Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.
Today is Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.
…and now for the rest of the stories…on today’s daily304.com!
#1 – From WV NEWS – Julio’s Café carries on nearly 60 years of Italian tradition in Clarksburg
Some restaurants serve great food. Others become part of a community’s history. In Clarksburg, Julio’s Café has been doing both for nearly 60 years.
Founded in 1967 by Frank and Virginia Iaquinta, the family-owned restaurant in the city’s historic Glen Elk neighborhood has served generations of customers while preserving the area’s Italian heritage.
Today, grandchildren Costanza Easterling and Joseph Iaquinta carry on the family business. They continue serving recipes passed down through generations while introducing new ways for customers to enjoy their food, including jarred pasta sauce and Thursday evening carryout specials.
The restaurant’s traditions run deep. Weekend specials are still presented verbally by servers, and Easterling learned pastry-making from her godmother, who came from Calabria, Italy.
Some customers have been dining at Julio’s since the original owners were running the restaurant. Now their children and grandchildren are coming through the doors.
#2 – From TRAVEL + LEISURE – Discover the peaceful beauty of West Virginia’s Cranberry Wilderness
Looking for a place to escape the crowds and experience the natural beauty of Almost Heaven? The Cranberry Wilderness offers nearly 48,000 acres of rugged mountains, pristine streams and quiet forests.
A recent feature in Travel + Leisure highlights the wilderness area in the Monongahela National Forest as one of the country’s most peaceful outdoor destinations, especially during fall foliage season.
The Cranberry Wilderness features approximately 70 miles of hiking trails, with routes leading through mountain forests, along streams and past waterfalls. Visitors can explore the Cranberry and Williams rivers, known for trout fishing, or follow the Black Mountain Trail for scenic views of the Williams River Valley.
For a shorter adventure, the Falls of Hills Creek Trail passes three waterfalls along a roughly 1.5-mile route. Nearby Cranberry Glades Botanical Area features a half-mile boardwalk through a rare high-elevation bog, home to unusual plants and colorful fall scenery.
The area also offers backcountry camping, biking opportunities along the Cranberry River and plenty of places to enjoy the solitude of West Virginia’s mountains.
Read more:
https://www.travelandleisure.com/cranberry-wilderness-west-virginia-12071248
#3 – From TASTE OF APPALACHIA – Taste of Appalachia showcases West Virginia-made foods for the holidays
Looking for a holiday gift that supports West Virginia small businesses? Taste of Appalachia is bringing some of the Mountain State’s best flavors together in one delicious package.
Created by Advantage Valley, the program offers curated gift boxes featuring foods grown, crafted and manufactured in West Virginia. Now in its second year, Taste of Appalachia helps local producers reach new customers while giving shoppers an easy way to buy West Virginia-made products.
The 2026 collection includes six themed gift sets, with selections such as locally roasted coffee, honey, maple syrup, barbecue sauces, seasonings, snacks and other regional specialties. Gift boxes range from $45 to $50.
The program is already making an impact. In its first year, Taste of Appalachia sold 1,145 gift boxes containing more than 8,200 individual products, generating more than $60,000 in direct revenue for participating small businesses.
This year’s collection features products from 18 participating vendors. Many have also received business development support through Advantage Valley’s FASTER WV initiative.
Read more:
https://tasteofappalachia.com/
Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304.
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That’s all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.
