Vacation Guide
Berkeley Springs West Virginia - The Country’s First Spa
Historic Town Warm springs Spas Fine dining Quirky shops Golf • Hiking Year ‘round festivals
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 3
32nd Annual Concerts in the Park Series
SATURDAYS • 5:30 PM Berkeley Springs State Park
JULY 7 - Carsie Blanton
AUGUST 4 - Blue Sky 5
JULY 14 - My Sweet Patootie
AUGUST 11 - Bare Bones
JULY 21 - Kelly Bell Band
AUGUST 18 - The Nighthawks
JULY 28 - Hillbilly Gypsies
Morgan 800-447-8797
www.berkeleysprings.com
304-258-2300 macicehouse.com
Council
Page 4 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Table of Contents Best local caves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 CATF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Plan the perfect getaway in Berkeley Springs . . . 8 Charles Town offers variety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Never a shortage of things to do in D.C. . . . . . . 12 The AT: A fun-filled package for any distance . 13 Frederick Keys to play 30th season . . . . . . . . . . 14 Today’s Distillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Many local trails offer fresh air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Hagerstown Suns new stadium . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
World-Class horse racing in Charles Town . . . . 22 Martinsburg: Fun at your fingertips . . . . . . . . . 26 Keeping cool this summer on area rivers . . . . . 30 River adventure starts with safety . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Eastern Panhandle Auto Racing. . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Eastern Panhandle parks for the entire family. 38 Finding the right Panhandle trail. . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Wineries are developing in the area. . . . . . . . . . 46 Shepherdstown: Culture, history and fun . . . . . 60
Going Underground Guide for the best local caves in the area BOONSBORO — Caves and caverns often offer tourists a rare experience of going underground and taking a look at natural structures and phenomena that are nearly as old as the Earth itself. Natural caves were not
formed overnight, and can be the result of a major geological event that took place hundreds of millions of years ago. Take a trip under the earth at Crystal Grottoes Caverns in Boonsboro, MD. Operated by the same family for more than 90 years, the Crystal Grottoes Caverns offers a 40-minute walking tour through some of the best-preserved cave formations accessible in the state of Maryland. Jerry Downs, the owner and operator of Crystal Grottoes Caverns, explained how that particular cave got its start. “About 330 million years ago, had you arrived, you would most likely be standing on an oceanfront property, with waves roaring in and out,” Downs said. “The nearby mountainscape is not volcanic, it’s where a plate that connected with the continent of Africa worked its way free. Over the course of some 20 million years, this thing comes across the planet as a big sheet, crunches up against the eastern seaboard of this continent and forms the Appalachian Mountains.” According to Downs, the pressure from the pushing of the geological plate caused the land to fracture. When groundwater came in contact with these fractures, the cave began to form. “About 60 feet underground, the water table will move into a fracture like that and dissolve out a chamber. It took some 250 million years to do this, according to the peoSubmitted photo ple from the Maryland Geological Survey,” Entrance to Crystal Grottoes Caverns in Boons- he said. The underground rock in the region is boro, MD.
limestone, which dissolves in water over millions of years. The result of water eroding caves throughout large areas of limestone results in Karst topography, series of caves and caverns underground. Downs said the formations in the caverns were created by water on the surface of the ground. “Once the caves dissolved out, rainwater from the surface came down into the caves and set off the formation base. One must have caves before there can be formations — you can’t have it the other way around.” The cave was discovered shortly after the invention of the automobile, when the site was being used as a quarry to create some of the first paved roads in the United States, according to Downs. “Henry Ford just came out with the internal combustion engine, and Congress says, ‘Hey, that’s a neat trick. Can you build us some trucks?’ Next thing you know, they need roads in this country because this stuff’s driving around in the mud. Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and a guy named John Burroughs on hydraulics set up a rock crusher, and they’re drilling and blasting into this cliff,” he said. Eventually, the workers broke through a wall of rock and found a hole, Downs said. Upon exploring the tunnels, they decided they had found something too beautiful to continue destroying. Workers spent months digging out about five feet of clay to make the passages high
Vacation Guide
enough, and April 2, 1922, was the first day the cave was open to the public. Kerosene lanterns lit the way for early visitors, Downs said. Although the caves at Crystal Grottoes were discovered nearly a century ago, there was another development that changed the cave. A new passage was dug out, allowing visitors to get a different view of the caverns. “My caving guys dug through and discovered a piece of this new passage and we recently dug it out and dedicated it,” Downs said. “The guys who dug it out got to go through it first, and then the public came through.” Downs said the way the passage cuts through the middle of the cave helps him run his commercial cave business more efficiently. Tour groups can come out of the cave at the same point they went down into it, and the more open nature of the cave allows for ready access to electrical
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 5
A spelunker explores a local cave. wiring for the lights. “Everybody in every business has some kind of claim to something; how big, how bad, how mean, how vicious they are. This cave just happens to have more formations per square foot than any cave known to man, so that’s what I sell. I don’t claim it’s the biggest cave, I don’t claim it’s the deepest one, it’s not the baddest
one — but it is the best decorated,” Downs said. As far as the cave’s formations go, Downs said he is not interested in giving them extravagant names. He said he would rather educate visitors on the natural history of the cave’s formation.”We have two or three formations that we’ve named like that, but I don’t like to get too
deep into the fantasy land stuff,” Downs said. “I’m more interested in teaching people about the practical geology of it.” Downs said he makes sure his employees can talk about the geology of the cave without being so technical that visitors lose interest. There are several types of visitors at Crystal Grottoes, each with different interests, according to Downs. “I’ve got various kinds of people that want to see this facility. There’s the geology type, and those come specifically for the cave itself and they love it. Then you’ve got the historian types, that like to view caves and battlefields at the same time. We do massive amounts of school groups, and we’ve had visits from Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and churches, and an awful lot of that is local, within 60 miles or so,” he said. See UNDERGROUND, Page 50
WVU Medicine
URGENT CARE
Lumps and Bumps? Get in line before you leave the house!
HOURS
When Summertime fun turns into lumps, bumps and things that itch, it’s time for Urgent Care. At WVU Medicine Urgent Care centers, you don’t have to wait around for an appointment. With our “Clockwise” online scheduling, you can get in line before you leave the house. Simply visit our website uhpUrgentCare.com and select an arrival time. Clockwise HSSV^Z `V\ [V ^HP[ TVYL JVTMVY[HIS` H[ OVTL YLK\JPUN `V\Y ^HP[ [PTL PU [OL VɉJL
CHARLES TOWN
INWOOD
SPRING MILLS
912 Somerset Boulevard, Suite 102
5047 Gerrardstown Road, Suite 2A
61 Campus Drive
Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm Sunday Noon-8pm uhpUrgentCare.com
Vacation Guide
Page 6 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Theater on Display Shepherdstown gets ready for Contemporary American Theater Festival
SHEPHERDSTOWN — They call it Christmas in July. And it’s a bracingly busy summer seasons greeting here for local merchants and restaurateurs, for sure. Every summer for about three weeks this picturesque historic town along the Potomac River booms with more than 2,500 visitors attending the annual Contemporary American Theater Festival, the nationally renowned cultural summer holiday tradition in this town of about 1,100 year-round residents. For local merchants and restaurateurs like Deb Tucker, owner of Bistro 112, an incomparably classy and cozy French eatery, the festival is a hectic but welcome economic boost. “A lot of people in town will refer to the theater as our Christmas in Shepherdstown,” said Tucker, who has lived and worked through six of the past 28 theater festivals. “It’s crazy for business. As business owners, we come to rely on the stream of income from the festival.” And that income stream for individual businesses becomes a gushing river for the collective town and its surrounding area. With a fresh lineup of six brand new contemporary plays selected, the summertime CATF is poised to sell tickets soon for its next run of performances set to run over the four weeks from July 6-29. Pack-
31st Annual
Wednesday - Saturday, July 18-21 Ɣ Durbin, WV
EVERY DAY:
Carnival Rides, Bingo, Food and Vendors in addition to special events
WEDNESDAY:
Pet Show, Greased Pig Contest & Karaoke
THURSDAY:
Cake Walk, Calf Chase LIVE ENTERTAINMENT - Half Step Down
FRIDAY:
Arts/Crafts/Yard Sale, Petting Zoo, Fireworks, Fireman’s Parade, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT- Johnie Ray Black
SATURDAY:
Horseshoe & Corn Hole Tournaments, Arts/Crafts/Yard Sale, Car Show, Children’s Activities, Old-Time Music, Jam, Barbecued Chicken Dinner, Grand Feature Parade, Tug-o-War, 5K Run & Walk, Dime Pitch, Pony Show LIVE ENTERTAINMENT - Michael Bonnett Fireworks 10 p.m.
