# Morgantown

Morgantown is the third largest city in West Virginia, and is the county seat of Monongalia County. It is home to West Virginia University, the state's flagship public university and university with the largest student body in the state. The city proper has 30,347 residents (2020). Monongalia County has a population of 105,822 and the immediate Morgantown Metropolitan Area has a population of 138,176. As the largest city in the northern half of West Virginia, and sitting at the junction of I-79 and I-68, Morgantown serves as a major regional cultural center and hub for business, medicine, shopping and dining.

## Understand

Morgantown is located on steeply rolling hills along the Monongahela River in North-Central West Virginia, also known as 'Mountaineer Country' and the 'I-79 High-Tech Corridor'. It is the largest city in a greater urban conglomeration including the smaller cities of Fairmont and Clarksburg, the smaller town of Grafton and their surrounding suburbs and smaller towns. The combined population of the greater Morgantown-anchored 6-county area is approximately 260,000 making this area the state's second largest urban conglomeration after the Charleston-Huntington area.
West Virginia University is at the heart of Morgantown's identity, culture and economy. A classic college town, Morgantown has seen robust growth for decades and has one of the wealthiest, best-educated and most diverse populations in the state. The West Virginia University Mountaineers have a strong following across the state and region, and college sports games well-attended and lively.
Morgantown is a few miles to the west of the Allegheny Front. This long mountain ridge extending south from Pennsylvania has many protected parklands and its elevation change is often the difference between winter snow and ice in Preston County to the east while Morgantown itself sees rain. Morgantown's proximity to natural attractions including the adjacent Coopers Rock State Forest atop the Allegheny Front, and the various federal and state protected parklands and picturesque rural valleys of the high Alleghenies to the east make it a convenient base or stop for an extended trip through these more remote areas.
Drivers from flatter lands may be surprised at the steepness, narrowness and windy nature of the streets and roads around Morgantown, reminiscent of famously hilly San Francisco and Pittsburgh; and the fearless ease of the locals driving up, down and around this steep topography. The manner in which the hills separate the city into many small neighborhoods has necessitated the establishment of several disjointed campuses as WVU grew over the decades; the necessity of connecting the disparate campuses without overwhelming the street network resulted in the creation of the Morgantown PRT, opened in 1975.

###### Neighborhoods [and immediate suburbs]

* Downtown: Central Business District, High Street shops and restaurants. WVU Downtown Campus occupies the northern end of downtown.
* Sunnyside: North of the WVU downtown campus along the riverfront; some retail along Beechurst Av. and housing occupied mostly by WVU students.
* Woodburn: East of the WVU downtown campus, steep streets with a variety of housing, the portions closer to the campus are populated heavily by students.
* Wiles Hill / Highland Park: A quiet, mostly residential neighborhood on the hill above Sunnyside, student population increases on blocks closer to the WVU campuses.
* Greenmont: Just south of downtown across bridges over Deckers Creek. Historic homes, neighborhood coffee shops.
* South Park: Immediately south of downtown, blends in with Greenmont; slightly larger homes, get increasingly newer and more opulent with elevation.
* Hopecrest: Newer large homes in a small residential neighborhood between South Park and First Ward
* First Ward: A mix with mostly older middle-class homes south of South Park and Hopecrest.
* South Hills: Large homes on steep hills southeast of Greenmont with excellent views.
* Sabraton: East of Woodburn and Downtown; contains a residential portion with an older housing stock, and a stretch of Earl L Core Rd. with a plethora of big box retail and fast food.
* Jerome Park: East of Woodburn and north of Sabraton, a residential neighborhood with a mix of housing ages and styles.
* Evansdale: Primarily occupied by the expansive WVU Evansdale Campus and JW Ruby Memorial Hospital; desirably convenient housing and a small retail strip along University Av.
* Suncrest: A small, wealthy residential neighborhood west of Evansdale
* North Hills: A wealthy residential neighborhood north of Evansdale.
* Westover: Independent municipality directly across the Monongahela River from downtown; nice, modest older homes on steep streets. Morgantown Mall is on the west side of I-79, just outside municipal limits.
* Granville: Independent municipality adjacent to Westover to the north. A small older portion along the river and a newer portion with many big-box suburban developments along University Town Centre Dr.
* Star City: Independent municipality between Suncrest and the Monongahela River, once home to many glass factories.
* Osage: A small, unincorporated community across the river from Star City and north of Granville with a historic business district undergoing some revitalization.
* Brookhaven: An unincorporated suburban residential area across I-68 from Sabraton
* Van Voorhis: An unincorporated suburban residential area north of North Hills
* Cheat Lake: An unincorporated portion of eastern Monongalia County surrounding a man-made lake on the Cheat River. One of the wealthiest communities in West Virginia. Contains the West Virginia Botanic Garden.

