Nine West Virginia travel regions mean nine additional collections of Best Of winners.
As hard as we try, no one knows our West Virginia communities better than the people living in them: our dedicated WV Living readers. That’s why, each year, we ask you to nominate and vote on your favorite people, places, businesses, and more! You’ve done the work—now see the results as we proudly announce the 2025 Best of West Virginia.
Eastern Panhandle
BAKERY
BOLIVAR BREAD BAKERY
Harpers Ferry, bolivarbread.com
CASUAL DINING
ALMA BEA
Shepherdstown, @almabeashepherdstown on FB
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
THE CHARLES TOWN CLASSIC
Charles Town, hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com/racing
FINE DINING
BAVARIAN INN, RESORT & BREWING COMPANY
Shepherdstown, bavarianinnwv.com
RECREATION VENUE
HOLLYWOOD CASINO AT CHARLES TOWN RACES
Charles Town, hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com
PLACE TO SHOP
VINTAGE LADY
Harpers Ferry, @vintageladyharpersferry on FB
PLACE TO STAY
GRAND CASTALIAN INN BED AND BREAKFAST
Berkeley Springs, grandcastalian.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
RIVER RIDERS FAMILY ADVENTURE RESORT
Harpers Ferry, riverriders.com
WATERING HOLE
BERKELEY SPRINGS BREWING COMPANY
Berkeley Springs, @bathwaterbrewpub on FB
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Tyler Tummolo
Between his work as Community Outreach Director for CodeCraftCreate Foundation, owning and managing Varsity Travel in Virginia, and being an active volunteer with the West Virginia CASA Association, Tyler Tummolo’s busy schedule is happily filled with opportunities to improve and support his community through STEM education, travel, and child welfare.
Hatfield-McCoy Mountains
BAKERY
FOWLER HOMESTEAD
Bluefield, fowlerhomestead.carrd.co
CASUAL DINING
HONEYCOMB CAFE
Bramwell, honeycombcafewv.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
WV FIRE & ICE
Logan
FINE DINING
THE VAULT DOWNTOWN
Bluefield, thevaultdowntown.com
RECREATION VENUE
HATFIELD-McCOY TRAILS
PLACE TO SHOP
TRAVIS COLLIS DESIGNS
Princeton, traviscollisdesigns.com
PLACE TO STAY
ASHLAND RESORT
Northfork, atvresort.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
THE OLD HOSPITAL ON COLLEGE HILL
Williamson, collegehillhospital.com
WATERING HOLE
BROKEN AXLE
Logan, thebrokenaxle.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Jennifer Justice
Jennifer Justice is the executive director of the McDowell County CVB, dedicating her time to championing McDowell and its local businesses. From the introduction of an Almost Heaven Swing to highlighting the ever-growing Hatfield-McCoy Trails to preserving and celebrating the long, rich history of the region, Justice is the county’s biggest cheerleader.
Metro Valley
BAKERY
SPRING HILL PASTRY SHOP
South Charleston, springhillpastry.com
CASUAL DINING
BACKYARD PIZZA AND RAW BAR
Institute, ridgeviewbbq.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
MOTHMAN FESTIVAL
Point Pleasant, mothmanfestival.com
FINE DINING
1010 BRIDGE RESTAURANT & CATERING
Charleston, 1010bridge.com
RECREATION VENUE
MEEKS MOUNTAIN TRAILS
Hurricane, meeksmountaintrails.org
PLACE TO SHOP
OLD MAIN EMPORIUM
Huntington, oldmainemporium.com
PLACE TO STAY
EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON CHARLESTON
Charleston, @embassysuitescharlestonwv on FB
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
HERITAGE FARM
Huntington, heritagefarmwv.com
WATERING HOLE
FIFE STREET BREWING
Charleston, fifestreetbrewing.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
Ken and Cyndi Tawney
This husband-wife duo is championing the Elk River area in big ways. From Ken’s work as board president for the Elk River Trail Foundation and Cyndi’s as publisher of Elk River Living magazine, they work daily to promote, preserve, and uplift the community they call home in creative and inspiring ways.
Mid-Ohio Valley
BAKERY
JR’S DONUT CASTLE
Parkersburg, jrsdonutcastle.com
CASUAL DINING
daVINCI’S
Williamstown, villadavinci.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
MOUNTAIN STATE ART AND CRAFT FAIR
Ripley, msacf.com
FINE DINING
THE BLENNERHASSETT RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
Parkersburg, booktheb.com/cuisine
RECREATION VENUE
NORTH BEND STATE PARK
Cairo, northbendsp.com
PLACE TO SHOP
CROWN DECOR & GIFTS
Parkersburg, crownflorals.com
PLACE TO STAY
THE BLENNERHASSETT HOTEL & SPA
Parkersburg, booktheb.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
DISCOVERY WORLD ON MARKET
Parkersburg, dwonmarket.org
WATERING HOLE
FAIRPLAIN YACHT CLUB
Ripley, @fairplainyachtclub on FB
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Tina Persinger Hamrick
As director of the Calhoun Family Resource Network Family Support Center, Tina Persinger Hamrick works to assist and support families of all shapes, sizes, and needs through services like food and supply pantries, courses and workshops for job readiness and parenting, recovery planning, and so much more.
