15 Wheeling-Based Instagram Accounts You Should Be Following

Whether you have been here for years, new to town, or just passing through, Wheeling truly has something for everyone – and staying connected has never been easier! No matter what category you fall in, you can enjoy all that Wheeling has to offer by seeing it virtually through Instagram. Here are some of the top Wheeling-based Instagram accounts that will help keep you tuned in to what’s happening in our community.

Food and Drink

Public Market (@publicmarketwv)

Go local and go natural by checking out the Public Market’s Instagram page. Seasonal meals made for the busiest individuals, pumpkins just in time for fall and the absolute best place to find organic and all-natural grocery options. This is a fun and colorful Instagram page fit for anyone who loves food, natural products and enjoys supporting local farmers and businesses.

Later Alligator (@eat.or.we.both.starve)

Channel your love for alligators, steel and food here at one of the most popular restaurants in town. Those three items may sound odd when put together, but the folks at Later Alligator somehow makes it work perfectly. The main draw of Later Alligator are the specialty crepes. The owner of this little bistro, Susan Haddad, spent time in France and mastered the art of the crepe. She has since opened this restaurant where guests can enjoy crepes and other delicacies seven days a week. Half of their Instagram page is all about the people! They regularly showcase local celebrities, out-of-towners passing through for a meal and their happy, hardworking employees. If you like food and seeing amusing people enjoying themselves in front of a perfect cocktail and a crepe, this is the page for you!

Country Roads BBQ (@countryroadsbbq)

Savory barbeque can literally and figuratively be at your fingertips if you follow Country Roads BBQ. Food & Wine Magazine recently called this family-owned business one of the best barbeque restaurants in West Virginia. With great content and behind the scenes photos, you are sure to check this page often, if anything just to figure out what you are going to have for lunch.

Good Mansion Wines (@goodmansionwines)

Do you love Italian food? Of course, you do! Good Mansion Wines’ (GMW) entire page is covered in homemade, delectable Italian cuisine from chocolate tarts to imported wines and burrata. GMW also shares mesmerizing videos of them creating cakes and pastas that you can enjoy virtually or purchase for pick-up. If you do, you’ll be able to see their historic location in person, which is an absolute treat.

Recreation

Wheeling Parks and Rec (@wheelingrec)

This is an amazing account that showcases so many beautiful places throughout the Friendly City. Love kayaking? You’ll see splendorous photos of kayaking on the Ohio River and in local creeks. Want a taste of Downtown Wheeling? You can find photos of yoga on Market Plaza and open skies over Wheeling Heritage Port. This is also a great resource for information regarding the city, including local dedications, openings of new facilities and the latest COVID-19 safety protocol.

Wheeling Nailers (@wheelingnailers)

Wheeling’s local hockey team, the Wheeling Nailers, shares all kinds of sports-related content that any hockey fan will appreciate. From funny photos of beer pyramids – a “beeramid” if you will – to available jerseys and new players, you’ll find an array of options on this Instagram page. There are even personalized messages from team players exclusively provided on this account, so have at it my fellow hockey fanatics!

Movement with Allison (@the_m0vement)

If you are in search of a page that promotes body positivity and strength workouts you can perform at home, then Allison Hickey’s page, Movement with Allison, is right up your alley. The page boasts self-love, strong workouts that you can do at home or outside, along with humorous videos pertaining to staying focused on your goals and having a forward-thinking mindset. Even if working out isn’t your niche, Hickey’s page offers a little something for everyone.

Happy Goat Yoga (@happy_goat_yoga)

Scroll through Happy Goat Yoga’s (HGY) Instagram page and you will find classic yoga poses, information about upcoming events and joyous, smiling faces. Whether you want to join a socially-distanced class, practice at home or just scroll through some fun photos, HGY will put your mind at ease and give you a relaxing page to follow. Regardless of the type of instruction you are looking for, HGY provides it. Whether it be fast-paced, flow-focused, or power — you name it, they have it.