## Get in
### By plane

* 39.6428-79.91641 Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW ). A small airport with scheduled flights from Washington Dulles International Airport and from Pittsburgh International Airport, as well as other locations.
* Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). 75 mi (121 km) north of Morgantown, and has scheduled commercial service from many airports in the U.S. and other countries. (updated Nov 2019)
* Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). 200 mi (320 km) east of Morgantown, and has scheduled commercial service from airports all over the world, including about 40 countries. (updated May 2020)

### By car

Major routes in and out of Morgantown include:
* I-79, which runs in a north-south fashion through the western side of Morgantown
* I-68, which runs in an east-west fashion through the southern side of Morgantown
* WV 43, a section of the Mon-Fayette Expressway connecting the Morgantown area to Fayette County, Pennsylvania
* US 119, which runs in a north-south fashion through downtown
* US 19, which runs through downtown
* WV 7
* WV 705
Morgantown is:
* 77 miles (120 km) south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
* 385 miles (615 km) north of Charlotte, North Carolina;
* 528 miles (845 km) east of Chicago, Illinois;
* 218 miles (350 km) west of Washington, D.C.

### By bus

* 39.654537-79.9615571 Megabus, Mountaineer Bus Station, 1112 Van Voorhis Road. Service from Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

## Get around

Downtown Morgantown has a lot of things to do, and it is definitely possible to see it by walking around. Other areas around Morgantown are similarly dense with fun activities and are easy to walk around. Certain places are further away from the center of town and will likely require a bicycle or a car to visit them. Morgantown is very hilly and steep, areas close on a map may be separated by a significant change in elevation, and the winding nature of routings can be disorienting to those unfamiliar with navigating mountainous terrain.
Morgantown's interstate highways skirt the edges of town, forming a sort of partial bypass/beltway; I-79 runs north-south along the western fringe and I-68 begins at an interchange with I-79 southwest of the city center and heads east, skirting the southern and eastern suburbs. The part of Morgantown north of downtown is the most populous, and crossing this area roughly west to east, connecting I-79 to I-68 is a large, busy suburban arterial route consisting of portions of other routes strung together. A small part of Chaplin Hill Rd. (exit 155 to WV-7) connects to US-19/WV-7 crossing the Monongahela River to WV-705 (Patteson Dr., Van Voorhis Rd., Chestnut Ridge Rd., 201st INF/FA Memorial Way), US-119 (Mileground Rd) and WV-857 (Cheat Rd.) connecting with I-68 at exit 7.
US-19 follows an indirect route, entering the Morgantown area from the southwest and traveling east through Westover into downtown Morgantown; then turning north and following the river to cross it again in Star City, from where it parallels I-79 north into Pennsylvania. US-119 enters Morgantown from the south and travels northeast from downtown, entering Pennsylvania near the small town of Point Marion Pa. WV-7 enters Morgantown from the northwest and is twinned with US-19 until downtown where it travels east, crossing I-68 and going up the Allegheny Front and through small rural mountain towns.