ages for multiple ticket purchases go on sale March 26. Single-ticket sales start April 16. Last year the CATF drew an 8 percent growth in ticket sales, selling more than 17,000 tickets. It drew patrons from 38 states, as well as the District of Columbia. Festival officials estimate that the event generates more than $4.2 million into the local economy. Nearly $3 million of that comes from festival patrons and the rest from the 400 theater industry workers who come to town to put on what will be this year’s expanded lineup of six plays and 100 performances from In the end, all of the expanded events and heightened promotional activities are now keeping many town businesses on point to plan and prepare for a big influx of shoppers, eaters and tourists along the main thoroughfare of German Street. “It’s all hands on deck,” offered Meredith Wait, owner of the Dickinson & Wait Craft Gallery, a shop specializing in handmade contemporary American crafts. “We’re busy. We’ll double up (on scheduling staff in the store) if we need to Nobody goes on vacation in July.” Wait’s shop has operated in Shepherdstown for 28 years, allowing it to steadily benefit more and more every year from the growing theater festival since it began. She says the festival brings an ideal demographic of customers to her contemporary crafts shop. Many of those festival-goers have become loyal customers. Her eclectic but upscale shop offers crafts from a list of about 150 highly skilled (and a few highly famous and sought after) professionals working in mediums ranging from blown glass to pottery to clothing. The prices of items in the shop range from 99 cents to $2,500, though the average item would dent a wallet or purse about $30, Wait said. “People who come to the contemporary festival — they’re craft savvy, so they know what they’re looking at,” she said. The theater festival also attracts ideal clientele to Tucker’s sociable bistro, where the wine flows with avidly repeat customers in July. She said she knows the minute the festival sends out its first marketing promotions every year: “We get an incredible volume of reservations.” Tucker and Wait said the festival also has allowed people to discover Shepherdstown in a pleasant way that draws people back to town at times even when the festival stages stand dark. That fourseasons activity generates meaningful repeat business that’s real, but difficult to quantify for the town, they said. For all of this new festival business, lots of detailed preparation is essential for Bistro 112 and the Dickinson & Wait Craft Gallery to take full advantage of the event’s economic potential. Tucker and Wait say their preparations — based much on experience and data from past festivals — begins months in advance. Planning inventory, staff sizes and schedules are the key factors for their restaurant and retail shop, they agreed. Open for business for the past six years, Bistro 112 makes a few operational adjustments during the festival. From polishing glasses at the martini bar downstairs (which allows well-behaved dogs, in the
Vacation Guide
French tradition) to chopping vegetables in the back kitchen, the crush of additional diners and nibblers drawn to town by the festival takes extra work and preparation in every facet of the restaurant’s operations, Tucker said. Tucker pointed out that her restaurant’s extra business in July also creates more sales for area farmers and fresh food producers that supply it. Those include vegetable growers, beer brewers and grassfed beef producers. Both businesses extend their operating hours in July, particularly on weekend nights when the festival draws the biggest crowds. Dickinson & Wait operates with three part-time employees, plus the shop’s two owners, and it doubles its retail service staff and extends its operating hours during peak shopping times. For Bistro 112, Tucker hires a few seasonal workers for the month of July. She primarily relies on her regular staff of 11 people, including table servers to table clearers out front, to cooks and a dishwasher in the kitchen. For the month of July, however, she generally hires about four extra college students or recent graduates as willing short-timers. “I try to hire people who speak French,” Tucker said of the temporary hands she schedules during the festival. “Of course, my people love it when they get to speak French with someone clearing their dishes.” Of course, restaurants need to plan to have enough food — too little and guests go hungry, too much a potential spoil — and retail shops have to order enough merchandise ahead to be ready for a crowd. See CATF, Page 58
Great food, wine & beer are our focus. Hospitality is our passion. A premier American restaurant located in the heart of Purcellville, VA. FREE parking available. Our Patio is dog friendly!
198 North 21st, Purcellville, VA
540.338.9800 Mon-Thur 11a-11p • Fri & Sat 11a- 12a • Sun 11a-9a
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 7
Journal photo by Ron Agnir
Ed Herendeen, Founder & Producing Director of CATF. Ed founded the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia in 1991 with the mission to produce and develop new American theater. Here he excitedly talks about the upcoming season’s six shows.
Page 8 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Travel Guide: Plan the perfect getaway in Berkeley Springs BERKELEY SPRINGS — Known for its Upcoming events at The Ice House School unique blend of national history, beautiful of the Arts classes include MACreate Adult scenery and traditional small town ApClasses where participants can let their palachian feel, Berkeley Springs is a must see inner artist shine. The public is invited to atstop in the Eastern Pantend a Pandas and Penhandle. guins Watercolor class Located on U.S. 522, with Richard Kaufman the town is conveniently on Saturday, June 2, located an hour from from 2 to 4:30 p.m. No Winchester. Despite the experience is needed short drive, Berkeley and participants can Springs offers many take home their original sites and experiences artwork. The class will other nearby locations include an introduction cannot. to a form of watercolor Stroll along historic known as sumi-e (a secretary, Travel Berkeley Springs Japanese term which streets, wade in the famed warm springs means writing or paintpools and pop in on shop owners or restauing with ink), also referred to as East Asian ranteurs and make some new friends. Berke- brush painting. This technique originated in ley Springs has something to offer for China. The medium is ink and rice paper everyone. with brushes composed of natural fibers. All During the summer months, the Morgan materials are provided. The price is $35 for Arts Council acts as a cultural and artistic the general public and $30 for MAC memhub for visitors and residents alike. The goal bers. To register, visit of the Morgan Arts Council is making art achttp://macicehouse.org/ or call 304-258cessible to the public. They accomplish this 2300. at the historic Ice House, dating back to apShopping and dining options abound as proximately 1910 when it was used for apple well, according to Laura Smith, secretary of storage. Travel Berkeley Springs. The Ice House is home to visual arts ex“We have a large artist community with hibits, as well as offers a space for commuspecialty shops, antiques and galleries,” nity theatre performances. According to the Smith said. “Naked Olive specializes in oils MAC website, the Ice House is home to sevand vinegars, which is a very popular trend eral gallery spaces including the Ice House these days.” Artists’ Co-Op Gallery, The Ice House SpeAccording to it’s official site, Naked Olive cial Exhibit Gallery, The Hall of Dreams and is an independently owned olive oil and balthe Carr-Kelly Gallery. The Ice House Artists’ samic vinegar tasting gallery that sells the Co-op Gallery was opened in April 2000, in finest extra virgin olive oils, flavored oils and conjunction with the Morgan Arts Council. gourmet oils from around the world and balIt is not only a space for exhibiting art, but samic vinegars from Modena, Italy. Visitors for producing art as well. Art education can find a selection of more than 60 oils and classes in the visual arts take place throughvinegars at the shop. out the year with programming available for Naked Olive also features an evening all ages and experience levels, according to lounge with drinks and small plate items the website. The Ice House is open Friday, using their products. Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Itty Bitty Global Shop on IndependCurrently at the Carr-Kelly Gallery is the ence Street offers shoppers free trade prod“Color Crazy Annual Delectable Mountains ucts from all over the world. Quilt Show” by curators Mickie Sienko and Additionally, the BlackCat music shop is Susannah Kipp. The exhibit showcases work the heart of music sales and events in town. done in new, innovative techniques as well Smith said Black Cat not only has items for as classical methods. Items range from fullsale, but it also offers live music throughout size quilts to wearable items and home the summer. decor. The event began April 13 and will conBlack Dog Coffee, a BBQ trailer serving tinue through May 27. carry out BBQ options and cat cafe called
“We have a large artist community with specialty shops, antiques and galleries.”
Laura Smith
Give Purrs a Chance ä featuring cat adoptions are excellent dining options, according to Jeanne Mozier, secretary of the Morgan Arts Council. Weekly farmers markets in historic downtown Berkeley Springs allow visitors to step back in history and enjoy the sites, smells and tastes of small town West Virginia. Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local vendors bring their produce and wares to the square by the Morgan County courthouse. Earth Dog Cafe, a downtown restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and drink options. Labeled as a barbecue restaurant, visitors are welcome to enjoy a family friendly relaxed atmosphere. While waiting for food, guests are invited to select games and books from a bookshelf to pass the time as well. History buffs will enjoy the historic warm mineral springs where George Washington used to come to bathe. While children can romp in the town springs, history buffs can enjoy the original Washington bath tub in the Berkeley Springs State Park. Established in 1776, Berkeley Springs boasts a lengthy history that can be explored at the nearby Berkeley Springs Museum, also located near the park. Open 10 to 4:30 p.m., entry is donation only and it is a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon. The historic Star Theatre in downtown Berkeley Springs has been operating since 1928 and every weekend, year-round, visitors can experience the historic theatre and purchase delicious, buttery popcorn from an antique popcorn machine. The Star Theatre Facebook page says it boasts the best popcorn in four states. Charging $5 for adults and $4.50 for kids, the Star Theatre features a selection of comedy, action, drama and kids movies, and the calendar generally shows the movie schedule for four to five weekends in advance. The New Earth Granary also gives visitors a chance to interact with locals through poetry nights, classes for musicians, community concerts and other events. For a full list of events, visit thenewearthgranary.com or call 304-820-8499. “Sometimes it’s hard to put what makes Berkeley Springs special into a sentence,” Mozier said. “There’s just a magic feel about the place.” For more Berkeley Springs information and events, visit berkeleysprings.com or call 304-258-9147.
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 9
Page 10 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Charles Town offers variety throughout the summer BY TIM COOK
tcook@journal-news.net
CHARLES TOWN — Don’t have a car, but have a free summer day to spend walking around a historic town? There are festivals, cultural activities and historical tours to enjoy this summer season that are within ambling distance in the Charles Town’s downtown district. Consider the following suggested walking itineraries through the city for the months of May, June, July and August. They’re in downtown Charles Town and, with some comfortable sneakers, are walkable from each other. Once downtown, no transportation is necessary for most people for these weekend diversions. Best of all, you can mix and match many of these activities in creating an individualized walking tour of your own preference. For more information on many of the activities, and for information on others, check out the Charles Town municipal government’s Around Town events website link at www.charlestownwv.us; the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s calendar of events website at www.jeffersoncounty wvchamber.org/calendar; and the Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau website at discoveritallwv.com.
