This southern city deserves a closer look.
In many ways, Beckley is the gateway to southern West Virginia. From here, you can take U.S. Route 19 and travel to the New River Gorge. Or head eastbound on Interstate 64, toward Lewisburg and White Sulphur Springs. West Virginia Route 3 will take you to Hinton, and pointing your car southbound on Interstate 77 gets you closer to Princeton and Bluefield.
Beckley is more than just a place to fill your gas tank and set off on another adventure, however. This city of nearly 18,000 people is a destination unto itself, a required stop on any road trip. Plenty of people know about Tamarack, which features works from West Virginia artists and artisans, and the Exhibition Coal Mine, which gives visitors a firsthand look at the life of a coal miner. But it’s also home to a growing arts and culinary scene with locally owned businesses springing up all over town.
So if you’re itching for some springtime travel, consider taking a look around Beckley. We’ve collected a few of our favorite attractions to get you started.
Tickety Boo Mercantile
This quirky marketplace operates according to an equally quirky mission statement: “Preserving our history, one piece of crap at a time.” Co-owners Nancy Chambers and Sasha Cantley founded Tickety Boo with a commitment to refurbishing and repurposing old furniture and household items to give them new life. You can find handmade jewelry, metal art, and stained glass items by local artisans, too. Tickety Boo is also happy to make custom pieces if a family heirloom needs to be preserved and updated.
337 Neville Street; 304.575.8202; ticketyboomercantile.com
OPEN: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday noon to 5 p.m.
Dobra Zupas
One of the hottest restaurants in Beckley’s burgeoning food scene, Dobra Zupas actually means “good soup” in Slovenian—although the menu contains much more than that, with delicious made-from-scratch food as well as beers from its in-house craft brewery. Owner Rebecca Zupanick says she strives to keep the atmosphere cozy. “People come here after they get off work. They like the fact we’re cooking like they cook at home,” she says.
600 South Oakwood Aveue; 304.253.9872; dobrazupas.com
MUST TRY: Cranberry walnut salad, which features dried cranberries and candied walnuts over fresh greens and tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and parmesan.
OPEN: Lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, dinner on Saturday, closed Sunday.
Neville Street Market
Tickety Boo co-owners Nancy Chambers and Sasha Cantley launched this bi-monthly, open-air market in 2015 after another local flea market ceased operation.
Held in downtown Beckley, just a few miles from Interstate 64 and Interstate 77, the Neville Street Market has since become a favorite spring and summer event.
You’ll find vendors selling vintage furniture, jewelry, handmade arts and crafts, baked goods, and more.
304.575.8202
OPEN: The first and third Saturday of each month, from May 7 to September 10.
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