Here are the WV Living reader-favorite restaurants, shops, travel destinations, lodging, towns, and people in 2023—the Best of West Virginia.
written by Elizabeth Howard, Pam Kasey, & Devin Lacy
photographed by Carla Witt Ford & Nikki Bowman Mills
Looking for tips on where to eat next time you’re in the Eastern Panhandle—fun places in the southern part of the state for a weekend getaway—best Mountain State shops for books, clothes, gifts, furniture, art? We have recommendations from the experts: West Virginians across the state. Here are the WV Living reader-favorite restaurants, shops, travel destinations, lodging, towns, and people in 2023—the Best of West Virginia.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Eastern Panhandle
BAKERY
BOLIVAR BREAD BAKERY
Harpers Ferry, bolivarbread.com
CASUAL DINING
ALMA BEA
Shepherdstown
@almabeashepherdstown on FB
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN THEATER FESTIVAL AT SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY
Shepherdstown, catf.org
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, thevintagelady.net
PLACE TO STAY
THOMAS SHEPHERD INN
Shepherdstown, thomasshepherdinn.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
RIVER RIDERS FAMILY ADVENTURE RESORT
Harpers Ferry, riverriders.com
WATERING HOLE
DEVIL’S DUE DISTILLERY
Kearneysville, @devilsduedistillery on FB
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Laura Smith
When the time came for someone to take on the role of director of the Travel Berkeley Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau, Laura Smith stepped up. She works each day so visitors can enjoy all that Berkeley Springs has to offer.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Hatfield-McCoy Mountains
BAKERY
NU ERA BAKERY
Logan @nuerabakery on FB
CASUAL DINING
PT12 PIZZERIA & BBQ
Gilbert trail12bbq.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
MAGNOLIA FAIR FESTIVAL
Matewan @magnoliafairfestival on FB
RECREATION VENUE
HATFIELD–McCOY TRAILS
PLACE TO SHOP
THE FUNKY FLAMINGO
Danville thefunkyflamingo.shop
PLACE TO STAY
TWIN HOLLOW CAMPGROUND & CABINS
Gilbert twinhollowcampground.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
MOUNTAINTOP ADVENTURES
Gilbert mountaintopadventures.com
WATERING HOLE
HATFIELD & McCOY MOONSHINE
Gilbert drinkofthedevilmoonshine.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
David McCormick Sr.
David McCormick Sr. is the owner of McCormick’s, a family-owned furniture business in Logan. This year, McCormick led the business into its 87th year at its first and only location in downtown Logan, maintaining the promise of quality and service it’s known for.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Metro Valley
BAKERY
SPRING HILL PASTRY SHOP
South Charleston, springhillpastry.com
CASUAL DINING
THE PITCH SPORTS BAR & GRILL
Dunbar, thepitchwv.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
THE WEST VIRGINIA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
Huntington, @wvshakes on FB
FINE DINING
1010 BRIDGE RESTAURANT
Charleston, 1010bridge.com
RECREATION VENUE
HERITAGE FARM MUSEUM & VILLAGE
Huntington, heritagefarmmuseum.com
PLACE TO SHOP
GYPSY GRACE BOUTIQUE
Dunbar, @gypsygboutique on FB
PLACE TO STAY
EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON CHARLESTON
Charleston @embassysuitescharlestonwv on FB
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
CLAY CENTER
Charleston, theclaycenter.org
WATERING HOLE
FIFE STREET BREWING
Charleston, fifestreetbrewing.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
Nora Ankrom & Mike Murdock
Nora Ankrom and Mike Murdock serve as Alchemy Theatre’s executive director and artistic director respectively. Together, the two also founded the annual West Virginia Shakespeare Festival in Huntington and work to connect our creators with the community.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Mid-Ohio Valley
BAKERY
JR’S DONUTCASTLE
Parkersburg, jrsdonutcastle.com
CASUAL DINING
WINE DOWN ON MARKET
Parkersburg, winedownwv.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
MOTHMAN FESTIVAL
Point Pleasant, mothmanfestival.com
FINE DINING
THE BLENNERHASSETT RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
Parkersburg, theblennerhassettrestaurant.com
RECREATION VENUE
MOUNTWOOD PARK
Waverly, mountwoodpark.org
PLACE TO SHOP
CARDINAL MARKET
Vienna, @cardinalmarketwv on FB
PLACE TO STAY
THE BLENNERHASSETT HOTEL & SPA
Parkersburg, theblennerhassett.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
DISCOVERY WORLD ON MARKET
Parkersburg, dwonmarket.org
WATERING HOLE
FAIRPLAIN YACHT CLUB
Ripley, fairplainyachtclub.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Wendy Shriver
The former executive director of Downtown PKB, Wendy Shriver is the executive director of DIscovery World on Market, a new children’s museum in Parkersburg that brings education, creativity, and fun to the children of the region.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Mountain Lakes
BAKERY
ALMOST HEAVEN PEPPERONI ROLLS
Mount Nebo, almostheavenpepperonirolls.com
CASUAL DINING
SOUTH TEXAS BBQ
Weston, @sotexbbqco on FB
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