MAY IS FOR COMMUNITY ART Charles Town will be abuzz during in May for a community art project when volunteers are invited to help build mosaic street murals on two downtown buildings. The event is free and open to the public with various opportunities to participate. Isaiah Zagar, a Philadelphia mosaic artist, will visit Charles Town on Saturday, May 26 through Wednesday May 30, to
Journal photo by Ron Agnir
Lilia Vance greets “The Mad Hatter” (Charlie Perkins) at a previous year’s Third Thursday in Charles Town. During the summer month Discover Downtown Charles Town hosts Third Thursday, a family friendly and includes live music, business promotions, restaurant specials, and children's activities. oversee volunteers recreating his outdoor mosaic murals on the sides of two downtown buildings. One mosaic art mural corner of 200 W. Washington St. and Charles St. and in Evitts Run Park from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The murals will be constructed with pieces of tile, mirror and other materials. Volunteers involved with the project will learn the process of creating future public murals as community art projects. Volunteers can sign up online to participate at h. Also on Tuesday, May 29, Zagar will talk explain his art and his community art project during a gathering at the Charles Town Library at 200 E. Washington St. The conversation starts at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Then on Wednesday, May 30, at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the city of Charles Town will celebrate finishing the mosaic murals with a public gather-
ing on Charles Street that will feature food trucks, music and activities for all ages. JUNE IS FOR WINE & STREET FESTIVALS For your first summer downtown walk, perhaps after stopping by the Charles Town Farmers’ Market on South Samuel Street on Saturdays for some locally grown fruits and vegetables, consider an opportunity bringing your four-legged buddy along. On Saturday, June 2, dog lovers can join the tail-wagging Animal Welfare Society Bark in the Park in Charles Town. Benefiting homeless pets at the county animal shelter, the fundraiser event at Jefferson Memorial Park provides an opportunity to spend quality time with your pup for a good cause. This boisterously happy event offers dog blessings, canine demonstrations and contests, games for dogs and owners and
various doggy-related vendors. It runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A week later, another opportunity for an easy-paced outdoor stroll happens with the Happy Retreat Wine and Jazz Festival on Saturday, June 9. While dogs aren’t permitted at this event (except service dogs, of course), it provides an opportunity to mosey about the grounds of the historic Charles Washington estate at your own pace, while stopping to sample and learn about 50 wines. The wine festival offers informal talks with winemakers, as well as extra in-depth classes with wine experts. Jazz and classical music performances will keep the atmosphere easygoing yet stimulating. A variety of local food and craft vendors will be on hand selling their goods. Located at 600 Mordington Avenue in Charles Town, located about a quarter-of-a-mile saunter from the center of downtown Charles Town, the mansion event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. General admission tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the gate. Special $20 tickets for designated drivers will be available as well. Children 12 or younger gain entrance for free. One more festival taking place on Saturday, June 16, is perhaps the largest community event of the year in Charles Town — the WV Fest 2018. During this festival, the city’s downtown streets close to vehicle traffic to create a broad pedestrian mall for the annual in-the-street community celebration. In honor of West Virginia’s birthday, WV Fest highlights much of what is wonderful about the Mountain State. About four blocks of the downtown streets will be filled with artisans, food vendors, live music, as well as talks and tours at city historical sites. See CHARLES TOWN, Page 52
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 11
Page 12 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Never a shortage of things to do in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON – Millions of tourists can’t be wrong, especially when it comes to discovering all that Washington, D.C., has to offer. In fact, according to statistics released in 2017 by the tourism bureau, Destination DC, visitor spending totaled $7.3 billion. Washington, D.C., welcomed a record 22 million visitors in 2016 a high that includes an estimated 2 million overseas visitors. The good news for local folks is that Washington is accessible and offers lots of destinations—regardless of whether visitors are looking to spend a day or a week. And it’s also possible to do a lot without spending a lot of money, either. Planning for a visit can be easily done online, thanks to www.washington.org, which offers information on everything from lodging and dining to help with deciding where to go while in the district. Visitors on a budget will appreciate advice titled “100 Free—And Almost Free—Things to Do” that covers a variety of topics including family-friendly activities; history and heritage; arts and culture; theater and performing arts; restaurants, food and wine; and African American culture, to name a few listings. Website visitors can order the district’s free, official visitors guide or simply view it online, as well as book hotel packages. It offers advice on how individuals—as well as families—can experience history, see the
sights, get some exercise and have fun—all at the same time without breaking the bank: National Mall, Constitution Ave. NW, is larger than many people realize. It is an open area of gardens, fountains, trees and monuments stretching nearly two miles between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial (it has 36 columns, one for each state in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death). It is home to some of the nation’s most famous sites including the Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Franklin Delano Roosevelt monuments, as well as Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, National World War II Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial. Monuments and memorials are free and open to the public 24 hours a day. It’s also a popular place to sit in the sunshine, throw a frisbee or play a game of volleyball at one of the pits at Potomac Park. Or take advantage of the services offered by DC by Foot, a walking tour company that gives free (gratuities are accepted), kid-friendly tours which include games, fun facts and trivia. Walking tours include the Arlington Cemetery and Lincoln Assassination, while there is also a Twilight Washington bus tour. The Washington Monument, also on the National Mall, reopened in 2014 after an August 2011 earthquake caused more than 150 cracks in the 550-foot tall, marble structure — a $15 million restoration project. Tickets are required for all visitors ages 2 and up.
Free, same-day tickets are available at the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street. Museums on the Mall include many popular landmarks including the National Museum of American History (See the original ‘Star Spangled Banner’ that inspired the national anthem), National Museum of Natural History (visitors can walk among living butterflies at the Butterfly Pavilion for free on Tuesdays), National Air and Space Museum (take time to play pilot in a mock cockpit at the exhibit America by Air), National Museum of the American Indian and National Gallery of Art. The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., is a destination in itself. Public tour requests must be submitted through a member of Congress, including Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin or Rep. Alex Mooney. These free, self-guided tours are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, since a limited number of spaces are available. Requests can be submitted up to six months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance. Visitors will be allowed to peek inside the library, the Vermeil Room, cabinets containing the china collection and the Diplomatic Reception Room. Visitors will also see various ‘colored rooms’ including the Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room and the Gold State Dining Room. See WASHINGTON, D.C., Page 54
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 13
Appalachian Trail: A fun-filled package for any distance
HARPERS FERRY—While the entire Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine, covers a 2,190-mile expanse of wilderness, locals and visitors to the Eastern Panhandle can experience their own tiny slice of the monster trek without committing months to the undertaking. Thousands of hikers attempt through-hikes of the Appalachian Trail every year, but only one in four completes it, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website. A typical hiker takes six to seven months for a through-hike. Although the entire state of West Virginia is considered part of Appalachia, only a four-mile portion of the Appalachian Trail is actually in the Mountain State, mostly in the historic town of Harpers Ferry, home to the site of John Brown’s Raid and other Civil War battles. Additionally, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters and visitors center is located in Harpers Ferry at 799 Washington St, which is accessible off the trail via a 0.2-mile blue-blazed trail. There is no camping in the town of Harpers Ferry or in the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, but there are many nearby campgrounds, as well as bed and breakfast and hotel options. Citizens and business owners
Submitted photo
A stretch of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Harpers Ferry. in Harpers Ferry and Bolivar have come together to create the Trail and Town Alliance of Harpers Ferry and Bolivar, a subcommittee of the Harpers Ferry Historic Town Foundation. The goal of the alliance is to better understand and address the hikers’ needs and interests, as well as visitors and recreationalists. Some of the businesses part of the alliance also serve as boarding options, including Brunswick Family Campground
in Brunswick, Maryland; HI Harpers Ferry Hostel in Knoxville, Maryland; Knights Inn Knoxville-Harpers Ferry in Knoxville, Maryland; Teahorse Hostel in Harpers Ferry and the Town’s Inn Mountain House in Harpers Ferry. The national park brings more than 250,000 visitors each year, and the national visitors center of the Appalachian Trail draws over 25,000. Harpers Ferry serves as the mid-point of the trail, and the
trail’s visitors center there is a wealth of history and resources, including trail history, culture and traditions and hiking options for both the trail and its connectors. There are also volunteer opportunities to help maintain the entirety of the trail from Georgia all the way to Maine. To learn more about the Appalachian trail and its stopping point in the Eastern Panhandle and surround areas, visit www.appalachiantrail.org.
Page 14 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Frederick Keys to play 30th season at Nymeo Field BY RICK KOZLOWSKI
rkozlowski@journal-news.net
FREDERICK, Md. — The influence of Francis Scott Key, the author of the “Star Spangled Banner,” is big in his hometown, and the influence is perhaps no more pronounced than at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium, home of the Frederick Keys. The Keys, of course, are named for the man who penned the poem that became the national anthem of the United States as he watched Americans fight the British at Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812. The high Class A minor league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles is playing its historic 30th season at the stadium located across the street from Mount Olivet Cemetery, where Key and his wife are buried. The stadium, very visible to travelers
at the split of Interstates 70 and 270, attracts large crowds on a regular basis. Now fans shake their keys during the seventh-inning stretch in what’s become a traditional tribute to Key and the home team that plays in the Carolina League as its northernmost ballclub. Despite its age, the stadium appears much younger and has its share of charms. Although the stands rim the field from just beyond third base to just beyond first base, there’s grassy knolls down either outfield line that attract a fair share of youngsters, gloves in hands, hoping to chase down a souvenir foul ball. Beyond the game of baseball itself, youngest of fans can enjoy a
spin around the carousel in the stadium’s Fun Zone, while fans of all ages interact with Keynote, the team’s mascot who is available for autographs and pictures. Some of the regular promotions include Sunday Fundays, Kids Eat Free Mondays, Guaranteed Win Tuesdays and Wear Orange Wednesdays. Fridays feature fireworks. A large crowd is to be expected when the Keys host Redneck Weekend June 29-July 1 and Geekend July 20-22. There are different promotions virtually every day the Keys are at home, including a shirt giveaway commemorating popular Orioles outfielder-first baseman Trey Mancini. Occasionally, given Frederick’s proximity to Baltimore about 40 miles to the east, an Orioles player on a rehab assignment will take the field for the home team. One time, President George H.W. Bush, the 41st leader of the country, showed up at the stadium while on retreat at Camp David, located not too distant from Frederick. The Keys have won four Mills Cup championships in their history, although its been since 2011 when it happened last. Tickets range in price from $10 for advance general admission (with a $3 discount for senior citizens, children and military personnel) to $15 for field seating. More information can be found at www.FrederickKeys.com.
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 15
Discover Jefferson County
The Most Visited County in the State of West Virginia Now Open Old Fashioned Bake Shop. The BEST homemade Mama Jo’s Pepperoni Rolls, and delicious bakery items baked FRESH daily.
Voted Best New Bakery!
y 40 Hershey’s Flavors & soft serve y Lunch/dinner y Birthday reservations available
1112 W Washington Street | Harpers Ferry, WV 304-535-8046 • orders@hfbakeshop.com
809 N. Mildred Street, Suite 3 y Ranson, WV y 304-725-3294
Check out Facebook for Seasonal hours.
Open Mon-Sat 11am-9pm | Sun 1pm-9pm
A LEGACY REBORN...HERITAGE KEPT
We’re honored to be #1 in life insurance
• Firearms • Ammunition • Safes • Holsters • Onsite Gunsmithing • Cerakote™ • And Much More!
