What a cool spot to visit! It is probably a one-and-done for me, because it's not nearby, but it…read morewas fun to see in person after hearing about it for many years. It was also cold and rainy when we went and there were not a ton of people there (yet) the day before Halloween. It is a bit muddy, so wear some shoes you don't care about. Nice assortment of vendors and food trucks, but most of them had not yet opened for the evening. Some looked like they were just starting to open up as we were leaving. We had no trouble finding parking. Cute industrial Ohio River town with a beautiful house to be very proud of. Worth a visit.

This was such a cool spot to visit on Halloween! Even if you're not a fan of the holiday, it's…read morestill something that you won't see anywhere else. The detail in the carvings are very impressive and it's uplifting to see town members walk through and recognize their own art. The town may be small, but they band together to get the Pumpkin House ready every year. I highly recommend making a trip to Kenova for at least one Halloween.

I don't know about most peeps, but I frigging love love love covered bridges. Just something about…read morethem...something regal, majestic, mysterious and yet romantic all rolled into one. Now this particular bridge is located off KY route 7 in Northern Greenup Co. Very easy to find, yet if not careful you can easily pass it by. There are no signs like in the state of Indiana telling you there is a covered bridge ahead. Also, you can actually drive across this bridge because it is still used for automobile traffic. It spans 159 ft across Tygart Creek. This vintage beauty was built in 1855 and repaired in 1915. Damaged in flood in 1997, and repaired again. This is a Wheeler Truss Bridge, only example still standing. That's very interesting. I love searching these beauties out when I am roaming around the area on backroads...absolutely something you should see if in the area!!!

An actual wooden covered bridge you can drive your car across. Pretty cool. Once a year they close…read morethe bridge to traffic and have a catered dinner with tables and chairs on the bridge floor.

Although the building is not eye-catching downtown, however the inside the museum is truly amazing…read more There are two stories not including the outdoor museum space. Each corner and wall is packed with artifacts and memorabilia, and the museum curators are eager to explain each piece. There are features connecting to Native Americans, Berea College, and the history of the Red River Gorge Caves. This museum is vital to enjoying your time in the area, a private tour is needed!

One of the most overlooked places to stop on your way to Red River Gorge, or Natural Bridge…read more This has to be one of the most interesting, as well as quirky, museums I've ever seen. If you're coming to the area, it's a must stop! It's also free of charge! You can donate, but it's not required, nor thrown in your face. Here's a link to an awesome photographer who has a section on his Flickr page dedicated to the museum: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kentuckyranger/sets/72157607422762325 And here's a link to their FaceBook page. They aren't open allot, so make sure they'll be open when you come! https://www.facebook.com/Red-River-Museum-184139178315029/

As a city on a river, Charleston has a handful of bridges that ensure the two sides are able to…read moreconnect. While the upriver Chuck Yeager Bridge carries both I-77 and I-64 over the river, this one is downriver from the city and is simply named the South Side Bridge. Perhaps one day it will get named after a worthy West Virginian. In the meanwhile, the South Side Bridge was built in 1936 by the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company and was updated in 1990. The bridge spans 1146 feet with a main span of 420 feet and is 38.7 feet wide. It is a Parker through truss bridge. It brings I-64 over not only the Kanawha River but also Kanawha Boulevard and MacCorkle Avenue and a railroad line. My two crossings of the bridge today were easy and smooth thanks to low weekend traffic. As there are signs on the bridge that note the "exit only" lanes, it is likely much more challenging during rush hour. There is no toll here which is a positive. [Review 566 of 2025 - 151 in West Virginia - 24127 overall]

The 1148-foot South Side Bridge opened in 1936 and carries Dickinson Street over the Kanahwa River…read morein the middle of Charleston WV. It is a through truss bridge with clearance enough for a Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star doing 500mph to miss the water and the deck. According to an April 2010 item in the Charleston Gazette this is the bridge Chuck Yeager famously flew under in 1948 - a year after breaking the sound barrier: one pass, heading west, to impress/scare the locals and then back to work. No more, no less, the general was just having a little too much fun. Yea Chuck!

This place is definitely worth checking out! Had no clue this place existed until we passed by it…read morewhile visiting Williamson. The history of the Coal House is very unique! There is a nice little gift shop inside as well.

