Visitors can enjoy a range of activities in the Shenandoah Valley’s picturesque historic town of Charles Town, WV. Visit one of the many restaurants, meander through the busy streets, or marvel at the magnificent architecture. There are several options to hike, cycle, or even zip-line through the tranquil nature trails for those looking for action.
Try your luck at the table or slot machines at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races if you’re feeling lucky. Charles Town, WV, is the ideal location for a weekend retreat or a day excursion, whether you’re looking to unwind or try something new.
Read Also: BEST PLACES TO STAY IN COLORADO: Top Vacation Spots
#1. Visit the Historic Waffle House
This is one of the places to visit in Charles Town, WV. The first Waffle House opened its doors in 1955. Since then, the restaurant company has evolved into a beloved icon of the American South. In addition to serving breakfast all day, Waffle House restaurants are open 24 hours a day and also serve lunch and dinner. Waffle House also takes pleasure in offering top-notch sit-down meals.
The goal of the business is to deliver high-quality cuisine rapidly. Popular morning meals include omelets, eggs, steak, and waffles in a variety of tastes. Popular for lunch and dinner, Bert’s Chili is named after the employee who created it in the early 1980s. Alice’s Iced Tea: Alice’s Iced Tea is a sweet tea beverage made from black tea from Royal Cup China. Moreover, Royal Cup has provided the franchise with coffee made from the finest Arabica beans since 1972.
#2. Participate in the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town
Just east of Charles Town in West Virginia is where you’ll find the Hollywood Casino at Charlestown Races. The West Virginia Breeder’s Classic is the racetrack’s most famous event, but it’s also one of the busiest in the nation, with races scheduled on virtually every day of the year. The Charles Town Classic and the Sprint Festival are two other well-liked competitions.
The casino’s gaming options include more than 3,000 slot machines, table games, and sports betting. In 2009, gaming was incorporated into the 75-year-old track. The Inn at Charles Town, a nearby hotel, has upscale dining, a sports bar, and a food court.
#3. Go to the Cool Spring Nature Preserve
The 32 acres of marshes, meadows, and forest that make up the Cool Spring Nature Preserve, where George Washington made his first land purchase at the age of 22, in 1752, surround the famous Bullskin Run stream on one side.
The 1869 cottage that belonged to Susan B. Thornton, who paid $1 for her one-acre property, is among the buildings in the preserve. The Potomac Valley Audubon Society Nature Center is also located on the property and provides close to two miles of level walking trails in addition to indoor and outdoor classroom space for hosting events and programs. 18 species of West Virginia flora that are endangered, as well as the Shenandoah Wet Prairie Marsh, live in the preserve, which is a part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
#4. Visit the Old Opera House Theatre Company
This is also one of the things to do while in Charles Town, WV. A descendant of George Washington named Annie Packette spearheaded the fundraising efforts that led to the construction of West Virginia’s Old Opera House in 1910. When the cinema debuted in 1948, the traditional theater was abandoned. Incorporated in 1973, The Old Opera House Theatre Company’s goal was to renovate the venue so that local performances could use it. In 1976, a staging of My Fair Lady reopened the doors.
The theater now presents six main stage productions annually, a festival of one-act plays every year, and summer youth shows. Both kids and adults can take dance and theater classes. The theater’s lower level houses an art gallery that features regional artwork, and a nearby thrift shop offers gently used goods to fund ongoing events and renovation.
#5. Visit the Historic Beall-Air
Beall-Air was the former home of Colonel Lewis William Washington. Also, a great-great-nephew of George Washington was the Colonel. He served as a hostage during abolitionist John Brown’s 1859 raid on Harper’s Ferry and would subsequently help the US soldiers identify Brown.
The typical revival-style two-story brick and stucco house has a small front portico supported by four white columns. It’s possible that the back of the house was built earlier than 1800. The house’s front and façade, however, were built in 1820. Although Colonel Washington’s story is much better well-known than the house’s physical design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Properties in 1973.