There is plenty of parking all around Morgantown. There are four parking garages with a total of 1,600 parking spots in Morgantown. They are at University Avenue and Chestnut Street, Pleasant Street, Spruce Street and Wharf Street. It is possible to rent a car for several days from Hertz in Morgantown Municipal Airport, or to rent a car for several hours from Zipcar. Alternatively, just call a taxi through Motown Taxi, Uber, or Lyft.
* West Virginia University PRT (Personal Rapid Transit), ☏ +1 304-293-5502. M-F 6:30AM-10:15PM, Sa 9:30AM-5PM; closed on university holidays and during semester breaks. One of Morgantown's more oddball claims to fame, relatively speaking, is its one-of-a-kind rapid transit system that Atlas Obscura describes succinctly as a "1970s vision of the future". Conceived in 1972—a time when the rapid expansion of West Virginia University onto three campuses several miles apart was choking Morgantown's streets with traffic—and opened three years later, the PRT carries 16,000 commuters a day along an 8.7-mile (14-km), five-stop dedicated travel way between the West Virginia University campus and downtown Morgantown in small pod-like vehicles that only hold a few people at a time. After entering the station and paying your fare, you press a button corresponding to your destination station, and the completely computerized and automated system whisks you there directly without needing to stop at any of the intervening stations along the way. Transit wonks of today tend to see it as little more than a curiosity but, at the time in opened, the PRT was state-of-the-art and widely considered the future of mass transit. Fare 50¢ per trip. (updated Apr 2020)
* Mountain Line, ☏ +1 304-296-3680, office@busride.org. is a public transit bus system providing service in and around the city of Morgantown. The service is free to students, with nominal fares for everyone else. The city of Morgantown subsidizes the bus system, making the fares very affordable. $0.75–$1.00.

## See

* 39.646906-79.9773511 Core Arboretum, Monongahela Blvd., ☏ +1 304-293-5201. Daily dawn to dusk. 91 acres (37 ha) of old-growth forest sandwiched onto the hillside between Monongahela Boulevard and the river, the Core Arboretum dates back to 1948, when the esteemed Professor Earl Lemley Core, head of the university's Biology Department, convinced his employer to buy the land and set it aside for the study of local trees, shrubs, and plants. The three and a half miles (5.5 km) of trails that crisscross the arboretum are best for avid hikers — the slope down to the riverbank is quite steep indeed — but your reward might be a taste of the elusive pawpaw (a fruit that's native to the area, but not easy to find in stores owing to its quick spoilage), or, in the springtime, a colorful carpet of wildflowers to enjoy.
* 39.597778-79.9591672 Dorsey's Knob. An excellent view of the Rolling Hills of West Virginia at no cost.
* 39.629278-79.8681713 West Virginia Botanic Garden, 1061 Tyrone Rd. Gardens in a former reservoir. (updated Aug 2023)
* 39.629672-79.9624674 Hazel Ruby McQuain Park and Caperton Trail. The Hazel Ruby McQuain Park downtown features an ampitheatre, the paved Caperton Trail follows a former railroad route extending both directions from the park 5.7 miles along the east bank of the Monongahela River from Star City in the north to White Park in First Ward to the south. (updated Aug 2023)

