zach and i are coming off the most incredible getaway in west virginia and whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend away, a girls trip or some family adventure, i can’t wait to show y’all everything we did!!
i surprised zach and told him to pack his bags for 2 nights, 3 days for a romantic, luxury road trip. as West Virginia celebrates the 50th anniversary of ‘country roads, take me home’, there truly was no better time for us to pack the car, turn on some john denver and head out to the ultimate modern mountain destination. west virginia is just hours from major metropolitan areas {only 3 hours from us in Dayton, ohio!}, and better yet, it’s within a day’s drive from nearly 2/3rd of the US population!

while i very easily could make an entire blog post about each and every spot we went to, i’m going to do my best to share the highlights of the charming cities of charleston and huntington in hopes that you will be booking your own getaway… trust me when i say this is the best hidden gem you NEED to see!

charleston, west virginia

we started our trip down the winding country roads to the uncrowded, charming mountain towns and awe-inspiring landmarks. the hip, historic, almost-heaven of charleston is steeped in historic architecture with an eclectic music scene. complete with bountiful shopping, unique dining experiences and 4 seasons of changing mountain landscape, we kept saying, ‘man we can’t wait to bring the kids back this fall!!”

west virginia’s capital city is perfectly positioned at the confluence of the kanawha + elk rivers. it’s also where 3 major interstates converge, making it a highly accessible destination if you’re looking for an affordable getaway!

we kicked off our anniversary getaway with a 90-minute couples massage at spa bliss.. and y’all. wooooow. not only was the customer service amazing and the relaxed urban vibe incredible, but the massages we had set us up for the most relaxing, fun weekend for connection. spa bliss’s goal is to provide a beautiful zen atmosphere along with talented staff to ensure the client experience tranquility + bliss! with services ranging from massages, permanent makeup, hair and boasting the beautiful lotus room, you’re sure to find an amazing blissful + relaxing treatment!

after getting pampered on our spa date, we devoured some delicious pizza at pies + pints on capitol street street on the patio. as the 2nd ever pies + pints restaurant, the Charleston location serves one-of-a-kind pizza + craft beer in the center of the city’s downtown shopping district.

we checked into our airBnB after lunch, then walked to the juliet art museum at the clay center. the clay center houses performing arts, visual arts and sciences under one roof – one of the few of its kind in the country! we loved walking around and honestly spent more time in the kids areas talking about how much fun it would be to bring the crew back with us!

we were starving by the time dinner came around and took a quick 5 minute drive to the 1010 bridge. with an appalachian / low country influence, the restaurant utilizes local farmers and businesses whenever possible… shout out to the most amazing scallops i’ve EVER had with a hand crafted cocktails and a wine + beer list to highlight and complement the cuisine.

after dinner, we walked to caffe romeo to enjoy a wide variety of authentic italian gelato made fresh every week onsite! the owner, mario sommella has been perfecting his craft for over 25 years and learned the trade in his home city of napoli, italy!

after a busy day, we crashed hard at our Airbnb which had the kindest host! complimentary wine, waters and even an Alexa so we could listen to music.. it was wonderful!

the next morning we grabbed a quick + lite breakfast at coco’s kitchen, located in the heart of downtown charleston with a casual, relaxed environment.

we took a short drive from coco’s to J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works… a 7th generation salt-making family business who harvests an all-natural salt by hand, from an ancient ocean trapped below the appalachian mountains of the kanawha valley. this was one of the coolest stops we had and it’s worth noting that literally everywhere we went in charleston made sure we would be stopping to take a tour. not only did we learn an incredible amount of information but we also were able to taste a variety of products used with the salt they produce…and bonus, the tour + tasting is FREE to the public!!!

our last stop in charleston was to capitol market to shop for unique gifts + goodies from west viriginia. located in a renovated freight station from the 1800’s, it is designed to capture the essence of an outdoor farmer’s market. it is also home to many indoor specialty shops featuring fresh simple food fare to gourmet pleasures with a full-scale restaurant featuring fine Italian cuisine.
we fed our bellies for lunch at soho’s, located inside the market!

charleston boasts the history you’d expect of a capital city, but a growing arts scene and it’s riverside position makes it a hub for recreational fun + culture too!

