Cruising down route 60, also referred to as the Midland Trail, is a great way to arrive at Charleston. Visitors can take in views of West Virginia's wild and beautiful countryside before visiting the state's historic capital city with its many museums, cultural experiences, and historical attractions. Charleston also offers an eclectic music and arts scene, as well as the experience of all four seasons with beautiful snow-covered mountains in the winter, autumn scenes during fall, and the deep green grass and colorful flowers of spring and summer.
1 State Capitol
Considered to be West Virginia's most recognizable building, the Charleston State Capitol building has strong Greek and Roman architectural influences including its signature gold dome standing 300 feet high. Of note inside the building is the massive chandelier suspended from the top of the dome. The capitol is fronted by the Kanawha River and is conveniently located on Route 60.
Address: 1900 Kanawha Blvd., Charleston
Official site: http://www.wvculture.org/agency/capitol.html
Accomodation: Where to Stay in Charleston - TripAdvisor.com
2 West Virginia State Museum
First organized in 1890, the West Virginia State Museum, on the first floor of the State Capitolbuilding, provides tourists with a glimpse of West Virginia's history, culture, traditions, art, archaeology, and geology.
Address: 1900 Kanawha Blvd., Charleston
3 Cultural Center
Also at the Capitol Complex, the Cultural Center opened in 1976 to display West Virginia's artistic and cultural heritage. Art and history exhibits are showcased year-round, and special events are also held throughout the year. The museum is home to the State Archives library, the Commission on the Arts, and the State Historic Preservation Office.
Address: 1900 Kanawha Blvd., Charleston
4 Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences
Home to the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences is a 240,000-square-foot structure housing performing arts, visual arts, and sciences all in one location. Performances include a variety of musical genres, such as Christian, swing, jazz, Motown, rock and roll, and southern rock - just to name a few. In addition, ballroom, hip hop, and other contemporary dance styles have also graced the stage, as well as special interest lectures and events. The Broadway in Charleston series also presents productions such as Hair and West Side Story.
Address: One Clay Square, Charleston
Official site: http://www.theclaycenter.org/Home.aspx
5 West Virginia Veterans Memorial
This two-story oval monument features four monoliths, each representing one of the four historical 20th-century military conflicts. A reflecting pool surrounds the monument, which features interior walls faced with polished black granite etched with the names of brave West Virginia veterans.
Address: Greenbrier Street, Charleston
6 Kanawha State Forest
Camp, hike, bike, or cross-country ski at Kanawha State Forest, seven miles south of Charleston. It's a great, scenic location for picnics and also includes a playground to entertain the kids, while mom and dad relax. Camper sites can accommodate units up to 26 feet, as well as pop-up and tent camping.
Address: 7500 Kanawha State Forest Drive, Charleston
Official site: http://www.kanawhastateforest.com/
7 Midland Trail
Midland Trail is the byway for those who simply want to drive, take in the mountain views, and breathe a deep sigh of relaxation. Route 60 winds 180 miles across West Virginia from border to border and will take explorers past mountain lakes, streams, waterfalls, and fields. Note that some stretches of road travel through more populated areas like Charleston.
Official site: http://www.midlandtrail.com/
8 Charleston Civic Center
With the capacity to seat more than 13,000 guests, the Charleston Civic Center hosts shows and productions, such as concerts by national recording artists, athletic events like the Harlem Globetrotters, shows like Disney On Ice, and a multitude of other large-scale events as well as fairs, festivals, and expos.
Address: 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston
Official site: http://www.charlestonwvciviccenter.com/
9 Capitol Street
Along Capitol Street, visitors can take a charming stroll through old-time Charleston with its well-maintained historical buildings. Cafés, galleries, bookstores, and boutique shops reside along the tree-lined, red-brick sidewalk, while restaurants offer everything from pizza and Asian food to scrumptious homemade ice cream. March through December, the street hosts ArtWalk events, which celebrate the city's artistic talent.
Address: Capitol Street, Charleston
10 Haddad Riverfront Park
Visitors to Charleston can check out the music line-up at Live on the Levee, a concert series featuring local and national acts performing a variety of music from African and country to pop. Bands hit the stage every Friday evening from May to September.
Address: 700 Kanawha Blvd., Charleston
Official site: http://liveontheleveecharleston.com/
11 Governor's Mansion
This Georgian Revival-style home, designed by Charleston architect Walter Martens, is a symbol of West Virginia's distinguished past and present. Construction was completed by 1925 (a project of $200,000), and today, guests can walk through the dining room, ballroom, and library and imagine how Charleston's high society of yesteryear lived. Visitors and groups can request a tour by visiting the website.
Address: 1716 Kanawha Blvd., Charleston
12 Charleston Light Opera Guild
Usually producing about four different shows a year, the Charleston Light Opera Guild is home to great off-Broadway and other similar shows. Past productions include Les Miserables, Chicago, Hello, Dolly!, Legally Blonde, Annie, and Dreamgirls.
Address: 411 Tennessee Ave., Charleston
Official site: http://www.charlestonlightoperaguild.org/
13 Avampato Discovery Museum
Two floors of family fun await visitors at the Avampato Discovery Museum, which is part of theClay Center for Arts and Sciences. Home to a multitude of interactive and attention-grabbing science exhibits, the Avampato Discovery Museum offers information on earth and physical science, engineering, energy, magnetism, and health science, as well as traveling exhibits. A planetarium is also on site.
Address: One Clay Square, Charleston
14 East End Historical District
Home to the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, the Capitol Market, and the State Capitol, East End Historical District (more commonly referred to as "East End") is among the oldest and most diverse business-oriented neighborhoods of Charleston. Urban styles blend with Charleston's history with an eclectic mix of public art ranging from graffiti-style creations to historic sculptures and statues. Visitors will also find plenty of shops and restaurants to fill their days.
Address: Main Street, Charleston
Official site: http://charlestoneastend.com/
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