12 Best Things To Do In Morgantown, West Virginia

1. Behold majestic artworks at Monongalia Arts Centre

Established in 1978, the Monongalia Arts Centre functions as a repository of the creative prowess of local artists. A tour around this non-profit attraction gives you access to a wide array of art forms that you can behold and admire through first-hand experience and education.

You can check out the amazing collection of masterpieces displayed in its gallery spaces. If you are an aspiring visual artist, this centre provides art classes that are perfect both for kids and adults. This artistic hub is also home to performance art, so you can sign up for dance classes if you’re into grooving to music.

Monongalia Arts Centre

Address: 107 High St, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States

Website: Monongalia Arts Centre

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 1pm - 8pm; Tue - Thu: 1pm - 7pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

Price: Free entry

2. Witness wonderful theatrics at Metropolitan Theatre

The Metropolitan Theatre stages live performances, concerts, and films by local and national artists. Primarily established in 1924, this point of interest has had its fair share of struggles in operating over the decades. This venue has overcome tribulations, such as being ravaged by fire in 1926 and temporarily closed in the 1980s for bankruptcy.

Now, the theatre is more alive than ever. You can catch the most prominent theatre performances and movies from around the world scheduled every month for viewing, so keep yourself posted on its current line-up of shows and events.

Metropolitan Theatre

Address: 373 High Street, Morgantown, WV 26505

Website: Metropolitan Theatre

3. Go hiking at West Virginia University Core Arboretum

Explore over 150 species of planted trees and shrubs at Core Arboretum, with some trees still standing tall at over 200 years old. Although the arboretum is part of West Virginia University for research and educational purposes, the garden is also open to the public for free to enjoy hiking and nature programs. Foot trails at Core Arboretum stretch over 3 miles (4.8km), perfect to visit for any season, but the best views are usually during autumn.

Core Arboretum

Address: Monongahela Blvd, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States

Website: Core Arboretum

Opening hours: 6am - 9pm (daily)

4. Get inspired by the collections at the Art Museum of West Virginia University

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The Art Museum of West Virginia University is home to 4,000 artworks consisting of paintings, prints, ceramics, and sculptures from artists from all over the world. Offering free entry for all visitors, the museum serves as a space for the public to connect and understand the visual arts of different cultures and eras. The Art Museum of West Virginia University also hosts various arts programs throughout the year, such as artist demonstrations and a popular lunchtime program that takes visitors on a tour around the exhibitions.

Art Museum of West Virginia University

Address: 20 Fine Arts Dr, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States

Website: Art Museum of West Virginia University

Opening hours: Fri - Sun: 12.30pm - 6pm (closed from Mon - Thu)

5. Taste high quality craft beer at Morgantown Brewing Company

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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Chill out at one of West Virginia’s oldest breweries. The menu at Morgantown Brewing Company is anything but extensive, but the shorter the menu the better the food. The brewpub serves monster burgers as well as their twist on classic finger food such as their beer-breaded french fries. Morgantown Brewing Company specializes in fruity flavored beer but they also serve classic pale ale and gluten-free alcoholic beverages. Choose to dine on the outdoor deck and sip on beers while enjoying the natural cool air.

Morgantown Brewing Company

Address: 1291 University Ave, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States

Website: Morgantown Brewing Company

Opening hours: 12pm - 11pm (daily)

6. Have a picnic at Marilla Park

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

This is not your average neighborhood park. Marilla Park is a multipurpose park that features baseball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, and an outdoor pool with two waterslides. Located along Deckers Creek, the park is connected to Deckers Creek Trail where visitors can embark on a hike. Although Marilla Park has pavilions for rent, the park’s vast green fields are ideal for picnics free of charge. This is a great place to visit during the summer!

