Huntington is a city in West Virginia that sits at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and at the base of the Ohio River. Its primary industries were steel processing, shipping, and transportation, but in the last few decades health care, tourism, and finance are the primary industries. Those who visit Huntington can enjoy the numerous parks that offer recreation and an escape into the serenity of nature. Also, the city has several art and technology museums, artisan shops, an amusement park, local bistros, and fine-dining restaurants.
1. Ritter Park
Ritter Park is located on the southside of Huntington and is considered the heart of the city by many locals. It’s also been called the Crown Jewel by park officials. The Park stretches over 75 acres and offers visitors a handful of recreational amenities. Ritter Park has a walking trail made of crushed limestone which makes it suitable for walkers, joggers, and bicyclists. There are also 11 refurbished tennis courts, an award-winning rose garden, and a dog park. In addition to these features, there are a few playgrounds, several picnic areas, and an outdoor community amphitheater that hosts shows and concerts during the year.
1310 8th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701, Phone: 304-696-5540
2. Heritage Farm Museum and Village
Heritage Farm Museum and Village were co-founded in 1973 by Mike and Henriella Perry. It’s an open-air museum that teaches guests about Appalachian history and culture. In fact, the museum features an 1850’s Appalachian home that exhibits how the early settlers lived. Also, there’s a real-life display that showcases the evolution of transportation throughout the past few centuries. And finally, the schoolhouse museum documents how classrooms were typically run by one teacher who had a class of children ages 6 to 13. The visitor’s center at Heritage Farm Museum has a small cafe that sells lunch fare.
3300 Harvey Rd, Huntington, WV 25704, Phone: 571-258-3800
3. Pullman Square
Pullman Square is an outdoor shopping and dining center located in downtown Huntington. Residents and visitors can shop at stores like Chico’s or the Appalachian Boarding Company, grab a coffee at Starbucks, eat lunch at Black Sheep Burritos & Brews, or simply stop by for a decadent scoop of ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. Pullman Square also has a movie theater called Marquee Cinemas 16. Other stores include Game Stop, Edible Arrangements, The Pottery Place, and M&M Nails and Spa. Towards the end of Spring, and through mid Fall there’s a Saturday farmers market that comes to Pullman Square.
220 Ninth Street, Huntington, WV 25701, Phone: 304-522-3203
4. Huntington Museum of Art
The Huntington Museum of Art opened in 1952 under its previous name, Huntington Galleries. Not only is the museum an art and cultural center, but it also advocates for local art, nature, and education. Its mission is to acquire and display art pieces, provide a valuable museum experience and education, and preserve nature trails. To fulfill its mission, the Huntington Museum of Art offers classes and workshops to the public. There’s a workshop that teaches students how to build with clay and a workshop that discusses the basic techniques of paining with watercolors. Finally, there’s an intensive photography workshop that covers a broad range of topics.
2033 McCoy Rd, Huntington, WV, Phone: 304-529-2701
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5. Museum of Radio and Technology
The Museum of Radio and Technology provides an up-close and personal experience with electronic communication and the rapid progression of technology. Admission is free for all guests, but donations are graciously accepted. Some of the highlights of visiting the museum include tours of the 1920s to 1930s radio shop and the 1940s to 1950s showroom. The radio shop gives a glimpse into how music was played before the electrical era. There are hands-on elements in this tour such as working with a "crystal radio." And the showroom captures what a radio and television store looked like during the 40s and 50s.
1640 Florence Ave, Huntington, WV 25701, Phone: 304-525-8890
6. Harris Riverfront Park
Harris Riverfront Park is a local waterfront park that offers views of the Ohio River. It features an amphitheater that overlooks the river and hosts many summer concerts, and other live events. It also can be rented for a wedding or a private party. In addition to the amphitheater, a child’s playground and a skate park were added to Harris Riverfront Park in 2014. For leisurely recreation, walkers can take a stroll on the Paul Ambrose Trail that leads to a larger exercise area. Finally, the park provides lots of seating areas underneath tall trees that provide ample shade.