Mountain Lakes
BAKERY
THE CRAFTY COOKIE
Mount Nebo, @thecraftycookie72 on FB
CASUAL DINING
SOUTH TEXAS BARBEQUE COMPANY
Weston, sotexbbqco.square.site
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
WEST VIRGINIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
Buckhannon, wvstrawberryfestival.com
FINE DINING
THYME BISTRO
Weston, @thymebistro on FB
RECREATION VENUE
SUMMERSVILLE LAKE STATE PARK
Summersville, wvstateparks.com/summersville-lake-state-park
PLACE TO SHOP
LOST ANCHOR BOUTIQUE
Mount Nebo, lostanchorboutique.com
PLACE TO STAY
SUMMERSVILLE LAKE RETREAT & LIGHTHOUSE
Mount Nebo, summersvillelakeretreat.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
RAIL EXPLORERS
Clay, railexplorers.net
WATERING HOLE
MALONEY’S PUB
Summersville, @maloneyswv on FB
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Robie Messenger
Over in Buckhannon, Pop’s Furniture owner Robie Messenger is always on the lookout for ways to support his community. From donating food and water for neighbors in need to stocking local blessing boxes and championing other small businesses, Messenger takes pride in finding the areas of need and lending a helping hand.
Mountaineer Country
BAKERY
MISFIT BAKING COMPANY
Fairmont, misfitbakingco.com
CASUAL DINING
CODY’S
Bridgeport, codysrestaurantwv.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
PRESTON COUNTY BUCKWHEAT FESTIVAL
Kingwood, buckwheatfestival.com
FINE DINING
THE WONDER BAR STEAKHOUSE
Clarksburg, wonderbarsteakhouse.com
RECREATION VENUE
THE BRIDGE SPORTS COMPLEX
Bridgeport, thebridgewv.com
PLACE TO SHOP
HOOT AND HOWL
Morgantown, shophootandhowl.com
PLACE TO STAY
MORGANTOWN MARRIOTT AT THE WATERFRONT
Morgantown, @waterfrontplacehotel on FB
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
TYGART ADVENTURE LAKE
Grafton, @tygartadventure on FB
WATERING HOLE
MARIO’S FISHBOWL
Morgantown and Westover, mariosfishbowl.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Cherri Sturm
The old Alderson Broaddus University campus has found new life as Battlers Knob, an event and performance venue managed by Cherri Sturm. By renting out the campus’ spaces for sporting events, concerts, weddings, office space, and much more, Sturm is helping new activities, businesses, and entertainment find their way to Philippi.
New River/Greenbrier Valley
BAKERY
GOOD ROADS BAKEHOUSE
Frankford, @goodroadsbakehouse on FB
CASUAL DINING
SECRET SANDWICH SOCIETY
Fayetteville, secretsandwichsociety.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
THE STATE FAIR OF WEST VIRGINIA
Lewisburg, statefairofwv.com
FINE DINING
THE FRENCH GOAT
Lewisburg, thefrenchgoat.com
RECREATION VENUE
ACE ADVENTURE RESORT
Oak Hill, aceraft.com
PLACE TO SHOP
OTTER & OAK
Hinton, otterandoak.com
PLACE TO STAY
COUNTRY ROAD CABINS
Hico, wvcabins.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
BRIDGE WALK
Lansing, bridgewalk.com
WATERING HOLE
THE ASYLUM
Lewisburg, lewisburgasylum.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Lewis Rhinehart
After a 2020 fire burned down his original location, Secret Sandwich Society’s owner Lewis Rhinehart began the tireless work to rebuild. Since he reopened in 2023, fans have returned in droves to get a taste. Meanwhile, Give Back Nights let the SSS team give back to the causes close to their hearts.
Northern Panhandle
BAKERY
SWEET TEMPTATIONS PASTRY SHOP
Weirton, @vanessasweettemptations24 on FB
CASUAL DINING
VAGABOND KITCHEN
Wheeling, thevagabondkitchen.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
BACK HOME FESTIVAL
New Martinsville, backhomefestival.com
FINE DINING
TRACE CHOPHOUSE
Wheeling, oglebay.com/trace-chophouse
RECREATION VENUE
GRAND VUE PARK
Moundsville, grandvuepark.com
PLACE TO SHOP
WHEELING ARTISAN CENTER SHOP
Wheeling, artisancenter.com
PLACE TO STAY
OGLEBAY PARK RESORT
Wheeling, oglebay.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
WEST VIRGINIA PENITENTIARY
Moundsville, wvpentours.com
WATERING HOLE
BARISTAS CAFE AND PUB
New Martinsville, @baristascafepub on FB
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Heather Wetzel Parks
Downtown New Martinsville is experiencing a renaissance, thanks in part to Heather Wetzel Parks, owner of local-favorite shop The Book Store. Between organizing downtown events, hosting gatherings at the store, and championing new small businesses, Parks is playing a key role in the revitalization of New Martinsville’s downtown neighborhood as well as community spirit and pride.
Potomac Highlands
BAKERY
MACK’S BINGO BAKERY
Wardensville, @macksbingo on FB
CASUAL DINING
LOST + FOUND PIZZA AND PROVISIONS
Mathias, lostandfoundlrv.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY FARM CRAWL
cometohampshire.com/wvfarmcrawl
FINE DINING
THE FORKS INN
Elkins, attheforks.com
RECREATION VENUE
SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Snowshoe, snowshoemtn.com
PLACE TO SHOP
SMOKE HOLE CAVERNS & LOG CABIN RESORT
Cabins, smokehole.com
PLACE TO STAY
TYGART HOTEL
Elkins, tygarthotel.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
POTOMAC EAGLE SCENIC RAILROAD
Romney, potomaceagle.com
WATERING HOLE
BIG TIMBER BREWING
Elkins, bigtimberbrewing.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Marlene England
As one of the founding owners of WordPlay, a booming independent bookstore in Wardensville, Marlene England knows the power of words and a good book. That’s why she created WordPlay Connects, a nonprofit through the bookstore that works to provide free books to local kids and connect them with authors, illustrators, and new ideas.
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