### Museums

* 39.646715-79.973795 The Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum, 401 Evansdale Drive, ☏ +1 304-293-4609, wattsmuseum@mail.wvu.edu. M W F Sa 1-4PM. Mineral Resources Building Room 125. Dedicated to preserving the social, cultural, and technological history of the coal, oil and natural gas industries of the state of West Virginia. free. (updated Feb 2017)
* 39.655159-79.958236 Cook-Hayman Pharmacy Museum, 1132 Health Sciences North, ☏ +1 304-293-5212. Tours by appointment booked through website. Built to resemble a 19th-century drugstore, the museum includes texts, medicines, furnishings, apothecary jars, mills, bottles, scales and other devices used by pharmacists over the past 100 years. Free. (updated Feb 2017)
* 39.641765-79.9326237 Morgantown Glass Museum, 1628 Mileground Road, ☏ +1 304-685-5760, mgt_glass@hotmail.com. By appointment only. Please call.. Displays thousands of glass pieces from the late 19th century to around 1980, made in factories of the Morgantown Glass Company, the Seneca Glass company and the Gentile Glass Company in the Morgantown area. (updated Feb 2017)
* 39.659165-80.0084558 Scott's Run Museum (exit 155 from I-79, Osage), ☏ +1 304-599-1931. Sa 1PM-4PM, or by appointment. Celebrating and preserving the history of coal and the coal boom area in Morgantown. Free. (updated Feb 2017)
* 39.6282-79.95799 Morgantown History Museum, 175 Kirk St, ☏ +1 304-319-1800, info@morgantownhistorymuseum.org. M W F Sa 10AM-4PM, Tu Th 11AM-4PM. local and regional history (updated Feb 2017)
* 39.648183-79.97580610 West Virginia University's Creative Arts Center, ☏ +1 304-293-4841. Gallery hours F noon-9PM, Sa 1-9PM. 4 theatres and 1 performance hall. All exhibitions, lectures, and receptions are free and open to the public.
* 39.628056-79.95805611 Monongalia Arts Center, 107 High Street (between the historic Hotel Morgan and the old Morgantown Post Office on South High Street), ☏ +1 304-292-3325, info@monartscenter.com. M-F 11AM - 7PM, Sa 11AM - 4PM. A non-profit arts and culture center serving Monongalia County and surrounding areas. MAC offers classes in the visual and performing arts, and houses the Benedum Gallery, Davis Gallery, Tanner Theatre, and a gift shop featuring artwork by various local artists. (updated Apr 2017)

## Do
### Spectator sports
#### West Virginia University Mountaineers

West Virginia University's sports teams are undoubtedly Morgantown's highest-profile attraction and loved by almost everyone in the state. The Mountaineers have teams in seven men's sports, ten women's sports, and one coeducational sport (rifle shooting), mostly as members of the Big 12 Conference. As at most other big schools, the football and men's basketball teams have the most attendees at games. Notably, when Milan Puskar Stadium is filled for football games, the stadium becomes the largest "city" in the state by a large amount. While a small number of WVU fans aren't totally friendly to opposing fans, violence is essentially nonexistent, and neutral visitors should have no trouble. For fun, try to wear dark blue and golden yellow. Different sports are played at different venues.
* 39.650085-79.9550941 West Virginia Mountaineers football, Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium, 3450 Jerry West Blvd., toll-free: +1 800 WVU-GAME (988-4263). The season is from September to November.
* 39.649254-79.9811982 West Virginia Mountaineers basketball, WVU Coliseum, 3450 Jerry West Blvd. (between Blue and Gold Gate entrances), toll-free: +1 800 WVU-GAME (988-4263). The season is from November to April.
* 39.64473-79.9958383 West Virginia Mountaineers baseball, Monongalia County Ballpark, 2040 Gyorko Drive, Granville, toll-free: +1 800 WVU-GAME (988-4263). The season is from February to June.
* 39.652341-79.983764 West Virginia Mountaineers soccer, Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, Monongahela Blvd. (near Saratoga Avenue), toll-free: +1 800 WVU-GAME (988-4263). The season is from September to November.

#### Other sports

* 39.64473-79.9958385 West Virginia Black Bears, Monongalia County Ballpark (University Town Centre, Granville), ☏ +1 304-293-7910, wvblackbears@gmail.com. After the 2021 reorganization of Minor League Baseball, Morgantown lost its affiliated minor-league team. The Black Bears identity has now been taken up by a team in the MLB Draft League, a collegiate summer baseball league in which top college prospects play using the same wood bats used in professional baseball.

