One of the many reasons I love doing what I do is that I often get to work with home buyers who are totally new to Morgantown. There is something exciting about giving a tour of your hometown and sharing all of its hidden gems. Most of the time, it’s just me pointing and sharing recommendations that I hope my buyers take. Summer concerts, baseball games, golfing, boating, hiking, farmers markets…It sounds like a summer edition of a Hallmark movie. But it’s what the summers in this best kept secret of a town offers us. If you are new to Morgantown and aren’t sure what to do with your extra time, I’m happy to share some of my personal favorites.
Summer nights here are rarely too cool or too hot. So, when it comes to evening activities, your options are plentiful. Almost every Friday night, The Ruby Amphitheater hosts an outdoor concert totally free to the public. Whether it’s a local artist or a legendary performer, I can almost guarantee you will recognize at least one of their musicians. You can look up their lineup on rubyampwv.com to see for yourself.
Baseball games are another summer local favorite. The West Virginia Black Bears are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. A lot of their games are themed for the public to participate in like “Bark in the Park” “Ladies Night” “Friday Night Fireworks” “Kids Day” and many more. This is a great place to socialize, meet people, or just enjoy a good game.
When it comes to daytime activities, your outdoor options are endless. On a Saturday, I would recommend starting your day off at the Morgantown Farmers Market. It offers plenty of fresh produce from local or nearby vendors and is opened from 8:30 until noon every Saturday until mid-November.
From there, the town is your oyster. If you’re looking for hiking or biking trails, Coopers Rock State Forest has a wide variety and some of the most iconic views in the state. Other options would be the West Virginia Botanic Gardens or one of the multiple rail trails.
If you’re wanting to be on the water, we have that too. Cheat Lake is one of my favorite places to spend my time in the summer. Whether you’re wanting a quaint and quiet cruise or a lively atmosphere of people, I can assure you it will deliver. Three restaurants sit on the water which are perfect for pulling up to for dinner, drinks, and often live music.
For me, it’s a tough decision between a day on the lake or a day on the golf course. Morgantown offers three public, and two private golf courses, one of which Golf Digest ranked 33rd in the country. Our Appalachian climate allows us to keep our greens healthy, and our fairways smooth.
Our summers get to be quiet as most of the students have gone back to their hometowns, but the community itself never stops. Whether it’s a sporting event, a concert on the river, or an art walk downtown, Morgantown always has something up its sleeve. If you’re new here, welcome. I hope you grow to love this town the way most of us have. Until next week-
Eve Leombruno, 2023 MBOR President
