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Charleston is the seat of Kanawha County and is the state capital for West Virginia. With a population of 53,421, Charleston is home to the State Capitol Complex and serves as a hub for business and industry.
It is centrally located, just one hour from Parkersburg,
Huntington and Beckley with convenient access to the three major
interstate systems of I-64, I-77 and I-79 that cross the state.
Charleston has a rich history with its many historical landmarks
and relationship with the Kanawha River. It has all of the amenities
of a big city with small town ambience, providing excellent shopping
and dining experiences.
Charleston is a pedestrian-friendly city, with
hotels, convention facilities, shopping and restaurants all within
walking distance, also is safe, with the lowest crime rates in the
nation.
Visitors can stroll along Capitol Street where brick sidewalks
are lit by modern street lights that replicate gas-powered ones
of an earlier era. Quaint book stores, shops and restaurants line
the street.
Farther down, the Capitol Market combines Charleston's outdoor
farmers' market with indoor shops in a converted rail freight station
built in 1905.
For more traditional shopping, Charleston Town Center Mall is
one of the largest downtown malls east of the Mississippi with 160
specialty stores, four department stores and several specialty restaurants
Charleston is home of the West Virginia Symphony and the
annual Charleston Sternwheel Regatta.
The Charleston Civic Center and Municipal Auditorium hosts
1500 events every year- including many major concerts, plays and
sporting events. There is also a ballet company, several museums,
theater groups, a modern cultural center and the
Clay Center.
The
Clay Center is a 118 million dollar new complex for performing
arts within Charleston, directly across from the General
Hospital Campus. The Clay Center offers:
- a premier Art Museum with permanent and visiting collections
- a first-class Performing Arts Center featuring a Performance
Hall with exceptional acoustics and sight lines
- a state-of-the-art Science Center with two floors of exhibit
space, a Planetarium and a 70mm large-format film theater
- virtual and hands-on educational programs designed for students
at every level, from elementary school through higher education,
and extending to professionals interested in Master Classes and
other continuing education
There are limitless recreational opportunities
in West Virginia with nearly 2000 miles of wild water, skiing,
hiking and mountain biking. Resorts,
Lodges and campsites at the state's 150 campgrounds make getting
away inexpensive and easy. Some of the finest golf courses to be found are in West Virginia. Excellent
opportunities for rock climbing and white water rafting are only a short distance away from
the Charleston area.
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Outdoor Activities near Charleston
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