### Movie theaters

* 39.626601-80.0000216 AMC Classic Morgantown 12 Theater, 9540 Mall Road (inside Morgantown Mall), ☏ +1 304-983-6868.
* 39.652522-80.0003437 Regal Mountaineer Theater, 1001 Mountaineer Drive, Granville, ☏ +1 304-598-3456.

### Arts and entertainment

* 39.648093-79.9757698 West Virginia Public Theater, 2 Waterfront Place, ☏ +1 304-291-4177. For tickets call: +1 304-291-4122.
* 39.630702-79.9551629 Metropolitan Theater, 369 High Street, ☏ +1 304-291-4884. Performances of all kinds, including concerts, movies, shows, comedy.
* 39.629066-79.95711510 Arts Monongahela, 201 High Street, ☏ +1 304-291-6720. Works of local artists.

### Outdoors

* 39.643215-79.9517211 Boparc Recreation Center, 287 Eureka Drive, ☏ +1 304-296-7002. Recreational activities. Includes parks, swimming, summer camps, trips, and other special events.
* 39.596304-79.95879812 Dorsey's Knob Park, Fawley Lane (near Grafton Road). An excellent view of the rolling hills of West Virginia, at no cost. free.
* 39.62826-79.96083613 Caperton Trail. 48 miles (80 km) of trail for biking, walking, jogging. Used to be railroad tracks. free.
* 39.698115-80.03393314 Mountaineer Golf and Country Club, 212 Brand Road, Maidsville (near Route 11), ☏ +1 304-454-5936. 72-par, 18-hole golf course. Open seven days a week, weather permitting. Price varies.
* Big Bear Lake, I-68 exit 29, near Bruceton Mills, ☏ +1 304-379-4382. A 35-acre lake for swimming, fishing or sunbathing on the beach. 24 miles of mountain bike and hiking trails, lakeside waterslide, 18-hole miniature golf, game room, tennis courts, volleyball courts, baseball field, country-western dances. Cabins available.
* Coopers Rock State Forest (13 miles east of Morgantown). This a forest overseen and maintained by the state of West Virginia since 1936 offers nearly 50 miles of hiking trails and an easily-accessed overlook that offers some of the most iconic views in West Virginia. Overlooking a gorge, the observation area is a short walk from the visitor center parking lot, past an Instagram-worthy swing and reminder that this is almost heaven.

## Buy

* 39.628975-79.9547321 Appalachian Gallery, 44 High Street, ☏ +1 304-296-0163. Handcrafted works by artists and artisans in West Virginia and neighboring regions, including baskets, books, fabric art, folk toys, framed art, glass, jewellery, metal works, mosaics, music, pottery, thumb pianos, wildlife portraits and wooden items.
* 39.630884-79.9548292 Tanner's Alley Leather Shop, 416 High Street, ☏ +1 304-292-0707. Leather products including briefcases, luggage, handbags.
* 39.632321-79.9546043 The Book Exchange, 152 Willey Street, ☏ +1 304-292-7354. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 10AM-2PM. Campus store supplying textbooks, clothing, school merchandise, and memorabilia.
* 39.630426-79.9567754 Old Stone House Gift Shop, 313 Chestnut Street, ☏ +1 304-296-7825. M-Sa 11AM-3PM, closed Su. A house built by Jacob Nuze around 1795. The Service League of Morgantown operates a shop that sells handcrafted goods and crafts. Proceeds from sales support community charitable projects.

### Glass

The Morgantown area has been home to over 30 glass factories over the past 100 years, including Seneca Glass, Monongahela Valley Cut Glass, Mississippi Glass, Pressed Prism Glass, Beaumont Glass, and others. There are only two glass factories left in the area:
* 39.65959-79.9888295 Davis-Lynch Glass, Boyers Avenue, Star City, ☏ +1 304 599-2244. Most of their output is sold to lamp distributors, but some is offered for sale to the public at the L & G Lamp Shop.
* 39.641627-79.9628286 Seneca Center, 709 Beechurst Avenue, ☏ +1 304-292-3900. Offers a collection of vintage Morgantown Glass, among other things.