10th St &, Veterans Memorial Blvd, Huntington, WV 25701, Phone: 304-696-5954
7. Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center
Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center was built in 1928 by Thomas Lamb. He was one of the country’s most well-known and admired theatre architects. Thomas designed the arts center in Spanish Baroque style. The theater is not just admired in the town of Huntington, but it’s a famous landmark throughout West Virginia. Its remarkable features include a four-story dressing room tower, a "fly-system" stage, a motion picture screen, and high end theater organ. There are 2,633 seats for patrons to enjoy a night of local film productions and festivals. The venue is also used for weddings, charity benefits, and corporate conferences.
925 4th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701, Phone: 304-696-6656
8. Joan C. Edwards Stadium
Joan C. Edwards Stadium is a football stadium that’s primarily used by the Marshall Thundering Herd football team of Marshall University. The stadium holds 38,227 spectators and features 20 indoor suites and 300 wheelchair-accessible spaces. The football field is covered in 90,000 square feet of artificial turf. In addition, Joan C. Edwards Stadium includes a press-box for the announcers and other game-day personnel, plus 14 concession areas to buy snacks, meals, and beverages. In 1989, the Board of Regents dedicated $30 million for a new stadium. The stadium was completed in time for the opening game of the 1991 season.
2001 3rd Ave, Huntington, WV 25703
9. Camden Park
Camden Park is an amusement park that sits on a 26-acre campus. The location was formerly designated as a picnic area by the Interstate Railway Company. It was often used by trolley passengers as a place to relax before catching the next trolley or switching trolley lines. Today, Camden Park features more than 30 thrilling rides and entertaining games for children, teenagers, and adults. Some popular rides are The Rattler, Big Dipper, and Log Flume. Rides for children and their parents include the Lil’ Dipper, the Flying Scooter, and the Train ride. For the little kids, there are rides and games inside Kiddle Land.
5000 Waverly Rd, Huntington, WV 25704, Phone: 304-429-4321
10. Heritage Station
Heritage Station is a food and shopping center that was converted from the old Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station. This historic railroad complex is the home to many eclectic shops, small businesses, and tasty local restaurants. For food options, there’s a bistro, wine and cheese bar, coffee shop, a craft beer tavern, and more. Additionally, there’s a yoga studio, vintage clothing store, and the Red Caboose, which is an art gallery, crafts, and souvenir shop. There’s also a visitors bureau where tourists and other visitors can stop by with questions about Heritage Station or general questions about the area.
210 Eleventh Street, Huntington, WV 25701, Phone: 304-696-5954
11. Wild Ramp
Wild Ramp is a year-round farmers market in Huntington. The non-profit organization has a mission of growing the economy and supporting the neighboring communities by providing local food, artisan goods, and other sustainable food products. Furthermore, the long term vision of Wild Ramp is to become a self-sustaining market for food grown in the region. The year-round market brings local farmers and consumers together and provides educational support about the benefits of buying and consuming local food. In addition to the brick-and-mortar location, there is also a mobile farmer’s market that serves the communities within Huntington.
555 14th Street West, Huntington, WV 25704, Phone: 304-523-7267
12. Collis P. Huntington Statue
The Collis Potter Huntington Statue was created in 1924 by legendary artist Gutzon Borglum. Gutzon showcased his talented artistic skills when he helped carve the four president’s faces into Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. The Collis P. Huntington statue stands at the Chesapeake & Ohio depot and honors Mr. Huntington for founding the city. Besides playing a vital role in establishing the city, Collis P. Huntington also helped build the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, which was completed in 1868. A few decades after Collis’ death, the bronze statue which stands at eight-foot-tall, was completed and publicly unveiled to the city.
