a weekend in wheeling
the gateway to the west, wheeling, is a quiet community nestled about halfway between pittsburgh and columbus. national road put wheeling on the map - literally! the town's history is a unique one because it was the state capitol - twice! not only that, wheeling was the nail capitol of the world & nicknamed “nail city.” it was also home to marsh stogies, the oldest cigar manufacturing company in the united states. today, wheeling boasts three colleges/universities, a pittsburgh penguins affiliate hockey team and endless restaurants & recreation opportunities. but to me, wheeling is home!
if you're passing through the area, it's a worth a stop. & if you have a weekend, you have more than enough time to explore the friendly city.
places to eat:
bubba's burghers - even though bubba’s is actually from bridgeville, pa, it’s one of my favorite places to eat when i come home. they’re known for their burger creations (but you can substitute chicken for any burger.) they’ve got burgers made with grilled cheese, pilled high with bacon and even loaded with sautéed portobellos! i go to bubba’s for their buffalo chicken dip - it’s some of the best i've ever had. ask for sam, she’s the best waitress! (seriously, she knows our order by heart - down to our beer preference!!)
sarah’s on main - sarah’s is a newer restaurant to the wheeling community but there’s no lack of experience here! sarah is a paris trained chef who created a place to showcase her french perfections here in the northern panhandle of west virginia. try her salty bread - sounds a little strange but i promise you you’ll want to eat the whole loaf. (pro tip: get there early, they sell out fast!)
figaretti’s - this is your quintessential family-owned italian restaurant!! i don't really need to go into detail here, but if you’re craving good ole spaghetti & meatballs, this is your place! fig’s holds a special place in my heart because i was a hostess there in high school. it was my first job!
later gator - when i’m not at bubba’s you’ll find me near centre market at later gator. they specialize in mouth-watering crepes. take your pick between sweet or savory, but you can’t go wrong with either. the place is decorated with old wheeling memorabilia & i find something new on their walls every time i go. in the summer, later gator is the perfect spot to sit outside and grab a bite to eat in their back patio.
things to do:
centre market - once a bustling downtown marketplace, centre market is still the heart of wheeling. coleman's fish market has been a staple in the community for over 100 years! (it's nearly impossible to get a sandwich on friday's during lent). the area has a lot of local shops, art galleries & even a brewery!
capitol theater - the capitol theater is a special piece of history in wheeling. the nearly 100 year old building opened for its first show on thanksgiving day in 1928 where tickets were 60 cents. since then it’s seen performances by johnny cash, loretta lynn & merle haggard. the theater has performances every month & even brings in broadway shows every once in while!
oglebay - in 1926, a wealthy industrialist passed away and left the city of wheeling with land to be used for “public recreation.” that plot of land (2,000 acres) became a resort & conference center with a zoo, a planetarium, a ski lift, a lake, horse stables, two golf courses and numerous hiking trails. there’s literally something for everyone here. in the winter, the festival of lights dazzles over a million people as one of the nation’s largest light displays.
the wheeling nailers - the nailers are a echl affiliate of the pittsburgh penguins! i actually never even made it to a game until i moved away, but it’s such a fun environment. it’s basically like going to an nhl game but half the crowd & only a fraction of the price!