### Malls

* 39.626325-79.9979967 Morgantown Mall, 9500 Mall Road, ☏ +1 304-983-6255. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su noon-6PM. Over 80 shops and restaurants, including American Eagle, Bath & Body Works, Finishline, Hot Topic, Justice, Kay Jewelers, Pacific Sunwear, Torrid, Victoria's Secret, and Zales.
* 39.605561-79.9609528 Mountaineer Mall, 5000 Greenbag Road, ☏ +1 304-296-0096. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su noon-5PM. A few shops and a hot dog stand.
* 39.6476-80.0012519 University Town Centre, at Granville, 5001 University Towne Center Drive (take I-79 to the Star City exit). Stores include Dick's Sporting Goods, Ulta Beauty, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Lane Bryant, T.J. Maxx, Game Stop, and Target. Restaurants include Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Chili's Grill & Bar, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and Cracker Barrel. It is next to Monongalia County Ballpark, home field of two baseball teams, namely the West Virginia University Mountaineers and the West Virginia Black Bears minor league team.

### General Amenities

* Morgantown Farmers Market, 400 Spruce St. Saturday morning farmers market; downtown. (updated Aug 2023)
* Von Son Asian Market, 1389 University Ave. Downtown (updated Aug 2023)
* Asia Royal Grocery. 1137 Van Voorhis Rd (updated Aug 2023)
* Kassar Food & Gifts, 1137 Van Voorhis Rd. International Groceries (updated Aug 2023)
* African Caribbean Food Market and Restaurant, 918 Chestnut Ridge Rd. International groceries with a focus on Jamaica and West Africa (updated Aug 2023)
* Kroger, large regional grocery chain. 3 Morgantown locations:
** 1851 Earl L Core Rd, Sabraton
** 350 Patteson Dr. Evansdale
** 500 Suncrest Towne Centre Dr.
* Giant Eagle, large regional grocery chain. 2 Morgantown locations:
** 130 Green Bag Rd. First Ward
** 208 Giant St. University Town Centre, Granville
* Aldi, nationwide discount grocery chain. 2 Morgantown locations:
** 1351 Earl L Core Rd. Sabraton
** 3519 Monongahela Blvd. Star City
* Price Cutter, discount grocery chain. 889 Venture Dr
* Walmart, 2 Morgantown locations:
** 75 Retail Cir. off Hornbeck Rd at the interchange of US-119 and I-68 (exit 1)
** 5065 University Town Centre Dr.

