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Two-hour Trips: Charleston offers outdoor activities, arts nearby

Photo courtesy CharlestonWV.com The Capitol City Biker Bash, held in early June, is one of the many events that take place over the summer in Charleston.

CHARLESTON — Charleston is not only the West Virginia state capital, it is also a haven for the arts and outdoor activities. Families can find something to do in a city that is not so far away from home.

“We have had the pleasure of watching Charleston grow its event scene exponentially over the past few years,” said Jama Jarrett, vice president of operations and communications for the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau. “From FestivALL to outdoor recreation, kid-friendly activities, live music, riverfront events, and more, the city has something to offer everyone in the family. So if you haven’t been to Charleston recently, now is the time.”

To experience arts and culture, The Art Store is dedicated to showing 20th century and contemporary American art by local, regional and nationally recognized artists.

The Clay Center for Arts and Sciences covers all kinds of artistic expression with a variety of art exhibits, performances and displays. A laser show will be held July 1. Several day camps will be held over the summer for kids in the arts and sciences. The Avampto Discovery Museum has many exhibits and programs tailored to families and children, like My Town, an interactive climbing sculpture, and Grossology, an exhibit on the human body running through Aug. 20. There is also a planetarium. Learn more at theclaycenter.org.

In the mood for a musical experience?

Photo courtesy CharlestonWV.com The International Pageants Weekend will be coming to town Aug. 3-5 and Aug. 11-12.

The Charleston Light Opera Guild will be presenting, “Anything Goes,” July 28, 29, 30 and August 4, 5 and 6, at the theater. For tickets and prices, visit their website at charlestonlightoperaguild.org.

Get outside and enjoy the summer weather at one of the many parks in the area. Coonskin Park has swimming, golf, tennis, soccer, picnicking, mini golf and hiking trails on site.

And enjoy live music every Friday until Labor Day at Haddad Riverfront Park. Nearby are white-water rafting experiences and rock-climbing at Ace Adventure Resort and the Appalachian Boarding Company.

Families can also partake in a history lesson or two.

The Culture Center at the State Capitol Complex includes the interactive West Virginia State Museum, archives, two libraries and the state theater. Visitors can see a prehistoric forest, an authentic log cabin and see a 1950s soda fountain.

Photo courtesy CharlestonWV.com The women’s beach volleyball tournament at SportsFEST will be held in Charleston Aug. 19-20.

There are more than 6,000 artifacts to see from the area, and admission is free.

At the Craik-Patton House, on the National Register of Historic Places, a tour guide will walk visitors through the house and speak about the architecture and lifestyle of the 1800s when it was built.

The Governor’s Mansion is also available for tours by reservation.

There are also a variety of festivals and events to take part in over the summer, or to think about attending next year.

The FestiVALL, just wrapping up, is a 10-day event that turns the city into a work of art, with hundreds of performances and activities.

Photo courtesy CharlestonWV.com In nearby Fayetteville, the Spartan Trifecta Race will be held Aug. 26-27.

At the beginning of June the Capitol City Biker Bash roared into town, with 10,000 people at the three-day event.

The Downtown Street Fest will hold a block party in the Capitol Street area businesses from 4:30-9 p.m. July 22 .

In August, several events will come to the area. SportsFEST will be hitting Charleston Aug.19-20, and brings more than 1,000 athletes to compete in events such as jet skiing, beach volleyball, skateboard slalom, disc golf, ultimate Frisbee, 3-on-3 basketball and grappling. Coming this year is Smashy Ball, where competitors face off against each other from inside plastic balls. Magic Island, where the bulk of the activities are, also offer a splash park and playground for kids.

International pageants Mrs., Miss and Miss Teen pageants will be in town in early August to compete in interview, evening gown and fitness wear categories. Tickets are available for the events at the Clay Center’s website.

The Spartan Trifecta Race will be nearby in Fayetteville Aug. 26-27, with athletes competing in rough terrain, fire, mud, water and barbed wire.

Photo by Amy Phelps Charleston is a mix of the old and the new, as seen by this church building and a modern office building in the background.

There will be a special Live on the Levee concert in honor of the event and other race-related activities.

Shopping is available at both Charleston Town Center in the downtown area and Dudley Farms Plaza in South Charleston.

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