OPEN: Mon-Fri 11a-6p • Sat 9a-5p 301 N. Mildred St. • Ranson, WV 25438
304-535-3110 | harpersferryarmory.com
Jackie Lewis GRI, CRS
Hall of Fame Top Producer Owner/Broker
138 E. German St, Shepherdstown, WV Office: 304/876-3737 • Home: 304/876-2795 Fax: 304/876-0514
jackielewis47@yahoo.com
Helping you protect your #1. State Farm® is #1 in individual life policies* because people trust us to help protect their families and the moments that are most important in life. Let’s explore your options.
CALL ME TODAY.
Tammy Sirbaugh, Agent 217 Oak Lee Dr. Suite 2A, Ranson, WV 25438 304-725-5433 tammy.sirbaugh.ppuy@statefarm.com
*Ranking and data provided by SNL Financial based on reported individual ordinary life insurance policies in force as of year-end 2014. State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI), State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI), Bloomington, IL • 1506551
Providing vintage items from the past to bring uniqueness & style to the present Offering a variety of Art Deco, Mid-Century, and Industrial items as well as jewelry, books, records, furniture, lighting, tools, china, kitchenware and much more from the 20th Century.
Art Deco Dekor Located in historic downtown Charles Town, WV at
114 East Liberty Street • 304-724-6004 Hours: Sun., Mon., Wed.,Thur. 10:00 - 5:00 Fri. - Sat. 10:00 - 7:00 • Tue. Closed
ArtDecoDekor.com
Find Us On Facebook and Instagram
Page 16 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
A far cry from bygone underground operations
CHARLES TOWN—When most people think of moonshine, they imagine Prohibitionera bootleggers, speakeasies and flappers, but modern distilleries are a far cry from the underground operations of the past. Charles Town is home to Bloomery Plantation Distillery, which blends locally grown fruit with 190 proof moonshine to create “sweet shine” cocktail liqueurs. Rob Losey coowns Bloomery Plantation Distillery with Linda Losey and Tom Kiefer. Losey said they bought the building, which served as a slave quarters in the 1800s, in 2010 and began construction and renovation in 2011. It was on Sept. 17 of that year that was the distillery’s first day open for business. “The center part of the building was built in 1840,” said Bill Nicewarner, an employee at the distillery who makes the “hooch,” as it is affectionately called at Bloomery. “It’s one of the last two slave quarters left in Jefferson County. The two wings were added in 1870, and its built from old boats that went up and down the river.” Nicewarner said
Today’s Distillers
Journal photo by Ron Agnir
Rob Van Huizen serves up a Bloomery Sweetshine Black Walnut, one of several popular spirits at Bloomery Plantation Distillery. Linda Losey is researching the names of the slaves who lived in the building in order to recognize them, possibly with a plaque. Bloomery Plantation Distillery began as a manufacturer of limoncello, a traditional Italian afterdinner drink made from hard liquor and lemon peels. Losey said the inspiration for making limoncello began when Kiefer took a trip to the Vatican several years ago, when his great-great aunt was being canonized as the first saint from Australia. “While they were there, they visited Osteria delMolino, a tiny little Italian family restaurant, and they were intro-
duced to really good handmade limoncello. Grandma was making it in the back,” Losey said. “Until then, they had only tried commercially-produced limoncello, and the handmade is just so much different. That’s what we try to emulate.” Losey said every batch of limoncello at Bloomery Plantation Distillery is made by hand, with hand-zested lemons. He said the key is to only use the yellow part of the peel, leaving out the white pith, which can add a bitter, medicinelike taste to the drink if left in. Losey said Kiefer invited him to a blind taste test, with his limoncello up against 22
commercially-produced limoncellos. According to Losey, Kiefer’s handmade batch was the best. “I saw them do more blind tastetestings, and I grew up in a big Italian family, so I shared it with family, with friends in Little Italy in Baltimore and they all said it was really good. The next step was finding something fun to do with it,” Losey said. Losey said having fun is central to Bloomery Plantation Distillery’s philosophy and products. “It really has been a labor of fun, if you will. We’re really passionate about what we do. If it’s something other people are doing,
we’re probably not going to do it. If you look at my lineup, there aren’t a lot of flavors that you can find someplace else. We’re serious about what we do, but we try not to take ourselves too seriously,” he said. Losey said he hopes the fun factor is evident in the details, including the bottle labels. Each flavor is personified in an illustration on the bottle’s label, and Losey and his employees will often go to conventions and competitions in costume, dressed as Bloomery’s “cast of flavors.” Nicewarner described the timeand labor intensive process of making sweet shines.
Locally-grown fruits, nuts and berries are made into syrups and blended with Kentucky moonshine. “We have it all brought in from Kentucky, since West Virginia only allows 150 proof to be manufactured,” Nicewarner said. “Kentucky makes 190 proof, and with the process we go through, we need to start with a higherproof alcohol because it gets diluted.” Nicewarner said each step of the procedure takes from three days to a few weeks. Each batch of sweet shine can take up to 12 weeks to go from farm to bottle. Losey said Bloomery Plantation
Distillery grows as many ingredients as possible on-site. “We’re one of the first commercial lemon growers on the East Coast,” he said. “We also grow ginger, which is actually more finicky than the lemons to grow in this climate. We have over an acre of raspberries, we have walnut trees and we grow pumpkins. Our peaches are locally-sourced from Martinsburg.” Losey said he strives to keep the process—and the products—as natural and farm-fresh as possible, with no added colors or artificial flavors. Bloomery’s sweet shines are available in West Virginia, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Tennessee. Losey said one of the reasons the distillery was established in West Virginia is that state laws allowed for a tasting room. “West Virginia couldn’t be a better home for us. We absolutely love it here. Everybody has welcomed us, the municipal folks, the legislators and our clients. It’s a great tourism area, with a nice proximity to the Pennsylvania market; Frederick, Maryland; D.C. and Baltimore. I’m glad we’re here,” he said. Losey said the biggest challenge the distillery faces is keeping up with consumer demand.
Vacation Guide
Submitted photo
Black Draft Distillery. “Our numbers have been a blessing since we’ve been so well-accepted in this area. Every small business has challenges, and our biggest challenge to date has been making it fast enough to satisfy consumer demand,” Losey said. “I’ll take that as my challenge. If I’ve got to have a problem, I’ll take that one.” Losey thinks changes in beverage trends account for some of his success. He said throwback shows like “Mad Men,” set in 1960s New York City, and “House of Cards” have helped popularize cocktails by introducing them to the Millenial generation.
Another shift in trends Losey mentioned is the sense of consumer conscientiousness and the leaning towards handmade and local products, especially in the Eastern Panhandle, where farmers’ markets and handmade craft shows abound. “With everybody wanting to know where their products come from and who made them, so many people want to know where their hamburger was raised,” Losey said. “They also want to know what they’re drinking, and here I can walk them out and show them where we grow it.” See DISTILLARIES, Page 58
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 17
Page 18 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Wanting some fresh air? Take advantage of the many trails in the area
MARTINSBURG — Getting outside to enjoy nature has never been easier for Eastern Panhandle residents and visitors. Hiking, biking, fishing, river thrills, horse riding and more are all available to those in the Eastern Panhandle. Annette Gavin, CEO of the Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the C&O Canal Trail and the famous Appalachian Trail are two of the most popular outdoor recreational hotspots in the area. The C&O Canal Trail features more than 184 miles of hiking, jogging, biking, bird watching and horse riding trails going through Washington, D.C., Maryland and West Virginia, with entry points spread out along the path. The trail features breathtaking landscape views and is open yearround during daylight hours for those seeking some time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The Appalachian Trail — a more than 2,000 mile trail stretching from Maine to Georgia — runs through Harpers Ferry, offering outdoor enthusiasts a chance to experience part of the trail as well. Gavin said the Ap-
palachian Trail has a headquarters in Harpers Ferry for hikers to learn more about the trail and shorter day hikes. Gavin also said Eastern Panhandle towns frequently have many different walking trails, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy shorter, less strenuous outdoor activity. In general, the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park said there are trails in the Eastern Panhandle to accommodate any experience level or time frame. The park itself has at least seven trails to explore, and about 20 miles of hiking trails. These trails range from easy 30 minute walks to five hour hikes showcasing local scenery and historic battlefields. The Eastern Panhandle Recreational Trail, maintained by the Berkeley County Trailblazers, is about 11 miles long. The trail is also known as the W.Va. 9 trail, and it offers families and individuals the chance to set their own pace and distance to run, walk or bike in Berkeley County. See FRESH AIR, Page 62
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 19
West Virginia’s Oldest Town...
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV
Experience The Friendly, Quaint and Beautiful Atmosphere THE THOMAS SHEPHERD INN SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV
In Business since 1984
• Walking distance to Restaurants, Shops & Theatre • Private Baths • Full Breakfast
ThomasShepherdInn.com 304.876.3715 or 888.889.8952
JOIN US FOR A TASTE OF BRITAIN Try our • Fish and Chips • Bangers and Mash • Cottage Pie • Various Pasties Don’t Forget Afternoon Tea! reservations required
304 876 9277
DEVONSHIRE ARMS 107 South Princess Street • Shepherdstown • WV
Step Into History...