From the owner: Housing the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce, The world famous Coal House is a visitor's welcome…read morecenter and gateway to the Hatfield McCoy Mountains of southern West Virginia. #VisitTheTug

If you're cruising through South Charleston and spot a big grassy hill tucked between antique shops…read moreand quiet streets, that's the Criel Mound. It's worth a stop. It's not flashy, but there's something grounding about standing next to a structure built over 2,000 years ago by the aboriginal people. The steps leading up are wide and gentle, and once you reach the top, you get a surprisingly peaceful view of the neighborhood. It's a quick visit. The mound itself is steeped in mystery and history. Archaeologists found 13 skeletons inside, including a central figure surrounded by others. There's a small park around the mound with interpretive signs that give you just enough context to spark curiosity. Some locals say horse races were once held around it, and there's even talk of burials that might represent alliances between different tribes. It's wild to think about how much has happened on that patch of earth, and how little we still know. The Criel Mound stands to quietly anchor the town. Kids run up the steps, people are walking dogs, and there's me, pausing to read the plaques. There is a sense of reverence here if you feel it. It's not at all a playground. [Review 569 of 2025 - 154 in West Virginia - 24130 overall]

The Criel Mound is a historic and cultural gem nestled in South Charleston, WV…read more The small park which houses it has plenty of street parking available and several interpretive signs around the mound explaining its history, importance, and what archaeologists discovered inside the mound when excavating. The mound is the second largest Adena mound in West Virginia and is believed to have been developed between 250 and 150 B.C. The Criel Mound was originally one of 50 mounds and prehistoric earthworks located in WV but unfortunately most have since been destroyed due to industrialization. It's definitely worth a visit (plan on about 30 minutes) if you're in the area.

Well preserved piece of ground but beware the total battlefield is not part of this area. My own gr…read moregr gr grandfather and three of his sons, including my gr gr grandfather fought here with the 5th Kentucky CSA.

We were staying in the area and someone told us about this battlefield. So we took a short drive…read moreout from Prestonsburg to see it. It is a very small area off the side of the road. There are interpretative signs that give the details of the battle. The Battle of Middle Creek was an engagement fought January 10, 1862, in Eastern Kentucky during the American Civil War. The battle, along with the Battle of Mill Springs, positioned the Union armies to invade Middle Tennessee. There are also small paths that you can take and walk out onto the field.

There are actually two bridges here, carrying I-64 / I-77 across the Kanawha River just south of…read moreCharleston. They are unique, steel-through arches, with the first completed in 1954. The second, parallel, bridge was completed in 1983. Each is two lanes and there is no toll to cross the bridges. Named after the aviator who was the first to fly faster than sound, https://youtu.be/zgR-KadhgMI, US Air Force Brigadier General Charles "Chuck" Yeager. His birthplace of Myra WV is about 40 miles west of here. He is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. The bridges are a very boring green, almost Army olive. They are scheduled to be repainted this year in the official colors of West Virginia, blue and gold. [Review 19618 overall - 92 in West Virginia - 589 of 2023.]

This is a cool breeze that I've traveled over numerous times man traveling through West Virginia on…read morethe way to Pittsburgh go Steelers can't go wrong with that this is a cooler bridge it's green text you over the water does what a bridge should do four out of five stars good for you bridge

I am a self proclaimed presidential history "nerd". I've read a biography on each president in…read moreorder (currently reading F.D.R.), and my bucket list includes visiting all their birth and burial places. I also make it a point to visit presidential libraries, national historic sites, etc. So, bottom line, I'm tough on these places. I arrived just as a tour started. Two very kind, older people were working as docents. Kaye and Bud, I believe. Very nice, but VERY TALKATIVE, which is ordinarily not a bad thing when it comes to history, but my schedule was tight. There were multiples times during the tour when I thought the explanations and information was tangential and obscure (and I'm a history guy!). When another couple had to leave due to their timeline - I rode their coattails. There just isn't enough information and/or background here for the tour to be that long. There are few items that actually belonged to the Grant family. Having said all this, I should say I was impressed by Bud's grasp on history. Impressive. I walked to the nearby schoolhouse (about 3 blocks away) and just looked in the windows. I couldn't wait for Bud or Kaye to drive over there and let me in... There was a small snafu where I was almost charged $2,020 for an entry fee and souvenir...and poor Kaye couldn't figure out how to fix it (hence the 30 min walk to the schoolhouse while she figured it out haha!). Damn electronics these youngins use! Overall I was glad I went!

i was dragged with my family. The house has a few rooms and you can be there for maybe an hour? the…read moreadmission is a few dollars.

This is a great place for picnic and quick history lesson for folks of all ages. American Civil War…read morebuff? Follow the "Morgan's Raid" road signs for an adventure. Love Native American history? Check out the mound!

I had long heard about Buffington Island, but don't get down this way much. When I was driving to…read moreNorth Carolina I noticed it was only a few miles off my route, so I had to swing by. The only Civil War battlefield in Ohio- how could I pass that up? It is small, and probably not of much interest unless you are a real history buff, in which case it is fascinating. There is a small park with plenty of parking, an Indian mound, and a small outbuilding with bathrooms. A few historical markers and a small pavilion with display panels round out the amenities. The story is fascinating: John Morgan, later imprisoned in the old State Pen in Columbus, was a Confederate raider who attacked all along the Ohio River. This was the only major battle, and it eventually led to his capture. The displays explain the background, battle, and aftermath. It's quiet and isolated, and pretty cool. Maybe not worth a special trip unless you are a Civil War buff, but if you live in the area or are traveling nearby, definitely worth a visit.