West Virginia Road Trip: Charleston-2nd Day
Bright and Early
We are eating breakfast in the Farmhouse with a nice family from Canada. I had seen our host, Angela, picking the strawberries the day before so I know they were fresh. Breakfast is ready at 8:00 a.m. per our request and delivered over from the main house on a custom handmade tray by her husband. I can’t wait to see what she made us this morning.
Capitol Market -1st try
Capitol Market opens at 10:00. We arrive at 9:40 so off we go walking to Taylor books and Charleston Bread. Travis is a good sport when I change the plans and just rolls with it (most of the time).
Taylor Books
Taylor Books is the only store open before 10:00 a.m. in the downtown area. There are plenty of people already here getting their morning coffee fix at this time. Travis is declining a coffee, but I think it is just due to the line since he has not had his normal 5 cups yet.
Charleston Bread
Charleston Bread is definitely a stop on my list after reading and hearing other people talk about how good it was. Walking into the store I wanted to taste everything. After talking to a local customer in the store, I am going with a purchase of a loaf of Brioche bread. (Brioche is a pastry of French origin whose high egg and butter content gives it a rich and tender crumb). Yes, I looked that up as soon as I could to see exactly what I purchased. It is DELICIOUS! Always listen to the locals!
Fun Finds Downtown
The downtown area is not really very busy this morning. Workers from all the restaurants are moving their tables and chairs back out into the streets in preparation of a busy day. As I walk through this small park, I feel like the statue of Senator Henry Gassaway Davis is checkin’ up on me.
Capitol Market-Take 2
Ok, so arriving back to the market at 10:30 I am energized and ready to wander around looking at all the plants and fun stuff. This is the closest type place I have been to in the United States that reminds me of a “Wet Market” in Asia. (Doesn’t connect with you, but ohhhhh the memories for me.)
Check In from Home
Thanks to my great cousins, Joni and Jordan, I don’t have to board Jet when we travel. They are so sweet to come stay with him and check in with me and let me know how he is doing. I have to say, it looks like things are going well in his world. He might be missing me a little…or not!
Pickin’ on the Square at the State Capitol
The Appalachian annual heritage festival Vandalia Gathering is now in its 47th year. I love walking around listening to so many generations demonstrating their talents on such a variety of instrument like the mandolin and banjo. Even though we are not going to stay around long enough to hear the competitions we are hearing and seeing some fabulous memories being made by families and friends alike.
Shoppin’ on the Square
So many local items are being sold and displayed under tents around the capitol. I am enjoying talking to them all and hearing life stories by the people that live here and sell their wares. Lotions, baskets, hand crafted jewelry, wood turners, glass makers, potters, and sewn items are just a few of the things we are seeing.
#almostheaven
West Virginia’s slogan is #almostheaven. I love when we find these swing and photo locations. Since we travel at the end of May and early June, we usually beat the summer vacation crowds. Lines, crowds and traffic are usually minimal.
West Virginia has a beautiful State Capitol. The monuments and grounds are very well kept.
Lunch at The Smokehouse/NOT BBQ
This restaurant has been open for over 65 years. The name Smokehouse is not because they sell BBQ but because it used to be an actual smokehouse. This smokehouse is where men only were allowed to congregate to smoke and drink together.
The food is good but the conversation and information we are getting from our waitress about the history of the place is even better. The original family stills owns and runs this restaurant.
Charleston Town Center
I am trying not to buy much as I travel, but I sure do LOVE TO WINDOW SHOP and look around.
Little funnies about our stay at the Country Road House and Berries
I am currently driving a Toyota Avalon. I know climbing in and out of it is lower than any other vehicle I have owned, but until driving across this little bridge I didn’t realize exactly how low to the ground I was. Travis fixed the dilemma for us with, “Turn up the radio Honey so we can’t hear it scrape.”
The bathroom we have in our room in the Cellar House is private but not air tight. You can’t’t really see in or out but it sure looks funny in the dark with the bathroom lights on.
Day Packed Full
The day started with breakfast at 8:00 a.m. and ended with this last picture at 11:00 p.m. I’m going to sleep to get ready for another fun filled Adventurous Day as we drive toward our next destination in Fayettville, WV.