HISTORIC SHEPHERDSTOWN MUSEUM Located in the old Entler Hotel Building at the Corner of German and Princess Streets *On the National Register of Historic Sites th
Hours: April 7 to October 28th; Sat. 11-5; Sun. 1-4
Shepherdstown, WV • 304.876.0910 www.historicshepherdstown.com
Visionary Healing
DOUBLE IRIS YOGA AND MASSAGE
www.DoubleIrisYogaAndMassage.com 240.625.8358 | tricia.diym@gmail.com 7670 Martinsburg Pike | Unit #7 Suite #4 Shepherdstown, WV
Page 20 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Hagerstown Suns upgrade more than just their stadium BY RICK KOZLOWSKI
rkozlowski@journal-news.net HAGERSTOWN — Minor league baseball has been a part of the landscape of Hagerstown dating to 1915. Although there was a 26-year period without minor league baseball in the Hub City, it returned in 1981 and has been there ever since despite occasional overtures from cities outside of Maryland trying to relocate what are known as the Suns. The Suns won’t be moving anywhere after the Washington Nationals organization, the parent club of the Suns, and the city continued to invest on improving the environment at Municipal Stadium — one of the three oldest ballparks in the United States — and keep the Suns in place. There’s a new infield, improved wall padding in the outfield, netting at both dugouts, new restroom facilities and enviJournal photo by Ron Agnir ronmentally friendly LED lighting throughIn this file photo, Hagerstown Suns pitcher Wander out the stadium. Still, the stadium hearkens back to a bySuero (48) throws against Greensboro.
gone era. Among some of the players with historical significance who have taken cuts or thrown pitches at the veneral stadium include Hall of Famers Willie Mays (whose No. 24 is emblazoned on the wall in right field), Hack Wilson and Lefty Grove. The ballclub, playing in the low-level Class A South Atlantic League, continues to have success under manager Patrick Anderson, a Maryland native whose in his fifth season leading Hagerstown —a record for length of service with the Suns. He’s led the Suns to the playoffs in two of the last four seasons . The Suns’ roster has included some of the highest-ranked prospects in the minor league system. Earlier this season, Hagerstown fans were treated to see the talents of Juan Soto at work before he was moved on to a higher-level team. He is considered among prize prospects in an organization that has star players such as pitcher Stephen Strasburg and outfielder Bryce Harper. They spent time in Hagerstown at the start of
Vacation Guide
their professional careers. Occasionally, a major leaguer from the Nationals will take the field for the Suns on rehab assignments as they return from injury. And entry to the stadium continues to be affordable at $9 for adults for general admission seats, $8 for seniors, military members and youngters, if bought in advance. Tickets to the grandstand are a dollar more, and reserved seats cost $3 more than general admission. There is a $1 upcharge for tickets purchased at the gate. There are interactive games for fans between innings, including the always-popular Dizzy Bat — a competition that includes fans spinning themselves around a stationary bat and then trying to run a straight line to win a race. It’s great for laughs. In the left field foul area, there’s a picnic area and play area for youngsters. There also is a nearby beer garden, which is filled for Thirsty Thursdays. There are promotions virtually every day, and Fridays feature postgame fireworks that even the ballplayers will drift from their clubhouse to watch. There are Sunday Family Fun days and Belly Buster Mondays.
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 21
Submitted photo
The front entrance to Municipal Stadium There are four bobblehead giveaways set for this season, including ones commemorating former Baltimore Oriole players Billy Ripken and Jim Palmer, who were members of the Suns when it was an affiliate of the
Orioles. In June, there will be a Disney Night and a Star Wars Night. Check www.HagerstownSuns.com to learn more.
Amy Barb, Broker
FEATURING FINE VACATION RENTALS, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & REAL ESTATE SALES
BESTOFCANAAN.COM
5546 Appalachian Highway, Davis, WV 26260
877-484-8680 304-866-8680
Page 22 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
World-Class horse racing in Charles Town BY ERIC JONES
ejones@journal-news.net
CHARLES TOWN — Mike Smith. Javier Castellano. Kent Desormeaux. They’re all in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and they’ve all raced at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town. That’s the type of talent the race track now draws in the annual Charles Town Classic, which is the co-richest race in the country outside of the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and the Pegasus World Cup. The $1,250,000 Classic, a Grade 2 stakes race, is one of two major events to be at the track, which has a history dating back to 1933 that includes the first woman to win a pairmutel race, Barbara Jo Rubin, and apperances by J. Edgar Hoover and President John F.
Kennedy in the 1960s. The aformentioned jockeys, all winners in the Charles Town Classic, have a combined 14 wins in the Triple Crown races — the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The other major event, probably the biggest of the year, is the West Virginia Breeders Classics, held every October as a showcase
for state-bred horses. Started in 1987 by Washington Redskin great and Pro Football Hall of Famer Sam Huff, the event has offered up to $2 million in prize money, a record amount in 2002. This year’s Breeders Classics will be held on Oct. 13 and will feature a nine-race card. Also on the schedule this year is the Grade 3, $300,000
Charles Town Oaks on Sept. 22. It’s part of a program called Race for the Ribbon, a program to help raise funds to fight breast cancer. There will a few other stakes races, as well, on that night. Throughout the year, racing is typically held Wednesday through Saturday or Thursday through Saturday. Those who attend the races can watch from the outside, including right along the rail, or enjoy the view from inside the grandstand or from the Skyline Terrace, where viewers can enjoy first-class dining. The track also offers simulcast horse and dog racing from around the country, 365 days a year. Charles Town Races is located at 750 Hollywood Drive in Charles Town. For more information, visit www.hollywoodcasinocharlestow n.com.
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 23
Page 24 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
BERKELEY COUNTY Shop • Dine • Discover
Gateway to the Shenandoah Valley and Surrounding Area
SHEP’S
Things Not Adding Up?
sporting goods
Come talk to us about all your bookkeeping, accounting and tax service needs.
Guns, Ammo, Hunting & Shooting Supplies
VARIOUS HANDGUNS IN STOCK
ALL IN STOCK HANDGUNS ON SALE!
1108 Winchester Ave. • Martinsburg, WV Monday - Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-5
304-267-9199
CUSTOMIZED MEDICATION COMPOUNDERS
RT. 51 EAST, INWOOD • 304.229.2400 • Scott Boyd, R.Ph. • Ken Trenary, R.Ph.
Your FREE Delivery Pharmacy! Most unique GIFT SHOP around!
W. Melvin Reid & Sons 304-267-6631
Serving the Area for Over 50 Years 5410 Tabler Station Road, Inwood, WV
wmreidnsons.com
facebook.com/wmelvinreidandsons
ARDEN EQUIPMENT REPAIR INC. John Deere Lawn & Garden Equipment
“Your Business is Greatly Appreciated” 304-229-8620
I-81 Exit 8 Martinsburg, WV
Sales of New and Used RVs, Authorized Repair Facility and Mobile Road Service. 128 Recreation Lane • Falling Waters, WV 25419 (304) 274-9114 • www.oerv.com SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY, BUY LOCAL Family Owned - Veteran Owned
Vacation Guide
TRI-COUNTY RENTAL 1730 Winchester Ave., Martinsburg, WV
304-267-2974
Your #1 Stop
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 25
in Berkeley county
For Rental Equipment
Moonbounce Rentals Available!
With Much Gratitude, We Are Proud to Serve Employees and Their Families In Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan Counties All Federal Employees are Welcome To Become Members! Savings & Checking Accounts Certificate of Deposit Christmas & Vacation Clubs MasterCard Debit Cards Notary Service • E-Statements • ATM On Site LOANS: • Home Equity • New/Used Auto • Signature • Visa Credit Cards
Come in and meet our friendly staff!
2971 Charles Town Road • Kearneysville, WV 304-263-3454 | www.martinsburgfcu.com
tricountyrentalandsales.com
PRIMITIVE
COUNTRY CORNER
Primitive and country home decor at reasonable prices!
TOWN OF HEDGESVILLE
ANNUAL HERITAGE DAY FESTIVAL
Saturday, October 6th 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM.
Festivities Including:
(304) 616-0860
1653 Harlan Springs Rd., Martinsburg, WV 25403 Hours: Sun-Tues 10am-6pm Closed Wed; Thurs-Sat 10 am-7 pm
wvprimitivecountrycorner
Weekly Specials Wednesday WING NITE FREE JUKEBOX
Thursday STEAK NIGHT
Friday
Sunday
Homemade MD-Style FREE POOL Crab Cakes Buckets of Beer $10 Fresh Steaks
THURSDAY FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Domestics Only
KARAOKE
• Handcrafted Arts & Crafts • Tasty Food & Treats • Children’s Area • Local History
LIVE MUSIC by the Shane Douglas Band....& MUCH MORE! FREE Admission!
ARTS & CRAFTS
VENDORS WANTED! NO FEE TO RESERVE SPACE
Call (304) 754-4827 or e-mail: hedgesvillewv@frontier.com for more information.
Don’t Let Money Get In The Way Of Vacation Plans!
Paradise Pawn LOAN • BUY • SELL
Come see our HUGE selection of pre-owned electronics!
• New/Used Firearms • Gold, Silver, and Diamonds • FREE Layaway Program We loan MORE for less... Guaranteed!!! 30 years + of experience in the pawn industry!
Homemade Soups • Fresh Burgers • Fresh Shaved Prime Rib Steak Subs
107 LUTZ AVE, MARTINSBURG
(Behind Comfort Inn, off Edwin Miller Blvd.)
304-263-5233
We now have 2 locations to better serve your needs! 482 Williamsport Pike Martinsburg, WV 25404 304.263.8100
8039 Winchester Avenue Inwood, WV 25428 304.821.4838
Jonathan Cole and Joni Reed Cole, Owners
Lowest rates in the area!
