Arriving at Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport in Parkersburg places you close to it all, with several nearby cities just a short drive away. Parkersburg sits where the Little Kanawha meets the Ohio River in West Virginia, and Marietta, Ohio, lies just across the water. Together they form a river-town pair with brick streets, sternwheelers, and a long history of oil, glass, and river trade. The mood is easygoing and old-fashioned in the best way. Standout experiences around Parkersburg: - Take the sternwheeler to Blennerhassett Island and tour the reconstructed Palladian mansion - Walk the historic district of Marietta, the first settlement of the Northwest Territory - Visit Campus Martius Museum and the Ohio River Museum in Marietta - Browse the Oil and Gas Museum in downtown Parkersburg - Ride a horse-drawn wagon or hike the trails on Blennerhassett Island - Explore North Bend State Park and its rail trail through the hills - Catch the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival in Marietta each September - Look for Mothman lore in Point Pleasant, an hour down the river Parkersburg is an easy base for the Mid-Ohio Valley. Athens, home of Ohio University, is about an hour northwest, Charleston and the West Virginia Capitol are about 75 minutes south, and Columbus is roughly two hours away. Order a pepperoni roll, a West Virginia classic, and then take a walk along the river levee at sunset. Fall color on the hills and summer evenings on the water are both good reasons to visit.