## Eat

* Black Bear Burritos, 3119 University Ave, ☏ +1 304-777-4867. M-Sa 11:00AM-10PM. Burritos of all ethnic cuisines, served in a unique Appalachian atmosphere.
* 39.630151-79.9558741 Boston Beanery Restaurant, 321 High Street, ☏ +1 304-292-0165. Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F-Sa 11AM-1AM. Catch the spirit of Old Boston! Salads, entrées, clam chowder and more available. (updated Oct 2016)
* 39.627399-79.9612972 Oliverio's Ristorante, 52 Clay Street, ☏ +1 304-296-2565. M-Tu 4PM-10PM, W-F 11AM-10PM, Sa 3PM-10PM, Su 4PM-9PM. Tuscan-inspired cuisine Pasta dishes $13-15, mains $17-45. (updated Mar 2017)
* 39.643842-79.92023 Ali Baba (formerly Voyagers), Morgantown Airport (Hart Field), 110 Hart Field Road (inside the airport terminal building), ☏ +1 304-292-4701. M-Th 11AM-8PM; F Sa 11AM-9PM; closed Su. Mediterranean and American menu, lunch buffet. Quiet atmosphere, ample free parking.
* 39.630958-79.955444 Yama Japanese Restaurant, 387½ High Street, ☏ +1 304-291-2456. M-F 11:30AM-3PM, 5PM-8PM; Sa noon-3PM, 5PM-8PM. Authentic Japanese cuisine, including sushi. Noodles, bowls $8; mains $12.50. (updated Mar 2017)
* 39.629403-79.9553015 Blue Moose Cafe, 248 Walnut Street, ☏ +1 304-292-8999. M-Th 7AM-10PM, F 7AM-11PM, Sa 8AM-11PM, Su 8AM-10PM. Breakfast, lunch, and live entertainment.
* Chaang Thai Restaurant, 361 High St.. (updated Aug 2023)
* Saigon Pho Kitchen, 3109 University Av. (updated Aug 2023)
* Masala House Indian Bistro, 1894 Mileground Rd. (updated Aug 2023)
* El Pollon Express, 1383 Earl L Core Rd. (updated Aug 2023)
* El Pollon II, 1111 Van Voorhis Rd. (updated Aug 2023)
* La Tapatia Market and Tacos, 1200 Green Bag Rd #14. (updated Aug 2023)
* Ta-Khrai Thai Cafe, 2862 University Ave. (updated Aug 2023)
* Fresh Mint Indian Grill, 40 High St. (updated Aug 2023)
* Jamaican Spice WV, 708 Beechurst Ave. (updated Aug 2023)
* Istanbul, 2995 University Av. (updated Aug 2023)
* 39.634671-79.9537296 Mountainlair Student Union (Lair), 1550 University Avenue, ☏ +1 304-293-2702. M-Th 7AM-midnight, F 7AM-2AM, Sa 9AM-2AM, Su 2PM-midnight. The Mountainlair, or "Lair", houses a convenience store and more than 10 eateries, some of which include: Burger King, Freshens, Quizno's, Hatfields, and Sbarro. The Mountainlair also has a bowling alley and billiard tables on the ground floor.

## Drink

Because Morgantown is home to a major university, downtown Morgantown nightlife thrives for those in their twenties to early thirties. High Street is the main center for bar activity. Similar student activity can be found adjacent to the main West Virginia University campus in the Sunnyside area. The summer months are much quieter because many of the students leave town. State law does not allow anyone less than 21 years old to purchase alcohol.
* 39.707662-79.8879781 Forks of Cheat Winery, 2811 Stewartstown Road, toll-free: +1-877-WV WINES (9894637). M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Offering 29 white, red, and fruit wines. Tours and tastings available, weather permitting.

### Bars and pubs

* 39.629322-79.955452 4th & Goal, 234 Walnut Street, ☏ +1 304-225-2663. M-F 5PM-3AM, Sa Su 11:30AM-3AM. Weekly drink specials. Food, pool table, darts, beer pong. Inquire for private parties. (updated Oct 2016)
* 39.632008-79.9543893 The Backdoor Bar & Tavern, 485 High Street, ☏ +1 304-292-5936. M-Th Sa 8PM-3AM; F 5PM-3AM. Weekly drink specials including a happy hour buffet and live entertainment with karaoke. (updated Oct 2016)
* 39.629824-79.9442144 Mario's Fishbowl, 704 Richwood Avenue, ☏ +1 304-292-2511. M-W 11AM-midnight, Th-Sa 11AM-1AM, Su noon-10PM. Morgantown's best-known bar among students and alumni.
* 39.630166-79.9558165 The Sports Page, 325 High Street, ☏ +1 304-284-0996. M-F 5PM-3AM, Sa 11AM-3AM, Su noon-2AM. Happy hour everyday from 5-8PM. Weekly drink specials. Food, pool and foosball table, TV, and dance floor. (updated Oct 2016)
* 39.63041-79.9578616 Morgantown Brewing Company, 1291 University Avenue, ☏ +1 304-454-5900. Brewing 24 beers, ales, stouts, bitters and lagers. Serves good pub food. Try Ned's Pale Ale and the Appalachian Ale. Catering and private parties available.

