Greater Parkersburg CVB was featured on FOX 28 Columbus’ Good Day Extra segment! Check out this interview with our President & CEO, Mark Lewis.

Parkersburg offers a variety of great outdoor recreation opportunities and family activities. It’s just a short two-hour drive from Columbus, OH, making it the perfect weekend trip.

Families can spend a day at Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, a destination perfect for all ages. A sternwheel riverboat guides visitors across the Ohio River on a relaxing 20-minute ride. Blennerhassett Island also offers a horse-drawn covered wagon ride around the island, and guests are welcome to pet the horses afterward.

Discovery World on Market is a new interactive children’s museum focused on STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. The museum spans 30,000 square feet and features several exhibits, with some designers from the COSI kids’ museum contributing to its creation. Combining a visit to Blennerhassett Island and Discovery World makes for a fantastic weekend trip.

For those more interested in outdoor activities, families can walk or bike the North Bend Rail Trail. It’s the perfect place to experience nature, whether alone or with family.

Parkersburg also boasts an active art scene. The Parkersburg Art Center (PAC), the oldest continuously operating arts organization in West Virginia, is a short walk from Discovery World and can easily be included in a weekend adventure. The PAC offers various art programs specifically for children.

The area is home to many wonderful restaurants, making it impossible to highlight just one. Wine Down on Market and Parkersburg Brewing Co. are two excellent restaurants located in Downtown Parkersburg, perfect for date nights. The North End Tavern, the oldest continuously operating tavern and restaurant in West Virginia, has been serving customers since 1899. Brookston Beer Bulletin lists the NET as the 122nd oldest bar in America.

Greater Parkersburg also offers hotels at every price point. One notable option is the beautiful Loghouse Homestead Bed & Breakfast, a log cabin near North Bend State Park.