THE WEST VIRGINIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
Buckhannon, wvstrawberryfestival.com
FINE DINING
THE VAULT ON MAIN
Summersville, thevaultonmainwv.com
RECREATION VENUE
SUMMERSVILLE LAKE STATE PARK
Summersville, wvstateparks.com
PLACE TO SHOP
TENNILE’S BOUTIQUE AND FORMALS
Summersville, tenniles.com
PLACE TO STAY
SUMMERSVILLE LAKE RETREAT & LIGHTHOUSE
Summersville, summersvillelakeretreat.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
TRANS-ALLEGHENY LUNATIC ASYLUM
Weston, trans-alleghenylunaticasylum.com
WATERING HOLE
MALONEY’S PUB
Summersville, @maloneyswv on FB
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Tracy McCoy
As the executive director of the Summersville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tracy McCoy sees the beauty and potential of the area. Whether it’s updating the area’s Civil War Trails sites or encouraging visitors to get out on the water, McCoy is eager to show off sunny Summersville.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Mountaineer Country
BAKERY
SHANA CAKES
@shanacakeswv on FB
CASUAL DINING
VON BLAZE
Morgantown, vonblaze.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
PRESTON COUNTY BUCKWHEAT FESTIVAL
Kingwood, buckwheatfestival.com
FINE DINING
MURIALE’S ITALIAN KITCHEN
Fairmont, muriales.com
RECREATION VENUE
MYLAN PARK
Morgantown, mylanpark.org
PLACE TO SHOP
LOVING WV
Fairmont, lovingwv.com
PLACE TO STAY
MORGANTOWN MARRIOTT AT WATERFRONT PLACE
Morgantown, @waterfrontplacehotel on FB
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
COOPERS ROCK STATE FOREST
Bruceton Mills, wvstateparks.com
WATERING HOLE
MARIO’S FISHBOWL
Morgantown, mariosfishbowl.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Leisha Elliot
Leisha Elliott joined the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Marion County in 2011, taking on the role of executive director just two years later. In this position, she has put a focus on local culture and tradition as well as supporting small businesses in the area.
REGIONAL WINNERS
New River/Greenbrier Valley
BAKERY
HONEYCOMB CAFE
Bramwell, @honeycombcafebramwell on FB
CASUAL DINING
PIES & PINTS
Fayetteville, piesandpints.net
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
THE STATE FAIR OF WEST VIRGINIA
Lewisburg, statefairofwv.com
FINE DINING
FOOD & FRIENDS
Lewisburg, @foodandfriendswv on FB
RECREATION VENUE
ARROWHEAD BIKE FARM & CAMPGROUND
Fayetteville, arrowheadbikefarm.com
PLACE TO SHOP
OTTER & OAK
Hinton, otterandoak.com
PLACE TO STAY
COUNTRY ROAD CABINS
Hico, wvcabins.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
THE GREENBRIER
White Sulphur Springs, greenbrier.com
WATERING HOLE
THE ASYLUM
Lewisburg, lewisburgasylum.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Sharon Rowe
Sharon Rowe, president of United Way of the Greenbrier Valley, has served on numerous boards and serves as the director of a variety of organizations such as Leadership Council of the West Virginia University Cancer Institute, The New River Community and Technical College Foundation, and The Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Northern Panhandle
BAKERY
SWEET TEMPTATIONS PASTRY SHOP
Weirton
@vanessasweettemptations24 on FB
CASUAL DINING
THE VAGABOND KITCHEN
Wheeling, thevagabondkitchen.com
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
BACK HOME FESTIVAL
New Martinsville, backhomefestival.com
FINE DINING
ELLE&JACK’S
Wheeling, @elleandjacks on FB
RECREATION VENUE
GRAND VUE PARK
Moundsville, grandvuepark.com
PLACE TO SHOP
FIESTA TABLEWARE
Newell, fiestafactorydirect.com
PLACE TO STAY
OGLEBAY
Wheeling, oglebay.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
WEST VIRGINIA PENITENTIARY
Moundsville, wvpentours.com
WATERING HOLE
THE BRIDGE TAVERN & GRILL
Wheeling, bridgetavernandgrill.com
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Sandy Hunt
Sandy Hunt once served president and chief executive for the Wetzel County Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she assisted in the creation of New Martinsville’s popular Back Home Festival before stepping down to serve the community as mayor.
REGIONAL WINNERS
Potomac Highlands
BAKERY
WARDENSVILLE GARDEN MARKET
Wardensville, @wardensvillegardenmarket on FB
CASUAL DINING
MACK’S BINGO KITCHEN
Wardensville, @macksbingo on FB
FAIR / FEST / EVENT
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY FARM CRAWL
@hampshirefarmcrawl on FB
FINE DINING
THE FORKS INN
Elkins, attheforks.com
RECREATION VENUE
SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Snowshoe, snowshoemtn.com
PLACE TO SHOP
WORDPLAY
Wardensville, wordplaywv.com
PLACE TO STAY
SMOKE HOLE CAVERNS & LOG CABIN RESORT
Cabins, smokehole.com
UNIQUE ATTRACTION
POTOMAC EAGLE
Romney, potomaceagle.com
WATERING HOLE
NORTH BRANCH BREWING CO.
Keyser, @northbranchpub on FB
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Cara Rose
As the retired executive director of the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cara Rose spent many years in the tourism industry, showcasing what West Virginia has to offer and creating new recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.
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