The Best Family-Friendly Activities to Do in Charleston, WV

Play and learn at the Avampato Discovery Museum

Inside the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia, you’ll find the Avampato Discovery Museum. The museum is two floors packed with hands-on activities and fun, and kids can learn about bodies, water, music, or pretend to be a firefighter and drive a car. The planetarium and theater offer movies and shows that help us understand the world we live in.

Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia, Clay Square, Charleston, WV, USA +1 304-561-3570

See the West Virginia Power play ball

The Appalachian Power Park located close to downtown is home to the West Virginia Power, the city’s minor league baseball team. The season runs from April to September, and the stadium provides an intimate atmosphere to watch an affiliate team of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Appalachian Power Park, 601 Morris St, Charleston, WV, USA +1 304-344-2287

At the heart of downtown along the Kanawha River, the Haddad Riverfront Park has a 25,000 seat amphitheater with musical performances, festivals, and special events scheduled throughout the year. The park is the ending point for races including the Drumstick Dash, hosts festivals such as the cultural diversity event Multifest, and is home of the Live on the Levee free concert series.

On Charleston’s west side, Cato Park has fun for everyone. The park has a nine-hole golf course, archery range, hiking trails, soccer fields, and the city’s largest public pool. It’s easy to spend a whole day in the warm summer months hanging out at the Cato Pool.

Explore the woods in the Kanawha State Forest

On the south side of Charleston, the Kanawha State Forest is the perfect place to get outside and explore the natural beauty of the area with the whole family. The Spotted Salamander trail is paved and perfect for a walk with a stroller, or you can go on longer walks with a guided naturalist tour. The park also has multiple playgrounds and picnic areas with grills.

Kanawha State Forest, 7500 Kanawha State Forest Dr, Charleston, WV , USA +1 304-558-3500

#kanawhastateforest #nature #getoutside

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The free West Virginia State Museum at the Capitol Center Complex on the east side of Charleston provides an overview of the state’s history for visitors of all ages. The free museum has interactive exhibits and artifacts from across the state.

The Children’s Theater of Charleston has been putting on performances for families and kids since the 1930s. They put on a few shows a year, with talent coming from the local community.