Berkeley Springs is an historic spa and art-filled town nestled in the West Virginia mountains, a quick 90 minute drive from the Washington/Baltimore metro area. People – including George Washington – have been traveling here for more than two centuries “just for the health of it.”
It boasts warm mineral springs, world class dining, blocks of distinctive shops, full-service spas and over 100 lodging choices including elegant bed & breakfasts, historic inns, cabins, resorts and more. Add to that some of the prettiest scenery you’ll see this side of a movie set, and that makes Berkeley Springs a perfect road trip destination. These are just some of the reasons to love this historic town.
From the moment you step into the center of the historic town of Berkeley Springs, you’ll be transfixed. The famous warm springs bubble up through patches of sand, and overflow into a narrow channel and several large stone pools. Kids can enjoy catching the minnows and crayfish in the clear water, and they even sell small nets in the main bathhouse to aid in the fun. Even when your kid "accidentally on purpose" falls in, the constant water temperature of 74 degrees makes it a pleasant experience. (Bring them a change of clothes, to be safe!)
You'll feel as though you stepped back in time as you survey the scenery in and around Berkeley Springs. It speaks of a simpler time in history. The band stand in the center of the park is the focal point of community activities, festivals and concerts.
If you are looking for something unique to Berkeley Springs, check out the Roman baths. Fresh mineral water is heated and then pumped into a private ceramic tiled tub in a private room. You get 30 minutes to soak in this 102 degree Fahrenheit water. When in Berkeley Springs, do as the Romans do! George Washington did partake of the heated mineral waters in 1748.
The Samuel Taylor Suit Cottage, also known as the Berkeley Castle, is located on a hill above Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. The castle-like house was built for Colonel Samuel Taylor Suit of Washington, D.C. as a personal retreat near the spa town, beginning in 1885. It was not complete by the time of his death in 1888 and was finished in the early 1890s for his widow, Rosa Pelham Suit, whom Suit had first met at Berkeley Springs.
If there is an unusual celebration going on, you’ll find it in Berkeley Springs. Unique festivals can be found year ‘round here, featuring everything from the taste of water to the taste of apple butter. Other events include art studio tours and summer concerts in the park. Festivals include the Apple Butter Festival held on Columbus Day weekend in October, the International Water Tasting Competition held the last weekend in February, Uniquely West Virginia Wine and Food Festival held in April, the Festival of Light Psychic Fair & Alternative Healing Expo, Veterans Day weekend, and others.
Berkeley Springs boasts convenient blocks of shops and restaurants. You can easily fill a day in just the couple of blocks at the very heart of town. The main square includes not only the park and quaint shops of Fairfax Street, but also the impressive County Courthouse, newly constructed and opened in 2010 after a fire consumed the turn-of-the-20th-century version in 2006.
With so much to offer, and so close by to Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD, Berkeley Springs, WV is an ideal destination for a day, a weekend or more. Do you know of any other must-see Berkeley Springs attractions?
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