Bluebird Bakery is a cottage bakery in Fairmont specializing in artisan sourdough and handcrafted baked goods. Specialties offered include sourdough bread in original, flavored and herb & cheese, scones, and seasonal baked goods such as pumpkin whoopie pies and ramp cheddar biscuits. I chose both sweet and savory options: chocolate strawberries, fruity pebble rice krispie, pepperoni roll, lemon bar and cheddar biscuits. I appreciate the range and variety. The lemon bar was my favorite - perfectly tangy yet sweet. Some of the other baked goods ate a bit dry. Grade: B

Fiddler’s Restaurant in Abingdon is a Southern-style comfort food buffet that serves a mix of breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day. It’s located just off I-81, which makes it a frequent stop for travelers through Southwest Virginia. "The Young family has been operating restaurants in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee for over fifty years. They are committed to providing classic American favorites with outstanding customer service in a relaxed family atmosphere. Fiddler's menu offers a wide variety of appetizer, burgers, sandwiches, steaks and BBQ plus our famous all-you-can eat buffet," reads the website. They do have a menu, which offers options like burgers, fried green tomatoes and wings. But, it seemed like the buffet was far and away the most popular option. The first section of the buffet that I encountered featured broccoli, chicken fritters, potatoes, fish, carrots and fried okra. Following that, we had some mixed veggies, rolls, mac & cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes and BBQ. There were some desserts and salad options intermixed with everything else. Rather than all the hot main entrees together and then all the sides together, it was a bit more freeform. So, each section was a whole new surprise. That certainly kept it interesting. As is often the case with buffet food, heat and air exposure dry things out a little bit. Things get a little tougher. And, well, there's the general cleanliness of a handle making its way into the food itself. Overall, not a bad stop. A decent fill-up with a comfort food angle. But nothing to go out of your way for. Grade: B

Mountain State Creamery is a nostalgic ice cream shop in Vienna, West Virginia, known for its premium hard-packed ice cream, old-fashioned candy and bright decor. They offer a sweet escape into the past with options like ice cream flights, waffles and over-the-top shakes. "The shop emphasizes memorable experiences and community connection. It often teams up with local businesses for themed events and contests—earning accolades including consideration as one of West Virginia’s top ice cream spots," reads the website. There were so many yummy sounding flavors that I had a difficult time choosing. Fortunately, they've developed an option for those like me. "Flight of Junior Scoops - Can't Pick Just One? Try a Flight! Mix, match, and explore with a flight of 6 junior scoops-perfect for sampling our rotating homemade flavors. Share it (or don't!) and find your new favorite scoop." I chose a variety - from carrot mango Italian ice (Non-dairy, non-fat and bursting with sweet, tangy flavor with real carrot (yes, we said carrot!) and fruit juices) to "Yippee Skippee," which is creamy peanut butter ice cream loaded with salted caramel ripples, soft brownie chunks and crispy chocolate-covered pretzels. Of course I added a scoop of "Cookie Dough" - Sweet cookie-flavored ice cream with heaps of soft chocolate chip cookie dough and tons of rich chocolate chips. And another Italian ice: Electric Watermelon - Refreshing watermelon Italian ice with a jolt of sour to leave you feeling electric. I love the rich, indulgent options, as well as the tangy, refreshing bites. And each scoop keeps things interesting. Now, time to try the remaining flavors. Have you been? Grade: A

Green’s Donuts was a much beloved loval bakery that operated on Chapline Street from 1938 to the early 2000s with the moniker "Delightfully Different." There's a lot of nostalgia for that donut shop, which I unfortunately never got to try. But, it does appear there is a Green's Donut Shop in the same location as the former local favorite, which primarily is a gambling joint, but also serves up some donuts. I'm not sure if there's a connection between the old version and the new -- or if they're the same. But, this version has a very strong cigarette smoke smell - evident even via the drive-thru window. The maple donut was fine (and likely comes from a local grocery store), but the cigarette smoke carried through to the flavor. Grade: D

The Fort is a popular restaurant in Sistersville known for its pizza, subs, wings and the like. Handmade, hand-tossed style pies are the centerpiece so I ordered my go-to: cheese & mushrooms. It had a nice tomato base, and plenty of cheese and mushrooms. My only suggestion is to bring those toppings closer toward the edge to not end up with such large crust pieces. Grade: B