“Take me home country roads, to the place I belong…” This song paints a wonderful picture of this state, a place where life is a little slower and beauty is all around. I have been to West Virginia numerous times and every time I am struck by the treasures it holds. Recently I went on a West Virginia Mountain getaway and it was so fun.
Craving a girl’s trip after spending 24/7 with my fiancé, my best friends and I decided to go on a little cabin getaway. If you drive an hour out of DC, you can get to Harpers Ferry and many of the other quaint small towns that surround it. This destination is perfect for those who want a relaxing weekend away, where you can enjoy mountain views, adorable shops, and peaceful solitude.
We stayed in the town of Berkeley Springs, but we spent a lot of time exploring the other areas nearby. Due to the fact that COVID is on the rise, all of the activities we enjoyed were COVID safe activities.
West Virginia Itinerary
Day 1: Harpers Ferry
We drove up to our cabin on Friday night after work and then we spent the night cooking dinner, drinking wine, and making s’mores by the fire. On Saturday, we woke up ready to explore and get moving. Harpers Ferry is an hour from Berkeley Springs, on the confluence of the Potomac and the Shenandoah Rivers. Maryland and Virginia also meet West Virginia at this point.
There are plenty of fun things to do around Harpers Ferry. One of my favorite activities during the summertime is to float down the river on inner tubes with some cold drinks. However, right now it’s way too cold for that. Instead, we chose to visit Harpers Ferry State Park where there are plenty of gorgeous hikes to choose from that take you through the mountains and by the rivers. Make sure to research parking and openings in advance, when we went there was only one parking lot open.
We hiked the Loudoun Heights trail, which is a 6 mile trail. It goes over the bridge, through the woods, and up into the heights of the mountains. When we got to the top, we could see both the Shenandoah and the Potomac Rivers. There were stunning views all around us. We stopped to eat our PB&Js and take in the view. There are so many great trails including portions of the Appalachian Trail. If you’ve got extra time you can also go to the Antietam Battlefield or walk through town!
Day 2: Berkeley Springs
Once we were done with our hike, it was time to head back to Berkeley Springs. The town is known for its spas and its art scene. We went straight to the Berkeley Springs State Park, which is home to mineral springs that have been in use since the colonial days. Some of them are fenced off with signs of old famous individuals that used to bathe in them.
There are a few different bathhouses and spas that you can visit within the park. We had booked a private bath at the Old Roman Bathhouse. This gave us a private room with a lovely hot bath and it cost $60 for a half hour. They had great COVID procedures including checking our temperatures and completing a thorough cleaning between each use. We were able to soak in our room in private. The room does get really hot over time, so definitely back some water to hydrate during your soak session!
You can’t have a West Virginia mountain getaway without spending time under the stars. After spending a night under the stars, we went to Berkeley Springs. First, we drove by the Berkeley Springs Castle, which is no longer open to tours, but is still an impressive sight. Then, we went to the Cacapon Resort State Park for a short hike through the woods. We were completely alone on the hike and we loved the beautiful green moss that covered the forest floor.
Other great spots in town include the antique store, the Cacapon Golf Course, and Prospect Peak. We stopped into the antique store and enjoyed looking through the shelves that were full of unique items. Berkeley Springs is definitely an adorable mountain town.
We thoroughly enjoyed our West Virginia mountain getaway. For those who have more time, you can also check out the nearby spots of Charles Town and Shepardstown. These towns in West Virginia are great destinations to forget about your worries and enjoy the quiet of nature.
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My fave WV activity: stopping at the local Dairy Queen for a lunch of grilled cheese, onion rings, and a blizzard (oc).
Omg so funny you said that. Ari was like I’ve never seen a DQ in person and then we passed one while we were there