Sam's Hot Dog Stand is a local chain of hot dog spots.

I got my first bite at the local shop on Hale Street (RIP), but there are a number of Sam's locally. According to their website, it looks like there are about 17 locations in West Virginia, give or take.

This shop in Malden had some booth seating, as well as options for burgers, BBQ and even beer.

As per usual, I took mine with chili, slaw, mustard and onions - or "everything."

Always satisfying. How do you like yours?

Sometimes there are little gems hidden in your own backyard that you never even knew.

That's the case with Scot's Landscape.

This landscaping business is also home to an ice cream shop.

The ice cream portion is called Sugar Grove, and it's kind of magical.

It looks like a whimsical ice cream shop with all kinds of ice cream flavors.

I went with the "sea salt caramel toffee" flavor, because every word in that sounds phenomenal.

And, I got it as a sundae with caramel, nuts and a cherry on top.

After I got my scoop, I ventured down the hallway to check out the shop portion.

To my surprise, it's much more than plants.

There are little trinkets and gifts.

Plus - tons of food items, too.


Cheeses, sauces, pies, scones, and more.

Have you ever been?

Sorella Ristorante is a fairly new restaurant in Ripley from the owners of Fairplain Yacht Club.

It's sleek and romantic, with dark woods and stone accents.

The restaurant was participating in the MOV Restaurant Week, where there's an appetizer, entree and dessert for $30.

Sorella chose two options for each course.

Appetizers: I went for the crisped ravioli bruschetta.

For my entree, I tried the chicken picatta.

And for dessert, it was cannolis.

And, it was such a huge portion, I took half of it home.

Their regular menu was available, too, for those who didn't want to do the special deal.

Have you been here?

Tucked away in Water Stone Outdoors is a new small coffee bar.

RangeFinderCoffee focuses on specialty espresso and coffee drinks. They serve La Terza Coffee beans, which are "ethically sourced and roasted to perfection."

The menu is not large, but the focus on coffee is clear.

I went for a mocha with oat milk - something you don't really see everywhere!

He made a version, then had me taste it to see if it was to my liking.

If you're looking for a strong cup of joe, this is your place.

When driving through Ripley, I had a hankering for dinner - particularly a hot dog.

So I found Heather's Simply Blessed Sweets, which serves a number of cakes and other sweets, as well as a daily specials like sandwiches and dinners.

This small space is all decorated with pastels and lights.

Near the counter, there were a number of cupcakes and scones available. I opted for a vanilla cupcake.

And, I also ordered a hot dog to go - chili, slaw, mustard and onions.

The vanilla cupcake has a unique icing that is thick and sweet, but with depth.

And the hot dog was tasty with a sweeter chili. Have you been here?