119 THINGS TO DO ON US ROUTE 119
A Glimpse Into US Route 119
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Traveling across US Route 119 leads you to extraordinary places off the beaten path. From straight stretches to curvy country roads, the incredible sights and sounds of this route will never be forgotten. When exploring US Route 119, get ready to experience one-of-a-kind places in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Almost Heaven, West Virginia.
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Pike County, KY
Enjoy rich history & new experiences in Pike County
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Begin your US 119 journey in beautiful Pike County, Kentucky, a place with an abundance of scenic beauty and southern hospitality. Rich with history, Pike County is home to many significant Hatfield and McCoy feud sites. In fact, you can even experience the self-guided Hatfield and McCoy Feud Tour, which includes all historic sites both in Kentucky and West Virginia.
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After a historic tour, relax and unwind at the Dueling Barrels Brewery and Distillery, nestled in the Appalachian foothills of Eastern Kentucky. Here, visitors can tour the beautiful facility, learn about the process and taste Dueling Barrels incredible craft beers and Kentucky Moonshine.
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Enjoy amazing live entertainment at one of the region's many entertainment venues. The Appalachian Wireless Arena hosts nationally and internationally known entertainment, and don't forget Pikeville's Main Street Live!, held at the Mountain Top Media Stage each month during the warm months of the year. For a fun and unique experience, visit Pikeville during Hillbilly Days, one of Kentucky’s largest festivals. Hillbilly Days is three days of live music, dancing and showcasing amazing artists and craftspeople.
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Lodging available: Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Landmark Inn, Brookshire Inn & many more.
Logan, WV
Visit “Trails Heaven” in Hatfield & McCoy Country
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The Hatfield and McCoy Country area is known for its scenic beauty, rich history and one-of-a-kind adventures. This area is home to Hatfield-McCoy Trails, one of the largest off-highway vehicle trail systems in the world.
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The Hatfield & McCoy Trail System is one of America's most popular ATV spots. Riders of any skill level will enjoy riding through the rich mountains of southern West Virginia and visiting the “ATV friendly towns” the trails lead you to.
Choose from eight trails, including Bearwallow, Buffalo Mountain, Indian Ridge, Devil Anse, Pinnacle Creek, Pocahontas, Rockhouse and Warrior. All of the trail systems are open 365 days a year to ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes.
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Also in the area you can find the gorgeous Chief Logan State Park, Coalfield Jamboree Theatre and Christmas in the Park.
Click here to visit the Hatfield & McCoy CVB website.
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Lodging available: Chief Logan State Park, Holiday Inn Express, Best Western, Candlewood Suites & many more.
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Charleston, WV
Explore hip & historic Charleston
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Continue you on your US Route 119 trip, which conveniently leads you right to the Mountain State’s beautiful Capital City, Charleston. Here, exploring comes naturally thanks to the city’s incredibly rich history and its unique stops and shops. For a taste of history and sightseeing visit the West Virginia State Capitol Complex. At the Capitol Complex, visitors can take guided tours of the beautiful State Capitol as well as the Governor’s Mansion. Also, located at the complex is the Culture Center and West Virginia State Museum, a wonderful place to learn more about the Mountain State and its incredible history.
Just a few blocks away, travelers can find the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences. The Clay Center houses performing arts, visual arts and sciences under one roof and aims to inspire creativity, learning and wonder. At the Clay Center, unique events, shows and performances are always taking place and children will love the Avampato Discovery Museum.
In the evening, head to the always entertaining Mardi Gras Casino and Resort, West Virginia’s only resort with New Orleans flair. The casino features 30 table games including Roulette, Craps and Big 6 and has up to 1,000 slots for everyone to try. For live music and entertainment, Louie’s is your place. At Louie’s, Motown, oldies, Jazz, Country, Comedy and more are always being performed. After a night of fun, get a good night’s sleep at the resort, which features 150 beautiful rooms and relaxing accommodations.
Being a part of the Mountain Stage audience is a must-do experience. For more than 30 years, Mountain Stage has been the home of live music on public radio. Each week, Mountain Stage’s two hour episodes can be heard on more than 240 stations across America. At Mountain Stage, genres range from folk to synth pop and everything in between.
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Lodging available: Embassy Suites by Hilton, Four Points by Sheraton, Holiday Inn & Suites, Charleston Marriott & many more.
Weston, WV
Discover Unique Sights in Weston
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An hour and 30 minutes north on US Route 119, travelers will come to the city of Weston, a historic city with unique locations and experiences. In Weston, visit Appalachian Glass, a company that produces high quality mouth-blown, hand-crafted glass. They also offer daily glass blowing demonstrations that allow you to watch beautifully unique glass be made right before your eyes.