935 7th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701
13. Touma Museum of Medicine
The Touma Museum of Medicine was founded by Dr. Joe Touma. He is retired physician whose specialty was otology, the study of the ear’s anatomy and the understanding of how ear diseases occur. Before opening the museum, Dr. Joe had been collecting medical devices and instruments over a period of 40 years. Many of his first pieces included ear trumpets and instruments used to detect hearing loss. Then he began collecting medical devices that related to the nose and throat. He also found historical medical books on ENT — ear, nose, and throat. Using his discoveries as inspiration, Touma invented 14 medical instruments of his own.
314 9th St, Huntington, WV 25701, Phone: 304-691-1700
14. Huntington Mall
Huntington Mall is a large, enclosed shopping center that opened for business in 1981. It is the largest mall in the entire state of West Virginia and has over 150 retailers. Shoppers can find stores that sell merchandise like clothes, shoes, accessories, electronics, and kid toys. Dick's Sporting Goods, Field & Stream, Macy's, and Sears are some of the mall’s anchor stores. Other large retailers include Forever 21, HomeGoods & TJ Maxx, Old Navy, and Books-A-Million. As a perk to regular or one-time visitors, there’s an Exclusive Guest Rewards Card that provides discounts on items at many of the mall’s best stores.
500 Mall Rd. & I-64 Barboursville, WV 25504, Phone: 304-733-0492
15. Jim's Steak and Spaghetti House
Jim's Steak and Spaghetti House first opened its doors in 1938. But, it didn’t start out as a spaghetti house until 1944. The owners, Jim and Sally Tweel spent the first six years of the business selling burgers, milkshakes and ice cream cones. The idea to turn the business into a steak and spaghetti house came from an Italian man named Roberto Elmoro. Jim and Sally expanded their space and used Elmoro’s original recipe to get the restaurant started. Today, patrons walk into the divine aroma of freshly made spaghetti and see walls covered with pictures of celebrity diners like Muhammad Ali and John F. Kennedy.
920 5th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701, Phone: 304-696-9788
16. La Famiglia
La Famiglia is a family-owned Italian restaurant whose dishes incorporate 100 year old recipes brought from the southwest region of Calabria, Italy. These recipes were carefully passed down through the generations of different owners and chefs. Popular entrees like meatballs and wood-fired pizza are made with aromatic pasta sauce that welcomes guests upon arrival. Other delightful dishes include the sausage diavola and the lasagna Calabria. Also, there’s several white and red wines to pair with a meal. To end dinner on a sweet note, there are desserts like cannolis made with sweet ricotta, or an affogato with house gelato and hot Italian espresso poured on top.
1327 6th Ave Huntington, WV 25701, Phone: 304-523-1008
17. Stewart's Original Hot Dogs
Stewart's Original Hot Dogs started as a drive-in restaurant in 1932. Husband and wife, John Louis and Gertrude Mandt opened the business with a tiny menu of just two items — Stewart’s root beer and popcorn. Sales didn’t amount to much during the first few days of business, but that quickly changed and so did the variety of the menu. The restaurant sells hot dogs, corn dogs, hamburgers, BBQ items, sandwiches, Bratwurst, and more. Side dishes include baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, and macaroni salad. And the desserts, of cookies and ice cream are simple, yet delicious.
2445 5th Avenue, Huntington, WV 25703, Phone: 304-529-3647
18. Savannah's
Savannah’s opened in 1996 and has grown tremendously throughout the years. The fine-dining restaurant first expanded in 2002 when the owners bought the adjoining building. With the extra space, they created more seating for diners plus added the Magnolia Room, where the restaurant prepares and fulfills all its catering orders. For many years running, Savannah’s has been the recipient of the “Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.” It also received several other prestigious awards including the “Best Restaurant in Huntington,” a designation given by The Charleston Gazette. One of its proudest awards to date is the national “Five Diamond Award of Excellence.”
1208 Sixth Avenue, Huntington WV 25701, Phone: 304-529-0919
