Escape to the Panhandle of West Virginia for a rustic getaway in a place known worldwide for exceptional water quality and healing springs.
Driving distance: 1 hour, 45 minutes
STAY HERE: Cacapon Lodge is the newest resort hotel in the West Virginia State Parks system. Tucked into the Appalachian Mountains, the lodge is luxurious—renovated just last year—with design inspired by the natural beauty of the landscape. All guest rooms are spacious and clean, with comfortable new beds. The king suites have a sleeper sofa, gas fireplace, and a sitting room, making them convenient for families. Prefer to have your own cabin in the woods? The resort has two- and three-bedroom cabins just a mile from the lodge. In the evenings, guests gather in the Legacy Lounge to play board games while enjoying a local craft beer or moonshine co*cktail. The Cacapon Dining Room nods to Mission-style architecture with stone flourishes and glass lighting and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks; portions are big enough to share. In warmer weather, dine outdoors overlooking the golf course. From $129 per night (lodge) or $150 (cabin), 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr., Berkeley Springs
Day 1
MORNING: Fairfax Coffee Houseis known for its housemade pastries and expert baristas. Begin your day with a Mama Trey’s wheat biscuit served with local honey and homemade jam, or for a heartier version, smother it with sausage-and-sage gravy. The cozy coffee shop is located beside the famous Berkeley Springs State Park, a historic spa established in 1920. The spa was built to preserve the mineral baths that date back to 1748 and have attracted travelers ever since, from tribal nations to colonial settlers to modern-day families—all who come to immerse themselves in the healing waters. There’s even a marker identifying George Washington’s Bathtub, as the first president made regular pilgrimages here from the time he was 16 years old. Inside the Main Bathhouse, the flowing waters remain at a constant temperature of 74.3 degrees—a tad chilly in early spring but refreshing in the summer months. Book a family soak in a Roman bath, a private room containing 750 gallons of mineral water heated to 102 degrees and sourced right from the spring. If that spa isn’t available, The Country Innnext door has a full-service spa and eucalyptus steam room.
AFTERNOON: That vigorous experience can build up an appetite for lunch. Walk to Tari’s A Premier Caféto sample Southern specialties like warm housemade pimiento cheese with chips and crispy baby back ribs with jalapeño coleslaw. The kids’ menu has buttermilk chicken and linguini Alfredo. After lunch, take the kids to see the nostalgic items for sale at the Berkeley Springs Antique Mall. The store is stacked top to bottom with affordable treasures, like Star Wars memorabilia, illuminated beer signs, and crystal glassware. Right next door is Marley Max Candles home goods store, and around the corner is the Naked Olive Tasting Room, where you can sample a variety of olive oils and vinegars. It’s a great place to find gifts for the chef in your life. Across the street is the Morgan Arts Council’s Ice House, featuring a collective of local artists working in a variety of media. Kids will appreciate the whimsical folk-art pieces, like fabric animals and wooden gargoyles.
EVENING: Stop at Canary Grill, perched high atop a hill. The views of the mountains from here are stunning, and the restaurant serves tasty items for all ages. Favorites include the stacked-up sandwiches, cauliflower pizza, and Brauhaus pretzels with beer cheese. Canary’s bar offers a margarita tasting with seven shots of flavored margaritas, so be sure you have a designated driver. Back at Cacapon Lodge, challenge each other to board games by the fireplace.
Day 2
MORNING: After a hearty breakfast at the Lodge, take a guided horseback ride along Warm Springs Ridge (April 1 through October 31; reservations required) with Triple C Outfitters. They offer discounts for large families and groups and cater to beginner riders. Cacapon Lodge is also the perfect place to hike into the hills. Cacapon has 20 miles of trails—highlights include Central Trail with multiple stream crossings and the Ziler Trail up Cacapon Mountain, a 2,400-foot elevation with two scenic overlooks.
AFTERNOON: Start with a rousing game of bowling or two at Midway Berkeley. The family-friendly bowling center has a nostalgic feel, with an arcade and snack bar. Another option is seeing a movie at Berkeley Springs’s old-time movie house, Star Theatre. On weekends, the theater has a family film matinée, as well as showings of black-and-white film classics. See the likes of Charlie Chaplin and the Marx Brothers and introduce your kids to the slapstick comedy of the 1940s. The popcorn (with real butter) is a must.
EVENING: For dinner, reserve a booth at Morgan Tavern inside the town landmark, Country Inn of Berkeley Springs. This historic hotel plays host to the annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Festival, where entrants from around the globe compete for an honorable designation. The win helps promote their brand and earns them bragging rights. The chef here specializes in Bang Bang Shrimp, hand-cut steaks, burgers, and cheesy potato pierogi. After dinner, head back for a swim in the mineral-fed pool at Cacapon Lodge.
Day 3
MORNING: For your last breakfast, visit Charlotte’s Café, where you can order the Instagrammable Fruity Pebble French toast or caramel-banana pancakes. The chef was trained at Johnson & Wales University, and it shows—everything is scratch-made and bursting with flavor. Back at the resort, walk down to Cacapon Lake to skim rocks and look for tiny minnows swimming around. Check out the Thomas B. Ambrose Nature Center to learn about the local wildlife (think taxidermy) and invasive plant species. Younger kids can play in the sand, and older ones can hike the 1.2-mile Cacapon Ridge Trail.
AFTERNOON: Pack up the car and head to the Farnham Fantasy Farm (aka Farnham Colossi) in the nearby town of Unger off Route 13. The free roadside attraction is home to the giant Muffler Man, Hamburger Man, Surfer Dude, the Simpson family, and many more statues you can’t help but smile—and marvel—at.
This story originally ran in ourMarch issue. For more stories like this,subscribeto our monthly magazine.
