Ready-made plans

Itineraries for every kind of trip.

Hand-crafted routes through Mercer County. Pick a length, follow along, and tweak to taste — every stop is a real place you can visit today.

The 3-Day Weekend

The county's greatest hits — arts & history, coal-baron mansions, and mountain waterfalls. Base yourself in Princeton or Bluefield.

1

Princeton — Arts, Rails & a Mountain Coaster

Murals · museums · downtown flavor
9:00 AM

Breakfast at The Dream Bean

Fuel up at this beloved Mercer Street coffeehouse in downtown Princeton's Grassroots District.

10:00 AM

Mercer Street Art Walk

Stroll 30+ murals and pop into the RiffRaff Arts Collective. Take the audio walking tour →

12:30 PM

Lunch at Jimmie's Restaurant

A Mercer Street institution since 1922 — hand-pattied burgers, fried-bologna sandwiches and legendary milkshakes in a 1950s diner setting.

2:00 PM

Princeton Railroad Museum ↗

Explore the town's Virginian Railway heritage — Princeton was built on the railroad. Take the free self-guided audio tour of the museum and Mercer Street.

3:30 PM

Brush Creek Holl'r Mountain Coaster

Ride West Virginia's first mountain coaster, just outside town. Pure Appalachian fun.

7:00 PM

Evening: WhistlePigs baseball or Chuck Mathena Center

Catch the Princeton WhistlePigs (summer) at Hunnicutt Field, or a show at the Chuck Mathena Center.

2

Coal Country — Bramwell & Bluefield

Millionaire mansions · milkshakes · mile-high views
9:30 AM

Bramwell Train Depot Visitor Center

Pick up a walking-tour brochure and learn how the Pocahontas coalfields made Bramwell rich.

10:15 AM

Millionaire Row walking tour

Self-guided stroll past preserved coal-baron mansions. Listen as you walk →

12:00 PM

Milkshake at The Corner Shop

A restored pharmacy soda fountain famous for the best milkshake in West Virginia.

1:30 PM

Coal Heritage Trail Interpretive Center

Artifacts, photos and the immigrant stories behind the coalfields.

3:30 PM

Eastern Regional Coal Archives, Bluefield

Dig deeper into the region's mining legacy at the Craft Memorial Library.

6:30 PM

Dinner at The Vault + sunset at East River Mountain Overlook

Dine in a historic bank, then catch the "Almost Heaven" swing and two-state views at sunset.

3

Waterfalls & State Parks

Camp Creek · Pipestem · fresh mountain air
9:00 AM

Camp Creek State Park

Easy hikes to Campbell Falls and Mash Fork Falls — two of the county's prettiest cascades.

12:00 PM

Picnic + Brush Creek Falls Preserve

A short trail to a wide, photogenic waterfall. Pack a lunch.

2:00 PM

Pipestem Resort State Park

Ride the aerial tram into the Bluestone Gorge, hit the trails, or try the zipline canopy tour.

5:30 PM

Farewell dinner

Toast your trip at a Pipestem lodge restaurant or back in Princeton before you head home.

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The 5-Day Explorer

Everything in the weekend plan, plus quirky legends, a college town, scenic byways and off-road adventure. The full Mercer County immersion.

1

Princeton — Arts, Rails & a Mountain Coaster

Ease into the county's creative heart
Morning

Breakfast at Dolly's Diner

Kick off with all-day homestyle breakfast — omelettes, biscuits & gravy — at this family-owned favorite on Oakvale Road.

Morning

Dream Bean + Mercer Street Art Walk

Coffee, 30+ murals, and the RiffRaff Arts Collective. Start with the audio walking tour.

Afternoon

Princeton Railroad Museum ↗ + Mountain Coaster

Railroad history, then a ride down Brush Creek Holl'r.

Evening

Downtown dinner + WhistlePigs game

Local eats and, in summer, minor-league baseball at Hunnicutt Field.

2

Bramwell — Millionaire Row

The richest little town in America
Morning

Depot Visitor Center + Millionaire Row

Self-guided audio walking tour of the coal-baron mansions.

Midday

Milkshake at The Corner Shop

The famous soda-fountain stop.

Afternoon

Pinnacle Rock State Park

A dramatic sandstone tower and short trails, just up the road near Bramwell.

Evening

Back to Bluefield

Relax and refuel for tomorrow.

3

Bluefield — Nature's Air-Conditioned City

Heritage, parks & the overlook
Morning

Eastern Regional Coal Archives

Regional mining history at the Craft Memorial Library.

Midday

Bluefield City Park + Ridge Runner train

Ride the miniature train; on 90°F+ days the "Lemonade Lassies" hand out free lemonade — a city tradition.

Afternoon

Historic home driving tour

Cruise Bluefield's grand early-20th-century neighborhoods.

Evening

East River Mountain Overlook

The "Almost Heaven" swing and a two-state sunset. Dinner at The Vault.

4

Legends & a College Town

Lake Shawnee · Athens · local brews
Morning

Lake Shawnee Abandoned Amusement Park

Tour one of America's most famous "haunted" sites (check seasonal tour dates before you go).

Midday

Concord University, Athens

Wander the "Campus Beautiful" and grab lunch in this classic Appalachian college town.

Afternoon

Glenwood Recreational Park

Disc golf, trails, fishing and picnic spots back near Princeton.

Evening

Craft beer & dinner

Toast the trip at a local taproom or brewery near Princeton.

5

Waterfalls, Byways & Adventure

Choose your own finale
Morning

Camp Creek State Park waterfalls

Campbell Falls & Mash Fork Falls, plus a stop at Brush Creek Falls Preserve.

Afternoon (Option A)

Pipestem Resort State Park

Aerial tram, ziplines and gorge trails for an active send-off.

Afternoon (Option B)

Hatfield-McCoy ATV Trails

World-famous off-roading through Mercer County backcountry — rentals available nearby.

Evening

Coal Heritage Trail scenic drive home

Wind out of the mountains along the National Scenic Byway.

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Interactive map

See it all on the map.

Every marker opens a photo, a few things to do, and a one-tap link to find dining nearby. Gold pins are Mercer County towns; navy stars are marquee destinations and day trips.

Map loads as you scroll — keeping the page speedy.

Map pins are approximate and intended for trip planning. Dining links open Google Maps. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.