Page 26 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Martinsburg: Fun at your fingertips
MARTINSBURG — Sometimes the best vacations are the ones found in your own backyard. That may be specifically the case with Martinsburg and surrounding Eastern Panhandle counties of Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan. The official summer vacation season is in full swing, with the Eastern Panhandle offering vacation goers a wide array of places, events and activities to choose from June through August. Located right off of I-81, the city of Martinsburg offers vacationers a sampler of the state’s history, culture, rural farm life, and at the same time, provides a wide array of contemporary summer outdoor activities. For history buffs, downtown Martinsburg offers a self-guided tour of the B&O Roundhouse, a historic railroad complex that encompasses railroad shops and a 16-sided roundhouse, or tour the large textile mills in the Boomtown Historic District. Visitors can also stop by the former home of Col. Morgan Morgan who is believed to be the first English settler in what is now West Virginia. The rebuilt 18th-century wood cabin still contains many of the structure’s original logs. For a trip back to a quainter time in Eastern Panhandle history, there’s the L. Norman Dillon Farm Museum that features antique horse-drawn farm equipment. Once part of the original Dillon Farm and now owned by the Berkeley County Board of Education, the museum offers a portal for visitors to make a connection with the land, and showcase how food was raised and processed in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle. The museum features a collection of farm tools housed in its 40-by-100-foot main exhibit building, reflecting a time when this section of West Virginia was rich in growing tree fruit, small grains, row crops, dairy, beef, sheep and timber. The museum is considered a living tribute to the people who settled the Eastern Panhandle. Outside the museum are sawmills, tractors, husker shredders, tillage machinery and a blacksmith shop. These are all part of live demonstrations held during the museum’s annual Fall Showing held annually the weekend of Columbus Day in October. Located at 3083 Ridge Road in Martinsburg, the museum is free and open
Journal photo by Ron Agnir
Asher Leatherman plays in the town square fountain as his dad, Jamie Leatherman, watches during a previous year’s summer season opening Friday@5 free concert in downtown Martinsburg. to the public on weekends from April to October. Kids — as well as adults — interested in the wonderful world of comic books, can participate in the annual Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library Comic Con, to be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 2 at the Martinsburg Public Library. The one day convention will offer comic book heroes, villains and everything in between. Downtown Martinsburg is also home to the Apollo Civic Theater. Designed by architect Reginald Geare with local architect Chapman E. Kent, the Apollo Theater was built in 1913 by theater owner H. P. Thorn. The theater is located at 128 E. Martin St., just off Queen Street. On June 2, Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, the ACT will feature “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The showing of the cult midnight film from 1975 will be accompanied by the Apollo Civic RHPS Shadow Cast. Tickets are for sale at the door or online for $15. Online tickets can be purchased 2 weeks prior to the show date. Rocky Horror audience participa-
If you happen to be in downtown Martinsburg on a Friday evening this summer, you’ll literally hear music in the air. From June 1 to Aug. 24, Martinsburg will hold “Fridays At Five,” a summer concert series each at the town square. Sponsored by Main Street Martinsburg, each week a band will perform a wide variety of indigenous musical styles, including jazz, rock, bluegrass, pop, classic rock, country and unique Americana. Concert attendees can bring your own chairs or blankets and sit on the ground. The front of the stage on the south lawn is reserved for dancing. There is no admission charge to the town square. Concerts start at 5 p.m. and typically run to 7 p.m. In addition to the music, the Martinsburg Farmers Market will be housed in the town square from 4:30-7:30 p.m. through Sept.29. Attendees can whet their appetite with fresh fruits, vegetables, fresh and dried herbs, beef, chicken and pork. For a peek at West Virginia farm life, there’s the 71st Annual Berkeley County See MARTINSBURG, Page 56
Vacation Guide
SUMMER fun & thrills
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 27
55th Annual
Ample Parking & Shuttle Bus Service Available
THURMONT, MARYLAND
Juried Arts & Crafts Show Oct. 13 & 14, 2018 • 9am-5pm Thurmont Community Park
www.colorfest.org
Vacation Guide
Page 28 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Rich in History and Beauty al
64th Annu
2018
ty n u o C e k Clar AUGUST ir
Fa
• Tractor/Truck Pull • Demolition Derbies • Carnival Rides • Livestock Shows • Bull Riding Rodeo • Pageants • Country Music • Pig Scrambles • BBQ Chicken/Beef Dinner served nightly
New Arrivals!
12-18
FEATURE ENTERTAINMENT Tickets available through ETIX.com
SAT. AUG 18, 8:30PM
Womens Clothing & Shoe Store
$25 Standing Room Only - Track $20 Grandstand Seats
Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds, Berryville For complete schedule & info visit www.clarkecountyfair.org
10 S Loudoun St., Winchester, VA • 540-665-2828
Belle Grove Plantation 336 Belle Grove Road Middletown, VA 22645 www.bellegrove.org Exit 302 on I-81 An authentic 1797 Manor House & historic landscape located in Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical park
We Buy & Sell Gently Used
Presenting quality community theater in the Shenandoah Valley for over 80 years
2257 Valley Ave., Winchester Open Every Day 11am-7pm
Open for tours March - December Garden Fest • June 2 Art at Belle Grove • June 22-24 Hite Family Reunion • July 27-29 Wine Fest • August 25 and more!
540-66-BOOKS
www.blueplatebooks.com
Info & tickets: 540.662.3331 wlt@wltonline.org
315 West Boscawen Street Winchester, VA 22601
Come see what’s on!
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 29
Page 30 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Keeping cool this summer on area rivers
HARPERS FERRY — Summer is quickly approaching and there is no better way to beat the heat than to cool off in rivers and experience all the fun activities they have to offer. In the surrounding area, there are a number of activities that are just a short drive away, making it a perfect day trip for those looking for an adventure on the water. Whether it be whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing along the banks of the Potomac or Shenandoah rivers, there are many activities to choose from. One option is River and Trail Outfitters, located in Knoxville, Maryland, just outside of Harpers Ferry. With over 45 years of experience, River and Trail Outfitters offers fun outdoor adventures for people of all ages and abilities. Guided whitewater rafting, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, a zip line, cycling and hiking trips are all activities visitors can choose from in the Antietam Creek and Shenandoah and Potomac River area. The company offers guided and unguided trips and introductory rafting tours for beginners. River and Trail Outfitters also gives guests the chance to camp under the stars in a secluded campground beside the banks of the Potomac River along the C&O Canal. Harpers Ferry Adventure Center, in Purcellville, Virginia, is another area company that offers a wide array of river adventures and outdoor activities locally. Established in 1992, it offers a number of outdoor activities, including rafting, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, fishing trips and a zip line. Guests will get history tours as they are traveling down the river, according to the Harpers Ferry Adventure Center website. Additionally, the Adventure Center hosts live band performances on scheduled weekends in the summer months to add to guests’ experience. For a longer stay, the center offers cabins, and river and mountainside camping. Packages are also available for guests to combine popular outdoor adventures for a full day or weekend of fun. A guided whitewater rafting tour at Harpers Ferry Adventure Center is $72 per adult and $67 per child on weekends. A variety of packages and tour options gives guests of all ages and experience levels an opportunity to enjoy the wonders of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers.
Journal photo by Ron Agnir
Harpers Ferry Adventure Center River Rafters and Kayakers float down the Shenandoah River past Harpers Ferry on a steamy afternoon. Tubing is the most popular river activity, and it is the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day. The adventure center offers lazier flatwater tubing on the Shenandoah River for a more relaxed day in the sun. For more excitement, whitewater tubing on the Potomac River is available as well. For more information or to make a reservation, visit harpersferryadventurecenter.com or call toll free 1-800-836-9911. River Riders is another company in the Harpers Ferry area that offers outdoor adventures. River Riders, which has been in business since 1987, offers whitewater rafting, tubing, zip line canopy tours, aerial adventure parks, kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddle boards, mountain biking and fishing adventures. The zip line canopy tour parallels the Potomac River, giving guests a great view of the river and surrounding Harpers Ferry area. River Riders also has a riverside campground where guests can enjoy the natural beauty of the Eastern Panhandle for an extended period of time. Vacation home rentals are also available for larger groups of adventurers. In addition to day trips, River Riders of-
fers a Harpers Ferry tubing season pass, which includes an unlimited number of unguided tubing trips. Season passes start at $79 per person. For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.riverriders.com or call 1800-326-7238. In addition to kayaking, rafting and canoeing, the Eastern Panhandle also offers great fishing opportunities along the banks of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. The Angler’s Inn offers a bed and breakfast, as well as guided trout and smallmouth bass fishing trips. Owner and head guide, Bryan Kelly, has over 25 years of river and stream fishing experience, and he selects the most scenic portions of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers to fish for guests. For more information, visit www.whiteflyoutfitters.com, call 304-5351239 or email info@theanglersinn.com. White Fly Outfitters also offers guided fishing trips along the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, as well as kayak rentals. For more information, visit www.whiteflyoutfitters.com or call 304-8768030.
26th Annual Recital at Martinsburg High School
June 22 & 23 - 7pm & Sunday, June 24 - 2pm
TLC Photography Dancer-Jayda Giles
Summer Dance July 9-13, 2018
Tari Jo’s Dance Studio & Rick’s Karate 495 Harold Drive • Inwood, WV 25428 304.263.7368 Studio/FAX tjdanz@msn.com
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 35
River adventure starts with safety and caution
HARPERS FERRY — Safety is paramount when gearing up for a water adventure. Whether you intend to book a trip with an outdoor company or are planning a day on the river by yourself, safety is always key to having a good time. Water — especially the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers — can be dangerous if adventure seekers don’t take the proper precautions. River and Trail Outfitters General Manager, John Gonano, offered some tips to make sure visitors and guests have a great but safe time on the local waterways. The top two rules for visiting and enjoying rivers are simple, according to Gonano. First, river goers and water enthusiasts should always wear a life jacket or flotation device regardless of activity or perceived water level. Second, and perhaps more importantly, visitors enjoying the river should never consume alcohol while on the water, according to Gonano. “The drownings in the river that you hear of generally involve one of those issues or both,” Gonano said. “Water is powerful. You really need to be very cautious with that.” River visitors also need to be aware of water levels. Gonano said river can rise days after rainfall, which often surprises adventure seekers and adds to dangerous conditions. “Rivers can be rising even though it’s a beautiful sunny day,” Gonano said. “Rainfall elsewhere can also effect the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.” Because the Shenandoah flows from the southern Shenandoah Valley, Gonano said rainfall in those regions can affect the water levels, but the Eastern Panhandle area may see very little or no rain as a warning. The Potomac flows from the west, and rain further west of the region can affect levels as well. For adventurers looking to go for a solo river trip, Gonano recommends doing research on water levels and contacting a professional outdoor outfitter for advice. “I really recommend going with a professional outfitter no matter what,” Gonano said. “We are constantly watching water levels and making decisions on safety and activities.” In addition, outfitters account for all of a river trip’s logistics that guests may not think of, and outfitters also have the ability to provide the right equipment. Trained guides and
employees at professional companies will explain to guests why certain safety equipment is important, and they can guide guests through the proper utilization as well. Specific information and training tips are especially helpful when dealing with certain conditions and situations that may arise. For example, if anyone flips in the water, or if a guest gets bumped out of the boat, experienced employees tell guests how to react and respond safely. In the spring and fall, safety includes wearing the proper clothing to stay warm, according to Gonano. Cotton fabrics cling to skin and have a cooling effect. Gonano said wearing synthetic or wool clothing can wick moisture away and keep guests warmer during cooler months. However, he said guests have more freedom in the summertime. No matter what, Gonano warns adventurers to avoid going barefoot in the river, and he cautions against wearing denim and flip flops for a day on the water. There can be sharp rocks, fishing hooks or other dangerous debris in the river that can injure barefeet. Water shoes are always the best footwear for a river trip, according to Gonano.
