Reunite in Berkeley Springs

By WP Creative Group

May 18, 2021

The West Virginia town offers updated accommodations, great food and numerous outdoor activities that make it ideal for long-awaited trips with family and friends this summer.

On Saturday evenings in the summer, residents of Berkeley Springs, WV, can often be found at the state park in the middle of town, dangling their feet in the hot springs as they listen to live music. Free outdoor concerts in a unique setting are just one reason why Berkeley Springs is a perennially popular destination for D.C.-area families.

After months of postponed gatherings due to the pandemic, the small town in the Appalachians is an even more attractive getaway option now. Berkeley Springs makes it easy for groups from Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area to have a safe and memorable stay without having to travel too far from home.

With its soothing warm springs, eclectic dining scene, newly updated accommodations and state parks filled with outdoor activities, Berkeley Springs is a place where families and friends can find adventure or simply spend time together amid stunning scenery.  Restaurants and bars are currently open with indoor and outdoor seating options.  Lodging providers are open with socially distanced check-ins available.

“After the stress of last year, Berkeley Springs is the perfect weekend getaway right now,” said Betsy Heath, co-owner of the local fine dining restaurant Lot 12. “People just want to get out to the country and spend some time with their families.”

Rejuvenating state parks and warm springs 

The warm springs that give Berkeley Springs its name only emerge from the ground in Berkeley Springs State Park, located in the middle of downtown. George Washington traveled here with his family over two centuries ago, and families and friends in need of rejuvenation can do the same today. Crystal clear and consistently 74 degrees, the spring waters are a refreshing start to any Berkeley Springs vacation. Visitors can splash in the outdoor stone pools on the west side of the park as they listen to summer evening concerts held in the bandstand — performances may range from bluegrass to African drumming, according to Heath. The weekend events are “easy and comfortable,” she said, and the park is also perfect for picnic lunches. Children can catch crayfish and minnows in the spring water and friends can soak in the 200-year-old Roman Bath House at the north end of the park. 

Travelers who’d like to wake up surrounded by the great outdoors can base their stay at Cacapon Resort State Park, located about 10 miles south of Berkeley Springs. Featuring 78 new luxury guest rooms at the Lodge with views of the 18-hole golf course, Cacapon Mountain and evening sunsets, the property’s Appalachian-inspired architecture and design make it a special place to stay. A new indoor pool and spa are also available. Cacapon offers a wide variety of activities; families can go horseback riding in the morning, spend the day canoeing and paddle boarding at the lake, stop by the Thomas Ambrose Nature Center where daily activities are scheduled and finish the day with a stroll along the well-lit walking trail. Hiking and new mountain biking trails are also open to visitors.

Cacapon State Park also features 18 individual cabins that range from modern, air-conditioned Vacation Cabins to rustic, wood-frame Legacy Cabins with wood-burning fireplaces. Accessible cabins are available, and the 12-room log inn — the first state park lodge in West Virginia — is also well-suited for groups of friends or family reunions. 

“Who doesn’t want to go to Berkeley Springs for the weekend, get a few spa treatments, go out to dinner, and go back to their cabin and have a glass of wine?” Heath said. 

Visitors can also book stays through Berkeley Springs Cottage Rentals, offering about 70 different vacation rental cottages. The company’s original goal was to help second homeowners rent their private vacation properties, but co-owners Stephanie Rebant and her mother also wanted “to share Berkeley Springs” with out-of-town visitors, Rebant said. The cottages range from one to five bedrooms, and some families have been coming to stay for more than 20 years, according to Rebant. Groups can find a property to fit their needs, whether they want to be situated near the Cacapon River, or have a hot tub, campfire area or screened porch, for instance. 

“What is very special is the experience you have with a partner or the memories you make with friends and family while staying,” Rebant said. 

Reconnecting with loved ones over local food and drinks 

Whether they choose to dine in or bring takeout back to their cottage or cabin, visitors should take advantage of the local food scene. Lot 12 is situated in a restored Victorian house and offers outdoor dining on a patio, as well as on a covered wrap-around porch that groups can also book for private gatherings. Co-owners Betsy Heath and her husband, Chef Damien Heath, have always used seasonal ingredients from regional farms, like local goat cheese as well as ramps, morel mushrooms and fiddleheads in the springtime.

There are no chain restaurants in Berkeley Springs, which has “seen a lot of new businesses come in in the last six months,” Heath said. Newcomers include The Beehive Cafe, which serves a plant-based menu of sandwiches, smoothies, and breakfast dishes. Also located downtown is the new Cacapon Mountain Brewing company, a family-friendly brewpub that opened last fall and offers growlers of beer to go and a small menu of casual fare. The range of beers on tap includes Sleepy Creek, a low-alcohol pale ale brewed with several different types of hops for a “doughy, mango finish.” On Sundays, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., visitors can head to the Berkeley Springs Farmers Market that takes place downtown. With 15 to 20 local vendors, live music and family-friendly educational activities like seed-starting or a painting booth, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

It may still be a while before traveling feels totally normal again, but people from the D.C. area can take comfort in nearby destinations like Berkeley Springs, where locals are eager to welcome tourists back responsibly, but with open arms. 

“Our small business owners love this community, and we want anyone who visits Berkeley Springs to have the most positive and wonderful experience they will encounter anywhere,” Rebant said.

Plan your trip to Berkeley Springs, WV.

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