Visiting
Quick Links
Calendar
- View Full Calendar
-
July 2008 S M T W T F S
More Than 5 Events Starting
More Than 3 Events Starting
1-3 Events Starting
News
Weather
Visiting >> Uniquely Huntington
Uniquely Huntington
At Uniquely Huntington, we present only the best Greater Huntington area has to offer, carefully selecting only the finest things available here! You'll find a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture here. Brimming with unbridled energy, this little dynamo in West Virginia embodies the finest of three states: West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio.
A single day's trail will take you from the past to the future, from serene parks to efficient business centre, from more than 150 places of worship to the area’s single greatest asset Marshall University.
Start your day with a walk through Old Central City and experience antique, specialty and gift shops, home style cooking cafes, an Amish market, a flea market, a farmers market, arts and crafts, and more. Drive over to Heritage Village and have at meal at the Boston Beanery (opens at 11 a.m.) known by most local residents as the old B&O Railroad Station; the building was built circa 1887 by the Ohio River Railroad. The restaurant offers distinguished ambiance, service & food you won't find anywhere else.
Then take a step back in time as you enter a downtown Huntington. The Cabell County Courthouse, capped by a stately dome, serves as a landmark to identify the historic core of the city. Built in 1899, this distinguished building will greet you as you drive down Fifth Street. Turn-of-the century buildings, many with interesting historical pasts, flank the courthouse square.
Moving along the Fifth Avenue, you will know why Huntington often called the "City of Churches". Local residents believe it has more churches than any other street in the country or possibly in the whole world. You will enjoy looking at or visiting these historic "flagships" gathered all in the same neighborhood: First Presbyterian Church, Fifth Avenue Baptist, Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, The B'Nai Shalom Temple and many others. Some of these churches were here even before Huntington was founded and later gave birth to many of the other churches in the community.
Turn to the Fourth Avenue and you will find the most unusual theater in West
Virginia. The magnificent Keith-Albee Theatre, built in 1928 by celebrated architect Thomas Lamb, is a Tri-State landmark. This Christmas season, it will be the location of the premier of the We Are Marshall movie staring Mathew McConaughey, Matthew Fox (ABC’s Lost), and Oscar nominee David Strathairn ("Good Night, and Good Luck"). "We Are Marshall," an inspirational drama based on a true story of one town's efforts to rebuild after a devastating plane crash, was filmed in Huntington, West Virginia for Warner Bros. Pictures. This facility is a true old-time picture palace with stained-glass chandeliers, intricate architecture, rounded ceiling and balconies. Possibly your grandparents saw their first movie in a theater like that. And possibly you will see ghosts in mysterious passageways of Keith-Albee.
Return to the present by strolling down the Ninth Street to the Pullman Square for some leisure time. Just come and park your car and spend a day here: go to the movie, shop for books, grab an ice cream or delicious lunch and go to Comedy Club. This Super Block is a $54 million retail and entertainment center in the heart of downtown Huntington. The open air mall opened in 2002 and features retail shops, fine dining, a modern movie complex, parking structure and more. Thanks to the Pullman Square Huntington proudly stands as a revitalized self, continuing to serve as the city’s heart and soul .
Brought your kids with you or just feel like having fun? Camden Park is an alternative to the Pullman Square. The only West Virginia’s amusement park offers you a variety of rides for all ages including a Kiddieland, Roller coasters & Log Flume Ride. Games, concessions, full service cafeteria, miniature golf and picnic facilities are just some of the attractions!
Not sure what to have for lunch? Try something new while in Huntington.
We are proud to have the best Mexican and Southwestern cuisine in the region – Chili Willi's Mexican Cantina! Once you try it you will become a loyal customer. We promise you will be back for more. You will enjoy an outdoor dining experience on a warm day. Maybe common in places like Texas, Chili Willi’s is a rare Huntington restaurant that has outdoor dining area.
Want something more traditional like steak or let’s say spaghetti? We have got just a place for you. If you ask a local for trouble free, relaxed and welcoming atmosphere and of course delicious meal, they will certainly refer you to Jim’s Steak and Spaghetti House. We have heard the rumors that their secret spaghetti sauce recipe has not changed since its opening in 1938! We also recommend for you to save some room for a homemade pie.
If you are a college football 
fan you should definitely visit the Marshall
Your kids just won’t eat anything but a hot dog. Do not worry Stewart's Original Hot Dogs Huntington's original drive-in is the place to go. While your kids may want their hot dog plain, be sure to get a hot dog smothered in Great Grandma Gertrude's genuine chili sauce for yourself or choose other menu favorites such as barbeque sandwiches and golden-brown, cheese or chili cheese fries. Enjoy eight delicious flavor of old-fashioned, hand-dipped ice cream, great in milk shakes and floats.
Speaking of deserts and speaking about them seriously, do not you want to know where to get something special for your sweet tooth? Stop by Francois Pastry Shop and stock up for late night treat. Everything is good there, but may we suggest…come on you’ve got to try his heavenly Space Man and Napoleon’s Hat. One thing left to say: "Mon Delice!" Those French sure know how to make a pastry. The seven grain bread is perfect too.
Another place for good bread, buns and dinner rolls is Heiner’s Bakery. You heard the name before? And did not realize it is based in Huntington? Charles Heiner and his wife began the bakery in 1905, not knowing that one day their tiny bakery would be one of the leading ultra-modern and totally automated bakeries in the Nation. Besides eating these wonderful baking goods, call to schedule a tour (304) 523-8411, and see up close how Mr. Heiner's bread is made.