Journal file photos by Ron Agnir
Top: Mark Rakes, Jr., a Leetown resident, cools off by practicing eskimo rolls in the Potomac River with his freestyle kayak. Definition: Eskimo roll - A complete rollover in kayaking, from upright to capsized to upright. Above: Outdoor enthusiasts from fishermen to kayakers take advantage of the warm weather along the Potomac River in Shepherdstown near Lock 38 of the C&O Canal. Although knowing how to swim is beneficial, Gonano said non-swimmers can still enjoy a relaxing river retreat with the right equipment and in the safety of professional outfitter personnel. The rivers of the Eastern Panhandle region have something to offer to everyone. However, staying safe is the most important aspect of a day on the water.
Page 36 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Journal file photos by Ron Agnir
Above: From left, Pro Class drivers Alan Bruntzel followed closely by Alex Nygun, drift through a set of turns on the Shenandoah Circuit at Summit Point Motorsports Course. Below: Race cars slice thur turn 7 of the 2.0 mile Circuit Track at Summit Point Motor Sports Park during the Bill Scott Enduro Race.
Start your engines! Eastern panhandle area has variety of auto racing options Residents in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia and visitors who are fans of auto racing have a variety of places to choose from within a relatively short driving distance from home. If you want to fulfill a need for speed, whether it is an oval track, a road course or a drag strip, there’s plenty of regional racing action each weekend. The majority of race tracks are dirt ovals. These tracks range from a 1/5-mile bullring to a 5/8-mile speedway. The Hagerstown and Winchester Speedways are the closest dirt tracks to the Panhandle, roughly a 30minute drive from Martinsburg. You can also venture to Central Pennsylvania where you will find Bedford, Lincoln, Path Valley, Shippensburg, Trail-Way and Williams Grove Speedway. Each track is within about a 60-90-minute drive from Berkeley County. And within two hours, you’ll find great racing action at Susquehanna Speedway Park or Port Royal Speedway. You will find, depending on the specific track, the various divisions of cars competing are usually similar. Super Late Models and
Sprint Cars are usually a headlining division. Most dirt tracks have a Limited Late Model or Limited Sprint division, along with a Street Stock-type class on the undercard. There are numerous other divisions that also compete. General grandstand admission prices for regular weekly shows at these tracks usually cost $10-15 per person to attend, and most have free or discounted admission to children less than 13 years of age. Summit Point Motorsports Park is a wellknown local road course affiliated with the SCCA. The track located in Jefferson County has given road racing enthusiasts a place to compete or spectate since 1970. Famous actor and racing driver Paul Newman made some laps at speed around the twists and turns of Summit Point. Various events like Drifting, Vintage Car Racing and sports car racing take place at SPMP throughout the season. Mason-Dixon Dragway has been around since 1959. The NHRA sanctioned ™-mile drag strip is located off of US Route 40 East just outside of Hagerstown, Maryland.
Mason-Dixon features a full program of class brackets for all types of cars. Special events take place throughout the season for the local drag racing fan. Each racing facility listed has a website. Use your preferred search engine to find the track’s website, and you can find specific information such as event schedules, event pricing, track policies, and map directions. You can also utilize www.dirtfan.comor www.speedwaysonline.com to find a race track near you.
Vacation Guide
THESE PROFESSIONALS OFFER
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 37
YOUR PET
THE BEST PERSONALIZED CARE, PROTECTION & ACCOMMODATIONS
Posey Thisisit Llama Farm “We are a Trailsite for O’Shenandoah Artisans Trail”
• Llamas & Llama Yarn • Wool Roving • Wool Products for Gifts
GROOMING • BOARDING TRAINING • SUPPLIES Cedar Run is a sanitary, climate controlled, full service pet care facility with a knowledgeable and courteous staff. We offer dog boarding services as well as all-breed dog & cat grooming and bathing.
(304) 229-4100
(540) 436-3517
2551 Middleway Pike, Bunker Hill, WV • cedarrunpetresort@gmail.com
PoseyThisisitLlamas.com • 754 Harrisville Road, Toms Brook, VA
Open Daily: 9am to 6pm, Closed on Wednesday • CedarRunPetResort.com
We Get Their Seal of Approval! Let us pamper your best friend with plenty of exercise, attention and all comforts to make them feel at home. The Farm at Collins, LLC. Personal Care Dog Boarding Helen M. Hamer, Member/Manager
40 Collins Drive, Martinsburg, WV Located just 2 Miles from I-81at Exit 16W
304-268-0055 thefarmatcollins@yahoo.com
• Comprehensive state-of-the-art veterinary care • Dentistry • Physical Therapy -Rehabilitation • Ultra Sound • Hospice Care • Pet Resort with onsite veterinary care –Dogs, Cats & Exotics • Doggie Daycare • Grooming • Pet Boarding
17747 Virginia Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740 (301) 739-3121 • Fax (301) 739-0617 Small Animals Office Hours: Mon. - Sat. Hours by Appointment
Page 38 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Eastern Panhandle parks for the entire family
Journal file photos by Ron Agnir
Top: Kevin McCumbee and his dad Eric McCumbee build a bridge for their sandcastle in the sand at the Cacapon State Park Beach. Above: Spillway from the lake at Cacapon State Park in Berkeley Springs.
MARTINSBURG – The Eastern Panhandle has numerous park options for the entire family to enjoy, whether you’re looking for a state or national park to explore or a city park for a couple-hour trip. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is nestled in the historic town of Harpers Ferry, surrounded by mountains, trees and the calming waters of both the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. The park offers history lessons and beautiful scenery with cultural resources, natural resources, hiking and historic trade workshops. The park has al-
ready scheduled several living history event weekends that will take place through the end of the year. This summer, weekend events include “Give us This Day Our Daily Bread” on June 16; Under Fire: Hold the High Ground, 1862 on June 23 and 24 as well as August 4 and 5; Medical Weekend: Giving Aid and Comfort on July 14; and “I will Follow Them to the Death:” Sheridan’s Soldiers, 1864 on July 21 and 22. The park, through the Harpers Ferry Park Association, will offer a workshop focused on a 19th century trade. The Art of the Forge: A Blacksmith Work-
shop will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 9 and 10. Registration is required. Nature demonstrations will also be a highlight for visitor’s over the summer. Events include the artifact sneak peak on June 25 and July 23; meet your park archeologist on July 9; Archeology and the U.S. Army Grounds on August 6; and The Park After Dark: The National Park Service and Night Sky Protection on August 13. In August, park goers can participate in a Wildflower Walk on August 27. Participants will walk along the Shenandoah River to learn more about wildflowers and the park’s efforts to replant the area with native species. For a complete list of hiking options, visit www.nps.gov/hafe/p lanyourvisit/hikes.htm. For more information about the park and this summer’s planned events, visit www.nps.gov/hafe/i ndex.htm. Cacapon Resort State Park in Berkeley Springs rests in the valley of towering Cacapon Mountain, which has a high point of 2,300 feet and is the highest peak in the eastern portion of West Virginia. The park boasts 6,000 acres of outdoor activities,
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 39
Journal file photo by Ron Agnir
Tourists taking selfies at teh Washington Trail Overlook 2, 320 ft .at the top of Cacapon State Park in Berkeley Springs. including golfing, lake sports, hiking, geocaching, biking, camping, vacation cabins, a restaurant and golf academy. Patrons can partake in horseback riding and nature programs as well. There are guided horseback rides, rides with meals, moonlight rides and overnight rides at the park. Budget options include one-hour rides for $30 per person or a moonlight ride for $45 per person. An overnight supper/breakfast ride can be yours for $165, complete with campfire and threesided shelter in which to camp. Tai Chi classes will also be offered this
summer at Cacapon throughout June, July Foodies can indulge at the Farm to Table Dinners, with locally sourced produce and products from West Virginia farmer’s markets. This dinner begins at 6 p.m. June 21, and reservations are required. Bird lovers will have the opportunity to get an up-close look at owls, hawks and eagles at the park’s Wings of Wonder: Bird of prey at Cacapon. The event is free and open to the public at 7:30 p.m. July 29. For more information on the park, visit www.cacaponresort. com.
Offering the best of European luxury and cuisine on a 12-acre estate overlooking the Potomac River. 72 elegantly appointed state rooms, four distinct dinging rooms, award-winning wine list, tennis and golf make for a perfect getaway. The view of the 2QVQOCE 4KXGT HTQO VJG PGY KPğPKV[ RQQN KU URGEVCEWNCT Discover European elegance on the Potomac at the Bavarian Inn.
304.876.2551
BAVARIANINNWV.COM
Page 40 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 41
Great Food, Great Fun
Visit These Area Restaurants... Serving Lunch and Dinner Parties, Catering, Group Dining, Outdoor Seating Available, Maryland Blue Crabs - (Seasonal)
BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT
GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE Reader’s Choice Awarded Best Seafood 2017 Hagerstown Magazine Hot List Winner
2 0 17
Hours: M-F 11am-10pm, Sat. 12pm-10pm, Sun. 12pm-9pm
Authentic Mexican Restaurant Rt. 11 South • 24 Annex Dr. Inwood, WV • 304-229-1122
Our Promise
Voted - Best Crab Cake, Best Steak, Outstanding Service and Family Friendly
We are committed to bring you the highest quality & freshest product daily. Seafood is our specialty and our steaks are carefully selected for flavor and tenderness.
11205 John F. Kennedy Dr., Hagerstown, MD (1 block North of Meritus Health Center)
301-714-1397 •
WWW.SCHULASGRILLANDCRAB.COM
Good Only In Martinsburg
$ .99
11 Dinner
WITH PURCHASE OF BEVERAGE Not to be combined with any other discounts. Excludes holidays.
Monday - Saturday 4pm to close Sunday 11am to close Expires 12/ 31/18
JOIN US FOR OUR
Monday Night Special Contact Us For ! Details
Kids 12 & Under 99¢
We now have a LARGE BANQUET ROOM for any special occasion!
Good Only In Martinsburg
$6.99
LUNCH
WITH PURCHASE OF BEVERAGE Not to be combined with any other discounts. Excludes holidays.
Monday-Friday 11am to 4pm Expires 12/ 31/18
625 FOXCROFT AVENUE, MARTINGSBURG, WV (EXIT 13) • PHONE (304) 260-5300
Vacation Guide
Page 42 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Submitted photo
A group plays games along one of the numerous area trails.
