Stretched along the banks of the Monongahela River between the Appalachian foothills and the former Rust Belt, Morgantown is known as the home of West Virginia University, founded in 1867. Best things to do in Morgantown include the Art Museum of WVU, the Core Arboretum and the Morgantown Farmers’ Market .
Art Museum of WVU
Opened in the summer of 2015, the Art Museum of WVU is an engaging and diverse art center. The museum, located on the Evansdale campus of West Virginia University, is open to the public, and it is dedicated to showcasing the powerful impact of visual arts on the community.
With the intention of highlighting artistic traditions of varying cultures both modern and historical, the museum hopes to inspire visitors to develop a more mindful appreciation for themselves and the world around them. The museum hosts two large galleries with nearly 5,500 square feet of exhibit space.
A permanent collection of art is presented alongside varying demonstrations of temporary traveling collections, features from the University, and a Grand Hall for musical performances and educational programs.
Evansdale Campus, Morgantown, WV 26506, (304) 293-0111
WVU Coliseum
The WVU Coliseum has been one of the nation’s most prestigious and much-loved venues for college basketball for many decades. Located on the Evansdale campus of the West Virginia University, the Coliseum is a 14,000-seat multi-purpose arena which is home to the WVU Mountaineers men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as the men’s wrestling team, and women’s volleyball and gymnastics teams.
The vast structure also features a 3,000-square-foot weights room, dance studio, racquetball and squash courts, a safety lab and over 100 offices, lecture rooms and seminar spaces. With seating designed for optimized viewing during sporting events, the stadium hosts an array of sports events, games and tournaments throughout the year.
3450 Monongahela Blvd, 304-293-4406
West Virginia Botanic Garden
The West Virginia Botanic Garden in Morgantown is a one-of-a-kind botanical garden that features plants appropriate to the Appalachian region. Spanning 82 acres around the Tibbs Run Reservoir, which used to provide water for the residents of the town, the Garden was formed in 1983 and opened to the public as an educational and recreational facility.
The West Virginia Botanic Garden features a collection of small designed gardens and an age-old forest, as well as a network of hiking trails and a boardwalk that crosses the wetland area.
The garden offers a variety of educational programs for visitors of all ages, from monthly family walks and nature workshops to large group tours and summer nature camps. The WVBG is free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.
1061 Tyrone Road, Morgantown, WV 26508, Phone: 304-322-2093
Earl L. Core Arboretum
The Earl L. Core Arboretum is owned by the West Virginia University and is open to the public on a daily basis without charge. The 91-acre garden was established in 1948 by Professor Earl L.
Core and had been an invaluable educational resource for both the university and the public ever since. Best known for its amazing spring wildflowers, much of the Arboretum is covered by the Monongahela River flood plain, which includes a dense wooded area and a network of hiking trails, as well as three acres of planted, landscaped lawns and old-growth forest.
The Arboretum also has a small amphitheater and benches around the garden to sit, relax and take in the beautiful natural scenery.
Monongahela Blvd, 304-293-5201
Royce J. & Caroline B. Watts Museum
Housed in the West Virginia University’s Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, the Royce J. & Caroline B. Watts Museum is dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of West Virginia’s coal and petroleum industries.
The museum features interesting and informative collections and exhibitions of historical objects, artifacts and archival materials relating to the global industries of coal and petroleum. The permanent collection includes a broad range of drilling and mining objects, including flame safety lamps, canary cages, and model oil derricks from latter-day mining.
The museum also owns a diverse collection of petroleum products that have been donated by various mining and petroleum companies for education.
West Virginia University, Mineral Resources Building, 401 Evansdale Drive, 304-293-4609
Spark! Imagination and Science Center
Formerly known as the Recreational Opportunities for All Young Kids Initiative (ROFAYKI) and the Children’s Discovery Museum of West Virginia, the Spark! Imagination and Science Center is dedicated to inspiring children to explore, discover and learn through interactive play.
The museum offers an array of hands-on exhibits and educational programming that engages the imagination, develops the critical thinking skills of children and inspires a passion for learning.
