There are many small towns that may not seem like ideal vacation spots, but they should not be disregarded, because sometimes places that do not get a lot of tourists are the gems of the bunch.
Berkeley Springs is a small town in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. It was incorporated in December of 1776 under the name Bath. Bath was renamed Berkeley Springs in 1802.
Today, this small town with a population of just 624 at the time of the last census may not seem like a very exciting place to visit, but in actuality, there is quite a lot to do there.
The town is filled with a great number of charming shops that sell things that you will not find anywhere else. Best of all is the Antique Mall, which has a host of items both charming and archaic as the town itself. It is actually one of several spots to purchase a variety of antiquities in the town.
One of the oldest parts of the town is Berkeley Springs State Park, which features a natural spa. These natural hot springs are visited year round, as the waters maintain a warm temperature regardless of the weather outside. This location is considered America's first spa, visited by many famous people throughout history.
The most famous visitor - and arguably the one that put the springs on the map - is George Washington. Washington frequented the hot spas after learning of the location from Native Americans, who believed that the springs had healing powers. To treat his many ailments, our first President soaked in this bathtub often.
Another great place to visit is the Museum of the Berkeley Springs, which is on the second floor of the Roman Bath House at Berkeley Springs State Park. In the museum, you will find a history of the springs with several exhibits, tours, and events.
Another incredible place to visit is Berkeley Springs Castle, built by Colonel Samuel Taylor Suite between the years 1885 and 1891. The 46-year-old military veteran did this to win the heart of a 17-year-old congressman's daughter. The two were married before the castle began construction.
Unfortunately, Suite did not live to see the castle completed. As stipulated in his will, the castle had to be completed for his young wife to see her inheritance, so that is exactly what she did. Today, the castle is available for private and corporate events, fundraisers, and weddings.
Another great spot to check out is the Morgan County Observatory, which houses a telescope from the United States Naval Observatory in Washington D.C. The observatory sits in a particularly dark area of the city to aid in the best view of the universe as possible.
And best of all, the city is very near to Cacapon Resort State Park. This park has many things to do, including camping, biking, fishing, hiking, golf, geocaching, swimming, and horseback riding.
