Huntington Travel Guide

Huntington lies in the western extreme of West Virginia, across the river from Ohio and just down the road from Kentucky.  Founded as a railroad town and named in honor of railroad baron Collis P. Huntington, industry has been the heartbeat of the city from its infancy.  It is an important port on the Ohio River, and the city has put much effort into making the riverfront area attractive and leisurely. 

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on who you ask) Huntington's city leaders have pretty much killed the downtown area by allowing the main shopping area to move east to Barboursville and routing the Interstate Highway around the city rather than through it.  Today Huntington's biggest draw is Marshall University, and sporting events associated with the Thundering Herd.

While in the Huntington area, take the kids to Camden Park, a vintage amusement park that still believes in amusing children, rather than shocking and freightening them.  About 20 minutes to the East lies the town of Milton, and the Blenko glass factory where you can witness beautiful trinkets (both functional and ornamental) being mouth-blown in the same manner they were made 200 years ago.

Huntington is located along I-64 about 50 miles west of Charleston, 2 hours south of Columbus, OH, and 2 1/2 hours east of Lexington, Ky.  The Huntington airport has flights from Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and some other cities.  Amtrak serves Huntington on the Cardinal Line.