Read Also: BEST PLACES TO STAY IN TULUM: Top 12 Places in Tulum
#6. Visit the Jefferson County Museum, Charles Town
In Charles Town’s historic downtown, the Jefferson County Museum and Library collaborate. The museum was established in 1965 with the goal of preserving local history. The museum’s permanent exhibits cover a variety of topics, such as the Shenandoah Valley’s Native Peoples, slavery in the area, daily life in the 19th and 20th centuries, and archives and documents pertaining to the Washington family in the 18th and 19th centuries.
A slavery exhibit, created in collaboration with the Jefferson County Black History Preservation Organization, is displayed among displays on the Civil War and John Brown’s attack on Harper’s Ferry. The museum is the home of around 2,000 items and 4,000 images and documents altogether.
#7. Zion Episcopal Church Worship
The Zion Episcopal Church has been around since 1818. Consecration of the current building took place in 1851. Regrettably, when Union forces blocked it during the Civil War, the interior of the church was completely destroyed. Following that, it underwent renovations, and a new steeple was built in 1883.
The chapel also has the graves of more than 70 members of the Washington family, the great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson, and Confederate Colonel Preston Chew. Over 90 Confederate troops and two Revolutionary War officers are also buried there. Graves older than 1818 were transferred from nearby sites to Zion. Guests are welcome to participate in activities, attend church services, and meander through the historic cemetery.
#8. Visit the Abolitionist Ale Works, Charles Town
Craft brewery Abolitionist Ale Works is on a mission to challenge the status quo in the beer sector. IPAs, sour beers, Irish stouts, English bitters, wheat beers, and smoked beers are just a few of the flavorful, entertaining beverages made by the brewery. The brewery, which was once known as Front Porch Brewery, changed its name in 2017. Every Tuesday, there is an open mic night, live music is played on Fridays, and stand-up comedy is presented twice a month at Abolitionist Ale Works.
The brewery offers gourmet pizza and tapas on its menu. There are one- and two-bedroom vacation rental apartments upstairs at the brewery, and each one includes a free growler for long weekend stays.
#9. Participate in Golf at Locust Hill Golf Course
This is among the things to do while exploring Charles Town, WV. Historic Charles Town’s 18-hole Locust Hill Golf Course offers both locals and visitors a fantastic golfing experience. Locust Hill has received a 4-Star Rating in numerous issues of Golf Digest Magazine and is recognized as the fifth-best public access golf course in West Virginia by Golfweek Magazine.
There are four tee sets available for each hole on the Locust Hill Golf Course, and each tee presents difficulties over more than thirty acres of streams, ponds, and lakes. As a result, it is a golf course for players of all skill levels. Another draw is the course’s backdrop, the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains.
#10. Visit the Ruby Tuesday, Charles Town
Authentic American cuisine, including hand-crafted burgers, is served at Ruby Tuesday. The business was established in 1972 and today has over 700 locations across the globe. Pastas, chicken, steaks, and seafood are available for dinner. The 100% USDA Choice Beef top-rated burgers with pretzel buns at Ruby Tuesday are well known. Visitors can create their own salad at the restaurant’s renowned Garden Bar from a selection of more than 50 fresh ingredients.
When you buy a ticket for a show, you can get a complimentary drink. Happy hour specials, unique cocktails, spiked teas, and lemonades are all available on the complete bar menu.
Is Charles Town Worth Visiting?
It is highly recommended to visit because it offers so many popular sites, such as the Jefferson County Museum and Zion Episcopal Church Cemetery. West Virginia, in the United States, has a city called Charles Town.
What Is West Virginia Famous for?
The state’s rolling mountains, hills, and valleys gave it the moniker “The Mountain State,” and a variety of outdoor pursuits like hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and whitewater rafting are popular there.
Are People for West Virginia Friendly?
There is a certain simplicity to life here; nobody is competing or rushing. In general, West Virginians are the friendliest people you’ll ever meet since they don’t hold others down.