Arts and Culture

Clientele Art Studio (@clientele.art.studio)

While the doors of this East Wheeling art studio remain closed due to COVID, they have turned to Instagram to promote their latest venture, the Appalachian Sound and Color podcast. The podcast features different artists who were born and raised in Appalachia, focusing on their upbringing and why they chose to stay near or in the Friendly City. Many of these recordings are featured on their Instagram account and you can access more through the link at the top of their page. If you scroll through their account, you can see previous art events, including Deck the Halls, a successful art auction benefitting The Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless, and Unladylike, an all-female art show.

Logan Schmitt Illustration (@loganschmittillustration)

If you thoroughly enjoy art, nature and wildlife, then this page may become your absolute favorite. Logan Schmitt is a Wheeling local who illustrates nature-related pieces from antlers to plants. He has done work for The Avett Brothers, Gregory Alan Isakov and Van Morrison to promote their music tours in very famous parts of the United States, including the Red Rocks Amphitheater. You can also request pieces from Logan Schmitt through his Instagram page, but if you simply want to enjoy some locally-based art, this is a great page to follow.

Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (@WheelingSymphony)

For all of the music lovers out there, this one is for you. The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra is the smallest city in America to hold an orchestra of this size. It’s a profound experience to get to enjoy the creations of Mozart and other famous composers in our own backyard. Their Instagram account features visiting performers, upcoming events and exclusive photos from behind the curtain.

Retail

Wheeling Artisan Center (@wheelingartisancenter)

In search of a locally-made vase, notebook or candle? The Wheeling Artisan Center offers just that, and more, and you can see all they have to offer on their Instagram page. Their page features new items available in their shop, located on the second floor of the Wheeling Artisan Center. What’s special about the Artisan Center is that all of the items are produced by West Virginia artists and makers. Once, I spotted a Dolly Parton pin on their page and knew I had to stop in and snag one for myself. If you enjoy locally-made goods and fun memorabilia, be sure to hit the follow button.

Wheeling Feeling (@thewheelingfeeling)

This Instagram page is a promotional marketing firm that is Wheeling focused, but even more interesting, are the origins of this business. Vanessa Govindan, owner and operator of The Wheeling Feeling, left the mountain state after attending West Liberty University to pursue a career in marketing. She learned a lot while working on the West Coast and has since created a business that reflects her love for West Virginia and thus, The Wheeling Feeling was born. They sell fun Wheeling and West Virginia related items, using popular Wheeling destinations as their backdrop for their photos. They also use their Instagram account to promote other businesses, which provides an additional communal element to their page. You can see local businesses being mentioned on this page, including Later Alligator, Midge’s Kitchen and the Public Market.

REStyle Wheeling (@restylewheeling)

On the lookout for a name brand hiking jacket? Need a cocktail dress for the weekend? Maybe you just want some nice dress pants for work. Male or female, young or old, REStyle offers a wide variety of clothing options that they post on their page almost daily. REStyle does an excellent job of providing details for the pieces they share on their page, including brand name, material, size and price.

VC Wares (@vc_wares)

If you are in search of the perfect coffee table or a cozy sweater, this is the page to follow. VC Wares posts décor and fashion content for you to enjoy while sipping coffee on the couch, making it the perfect binge-worthy page. A color block poncho? Yes, please! A beautifully refurbished cupboard? Take my money! Many of the photos on VC Wares’ page is linked to purchase online, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your spending habits.

To close out this list of top Instagram accounts in Wheeling, it would be remiss to not mention Weelunk’s Instagram page (@weelunk), where you can stay up-to-date with the latest articles and learn what’s happening across the city. Be sure to follow, like and share posts that you find interesting!

Regardless of your interests, it’s clear that there’s plenty to explore locally using Instagram. So, go ahead and follow a few pages – The Friendly City is waiting for you!

Did we miss any accounts that you love to follow? Drop your favorites below!

• With a background in journalism and being a true Wheeling native, Jessica Broverman was destined to work with Weelunk. She holds a degree in journalism with a minor in criminal justice and works with Williams Lea Tag as a legal proofreader. When she isn’t typing away for Weelunk or WLT, she is enjoying a coffee at one of her many favorite spots in Wheeling, spending time with friends, or having fun with her husband Zachary and their two cats, Proctor and Max.