I was debating about whether or not to visit, as I was afraid it might be a simulation experience…read more Boy, was I wrong! This turned out to be the highlight of my roadtrip. I enjoyed going underground, and our tour guide, Gerald, was great. He was able to answer all the questions he was asked. I also went to some of the outbuildings. I was surprised and pleased to see that there were docents in the Supervisor's house & the school. Both of those women came from coal mining families, and I was lucky to be able to spend some time talking to each of them about their experiences. What a hard -- and kind of sad -- life. I actually felt a little guilty that mine is so much different. I also went into the gift shop, where all of the women were just hilariously funny! They almost made me wish that I lived in the area & wanted a job; I would love to work with them! I encourage everyone to visit the Beckley Coal Mine. It was very informative and eye-opening.

We had a great experience on the mining tour in Beckley! I was born and raised in West Virginia, so…read morecoal has always been part of our history--but I had never actually been inside a mine before. This was such a unique way to experience it firsthand. Our tour guide, Tony, really made the tour. He was incredibly knowledgeable and added a lot of humor, which kept things interesting the entire time. You ride through the mine on a cart that's pulled along, and while you don't get off during the tour, he stops a few times to share stories and information. If you're extremely claustrophobic, it might not be for you--but personally, I didn't find it too bad at all. The whole facility is really well done. There's a gift shop, drinks, restrooms, and a museum inside the depot. Outside, there are several historic buildings and houses you can walk through, and they're all accessible with ramps. Parking is easy and right on site. Overall, it's a really neat experience and a great way to learn more about an important part of West Virginia's history. Definitely worth a visit!

If you are a fan of caverns/caves, really consider this place. I thought they were interesting…read more Staff was great.Gift sop is bigger than I expected. But the view of these formations and their lighting was wonderful. I went early in the morning and was able to hear the water dripping and the stream running. Well worth the price (which I thought was a good price)

These caves were very interesting, and beautiful. I had never visited a cavern before and this one…read morewas a great first one to visit. It was very easy to get into and did not disappoint.

I made a trip down to Charleston with my gold fish's Siberian husky and enjoyed every moment of it…read more My brain was starving for a history lesson, though, so I went downtown to the Culture Center and ballooned it with some of the most interesting facts I've ever heard about the Capitol Building(s). The museum is free, which is a plus. I couldn't bring the dog in though, so cracked the windows and put on some Baha Men for him. I also walked upstairs, looked at the displays and was instantly greeted by a fine young man with a vibrant smile and excellent hair. What a great surprise. The car was gone.

The information and history are great. It's very important for everyone to have access…read more The only thing that's puzzling is that there's no free parking.

Yes, a little goofy but this is the site of the original Big Boy's Restaurant at Parkette Drive In…read more It's an outdoor museum so no admission cost and a piece of history. Nicolas Cage would have been proud!! (Google that later). I was doing the Charleston, WV ParkRun and this was right across the street from our path.

Quirky outdoor roadside attraction. It's the site of the first Shoney's restaurant originally…read morecalled the Parkette Drive-In. The use of the word "museum" is a stretch because it's basically just one outdoor structure with four different sides. Each side offers background info on the entrepreneur behind Shoney's. As someone who grew up going to Shoney's with my family , it was a nostalgic stop that's worth a quick detour . Learned some interesting fun facts about the restaurant . Know before you go : Plan to spend 10-20 minutes here. It's outside so check the weather . If you really wanna go full circle there's a Shoney's restaurant less than 10 minutes away from the museum that you can eat at after your visit :-) Plenty of easy parking around

This is closed. Closed a long time ago. It was a wonderful place but it did not get the funding it…read moreneeded.

My son LOVVVVEEEED THIS!!! Admission is $15 per person. Some of the "hands on" things were closed…read moredown due to COVID. Usually you can build dinos and dig for bones on sand, etc. They had A LOT more than I thought they would. It took over 45 minutes for us to walk around. I was really impressed. It is a nice addition for Charleston. They also have a dinosaur putt-putt course outside. I told my son that we would try that next time. The customer service lady was a real sweetheart and even gave me a ticket for free admission for our next trip. I told my son after this COVID stuff is over, we will definitely be back! Definitely a must see of you are in the area and have kids. They even have a cast of Sue's skull. I was thrilled because I remember when they found Sue back in 1990. Definitely worth a trip!

This is the centerpiece of Saltville. This unoriginally named town holds more intrigue than you…read morewould probably think. The salt is a product of some unusual geologic conditions that lead animal bones to be well preserved, making this a top site for archaeology. In addition, the salt was also of enormous economic value and was a military asset during the Civil War, making this the site of a significant set of armed conflict. Some other environmental and cultural history pops up as well. The museum has several well-produced and substantial documentaries showing in a tiny theater. The two rooms of exhibits take up more time than you'd think, and I was probably there for an hour and a half or so. The $5 admission is worth it, easily. The town continues to have some unusually salty ponds that you can walk around on some paved trails, as well as some historic markers and a recreated set of salt mining equipment on the edge of town. All of these features and more can be viewed and contextualized on the museum's topographic map/diaorama. It's not a metropolis, but it is an interesting place.

Self guided tour. Small but very well organized and awesome artifacts. Information on Civil War,…read moreNative Americans, geology and fossils. They also have a few videos to watch.

This place is a great stop for information and souvenirs! There are tons of foot and hand casts,…read morestories, and all big foot gifts for family and friends! They even have a reading room in the back where you can cozy up on the couch with a book.

The diminutive but fun West Virginia Bigfoot Museum isn't always open, so check the days of…read moreoperation. It's a small museum tucked away, part of a space that also has a cafe and a gift shop. And admission is free. The Bigfoot Museum itself is probably about 1/3 museum (photos of Bigfoot, some information, copies of reliefs of footprints, charts, and so forth) and 2/3 Bigfoot paraphernalia and gifts, t-shirts and knick-knacks, all done in good fun. I don't know that Bigfoot has actually been sighted in WV, but with all the cryptids in the area, who cares? It's all part of the fun. And if you are into cryptids, you're in luck since the Flatwoods Monster Museum is a block away. Even better, the cafe in the same space is super friendly and serves things such as mini-pepperoni rolls with marinara sauce. How can you go wrong?

Today we went to this Great Farm with my grandson's school field trip. It costs $17 for adults and…read more$10 for kids! There are separate buildings to explore and it's self guided. With the school it was more of a guided tour! There is farm animals! We took a tractor pulled wagon ride! They were able to feed the animals! The buildings were full of antique items! If you get the chance go and enjoy this location!

Who knew that this marvelous experience awaited me. Here is the important point; This spotless Farm…read moreMuseum tells the economic history of West Virginia. Salt, Natural Gas, Oil, and Glass. Do you know who owns most of the State's mineral rights? Do you know how many Glass Companies existed? Do you know why Charleston was home to so many chemical companies? Have you walked through a low seam coal mine? Well, you will here and you can try a ropes course, zip line, and see how large a Bald Eagle's nest is. The staff is 100%.