Marilla Park

Address: E Brockway Ave, Morgantown, WV 26501, United States

Website: Marilla Park

7. Explore the beautiful gardens at West Virginia Botanic Garden

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Locals visit the gardens for their daily jogs and leisurely strolls, but you should explore the gardens by embarking on a hike. There are seven trails at West Virginia Botanic Garden, each less than a mile long, which leads you to different parts of the garden such as Pond View Trail and Forest Trail to name a few. You can also find nine different gardens at West Virginia Botanic Garden, such as Hammock Haven and Meditation Garden, which can be reached by the Reservoir Loop Trail.

West Virginia Botanic Garden

Address: 1061 Tyrone Rd, Morgantown, WV 26508, United States

Website: West Virginia Botanic Garden

Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)

8. Attend an art class at The Wow Factory

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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The Wow Factory is an art studio that offers art classes with the most popular being pottery painting. How it works is you pick pottery of your choice, select your favorite color glaze that you will decorate your pottery with, and leave it to the art studio to glaze fire your masterpiece. Other classes provided at The Wow Factory are mosaics, glass fusing, clay hand-building, and canvas painting.

The Wow Factory

Address: 3453 University Ave # 1, Star City, WV 26505, United States

Website: The Wow Factory

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 8pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm (closed on Mon)

9. Enjoy bowling at Suburban Lanes

Level up your bowling experience only at Suburban Lanes. What makes this bowling alley an extraordinary one is on Friday and Saturday nights, Suburban Lanes transforms into a cosmic wonderland. Cosmic lights fill up the bowling alley with pumping music to get your adrenaline running. People visit this bowling alley just to have a great time, so you don’t have to feel intimidated if you’re a beginner at bowling. Here’s a tip for those visiting Suburban Lanes for a cosmic bowling experience: make sure to wear white shirts so you will glow in the dark!

Suburban Lanes

Address: 735 Chestnut Ridge Rd, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States

Website: Suburban Lanes

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 8am - 12am; Fri - Sat: 8am - 1am; Sun: 11am - 12am

Price: From 16 USD

10. Go biking along Deckers Creek Trail with Wamsley Cycle

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Deckers Creek Trail is one of the best hiking trails in West Virginia. The trail stretches for 24.6 miles (40km) long, not so great for a leisurely stroll but perfect for cycling. Rent a bike at Wamsley Cycles with flexible renting periods from two hours to a week. Wamsley Cycles also provides safety equipment that comes with each bike. Cycling along Deckers Creek Trail will take you to different parks of Morgantown, such as Marilla Park, and the trail will also take you through rapids and short waterfalls.

Wamsley Cycles

Address: 709 Beechurst Ave # 3, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States

Website: Wamsley Cycles

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm; Sat: 10am - 5pm (closed on Sun)

Price: From 10 USD

11. Learn about local history at Morgantown History Museum

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Morgantown History Museum houses temporary exhibitions that promote local and regional history. Expect to spend about an hour and a half exploring the museum’s ever-changing exhibitions that provide visitors with new knowledge of Morgantown with each visit. This museum is rather small as compared to the Art Museum of West Virginia University, but the compact space is filled with collections of Morgantown’s history. Collections at Morgantown History Museum include photographs, artifacts, paintings, and antiques that are unique to the city.

Morgantown History Museum

Address: 175 Kirk St, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States

Website: Morgantown History Museum

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 2pm (closed on Sun)

12. Enjoy homemade pizza pies at Pies and Pints

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Housed in a red brick building, you’ll find one of the best food spots to hang out in the evenings. Pies and Pints serves hand-stretched wood-fired pizzas, which gives their pizzas a crispy and chewy crust. Taste over 20 unique pizza flavors from sweet corn to Thai, and pair your freshly made pizzas with their long list of alcoholic beverages, starting with their famous beers on tap.

Pies and Pints

Address: 1002 Suncrest Towne Centre Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States

Website: Pies and Pints

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm

So much to discover

Morgantown may be famously known for being home to West Virginia University, but if you venture deeper into the city, you’ll realize there’s so much more to discover. The city is the perfect day trip destination for arts and nature lovers, for there are loads of museums, gardens, and hiking trails to explore. When you need to re-energize from exploring, quality craft beers aren’t too far out of reach to spend a relaxing evening in Morgantown.