Family Explorer: Top Kid-Friendly Adventures in Wheeling, WV by Local Expert Jeremy Morris
Jeremy Morris, Family Explorer
Jeremy Morris, a West Virginia native, brings decades of expertise in historic preservation and tourism development. Raised in southern West Virginia, he learned the value of tourism from his mother, Renda, who directed the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine for over 20 years. Now based in Wheeling with his wife Mihaela and daughters Amelia (5) and Olympia (2), Jeremy shares his insider knowledge as a dad rediscovering his hometown through family adventures.
I arrived in Wheeling in my late 20s, enjoying the freedoms of bachelor life and spontaneous road trips while courting my future wife in Morgantown. Fifteen years on, fatherhood has transformed my view of Wheeling and the world. It’s sparked a rewarding journey of self-discovery and uncovering hidden family gems in my adopted hometown—with late nights and road trips now tailored for little ones.
French Fries and Ice Cream
My oldest, Amelia, is a French fry aficionado. “Daddy, can we go to the French fry store today?” is a daily refrain. Her top pick: Coleman’s Fish Market in the historic 1853 Centre Market House—a Wheeling landmark famed for America’s best fish sandwich, per Gourmet magazine.
Choices include regular fries, seasoned, or JoJo wedges. Amelia sticks to plain fries and chocolate milk; I savor the award-winning fish sandwich with its exceptional coleslaw. Over lunch, we tackle big topics: Elsa vs. Anna? When’s phone time? Rainbow colors?
Post-meal, we cross to Smart Centre Market, run by science-teacher friends Robert and Libby Strong. This top state science shop brims with gadgets, rocks, and dinosaur bones—a curious kid’s paradise. They deliver fun, educational experiences, plus local Kirk’s Ice Cream if dinos don’t excite.
The Centre Market Historic District pulses with downtown energy: painted crosswalks, artistic parking meters, and hidden historic treasures. It’s family-friendly with diverse eats.
Beating the Heat
Summer means pools and playgrounds in Wheeling. My water-loving girls favor the Oglebay Park Pool at the Crispin Center—a stunning 1930s WPA stone gem evoking bygone resort elegance.
Modern perks include a splash pad for toddlers and a floating obstacle course for bigger kids. Or jump from the central concrete island, a Wheeling rite of passage for generations.
Elsewhere, city playgrounds shine thanks to $750,000 in recent renovations—modern gear and safety upgrades neighborhood-wide.
Into the Wild
Wheeling offers the gentle wilds of “Wild and Wonderful” West Virginia. Enter Oglebay Park via Falls Drive for creek wading, rock-skipping, minnow-chasing, and a petite waterfall perfect for unique photos.
Nearby, the Schrader Environmental Education Center hosts year-round programs amid trails ideal for butterfly hunts, worm hunts, and flower picking. Quiet woods provide outdoor learning, leg-stretching, and answers to endless kid queries.
