castle
Parkersburg, 304.428.9097, jrsdonutcastle.com
casual dining restaurant
Fairplain Yacht Club
Ripley, 304.372.8919, fairplainyachtclub.com
fair / festival / event
Taste of Parkersburg
fine dining
Da Vinci’s Fine Italian Dining
Williamstown, 304.375.3633, villadavinci.com
recreation venue
North Bend State Park
Cairo, 304.632.2931, wvstateparks.com
place to shop
The Frugal Frog
Ripley, 304.514.2990
place to stay
The Blennerhassett Hotel
Parkersburg, 304.422.3131, theblennerhassett.com
unique attraction
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
Parkersburg, 304.420.4800, wvstateparks.com
watering hole
Parkersburg Brewing Company
Parkersburg, 304.916.1502, parkersburgbrewing.com
community champion
Sharon Anderson
Sharon Anderson was named vice president at Williamstown Bank a few years back, but that’s only what keeps her busy from 8 to 5. Her tireless energy has impacted neighboring food pantries, area families, humane societies, local children, charities like the Children’s Home Society and Habitat for Humanity, the Rotary Club, and the Camden Clark Foundation Board.
Mountain Lakes Region
bakery
The Donut Shop
Buckhannon,
casual dining restaurant
Whistle Punk Grill & Taphouse
Richwood, 304.846.2020, whistlepunkwv.com
fair / festival / event
West Virginia Strawberry Festival
Buckhannon, 304.472.9036, wvstrawberryfestival.com
fine dining
Cafe Cimino Country Inn
Sutton, 304.765.2913, cafeciminocountryinn.com
recreation venue
Summersville Lake
Summersville, 304.872.1211, summersvillewv.org
place to shop
Artistry on Main
Buckhannon, 304.460.2505, artistryonmain.com
place to stay
Stonewall Resort
Roanoke, 304.269.7400, stonewallresort.com
unique attraction
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Weston,
watering hole
Oakford Pool Hall
Richwood,
community champion
Robbie Skinner
Robbie Skinner was recently elected mayor of Buckhannon after many years spent serving his community and involved in too many civic organizations to count. He works hard to raise Buckhannon up as a highlight in the Mountain Lakes region and donates hours and hours of his time, never afraid to roll up his sleeves to get the hard work done.
Mountaineer Country
bakery
Almost Heaven Desserts & Coffee Shop
Bridgeport, 304.848.2500, almostheavendessertsandcoffeeshop.com
casual dining restaurant
Iron Horse Tavern
Morgantown, 304.296.6230, ironhorsetvrn.com
fair / festival / event
West Virginia Wine & Jazz Festival
Morgantown, wvwineandjazz.com
fine dining
Wonder Bar Steakhouse
Clarksburg, 304.622.1451, wonderbarsteakhouse.com
recreation venue
Tygart Lake State Park
Grafton, wvstateparks.com
place to shop
Hoot and Howl
Morgantown, 304.533.0819, shophootandhowl.com
place to stay
Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place
Morgantown, 304.296.1799, marriott.com
unique attraction
Pricketts Fort State Park
Fairmont, 304.363.3030, wvstateparks.com
watering hole
Mario’s Fishbowl
Morgantown, 304.292.2511, mariosfishbowl.com
community champion
Roark Sizemore
This young man has more capacity to inspire others and motivation to change the world than most more experienced people do, and he’s just getting started. Sizemore co-founded the nonprofit Pantry Plus More and is passionate about feeding anyone in Monongalia County who needs it. The future looks bright for him, and there is no doubt that the world will be better for it.
New River / Greenbrier Valley
bakery
The Blue Spoon Cafe & Coffee
Bluefield, 304.800.5160, “The Blue Spoon Cafe & Coffee” on Facebook
casual dining restaurant
Stardust Cafe
Lewisburg, 304.647.3663, stardustcafewv.com
fair / festival / event
Bridge Day
Fayetteville, officialbridgeday.com
fine dining
The French Goat
Lewisburg, 304.647.1052, thefrenchgoat.com
recreation venue
ACE Adventure Resort
Oak Hill, 844.895.4176, aceraft.com
place to shop
Otter & Oak
Hinton, 304.466.4870, otterandoak.com
Place to stay
The General Lewis Inn
Lewisburg, 304.645.2600, generallewisinn.com
unique attraction
Gary Bowling’s House of Art
Bluefield, 304.324.4242, gbharamseyschool.org
watering hole
Maggie’s Pub
Fayetteville, 304.574.9100, maggies-pub.com
community champion
Judy Moore
As the director of the West Virginia Hive Network, Judy Moore helps small businesses grow through everything from business coaching and work space to loan application assistance and more. Under Moore’s direction, the HIVE, a small business incubator and accelerator in Beckley made possible by the New River Gorge Development Authority, provides whatever it takes to launch its partners to the next level.
Northern Panhandle
bakery
Frank’s Pastry Shop
Chester, 304.387.0136, @frankspastryshop on Facebook
casual dining restaurant
The Vagabond Kitchen
Wheeling, 304.905.6173, thevagabondkitchen.com
fair / festival / event
Back Home Appalachian Arts and Music Festival
New Martinsville, @backhomefestival on Facebook
fine dining
Ihlenfeld Dining Room at Oglebay
Wheeling, 304.243.4090, oglebay.com
recreation venue
Grand Vue Park
Moundsville, 304.845.9810, grandvuepark.com
place to shop
Centre Market
Wheeling, 304.218.2525, centremarket.org
place to stay
Barn With Inn
Wellsburg, 304.7737.0647, barnwithinn.com
unique attraction
West Virginia Penitentiary
Moundsville, 304.845.6200, wvpentours.com
watering hole
Wheeling Brewing Company
Wheeling, 304.905.8757, wheelingbrewing.com
community champion
Robby Parsons
Robby Parsons is all about helping people any way he can. Homeless people, shelters, drug rehabilitation centers, and a host of charities and civic organizations have all been on the receiving end of Robby’s generosity in countless ways. He also recently served as the driving force behind the Back Home Appalachian Arts and Music Festival in New Martinsville and has raised thousands of dollars through social media to support feeding programs in the community.
Potomac Highlands
bakery
Wardensville Garden Market
Wardensville, 304.470.8050, wardensvillegardenmarket.org
casual dining restaurant
Farmer’s Daughter Market & Butcher
Capon Bridge, 304.856.2550, farmersdaughterwv.com
fair / festival / event
Mountain State Forest Festival
Elkins, 304.636.1824, forestfestival.com
fine dining
The Forks Inn
Elkins, 304.637,0932, attheforks.com
recreation venue
Canaan Valley Resort & Conference Center
Davis, 304.866.4121, canaanresort.com
place to shop
The Delmonte Market
Elkins, 304.636.4400, thedelmontemarket.com
place to stay
The Billy Motel & Bar
Davis, 304.851.6125, thebillymotel.com
unique attraction
Dolly Sods Wilderness
Grant, Randolph, and Tucker counties, fs.usda.gov/detail/mnf/specialplaces
watering hole
Big Timber Brewing Company
Elkins, 304.637.5008, bigtimberbrewing.com
community champion
David Downs
David Downs is the man behind the Timberline residential and vacation community near Davis. Years ago, he happened upon an unpolished 1,700-acre tract of land that turned out to be one of the most beautiful places he’d ever seen. He formed a community there and set aside 500 acres as a nature conservancy. Generations to come will enjoy the fruits of Downs’ vision and his continued efforts to promote the Canaan Valley to this day
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