The museum features interactive exhibits that are fun and educational, including Engineer It! which gives children the chance to use their planning, building, testing skills; Space Weather where visitors learn about weather in space and its effects; and a special Hands-On Science Area for children ages five years old and up.
Mountaineer Mall, Ste #G-12, 5000 Greenbag Road, 304-292-4646
Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium
Home to the West Virginia Mountaineer NCAA Division 1 FBS football team, the Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium, also known as the Mountaineer Field is one of the country’s top football arenas.
Located on the West Virginia University’s Health Sciences campus, the double-decker stadium seats up to 60,000 people, with each seat offering unobstructed views of the field. The state-of-the-art stadium features an array of modern amenities, including luxurious stadium suites and skyboxes with dining, kitchen, restroom and special seating areas; food and beverage stands, restrooms, souvenir shops, bank machines, and more.
The stadium also hosts a variety of large concerts and other events throughout the year, such as music concerts, Bands of America and Drum Corps International.
900 Willowdale Rd, 304-293-2294
Morgantown Farmers' Market
The Morgantown Farmers' Market features an array of fresh farm produce from more than 30 farms. Located in the heart of downtown Morgantown, the market is the first solar market in West Virginia and offers visitors a fantastic selection of farm-to-table products, including fruit, vegetables, herbs, flowers, meat, poultry, eggs, freshly baked bread, pastries and specialty foods.
The market also features a variety of events throughout the morning, such as culinary demonstrations, nutrition assistance programs, live music, and healthy lifestyle activities like dancing, yoga and hula-hooping.
Morgantown MarketPlace, Spruce & Fayette Streets, 304-291-7201
Morgantown History Museum
The Morgantown History Museum celebrates and showcases the rich history and culture of the greater Morgantown area. Here you can learn all about the pioneer days of the town and explore the importance of Morgantown’s textile and mining history. Each Saturday during the summer season, the museum hosts free Kids and Family Days where craftsmen will demonstrate various vintage equipment which form part of the museum’s collection. You will also learn about the early residents of the area and about the animals found in Western Virginia. The Museum store sells a number of prints of vintage photographs from their collection.
Morgantown History Museum, 175 Kirk St, Morgantown, WV 26505, 304 319 1800
Pies and Pints
Located in the Suncrest Towne Centre in the heart of Morgantown, Pies and Pints serves unique, delicious gourmet pizza and craft beer. Just a few minutes’ walk from the town’s main attractions and vibrant nightlife, Pies and Pints Morgantown is ideal for a quick drink with friends or a casual dinner for two.
Pies & Pints, is best known for their excellent selection of handcrafted beers from artisanal breweries around the world, which can be enjoyed by the bottle or on tap, as well as an intimate list of ciders and wines from California, Spain, and Italy. Tuck into classic and specialty pizza pies, garden-fresh salads, homemade sandwiches and sweet desserts.
1002 Suncrest Towne Centre, 304-777-4749
Sunset Beach Marina
Located on the beautiful Cheat Lake, Sunset Beach Marina is tucked away in a scenic cove and offers an ideal base for a range of boating, jet-skiing, and other water-based, outdoor activities on the lake.
Sunset Beach Marina features a variety of services for visitors, including a full-service fuel dock and marina shop that sells snacks, drinks, ice and other marine supplies needed for a fun day out on the lake. Visitors can rent a range of watercraft to enjoy, from pontoons, tubes, skis and wakeboards to kayaks, paddle boats, and ski boats.
There is also a full selection of boat services available for boat owners: cleaning and detailing, winterization and storage, summer trailer storage and mechanic services.
177 Sunset Beach Road, 304-594-0050
Xscape
There is no doubt that the Escape Room craze has taken the nation by storm. Morgantown is no exception to the rule and you will find your perfect escape room experience at Xscape . The center offers a choice of 4 intriguing themed rooms from which you and your team can plan your escape. Each of the rooms has been carefully conceived to offer a challenging and immersive experience which is best suited to teams of 6-8 players. The Morgantown rooms include Catching Capone and Tut, both of which are 90minute experiences, and The Estate and Taken, which are 60 minute escapes. All are high-tech and great fun to play.
Xscape, 63 Wharf Street, Suite 50, Morgantown, WV 26505, 304 680 2665
