Berkeley Springs, “America’s First Spa.”
Berkeley Springs is a good place for a weekend get-away because of it’s proximity to the DC Metro area. It’s only 100 miles from Washington D.C. and Baltimore, MD. So, it’s an easy drive on Interstate 70 and has everything you need for a nice weekend in the mountains. There are more spas than stoplights in this little town.
My suggestion for places to stay include:
The Country Inn
110 S. Washington St. Berkeley Springs
https://www.thecountryinnwv.com/
I like The Country Inn because of it’s location. It’s right next door to Berkeley Springs State Park. Have a cocktail in the garden. It’s draped with twinkly lights at night and there’s often bands performing on the little stage set among the ferns and flowers. Stay in the main building and book a massage or facial at the Renaissance Spa onsite. There’s a nice view of the park from the spa.
Cacapon State Park
818 Cacapon Lodge Drive Berkeley Springs
http://www.wvstateparks.com/park/cacapon-resort-state-park/
The Civilian Conservation Corp built many sites in West Virginia, including Cacapon State Park. I really like staying in the cabins there. The lodge just had a major renovation. So, if a hotel is more your style, there’s an indoor pool and a really nice huge patio area overlooking the golf course and wildflower meadow. With big built-in stone firepits to sit around, pack a cozy sweater, order a cup of coffee and enjoy the evening. If you are traveling with a group, the “Old Inn” is amazing. It boasts 12 bedrooms and 8 1/2 bathrooms. It has an impressive commercial kitchen, huge common rooms, and is ADA accessible. Wormy chestnut and knotty pine walls, big leather sofas, and stone fireplaces set the scene for a relaxing vacation.
Or, book a cabin– There are some really beautiful rentals in the Berkeley Springs area. Prices are very reasonable and many of them have hot tubs and access to community recreation facilities like tennis courts, lakes, and pools. Others have river views.
Things to Do:
Berkeley Springs is home to two State Parks- Berkeley Springs State Park and Cacapon Resort State Park. Natural warm springs run through the park in the center of town. They stay a constant 74.3 degrees year round. Kids love wading around in the outdoor springs on hot summer days or swimming in the outdoor pool. Adults will enjoy the indoor spa services. I especially like the Old Roman Bathhouse. The Park hosts “Art in the Park” days, a summer concert line-up, free yoga classes, and car shows.
Berkeley Springs State Park
Cacapon Resort State Park holds a special place in my heart, it’s where my husband proposed. It has a full spa, a championship golf course, two lakes, mountain bike trails, horseback riding, clay shooting, and twenty-three miles of hiking trails. It has a fabulous Nature Center with a lot of programs offered, especially for kids. Drive up to the overlook for a beautiful view.
The Star Theater is a vintage auditorium in a historic building that shows current movies on the weekends and also opens for “Two buck Tuesdays” to show classics. They also have community events. This weekend, for example they are having an Irish dance performance, a Rockabilly band, and a bluegrass fiddler. They sometimes show documentaries and host theater troupes and local talent.
The shopping in downtown is nice. There are some really cute funky shops to explore. My favorites are:
Inspired Chaos (link here)
Mineral Springs Trading Co. https://mineralspringstrading.com/
Trail Depot https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085717610239.
I also love to walk around in Berkeley Springs Antique Mall
https://www.facebook.com/berkeleyspringsantiquemall.
Great websites to check out before visiting Berkeley are: https://macicehouse.org/ for the local arts council
and https://berkeleysprings.com/ , the tourism site.
Places to Eat
My favorites are:
Berkeley Springs Brewing Company
110 Michigan Lane
This is a family and dog-friendly brewpub. I like their Blackberry Seltzer (It’s gluten-free!) My family really likes their soft pretzels and pulled pork sandwiches. They sometimes have comedians, live music, and trivia nights.
Lot 12
117 Warren St
Upscale restaurant where local ingredients, like ramps, are common on the menu. This would be a good place to celebrate an anniversary or other special occasion.
Canary Grill
308 Berkmore Place
I like the Strawberry Spinach salad-it’s huge. My son likes the wings.
Charlotte’s Cafe
495 S. Washington Street
This is a good breakfast spot. My daughter recommends the Fruity Pebble French Toast.
Berkeley Springs is first and foremost, a spa town. There are six spas crammed into the tiny town. It’s a great place to spend a weekend away.
Around October, the leaves are changing and you can check out the annual Apple Butter Festival. In the Winter, come for the annual Cocoa Crawl. In the Spring and Summer, you’ll want to be outside to hike, play golf, or head to the river. Anytime, you can try the local breweries, go antiquing, and enjoy a mountain view from your cabin. You’ll want to keep coming back.
