Ode to the West Virginia Day Trip
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor recreation in the Mountain State was booming, and it continues to grow. In the same vein, staycations for West Virginia residents increased in popularity. Many residents are looking to the state for vacation and recreation possibilities, including me, and one of my favorite pastimes is taking a day trip, especially to areas of the state I haven’t been to before.
A few weeks ago, my boyfriend had some time off work and I happened to have a lighter schedule (as a freelancer, each week looks a little different), so we decided to take a day trip.
Even though spring was vastly approaching, the forecast was wintry; we knew we probably weren’t going to have any hiking or other outdoor adventures during the short trip. We didn’t mind, though, because antique stores are what normally drive us to new places.
We landed on Buckhannon and Weston for our day trip; the former we had never been to before and the latter would be our second time visiting. With a tentative itinerary of antique stores and other attractions we wanted to hit, we grabbed some breakfast and hit the road—and almost immediately came to a stop because there was a minor wreck on the interstate. No matter, we thought. We could weather this storm.
Downtown Buckhannon
It turns out, the closer we got to Buckhannon, the more storms we had to weather—winter storms that is. After quite a snowy drive, we finally made it to our first stop: the Buckhannon Antique Mall. I was so afraid it would be closed, but thankfully the shop owners braved the roads, too.
It turned out to be one of the best antique store trips we’ve had. According to bestthingswv.com, the Buckhannon Antique Mall is ranked one of the best antique stores in the state, and it’s easy to see why.
If you’re familiar with my previous blogs, you’ll know I’m a glassware fanatic, and the Moon and Star vintage glass pattern takes the top spot in my ever-growing collection. My boyfriend, as much as he enjoys and supports—and supplies some of the prettiest pieces for—my collection, is himself a cast iron collector. As I have specifics I look for when it comes to glass, so does he for cast iron. You may have heard of Griswold Cast Iron, produced in Erie, Pennsylvania, throughout the 19th and 20th century. It’s the crème de le crème of cast iron products, and it’s increasingly gaining popularity—it’s gaining in price, too, as collectors vie for the best and rarest pieces. Just like I like to use my glass, my boyfriend likes to use his cast iron. If you’re craving a pot of beans or pan of cornbread, you can’t find a better way to cook it than in a cast iron skillet.
Needless to say, we both had a successful visit to the Buckhannon Antique Mall. I found a rare color in my pattern: cobalt blue. This striking, rich hue isn’t found too often in the wild, and the piece itself is dainty yet purposeful as a candy dish. My boyfriend was over the moon as well; he found a Griswold cast iron three-top burner, which will be perfect for outdoor cooking and barbecuing.
After our successful journey, we continued on to some more antique stores and attractions in historic downtown Buckhannon. We admired murals and enjoyed the small-town feel. Another highlight was stopping in at Argo Books. While at first glance this may seem like an independent bookstore, there’s so much more! From free computer and internet use to cameras and equipment available for rent, Argo offers many resources for its community. I was blown away that such a small store could be so beneficial to its neighbors and really enjoyed the wall of writing prompts. If you’re ever in the neighborhood, please stop by and support Argo Books. That’s what a neighborhood bookstore should be all about.
Argo Books
After our successful and enjoyable trip to Buckhannon, we headed back to Weston. Our first stop here was Roshell’s Antiques and Collectibles. This massive antique store is filled to the brim with lots of glassware (yay!) and other unique items. I also had a few decisions to make here, but I walked away with a beautiful milk glass Moon and Star compote. This pearly piece is another rare color, but it also shows how the moulds used to make glass can wear over time, as the stem should have four prevalent stars, yet it is smooth. Some may consider it to be imperfect, but I see the beauty in it.
We had one final objective of the day: the Museum of American Glass in West Virginia (my boyfriend calls my collection the museum of Amanda’s glass, for comparison). While we had been here once before, it’s such a fun stop and a must-see for anyone interested in glass, American manufacturing or simply just aesthetics. I had a good chat with the volunteers there, and was very tempted to purchase a piece of Moon and Star from their gift shop. The museum is filled with gorgeous glass, a gift shop and even a library dedicated to glass research. I cannot stress enough that everyone should visit it at least once.
Before we headed home, we realized just how hungry we were and rounded out our day trip by eating at Buns, a fun Weston eatery specializing in thick, melty cheeseburgers—have I made you hungry yet? We were proud that we shopped small and supported local during our entire day trip (minus the gas station for the necessary fill up).
I always enjoy any opportunity to explore new parts of the state and to revisit some of my favorite destinations, and day trips are one of the best ways to do that. West Virginia is home to so many cool small towns, fun shops, outdoor destinations and unique restaurants, and you can see them all, one day (trip) at a time.
