Fairmont, WV Road Trips

Nine of the seventeen covered bridges in West Virginia are within easy access of Fairmont. Kathleen Panek, owner of the Gillum House B&B in Shinnston, has route information if you want to visit all of them. 1 Barrackville Covered Bridge (junction of WV-21 and US-250). A 148-foot single-lane historic covered bridge. (updated Nov 2019) 2 West Virginia Folklife Center, Squibb Wilson Blvd, ☏ +1 304-367-4403, +1 304-367-4286. At Fairmont State. Dedicated to the identification, preservation, and perpetuation of the region's rich cultural heritage, through academic studies, educational programs, festivals and performances, and publications. Downtown Fairmont, ☏ +1 304-368-1123. Walking tours available for the historic section of town. (updated Nov 2019) Curtisville Lake (Curtisville Pike). WV-7 past Logansport. 695 acres and a 30-acre lake. Hiking trails, fishing. 3 East Marion Park, 35 City View Terrace. State Street Extension. 32 acres. Tennis, basketball, softball, horseshoes, mini-golf, hiking and jogging trails, playground, wave pool, and waterslide. Mini-golf open from 11AM to 8PM daily; admission $2. 4 Mary Lou Retton Park. Mary Lou Retton Drive and Old Monongah Road. 25 acres. Four baseball fields, one football field, tennis courts with practice wall, playgrounds, West Virginia Miner's Memorial. 5 Pricketts Fork State Park, ☏ +1 304-363-3030. WV-3 off I-79 (exit 139). Features a recreation of the rustic log Pickett's Fort from 1774. Guides in period costume recreate late 18th-century life and demonstrate colonial crafts.

1 Coal Country Miniature Golf, 22 Coal Country Ln, ☏ +1 304-366-9300. Miniature golf and batting cages with a coal-mining theme. 18 holes. $5-8. Sunset Ellis Drive-in, south of Shinnston, +1 304-592-3909. Open Friday through Monday, May until Labor Day. $6. Tygart Valley Cinemas, 98 Tygart Valley Mall, White Hall, ☏ +1 304-363-3498. 9 screens. $4.50-6.

Fairmont is the "Home of the Original Pepperoni Roll". If you want to get them fresh, rather than pre-wrapped in a convenience mart, your best bets are the traditional variety at the Country Club Bakery, or the giant variety at Colasessano's. 1 Aquarium Lounge, 620 Gaston Avenue, ☏ +1 304-366-1500. M-F 11AM-10PM, Sa 5PM-10PM. Salads, pasta, chicken, pork, seafood and hand-cut steaks. 2 Colasessano's Pizza, 506 Pennsylvania Avenue, ☏ +1 304-363-9713. Tu-Th 8AM-8PM, F Sa 8AM-9PM. A local favorite since the 1960s, serving pizzas, salads, sandwiches, chicken wings, and large pepperoni rolls for $3.50. Freshly-baked bread and cookies daily. $2.50-10.50. 3 Country Club Bakery, 1211 Country Club Road, ☏ +1 304-363-5690. M Tu Th F 7AM-6PM, Sa 7AM-3PM. Bakery supplying pepperoni rolls to grocery stores and convenience stores around Fairmont; try them hot and fresh for just $1. They also carry Italian breads, rolls and cookies. 4 Dairy Creme Corner, 187 Homewood Avenue, ☏ +1 304-366-6809. M-Sa 10AM-10PM, Su 1-10PM. Self-proclaimed purveyors of "the biggest cones in town!" which, depending on your age or ego, may actually be bigger than your head. Along with their FlavorBurst ice cream (used for sundaes, shakes and malts), they offer fried appetizers, salads, sandwiches, barbecue, pepperoni rolls and funnel cakes. Try their peanut butter milkshakes. $1.37-2.59. 5 DJ's 50s & 60s Diner, 1181 Airport Road, ☏ +1 304-366-8110. Su-Th 7AM-10PM, F Sa 7AM-midnight. 1950s-style diner with waitresses in poodle skirts. Classic American favorites, milkshakes and ice cream floats.

1 Wright Dawgs, 1228 Country Club Rd, ☏ +1 304-454-5970. Great hotdogs (mild, medium, hot) and many other wonderful menu items. Low prices for exceptional food. A second location has now opened in Belleview.

Quality Inn, 1185 Airport Road, ☏ +1 304-367-1370. 85 rooms. Fitness center, outdoor pool. Complimentary continental breakfast. $80 - 120. Holiday Inn Express, 2256 Landing Ln, ☏ +1 304-816-5133. I-79 and 930 East Old Grafton Road, 304-366-5500. 106 rooms. Outdoor pool. On-site restaurant (Simmering Pot Family Restaurant) and bar (Franny's Lounge). Complimentary newspaper. $65 - 85. Red Roof Inn, 42 Spencer Dr, White Hall, ☏ +1 304-366-6800, toll-free: +1-800-733-7663. 108 rooms. Complimentary newspaper. $55 - 80. Super 8 Motel, 2208 Pleasant Valley Road, ☏ +1 304-363-1488, toll-free: +1-800-800-8000. 54 rooms. Whirlpool rooms available. Complimentary continental breakfast and newspaper. $77. Fairfield Inn and Suites, 27 Southland Drive, ☏ +1 304-367-9150, toll-free: +1-800-228-2800. 80 rooms. Exercise room, heated indoor pool, whirlpool. Complimentary deluxe continental breakfast. $139 - 179. Gillum House Bed & Breakfast, 35 Walnut Street, toll-free: +1-888-592-0177. In Shinnston. 3 rooms. Front porch, rail trail for walking or biking. Full breakfast with muffins, fruit, juices, entrees, fresh-roasted coffee (nightly) and a selection of over 100 teas. Breakfast served 4AM-10AM Overnight stabling, off-street parking for motorcycles. Children welcome. Pet-free and smoke-free. $95 - 149.

Fairmont sits at the intersection of US-19, between Morgantown and Clarksburg, and US-250, between Wheeling and Elkins. It's also adjacent to I-79 (exits 132 through 139), which runs largely parallel to US-19 in the region.