Living all the way out in Frederick County Virginia has its advantages, one of which is being 20 minutes from Berkeley Springs West Virginia, the country’s first spa. Last weekend my girlfriend and I took a day off from the kids and spouses and headed west.
While we didn’t have enough time to make an appointment to enjoy a massage or steam bath, we did start the day by enjoying a wonderful lunch at Tari’s. Tari’s is one of those restaurants you want to come back to not only for the great food (my favorite is the crab dip, only available for dinner although sometimes you can convince someone to make it at lunch) but for the whimsical art that lines the walls. All of the art is for sale and you will be hard pressed to leave without something in your hands whether it’s a painting, sculpture or a book. The Country Inn is also worth a stop for their chili and enormous slice of corn bread, saving up carbs for a week is totally worth it.
Once our hunger was quenched we headed out to our favorite antique shops. Bath Bookworks is always interesting with the combination of antiques, art and handcrafted book bindery, but my favorite is the Old Factory Antique Mall at 282 Williams Street. I dream of living in the warehouse, converting to a huge loft with indoor swimming pool. With over 45 vendors, and my favorite dealer that specializes in Tibetan artifacts, I could go every week. We left with a couple of small purchases and headed over to the ice cream stand to cool off.
The best thing about Berkeley Springs is of course, the SPRINGS! As we ate our ice cream we cooled our feet in the 74 degree stream that runs right through the town square. It’s amazing to sit on the ground and think about all the people that have done the same since George Washington and friends drew up the plans for the town in 1776. No trip would be complete without taking a final drive past the Berkeley Springs castle. Built in 1885 by Colonel Samuel Taylor Suit as a summer cottage for his wife Rose Pelham, the castle is privately owned and closed to the public, but it still sends chills down my spine to gaze into the dark windows and dream of living there.
Berkeley Springs is great as a day trip, and even more romantic as a weekend getaway with plenty of choices in lodging. We’ve stayed at the Highlawn Inn in the private Carriage House and can highly recommend it as well as The Country Inn. The old theatre and public swimming pool are also great draws for kids to enjoy a relaxing afternoon.