Weekend in Huntington, WV: Family Time, Antique Finds, and Hillbilly Hot Dogs

A few weeks ago we packed up the car, crossed a few rivers and drove through the woods to visit my 89-year-old grandmother—Granny—in Huntington, West Virginia. The visit was mostly about family: eating, holding the baby (is there anything better?), and catching up. My parents, my cousin Erin and her two-month-old son Finn joined us, so the weekend felt full and cozy. We also managed a few little adventures around town that were worth sharing.

First, the obligatory snapshot of Clara with her great-granny. They both look adorable—and love a little purple.

We only stayed about 36 hours, so Saturday was our big outing day: a stroll through town, some shopping, a park visit and, of course, ice cream. We finally found the giraffe Jellycat we’d been hunting for the last ten months at a local gift shop called Mug and Pia, and Clara could not have been happier.

The shop also carried clever recycled-tire frames that still showed tire scuffs and marks—an interesting matte finish and a great way to add texture to a room.

Our favorite discovery was Old Central City, an area packed with antique and vintage shops. From the outside the row of buildings almost looks like an old western ghost town; inside, each shop was crammed with character and curious finds.

We wandered through half a dozen shops and spotted all kinds of beautiful, weird and quirky objects. Ornate white candle sconces caught our eye; painted in a bold teal or plum they would look fantastic. Sherry, predictably, was drawn to the ceramic and metal animals—an open-mouthed horse head that was almost too grinny, and a large iron alligator that was the clear favorite but a little too pricey to bring home.

I was drawn to typography and vintage packaging: old books with striking covers—some on mundane topics like concrete—that practically read as graphic art. I could see those covers framed, enlarged or turned into canvas prints. There was also a shelf of old bottles and retro toiletries; a Grenadine syrup bottle still held a thick, gloopy liquid that was equal parts fascinating and gross.

We also loved an art-deco sign with oversized lettering that reminded us of type experiments you might find in a creative studio. If any of those letters had personal meaning, we might’ve tried to cram one in the car.

The one thing we did buy was a set of oversized decorative keys for eight dollars. Once they’re painted white, we’ll work them into our hallway gallery.

Antique stores are full of oddities that make you laugh: a beer sign that reads “You’ll like Burger: the beer you can stay with,” which we joked about hanging above our dog’s crate, and a shopkeeper’s clever lamp made from a vintage cheese grater filled with Christmas lights—perfect for a rustic table arrangement.

We found a collection of retro political buttons—including many for Carter and Mondale—and a couple of novelty chicken trophies that inspired ridiculous made-up prize categories in our heads. The oddball winner for me was a vintage Yellowstone sign warning visitors about buffalo attacks. It stirred up a college memory: I once hung a similar flyer on my dorm door and joked about visitors getting gored by buffalo. This particular sign was not for sale, but it was fun to see one again.

For lunch we embraced the local kitsch and ate at Hillbilly Hot Dogs. The restaurant fully commits to its theme: we saw seating in a bathtub (complete with shower curtain and a plunger-supported table) and in an outhouse. My mom modeled the outhouse seating with baby Finn for a perfect snapshot of the place’s playful spirit.

The hot dogs themselves were surprisingly tasty. The menu offers wild combinations—pepperoni, eggs, bacon, slaw and salsa among the toppings—and what might sound over-the-top ended up being delicious.

As for the car rides, Clara did great on two separate 6.5-hour drives just days apart. She slept less than on an earlier trip, but she entertained herself most of the time and we soothed her with a favorite baby class CD whenever she fussed. “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round The Mountain” fit the scenery perfectly—until it didn’t—but a content baby made the trips worth it.

Our only mishap was when an accidentally shaken can of Fresca sprayed inside the car; Sherry’s pants took the brunt of the spray, and everyone survived to laugh about it afterward.

That’s the latest from our short Huntington weekend—family, antiques, and memorable eats. Have you been anywhere interesting lately? We’re always planning our next drive and love hearing recommendations within driving distance.

P.S. We’ve had some great road trips in the past—ask if you want to hear about our favorites.