A coal miner’s lunch from the 1920s still shows up in West Virginia lunchboxes today. It’s a soft roll with pepperoni baked inside, and it may be the most famous snack the state ever made.
That little roll is only one piece of the story. Eighth graders here study for a test that can end with a real knighting ceremony.
Whole towns throw a dinner in honor of a wild onion that smells strong enough to clear a room.
I love how these memories stick. They come back with one smell, one song, or one bumpy ride on an old coaster.
Many of them still happen today, so parents can share them with their own kids or simply relive them on a free afternoon.
So how many of these did you get to enjoy growing up? I have a feeling a few will sneak up on you.
1. Pepperoni Rolls
Some snacks are invented in test kitchens, but this one was born for coal miners. Workers needed a lunch that stayed good underground without a fridge.
The answer came from an Italian immigrant named Giuseppe Argiro. He reportedly baked sticks of pepperoni into soft bread for the miners around Fairmont.
His idea caught on fast. In 1927, Argiro opened Country Club Bakery, and the shop still bakes pepperoni rolls today.
You probably grew up eating these from a school cafeteria, a gas station counter, or a paper sack after practice. The oil from the pepperoni soaks into the bread as it bakes, which is half the fun.
West Virginia even named the pepperoni roll its official state food in 2013. That’s a pretty big honor for something that once rode in a miner’s lunch pail.
Families still argue about the right way to eat one. Some folks want cheese, some want peppers, and some refuse to touch anything but the original.
For parents, a bakery stop makes an easy and affordable road trip treat. The bakery also ships rolls, so faraway relatives can get a taste of home.
Address: 1211 Country Club Road, Fairmont, WV 26554
2. Camden Park
Long before giant theme parks, folks in Huntington had a park that started with a streetcar ride. Camden Park opened in 1903 as a picnic stop along a trolley line.
That makes it one of the few old trolley parks still running in America. It’s also the only amusement park in West Virginia.
Ask anyone who grew up nearby about the Big Dipper. The wooden coaster rattles and clatters in a way that newer rides just can’t copy.
Then there’s the food. Pronto Pups, the park’s version of a corn dog, are a must for plenty of visitors.
You might also remember the Native American burial mound on the grounds. It sits right inside the park and is far older than any ride there.
Kiddie rides give small children their own corner, so the whole family can split up and meet later. Grandparents often enjoy watching the same rides they once rode.
For parents, the park has a smaller, more relaxed feel than big modern parks. Check the season schedule before you go, since it runs only part of the year.
Address: 5000 Waverly Road, Huntington, WV 25704
3. Cass Scenic Railroad
Few school field trips are louder than a ride behind a Shay steam engine. The whistle alone could wake up the whole mountain.
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park sits in Pocahontas County. Its trains run on tracks once used to haul timber out of the high forests.
Shay locomotives were built for steep grades and tight curves. Cass is known for keeping these geared engines working when most of them were long gone.
You probably remember the cinders, the smoke, and the slow climb. The ride feels like a moving history lesson that nobody needs to be forced to attend.
The town of Cass itself was a company town. Some of the old company houses are now available as rentals through the state park.
That’s a neat option for parents who want more than a day trip. You get a quiet mountain stay with a train right outside.
Trips and schedules change by season, so check before heading out. Fall foliage runs are especially popular across West Virginia, so plan early.
Address: 242 Main Street, Cass, WV 24927
4. Oglebay Winter Festival Of Lights
Nothing said the holidays like piling into the car in pajamas to see the lights at Oglebay. The heater was blasting and somebody always fogged up the window.
The Winter Festival of Lights in Wheeling began in the mid 1980s. It has grown into one of the largest holiday light shows in the country.
The driving tour stretches about six miles. Families crawl past glowing displays at a slow pace, which kids never seem to mind.
Plenty of folks remember counting their favorite scenes from the back seat. Some families still make it a yearly ritual on the same night.
Oglebay itself is a large park and resort. During the season, you may find holiday shopping, light-filled walks, and other seasonal events on the grounds.
For parents, a drive-through show is a smart pick on a cold night. Nobody has to fight over boots or mittens.
Visit on a weeknight if you can. Weekend traffic can get heavy as the holidays get close.
Address: 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, WV 26003
5. Feast Of The Ramson
Only in the mountains would a stinky wild onion earn its own party. Ramps smell strong enough that kids once claimed they got sent home from school after eating them.
Richwood calls itself the Ramp Capital of the World. The town has hosted the Feast of the Ramson each spring since 1938.
Ramps are wild leeks that pop up early in the season. They taste like a mix of onion and garlic, only bolder.
At the feast, ramps usually share the plate with classic mountain sides. Think potatoes, brown beans, cornbread, and ham or bacon.
Many West Virginia families went ramp digging together each spring. It was a way to welcome warmer days and stock up while the plants lasted.
