Welcome to Berkeley Springs, the Nation’s oldest spa town.  Berkeley is about 100 miles from DC or Baltimore, MD, which makes it a nice weekend escape to the country.  There are more spas here than stoplights. So,  when they say “Almost Heaven, West Virginia” you can’t really disagree.  This is a great place for a romantic weekend.

Where to Stay:  The Country Inn and Spa  is a gem. Rooms are beautiful.  It’s run by a local family.  Be sure to have drinks in the garden after dark.  It’s lit with twinkling lights,  the flowers are lovely,  and it’s very romantic.

Where to eat:

For breakfast,  consider Black Dog Coffee for pastries and java. The best lunch spot is Tari’s Cafe .  The crab cakes are great here.  For dinner,  make reservations at Lot 12 Public House. Damien is a James Beard chef. This is a great restaurant to celebrate a special occasion.  The decor is simple and the food is extravagantly good. The menu is locally sourced and very impressive.

Things to do:

Play eighteen holes of golf at Cacapon State Park. After finishing your round,  drive to the overlook here in the park for breathtaking views. This is where my husband proposed. I know another couple who did wedding photographs here. It’s absolutely beautiful.

Enjoy the warm natural springs at the Roman Bath House at Berkeley Springs State Park. Then, have massages at Atasia Spa. There are lots of options for a spa appointment in this town.  But,  I like Atasia the best.

Browse the shops.  There are lots of little boutiques in town.  Books,  herbs,  handmade jewelry,  and lots of antiques can be found here. There’s funky new age shops, a music store, fair trade goods from around the globe, and even a cat café.

Check out the Ice House. Run by the Morgan Arts Council, this gallery has a variety of artwork on display.  Exhibits change regularly. There’s a quilt exhibit every year.  Also,  they celebrate Youth Art Month every Spring. It’s a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. They also do theater productions and host storytellers here occasionally. Morgan Arts Council also sponsors concerts in the park every weekend of the summer. There is always a wide variety of music genres represented.

This small town is a beautiful, friendly place to relax for a couple days with your sweetheart.