### Clubs

* 39.630574-79.9561697 Vice Versa, 335 High Street, ☏ +1 304-292-2010. Th-Su 8PM-3AM. Local LGBT club.

## Sleep

* 39.658093-79.9891351 Best Western Mountaineer Inn, 366 Boyers Ave (Near I-79.), ☏ +1 304-599-5399. Indoor pool, continental breakfast, high speed internet, coffee maker, and iron. (updated Oct 2016)
* 39.628344-79.957462 Hotel Morgan, 127 High St, ☏ +1 304-292-8200. Historic hotel in downtown Morgantown, directly beside the historic Warner Theatre.
* 39.658298-79.9623513 Euro-Suites Hotel, 501 Chestnut Ridge Road, ☏ +1 304-598-1000. Upscale "green" facility. Internet and breakfast are free.
* 39.653889-79.944534 Hilton Garden Inn, 150 Suncrest Towne Center Drive, ☏ +1 304-225-9500. Affordable prices that include free Wi-Fi, workout facility, and indoor pool.
* 39.653942-79.9525255 Residence Inn Morgantown, 1046 Willowdale Rd. Full amenities directly across from Ruby Memorial Hospital and Milan Puskar Stadium. (updated Oct 2016)
* 39.624109-79.9640276 Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, Two Waterfront Place, ☏ +1 304-296-1700. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. Overlooking the Monongahela River in the restored Wharf District.
* 39.586006-79.9527767 Quality Inn, 225 Comfort Inn Drive (Off 1-68 south of city), ☏ +1 304-296-9364. Free continental breakfast. Pets welcomed. Indoor hot tub and fitness center.
* Alpine Lake Resort, 700 W Alpine Drive, Terra Alta (1 hour from Morgantown on I-68), ☏ +1 304-789-2481, toll-free: +1-800-752-7179. 35 rooms. Indoor heated pool, fitness center. 150-acre lake with beach, 8-hole golf course, restaurant, lounge, pro shop, miniature golf, tennis, basketball, cross-country skiing, fishing and hiking.
* Maple Leaf Motel, corner of Morgantown Street and Main Street off I-68, Bruceton Mills, 33 km east of MorganTtown on I-68. ☏ +1 304-379-4075. 12 rooms. Country decor with quilts on each bed.

## Learn

* West Virginia University is home to more than 30,000 students. The annual tuition for residential students is about $5,500 versus an out-of-state student whose tuition is approximately $17,000. WVU has 13 colleges and schools offering over 190 degrees. There are three campuses within WVU: Downtown, Evansdale, and the Health Sciences. They also offer a study abroad program for students who are interested. The football and basketball teams promote a lot of school spirit to their fellow "mountaineers" when they are playing.

## Go next

* Cooper's Rock State Forest — A West Virginia State Forest Managed cooperatively by West Virginia State Parks and the West Virginia Division of Forestry. Located 12 miles (19 km) east of Morgantown on I-68.
* Fairmont - 20 minutes south on I-79. Home to Fairmont State University and Prickett's Fort State Park.
* Clarksburg - 40 minutes south on I-79
* Grafton - 35 minutes south on US-119
* Cumberland - 1 hr 15 minutes east on I-68
* Pittsburgh - 1 hr 15 minutes north on I-79. The closest large city.
* Wheeling - 1 hr 15 minutes northwest; I-79 north to i-70 west
* Buckhannon - 1 hr 10 minutes south. Home of West Virginia Wesleyan University.
* Elkins - 1 hr 30 minutes south. Home of Davis & Elkins College.
* Thomas and Davis - 1 hr 45 minutes southeast. Tiny high elevation towns, alpine landscapes. Blackwater Falls State Park; Monongahela National Forest.
* Seneca Rocks / Spruce Knob National Recreation Area - 2 and a half hours southeast, within Monongahela National Forest, contains the highest peak in West Virginia.