It is a lazy afternoon but you still feel like going out. Besides you have not yet seen pride of Tri-State area – the Huntington Museum of Art. It is regarded as one of the finest small museums not only in the region, but in the nation. Nationally acclaimed museum features 19th & 20th century American and European art, American and European glass, Georgian silver, British portraits and antique firearms. The complex includes 10 exhibition galleries, research library, sculpture garden, nature trails and gift shop. Make sure to visit its nature conservatory designed for the cultivation and appreciation of the exotic or fragile botanical specimens. You will see fascinating world of subtropical plants including banana trees, jasmine and orchids. Do not forget to visit charming and affordable gift shop.
If you haven’t found a gift in the museum and this time you really want to get something different for that someone special, visit Blenko Glass factory in Milton, WV. Observe artisans creating unique handmade glassware that is famous throughout the world. It is also an only outlet for national manufacturer glass and historical museum. The customer favorites include thumbprint glassware, oversized vases and glass hat champaign buckets.
For those who want to escape from a daily grind, Ritter Park offers its 70 acres of peaceful land. Set in a residential area just outside of downtown proper, Ritter Park is recognized as one of the state's top urban parks. Each day and each season you will see local residents and visitors playing a few matches at the tennis complex, exploring the park's trail system, or catching a Huntington Outdoor Theater production at the amphitheater. Visitors looking for simpler pursuits will find picnic tables and shaded park benches.
Ritter Park also has 70-year-old Rose Garden which currently houses around 2,000 bushes according to Jim McClelland, Director and Secretary of the Huntington Park and Recreation District. The Rose Garden is visited by hundreds of Huntingtonians and tourists each year. It is often used as an urban oasis by the local community as a place of quiet and refuge. On most weekends between April and November, it is the location of choice for weddings and photographs of family gatherings.
Heritage Farm Museum & Village is located not far from the Ritter Park: Step back in time at this farm museum and village which preserves 
and recreates our Appalachian heritage and culture. The museum is comprised of more than 12 buildings, including four restored log cabins. A late 1800's log barn houses three floors of collections and display such as antique washing machines, farm implements, cooking, woodworking, spinning and weaving, etc. The village portrays community life with its display of antique cars, blacksmith shop, meeting house, steam engine and much more.
If you are interested in more historic places, you should visit historic Jenkins Plantation Museum, located 16 miles north of Huntington in the Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area of Cabell County. This beautiful plantation, northeast of Huntington, was home to Albert Gallatin Jenkins, a brigadier general whose Confederate soldiers were responsible for several successful raids on Union territories. Completed in 1835, the stately brick home once presided over the Jenkins Family's 4000-acre Green Bottom plantation, which overlooked the Ohio River and taunted slaves daily with glimpses of the freedom possible in neighboring Ohio. Today, the home is maintained by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and has been restored and refurnished to suit the period.
Outdoor enthusiasts, have you gone to the banks of Ohio River yet? When you do make sure and see The East End Bridge (also called the East Huntington Bridge or the 31st St Bridge.) Besides the fact that it is a 900 foot cable-stayed bridge connecting two states Ohio and West Virginia, it is also an impressive sight beloved by locals. It is only the third of its kind in the United States. The bridge's segments were placed together piece by piece. The segments, which weighted roughly 200 tons, were hoisted by crane and joined to a 360 foot "A" shaped concrete tower already in the river.
Time for supper? Do not worry we saved the best for the dinner.
Shall we just say Rocco’s Ristorante? This old traditional Italian gem in the heart of Ceredo, WV, has been serving home-style and formal food beloved by a local neighborhood crowd; as well as a growing number of fans elsewhere in Huntington, the outer boroughs and nearby states. Dining at Rocco's is an EVENT! not just a meal. For over 26 years, in a lovely, intimate, yet lively ambiance, dozens of Italian specialties are offered. Prefer classic ravioli, lasagna, or spaghetti & meatballs? You'll find none better! Prefer something more adventurous? You have plenty of mouthwatering options...creative fresh seafood specials daily, fresh veal entrees, lobster langostino, sea scallops marinara, gnocchi verde...tempting appetizers, delightful salads and scrumptious desserts will round out your culinary experience! Excellent service and a children's menu make for a wonderful dining experience. Also enjoy vintage wines, beer and all legal beverages.
Another excellent choice is Savannah's. Southern charm and hospitality, and the finest cuisine are yours in this 1903 Victorian mansion, the perfect setting for a great dining experience. The chef here prepares seasonal menus of steak, seafood and pasta dishes with special entrees on Fridays and Saturdays. Rack of lamb is a chef specialty. Whether it's a romantic dinner for two, a family celebration or a business meeting, Savannah's is the Place for exceptional Dining!
If you do not feel like formal dining, but still crave good food, Laredo’s Steak& Seafood is your choice. This casual, Texas-style steakhouse is the kind of place that never seems to simmer down. The kind of place where old license plates and random taxidermy decorate the walls. The kind of place where you're welcomed - no, encouraged - to toss peanut shells on the plank floor. It's usually packed, especially on weekends, since folks clamor in to enjoy everything from steaks and shellfish to pastas.
All this tasty food made you sleepy, but wait there is one more place to go – the Paramount Arts Center which is a historical Art Deco theater, Kentucky landmark and on the National Register of Historic places. Originally designed and built to show motion pictures, it has provided an intimate venue for a variety of performances since it first opened in 1931. The theater now hosts symphonies, plays, ballets, country music concerts and other productions. Check out our calendar for the current events.
We invite you discover all that Greater Huntington area has to offer by shopping, dining, working, playing and living in this great place. With its friendly and welcoming people, state-of-the-art infrastructure and something new happening everyday, this tri-state is a holiday like no other.