The festival is usually held in April. Dates can shift, so check with the town before making plans.
For parents, it’s an affordable small-town outing with plenty of local flavor. Just maybe pack some mints for the drive home.
Address: Richwood Academic Center, 100 Lumberjack Loop, Richwood, WV 26261
6. Golden Horseshoe Test
Somewhere in West Virginia, a 13-year-old is memorizing county seats right now. The goal is a tiny gold pin and a tap on the shoulder with a sword.
The Golden Horseshoe Test started in 1931. It’s often called the longest-running program of its kind in the nation.
Eighth graders answer questions about state history, geography, government, and more. Top scorers from each county earn the Golden Horseshoe award.
Winners travel to Charleston for a ceremony. There, each student is dubbed a Knight or Lady of the Golden Horseshoe.
The idea comes from colonial Virginia history. In 1716, Governor Alexander Spotswood reportedly gave golden horseshoe pins to explorers who crossed the mountains.
Plenty of grown-ups still remember their score, or the one question that tripped them up. Some families have multiple generations of winners.
If you never got knighted, don’t worry. Quizzing your kids on state facts at the dinner table is still a fun family game.
Address: West Virginia State Capitol, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East, Charleston, WV 25305
7. Take Me Home, Country Roads
Play the first few notes in a room full of West Virginians and watch what happens. Somebody will start singing before the chorus even shows up.
John Denver released Take Me Home, Country Roads in 1971. The song opens with the words Almost Heaven, and the state never let go of them.
Kids learned it at school concerts, on car radios, and at family reunions. It became the soundtrack for leaving home and coming back.
At West Virginia University, the crowd sings it after home wins. Fans often link arms and sway at Milan Puskar Stadium.
In 2014, the state made it one of its official state songs. Few pop songs ever get that kind of honor.
Funny enough, the songwriters weren’t from West Virginia. That hasn’t stopped the state from claiming the tune as its own.
For parents, catching a game in Morgantown is one way to share the moment with older kids. Or just roll down the windows on a back road and sing it loud.
Address: Milan Puskar Stadium, 1 Ira Errett Rodgers Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505
8. State Fair Of West Virginia
August in Lewisburg used to mean sticky fingers, prize cows, and begging for one more ride. For many families, the State Fair of West Virginia marked the end of summer.
The fair grew out of the Greenbrier Valley Fair in the early 1920s. Today it fills the fairgrounds near Lewisburg each August.
Kids in 4-H and FFA often spent months getting animals ready to show. A ribbon from the fair could mean bragging rights for a whole year.
Then came the midway. Bright rides, fair food, and games you were sure you could win kept everyone busy.
The fair also features grandstand concerts and many exhibits. Quilts, canned goods, and garden vegetables still compete for blue ribbons.
For parents, the fair offers a lot for one gate ticket. You can watch livestock shows, browse exhibits, and grab a snack without leaving the grounds.
Go early in the day to beat the heat. The barns are calmer in the morning, too.
Address: 891 Maplewood Avenue, Lewisburg, WV 24901
9. West Virginia Pumpkin Festival
Picking the biggest pumpkin you could carry felt like a true test of strength. At the festival in Milton, the record pumpkins were way out of reach.
The West Virginia Pumpkin Festival is held each fall in Milton, in Cabell County. Families have made it a yearly outing for decades.
Giant pumpkins usually steal the show. Growers bring huge ones to be weighed, and people line up for photos beside them.
Many visitors come for the pumpkin food, too. Pumpkin treats of all kinds turn up across the grounds.
The festival also features crafts, music, and Appalachian demonstrations. It’s a good chance for kids to see old skills like those their grandparents knew.
Parents can usually knock out fall photos, shopping, and lunch in one stop. That’s a win for anyone on a budget.
Festival dates usually land in early October. Check the schedule ahead of time, since the event runs only a few days.
Address: West Virginia Pumpkin Park, 2581 US Route 60, Milton, WV 25541
10. One-Room Schoolhouses
Imagine your big brother, your neighbor, and the first grader down the road all sharing one teacher. For generations of West Virginia kids, that was simply school.
One-room schoolhouses once dotted the hills and hollows. One teacher often handled several grades at once in a single room.
Older students helped the younger ones with lessons. Recess games and walks to school were a big part of the day.
Most of these schools closed as counties built larger schools. A handful survive as museums that keep those memories alive.
The Snodgrass One-Room Schoolhouse stands on the campus of Fairmont State University. It was moved there to preserve a piece of local school history.
Visiting one is a fun way to show kids how their grandparents may have learned. Old desks and slate boards make the past feel real.
Call ahead before visiting, since museum hours can be limited. For grandparents, it might be the best show and tell of the year.
Address: Fairmont State University, 1201 Locust Avenue, Fairmont, WV 26554
