Hi there! My name is Alli Jones and I was so excited when Jessica told me about the blog series that she was thinking about doing about hometowns. I thought it was a great way to be able to learn about new places and see a little glimpse of other’s everyday lives. But, when she asked me to do a blog, though I was honored and happy to do it, the first thought that ran across my mind was, “Good Lord, what am I going to talk about?” Living in West Virginia can at times feel routine and boring, but I’m sure we all can start to feel that way about our hometowns. Getting ready to write this blog helped me really see the little gems in my town and start to appreciate it a little more.
First off, Charleston is the capital of West Virginia and we actually have one of the top 10 most beautiful capitol buildings in the US. The capitol grounds are also very alluring with it’s gardens and view of the riverfront. It’s a very popular site for weddings. Spending a day on the grounds is worth it and a great place for a picnic!
Along with the beautiful grounds of the capitol, there are also several parks around Charleston. A personal favorite of mine would have to be Coonskin Park, which is just a short drive from the lovely capitol building. Here, there are ample opportunities to find a gorgeous mountain top view, which West Virginia is so famous for.
Taylor Books, photo by Joel Goodman
Another favorite spot of mine for coffee, music, reading, and writing would have to be Taylor Books in the heart of Charleston.
Taylor’s is an adorable little gem that has a little bit of everything. They have amazing foreign coffees and teas, great local bands, books, magazines, and even an art gallery attached to the side. With its cozy mix-matched chairs and tables it is easy to get comfortable and enjoy a good book and sip on some coffee.
When you’re done at Taylor’s, you can walk right across the brick street to the wonderful Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream. Ellen’s gives you the feel of an old fashioned ice cream shop from the 50s. They have more flavors than you could even imagine
and you’ll love every single bite of it. You will melt as you enjoy one of the many desserts offered at Ellen’s and enjoy the lovely view of the quaint little street outside. Ellen’s is definitely a must see (or eat!) when in Charleston.
Finally, the last place I would have to take someone that was visit Charleston would be Cafe Creperi. This place is absolutely delicious! If I could, I would eat there every day. Cafe Creperi is run by Manoli and Aoleen Stavrulakis who are natives of Crete, Greece. Not only does Cafe Creperi have the typical sweet crepes that we all think of, but they also have some fantastic meal crepes that will make you just want to die! My personal favorite is the
salmon crepe which has onions, roma tomatoes, black olives, smoked gouda cheese, a fresh spring mix, and Greek dressing. And to top off that wonderful meal is the delicious Crepe d’Amour which stuffs your tummy full of fresh raspberries and Belgian or Nutella chocolate. Going through Charleston in the morning? Cafe Creperi has you covered with their fantastic breakfast crepes as well.
Charleston is a wonderful old city, and though at first glance it doesn’t appear to offer much too do, if you look again there are plenty of great little places to go and people to meet. No matter where you find yourself in Charleston, you’ll be meet with our famous Southern hospitality and even more Southern food!
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