The riverfront in Charleston is very artificial, with a high riverbank necessary, it seems, to…read moreprotect the town from flooding. The park here contains some sidewalks both at street level as well as closer to (but not on) the water, as well as an amphitheater and a few other facilities. I visited once when the street was closed to make way for a festival; festivals are nice but the notion of closing a street rather than having a real park seemed not that great. When there's no event going on, it's not the most happening place. Some work has been done on the area, and perhaps more will be done.

It is a nice recreational area along the Kanawah Blvd. On Fridays, there are food trucks and a DJ…read morelive with great music. You can stroll down for a while, grab something eat, and enjoy the breeze from the river. It has a beautiful view. Also, there are public bathrooms, very clean, and an area with tables and a playground for kids. If you are visiting, I suggest walk around the area and check-it out.

One of Nitro's best kept secrets, conveniently close to town but far enough out to be the perfect…read moreway to escape the hustle and bustle for a little while. Beautiful and peaceful place to relax, spend time with the family (including the canine members of the family), fish, hike (with a mix of clear gravel trails or rougher dirt trails), or even take a canoe or kayak out on the lake. Also great for group picnics, community events, weddings, birthday parties, or just gathering with friends for a relaxing day by the lake.

Nice walk around the lake and (if you like) through the woods. Picnic areas. Gazebo. Dog run. I go…read morethere in all seasons.

There is nothing there. The GPS told us to pull over, and there was nothing but a guardrail there.read more

What a great little park! Okay,I liked it because I took advantage of the free RV spot (with…read morepower!) and the much needed break. It's in between the river and a busy main road, so it's a bit noisy... And yet, so peaceful watching the sunset and the tugs go by. Two day limit in 15 days is fair enough. 3 spots. A friendly local also walking her dog wished me a pleasant stay. Many families enjoying the playground with their kids and couples enjoying the scenic view. I only wish there was some sort of crosswalk to the stores on the other side of the busy street.

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.

The Marmet locks are the busiest on the Ohio River System in terms of commercial tonnage - about…read more10,000,000 tons in 2012. When they were opened in 1933 (the dam was completed in 1934?) the two original 55' x 360' locks provided 24' of lift at the dam, a recent expansion project added a 110' x 800' lock to better handle modern barge traffic which can be watched comfortably from benches in Bill Wells park. Five 100' roller type gates maintain the pond height and a three unit hydroelectric plant in the dam is capable of generating 144,000 kilowatts. According to local fishermen there's plenty of fish to be had from two platforms which is attested by the many pole holders on the railings.

This is the best place for views of the Charleston area and the capitol dome.read more

Located in downtown Charleston, this marker points out the spot where the Capitol USED to be. It is…read morelocated in a small park area. There is metered street parking nearby. The marker reads, "West Virginia's Capitol is much traveled; Wheeling to Charleston to Wheeling and then back to Charleston, it moved. At this spot it stood from 1885 until destroyed by fire in 1921. The Capitol now stands two miles east." Don't miss the new capitol. It's an amazing and impressive building on the river. [Review 19621 overall - 95 in West Virginia - 592 of 2023.]