Although known for its paranormal activity, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is nationally recognized as a historic landmark and holds fascinating stories of civil war raids, a gold robbery and more. Located in Weston, visitors can experience a history and heritage tour or a ghost tour while at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.
After your spooky or historical tour, just 25 miles away visit the West Virginia Wildlife Center in French Creek. The West Virginia Wildlife Center is a modern zoological facility that displays native and introduced state wildlife. Here, visitors can see cougars, bobcats, golden eagles, otters, elk and more in their spacious enclosures that allow the animals to interact with their environment and display natural behavior patterns.
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Lodging available: Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Stonewall Resort, & many more.
Experience incredible scenic beauty
in Mountaineer Country
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No trip to West Virginia is complete without a visit to Coopers Rock State Forest, one of the Mountain State’s most iconic spots. Located 13 miles from Morgantown, Coopers Rock State Forest offers incredible fishing, hiking, biking and camping opportunities. Visitors love to explore the forest's many overlooks of the Canyon Section of the Cheat River that offer breathtaking views and the perfect backdrop to any photo.
Coopers Rock campground has 25 sites, all with electrical hookups, a central bathhouse with showers, and water available at an outside faucet. Wireless Internet is available for registered campsites and pets are permitted as long as your furry friends are kept on a leash. Campgrounds are open on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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Lodging available: The Cranberry, Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, Hotel Morgan, Courtyard by Marriott, and many more.
Coopers Rock State Forest, WV
Laurel Highlands, PA
History, Heritage, Architecture and Adventure in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands
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After your one-of-a-kind experiences in Kentucky and West Virginia, head north on US 119 to Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, a magnificent mountainous region steeped in history and filled to the brim with adventure and culture.
Relive early American history at Friendship Hill National Historic Site, a stunning historic estate that was once home to U.S. Secretary of Treasury Albert Gallatin, a prominent figure in the Whiskey Rebellion.
Architecture aficionados will want to spur off US 119 on a scenic drive along the National Road en route to Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Wright’s grand Usonian, Kentuck Knob. Be sure to include a stop at Fort Necessity National Battlefield, the site of George Washington’s first and only military defeat.
The whiskey distilling heritage continues at West Overton Village, where visitors can get hands-on with the ingredients, sample the spirits and explore the historic home of 19th century industrialist and financier Henry Clay Frick.
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As the journey north continues, enjoy shopping and dining in bustling downtown Greensburg. Be sure to stop in The Palace Theatre for a peak or, if you can't get enough of the area's notable entertainment schedule, take in another show! Built to inspire and engage, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art is a place for people from all corners of the world to gather and experience American art.
Lodging available: Hampton Inn and Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Historic Summit Inn Resort, Holiday Inn Express, and many more.
"It's a Wonderful Life" in Indiana County
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Nestled in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, Indiana County has the small town charm of a bustling community that is rich in history and home to a variety of local attractions, events, dining, and entertainment. Along with being the birthplace and childhood home of Hollywood film star Jimmy Stewart, Indiana County is also famous for being the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World.”
Tour the Jimmy Stewart Museum, located in Downtown Indiana, which highlights its namesake's accomplishments in film, radio and TV. His roles as military hero, civic leader, family man and world citizen are also woven into displays, film presentations and gallery talks. While you're downtown, take a stroll through the heart of Indiana and discover its vibrant restaurant scene and the many unique, locally-owned shops.
Explore Indiana County’s parks and trails system, one of the best in Pennsylvania, with over 64 miles of Rails-to-Trails open year-round for walking, biking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. The county boasts 792 acres of lakes for boating and kayaking; 5,452 acres of parks; and 12 miles of single track mountain bike trails.
Enjoy a scenic drive through Amish Country to Smicksburg, PA. Smicksburg is the home of unique and antique specialty shops, several pottery studios, and special events and festivals throughout the year.
Indiana County is also a hidden gem for some of the best craft beer in the state. Noble Stein Brewing Company and Levity Brewing Company both offer broad selections of beer and continually issue new releases, collaborations, and seasonal specials. The breweries are located within one mile of each other and both are situated along The Hoodlebug Trail, a 10-mile trail that is open year-round for bicycling and hiking. Not far down the Hoodlebug Trail is Disobedient Spirits, a local artisan distillery that features hand-crafted cocktails in a beautiful space.
Lodging available: Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn Indiana at IUP, Holiday Inn Express, Ramada by Wyndham, Silver Canoe Campground, Wheel in Campground, & many more.
