There’s something for everybody in the state museum. Children can have a fun time learning and discovering the different artifacts within the museum via an educational scavenger hunt that would take them around various spots in the museum. Civil War buff on the other hand, would surely enjoy the multitude of information and exhibit on battles, heroes, legends and weapons in one of the museum’s Discovery rooms.

The WV Sate Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays, 9am to 5pm (12noon to 5pm on Sundays). Admission to the museum is free. Tours of the museum can be arranged through (304) 558-0162 or WVStateMuseum@WVCulture.org.

Midland Trail Scenic Highway Association has come up with a few driving routes on the I-60, passing through West Virginia’s lush landscape. The route takes you through both natural and man-made attractions, appealing to both nature lovers and adventure seekers. The Association’s website has all the guides and details you need for planning this scenics drive. For more information and to request for the destination guide, visit www.midlandtrail.com.

Midland Trail Scenic Highway Association
237 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 343-6001
Fax: (304)344-2210
Website: www.midlandtrail.com

Wild grapes were discovered in the property of Paul and Anna-Neale Taylor in 1995. This inspired the couple to try growing grapes in 1996. The following year, they started growing grapes in the main vineyard. Today, there are now eight varieties of French-American hybrid grapes, including some Cabernet Franc grapes. These grapes allows the vineyard to create fourteen different kinds of wine ranging from a dry red to a sweet dessert wine, including seasonal fruit wines like Melomel, Plum, Raspberry and their award winning Elderberry.

The vineyard is open to visitors for a tour and tasting. Don’t have time to drive out of Charleston? Their wines can be brought at the Capitol Market, and a number of fine dining restaurants in the city.

Roane Vineyards
1585 Reedyville Road, Spencer, WV 25276
Phone: (304)927-3200
Website: www.roanevineyards.com

Opened in April 2005, the Appalachian Power Park can seat 6,200 spectators. The field’s dimension spans 330 feet in its left fieled, 400 feet in center field and 320 feet in the right field. The stadium boasts of an authentic locomotive horn, which was given by the Norfolk Southern Corporation, whose track run ajacent to the park.

The park’s most unusual feature though, is a mere electrical outlet in the backstop just behind the home plate. This feature was added to accommodate local businessman, Rod Blackstone, who is one of the biggest and famous fan of minor league baseball. He’s known to bring bread and a toaster to games. He’d make fresh toast right in his seat and toss the freshly toasted bread into the seats around him. He’d yell out “you are toast!” whenever a Power pitcher strikes out a batter.

The stadium also have restaurants open throughout the whole year. There is also a “Fun Zone” behind the center field, where there are numerous games to keep the kids occupied.

Appalachian Power Park
601 Morris Street
Suite 201, Charleston, WV 25301
Website: West Virginia Power Official Website

You are guaranteed live music every day of the week at The Emply Glass. On Mondays are open mic performances (acoustic on the first three Mondays of the month, electric on the fourth/last Monday). Tuesdays feature original rock-n-roll music of the Spurgie Hankins Band, while Wednesdays have jazz afficionados hopping with the Carpenter Ants Blues Jam. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays feature the best Charleston bands or the up and coming touring bands. Sundays are mellow, with acoustic music from the Spurgie Hankins. Mountain Stage sometimes record at The Empty Glass. After each recording, there is a post-Mountain Stage Jam, hosted by the Carpenter Ants.

Performing at The Empty Glass are Mike Darby’s House O Cards (March 23), Ashleigh Flynn (March 26), The Lucky Daredevil Thrill show (March 27) and The Whiskey Daredevils with the Diablo Blues Band (March 28).

The Empty Glass
410 Elizabeth St Charleston, WV, US 25311
Phone: (304) 345-9893
Website: www.myspace.com/theemptyglass

Some of the films included in last year’s festival are Le Scaphandre et le Papillon (France) directed by Julian Schnabel, Se, Jie (Taiwan/China/USA) directed by Ang Lee, 4 Luni, 3 Sapatamani si 2 Zile (Romania) directed by Cristian Mungiu, Persepolis (France) directed by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi, Up the Yangtze (Canada) directed by Yung Chang, Mongol (Kazakhstan) directed by Sergei Bodrov, and Encounters at the End of the world (USA) directed by Werner Herzog.

In between the two seasonal festivals, there is also the Splice it up, which features films on certain weekends of the month. In January 2009, the feature films were Frozen River by Courtney Hunt, Appaloosa by Ed Harris, Happy go Lucky by Mike Leigh and Elegy by Isabel Coixet.

Admission fee is $8 per film ($5 for matinees before 6pm). West Virginia State University students get a free pass, while students from other schools are charged $4 per film.

WVSU Capitol Center Theater
123 Summers Street, Charleston
Phone: 304-342-6522
Website: www.wviff.org

The Comedy Zone features the country’s best and funniest comedians, while serving great meals and drinks to enjoy before, during and after the show. The club opens at 6 o’clock in the evening, and shows typically start at 8 o’clock. After the show, you can continue enjoying the evening at the Lounge located right next to the Zone.

The Comedy Zone is fully equipped to host events, luncheons, banquets and parties. With top-notch catering facilities and state of the art audio-visual equipments, it’s a great venue for parties up to 200.

This year, the Comedy Zone is proud to be headlining some of the finest comedians in the United states. With talents such as Big Ed Caylor, Jack Wilhite, Valarie Storm, Sid Davis, Bryan Cork and Jamie Morgan, the Comedy Zone sure to fill your evening with laughter.

The Comedy Zone
400 Second Avenue
South Charleston, WV 25303
Phone: 303-414-2FUN
Website: www.comedyzonecharleston.com

The theater can seat 175 guests on specially crafted seats for comfortable viewing. The domed screen measures 61 feet in diameter, with a 20% forward tilt. This assures that the viewer’s peripheral vision is filled with image throughout the whole screening. Giant screen films and Planetarium shows regularly run in the theater. To know the current screenings, simply visit the Electric Sky Theater page over at the Clay Center Website.

Electric Sky Theater
Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia
One Clay Square
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 561-3570
Website: www.theclaycenter.org

Visitors who would like to stay near the park can stay in a heritage farm, where they can rent a farm cottage with a full kitchen, heat and airconditioning, ensuite toilet and bath, washer and dryer, a covered porch and antique furniture.

General admission price for Camden Park is $20.99, while children’s and senior’s admission price is $14.99. The park has its own carpark, and parking fee is $3.00.

Camden Park
U.S. 60 West Huntington, WV
Phone: (304) 429-4321 or 1-866-8CAMDEN (1-866-822-6336)
Website: www.camdenpark.com

Like the races that happen in the tracks, the Ona Speedway has an exciting history. It has passed under different ownership since it opened in August 18, 1963 as the West Virginia International Speedway. Its first race was The Mountaineer 300, which was a NASCAR Grand National Race, and was attended by an estimated 16,000 spectators. The Ona speedway, aside from the races hold classes for aspiring racers. It was here in Ona that racing legends Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett and Buck Baker started their career.

From Charleston, the speed way can be reached by driving west on the I-64, and taking Exit 28 (Milton exit). Make a left turn at the end of the exit ramp, then make a right turn at Rt 60. Drive for about 5 miles, then turn right into Howells Mill Road. Follow the signs pointing to the Ona Speedway.

Ona Airpark and Speedway
PO Box 88
Ona, West Virginia 25545
Phone: (304) 710-5650