huntington, wv

huntington sits along the ohio river in cabell county across from the state of ohio. as home of marshall university, this west virginia city has a bustling dining + nightlife scene, but it’s also a great place for families to visit and live.

our first stop in Huntington was to the heritage station, a regional artisan center featuring a variety of small shops with incredible owners! we had the most delicious tasting of treats by the one and only nomad bakery just inside heritage station. nomada bakery brings you a journey of flavors that starts in their grandma’s kitchens and travels to many places throughout the evolve… and what’s even more special is the welcoming + diverse atmosphere. whether you’re sipping on coffee from the beautiful china dishes or your enjoying the incredible empanadas, you’re going to feel right at home!

after our tasty treats from nomada bakery, we checked into the chessie house bed + breakfast, which is a part of the old baltimore + ohio train station, now called heritage station! it’s conveniently located near all the area’s shops, theaters and restaurants and is truly the perfect accommodation for quick access to the city!

our next stop is absolutely a hidden gem… the peddler!

we toasted to 9 years of marriage at the peddler, a brewery with an impressive arcade featuring vintage games and fun atmosphere. this was a classic ‘date’ for us that we both enjoy… local beer + fun! whether you’re stopping in for a quick drink or sitting down for brunch, lunch or dinner, this is a must stop in our books!!

onto our next adventure… the haute wick social!! i’ll be honest, when i originally saw this on our itinerary, i was a little concerned this wouldn’t be the best choice for an anniversary trip…but more like a girls night? y’all, we had a GREAT time!!! we had so much fun experiencing the custom soy candle making process. with over 100 scents to choose from, these lovely ladies walked us through the whole process from smelling different scents to creating the perfect combination and making our candles! it truly was such a treat and made for a unique date!

next up was dinner at the cellar door tapas room… what a fun hidden gem! from the decor to staff, appetizer to dessert, we had an incredible experience and highly recommend you stop down in the cellar to experience it for yourself! i could go on and on about the delicious cocktails tapas and could have hung in the lounge all night… a perfect location for girls nights too! specializing in small plates, tapas, craft beer and with an extensive wine list… trust me when i say this is a must stop!

we ended our night with a night cap at SIP downtown brasserie. Huntington’s first and only wine + whiskey bar, we each enjoyed our favorite beverages. specializing in wine flights, SIP serves over 40 wines from around the world by the glass + bottle… it’s easy to see why they are so highly talked about amongst the community – and we agree! be sure to add the stop to your list!

our final day was a shorter one but packed with history, culture and amazing surprises.

we started off with a private tour of the huntington museum of art… we both agreed, our favorite museum we’ve ever visited!! encompassing a permanent art collection of more than 16,000 objects, 10 exhibition spaces, an interactive education gallery, an art reference library of nearly 27,000 volumes, a 287-seat auditorium, the only tropical and subtropical plant conservatory in the state of West Virginia {my FAVORITE!!!} and a quarter-mile paved accessible sensory trail for the visually impaired…that barely scratches the surface. we had the most incredible tour guide who truly made this stop a memorable one!!

saving our favorite for last {which is hard considering all these places were so incredible}.. a tour of the keith-albee performing arts center. regarded as one of West Virginia’s most distinctive landmarks, huntington’s keith-albee theatre was built by the greater huntington theatre corporation in 1928. designed by Thomas w. lamb {one of America’s foremost theatre architects, the Keith-albee is designed in the ornate Spanish baroque style.

we were surprised with a private show, completed with a beautiful charcuterie board + champagne.. it was magical. while they are in the midst of renovations, it was easy to be amazed by the accoustics of the theatre, the beauty of the details and the incredible history. i’m thrilled to see this gorgeous building get a second life put into it and can’t wait to revisit for a show!!

before hitting the road, we stopped to fill our bellies at the market… whether you’re in the mood for greek cuisine or some tasty ice cream, there are many options for breakfast, lunch, dinner…and even some shopping!!

whether you’re in need of a quick girls getaway, you want to plan an elaborate romantic getaway or even a family road trip, it’s clear to see why west virginia should be at the top of your list. we’re already planning our fall getaway with our crew and can’t wait to get back to see the beautiful mountains with the fall leaves! be sure to check out WVTourism.com and to book your next trip!

** a special thanks to jay hollman photography for these stunning captures!!**

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