Afternoon outing or extending journey The eastern panhandle region has a trail that’s right for you
MARTINSBURG — There are countless trails hidden in the numerous pockets of barely-touched wilderness throughout the Eastern Panhandle, waiting to be enjoyed as warmer weather approaches and families prepare for summer vacation. Whether you’re searching for a short, scenic walk or looking to hike a several-mile journey, there are a variety of options in the area — from Harpers Ferry, to Back Creek Valley, to neighboring states just a hop, skip and jump away from the Panhandle. The following is a list of some of the nearby trails ready to be explored.
Maryland Heights — difficult (steep and rocky in places), 4.5 or 6.5 miles round trip, 3 to 4 hours From the Information Center in the lower town part of Harpers Ferry, turn right to merge with the Appalachian Trail at the dead end of Shenandoah Street. Cross the footbridge over the Potomac River. Turn left (upstream) on the C&O Canal Towpath. The trail stays on the towpath for 0.3 miles, and then crosses a footbridge over the canal bed to Harpers Ferry Road. Directly across the road
is the Maryland Heights trailhead. This trail will give you spectacular views of the Potomac River and the historic town of Harpers Ferry. C&O Canal Trail — easy to moderate to difficult (depending on how many miles you plan to hike or bike) The 184.5 mile long Chesapeake & Ohio Canal stretches along the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., all the way to Cumberland, Maryland. The accompanying towpath is a great way to experience history, as well as gorgeous views of nature. Some local points of interest are Shepherdstown and Harpers Ferry, and offer fantastic views of the water and tree-lined paths that can serve as spots of solace away from bustling metropolitan life in the hubs surrounding it. If you cross the bridge from West Virginia to Maryland close to Shepherd University and turn right onto River Road on the Maryland side, a shaded path along the river awaits bikers, dog walkers, joggers and families alike. There is also a 12-mile stretch from Harpers Ferry to Shepherdstown. For more information, visit
www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm Eidolon Nature Preserve — The Eidolon Nature Preserve is located along the summit and east and west sides of Sideling Hill, west of Berkeley Springs in Morgan County, at 2146 Orleans Road in Great Cacapon. The property was owned for many years by Louis and Marguerite Zapoleon who lived in Washington, D.C., and Florida. Mrs. Zapoleon willed it to the Nature Conservancy when she passed away in 2003 with instructions that it be used as a place to promote greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Today, it is owned by the Nature Conservancy and co-managed by the Potomac Valley Audubon Society. It has been open to the public since the spring of 2007. The Eidolon Preserve is 354 acres in size. The elevation at its highest point is about 1,600 feet, affording sweeping views to the east and west. For more information, visit www.potomacaudubon.org/eidolon See TRAILS, Page 44
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 43
VACATION BOUND?
Get Away From It All and Enjoy Some R &R!
Before you go, make sure your vehicle is ready for the road trip
and BUCKLE UP to be safe!
Tires • Exhaust Systems • State Inspections • Computer Diagnosis • Tune-Ups • Brake Service • Electrical System • Clutch Repair • Transmission Service • Complete Maintenance Service 230 Tavern Road, Martinsburg, WV
(304) 267-4078
Car Care Expertise
Family Owned & Operated 46 Years in Business & Counting
Our Services:
Cotys’
AUTO BODY
INC
851 Wilson St. Martinsburg, WV
304-901-477
It’s Not About The Tickets, It’s About Saving Lives
√ Affordable √ Friendly √ Honest
• Brakes • State Inspections • Tires • Exhaust • Belts & Hoses • Power Steering • Heater Cores • Bulbs & Wipers “WE CAN DO IT ALL” ...CALL and ASK FOR JEFF 1354 Edwin Miller Blvd., Martinsburg, WV • Full Service Auto Repair Facility
304-263-4911
A/C Service Special $ 95 only
49
(reg $94.95)
Up to 1 lb. freon, oil & dye. Addl. fees may apply! Must present coupon!
Money Saving Coupons ~ for a limited time ~
MARTINSBURG
HEDGESVILLE
629 Williamsport Pike (Rt. 11N) 117 W. Main St. Berkeley Plaza
304-263-7569
304-754-6100
countryroadstire.com
Alignment Pothole Special $ 95 only
49
(reg $74.95)
Must present coupon!
EASTERN PANHANDLE SAFE COMMUNITY PROGRAM Margaret Walker- Director www.facebook.com/epctsp • epsafeco@frontier.com
Page 44 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Trails
Vacation Guide
FROM PAGE 42
Yankauer Nature Preserve — The Yankauer Nature Preserve is in Berkeley County on Whiting’s Neck Road just north of Shepherdstown. The property is named after Dr. and Mrs. Alfred Yankauer, who donated it to the Nature Conservancy in 1967. Today, it is still owned by the Nature Conservancy and managed by the Potomac Valley Audubon Society. The property is open to the public during daylight hours, and visitors can enjoy about two miles of easy walking trails. The 1-mile Kingfisher Trail includes interpretive signs and the .2-mile Cedar Loop is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. For more information, visit www.potomacaudubon.org/yankauer
Cool Spring Preserve — Cool Spring Preserve is in southern Jefferson County at 1469 Lloyd Road in Charles Town. The property is named after Cool Spring Farm. It was donated to the Potomac Valley Audubon Society by CraftWorks at Cool Spring in 2016. The 12-acre property will be open to the public during daylight hours and visitors can enjoy easy walking trails and access to Bullskin Run. The property includes 3 buildings, nature trails, and a stream. Much of the land is wooded and includes well-kept walking trails, a natural amphitheater and a campfire circle. For more information, visit www.potomacaudubon.org/Cool-Spring-Preserve Stauffer’s Marsh Nature Preserve — The Stauffer’s Marsh Nature Preserve is located in Back Creek Valley in Berkeley County, one-half mile south of Shanghai, on the east side of Back Creek Valley Road. The physical address is 4069 Back Creek Valley Road in Hedgesville. Formerly marshy farmland, most of the preserve property was entered into a permanent conservation easement in the mid 1990s through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wetland Reserve Program. At that time, USDA restored it as a wetland. This was the first USDA wetland restoration project in the state of West Virginia. The property was donated to the Potomac Valley Audubon Society in the summer of 2011 by Stauffer Miller and his wife Elinor, of Charlottesville, VA. Mr. Miller is a native of Inwood, WV. The Millers had owned the
Submitted photo
Many of the local trails are used for running. property since 1999 and had maintained it as a nature preserve on their own. For more information, visit www.potomacaudubon.org/stauffer
the forest and wilderness. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/hikingsafety.htm
Paw Paw Tunnel — The Paw Paw Tunnel lies along the notorious bends of the Potomac River that confounded George Washington’s plans to move trade and settlement west along the river. Located at a place called Paw Paw Bends, the 3,118-foot tunnel eliminated six miles of canal. Located at milepost 155.2 of the canal, the Paw Paw Tunnel is open year-round from daylight to dusk. From Cumberland, Maryland, follow Md. 51 south for 25 miles. From Berkeley Springs, follow W.Va. 9 west for 28 miles. The tunnel is near the town of Paw Paw. The tunnel entrance is one-half mile down stream along the towpath from the parking lot. For more information, call the Cumberland Visitor Center at 301-722-8226, or visit www.nps.gov/choh
Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area — Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area is a 22,928-acre tract of state owned land that is largely unbroken oak-Virginia pine woods with scattered hickories dotted with clearcuts in various stages of regeneration and grassy food plots. Many other species, including black gum, tulip poplar, and white ash, are present in lower numbers. The underlying sandstone provides acidic soils which favor mountain laurel, serviceberry, and azalea among the shrub and understory layers. There is an extensive trail network which traverses nearly the length of each mountain and valley, with several additional side trails connecting these corridors. To access Sleepy Creekfrom Berkeley Springs, follow U.S. Route 522 south to Winchester Grade Road and follow Winchester Grade Road 12 miles to Shanghai Road. Follow east on Shanghai Road into the Wildlife Management Area. From Martinsburg, follow W.Va. 9 about nine miles west to Back Creek Valley Road. From the intersection with W.Va. 9, follow Back Creek Valley Road south about seven miles to Sleepy Creek Road. Follow Sleepy Creek Road west into the Wildlife Management Area. For more information, visit www.potomacaudubon.org/SCWMA.html
Shenandoah National Park — Just 75 miles from Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park offers cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas and quiet wooded hollows. 200,000 acres of protected lands are haven to deer, songbirds, the night sky and tourists and locals alike. Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Some trails lead to a waterfall or viewpoint; others penetrate deep into
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 45
Page 46 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
Submitted photo
Veramar Vinyard has been in operation since 2000.
Wineries are developing in every corner of the area BY ADRANISHA STEPHENS
astephens@journal-news.net
BERRYVILLE, Va. — Locally grown and produced wines can now be found at wineries in every corner of the area. Lovers of wine and those looking to try something new can enjoy visiting the region’s many wineries this summer. If you’ve recently met the fellow wine lover of your dreams, consider saying your “I Dos” amid the grapevines with a winery wedding worthy of a fairy tale. Lots of state wineries are doing this now, and each offers its own special features, such as Veramar Vineyard. Veramar Vineyard, located on 905 Quarry Road in Berryville, Virginia, is the perfect location. This hidden gem, located in the rolling hills near the Shenandoah River, has expansive views of the mountain. According to Della Bogaty, the
Bogaty family founded Veramar in 2000, and it was 63rd in the state of Virginia wineries when it first opened. “There were very few wineries operating successfully in this part of the state,” Bogaty said. “Since then our business has grown to include my son as wine maker, and step-son as the assistant wine maker. There has been a tremendous boom in the Virginian wine industry, especially in Loudoun County.” Bogaty and her husband, Jim, also own two other properties, Bogati’s Bodega in Roundhill and James Charles Winery and Vineyard in Winchester. “At our location we grow Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc, Traminette, Norton, Albarino, Vidal Blanc and Malbec wine grapes,” Bogaty said. “Each wine distinctively expresses our dedication to premium Virginia wine making.” Bogaty finds there are chal-
lenges running three businesses. “Every day is different, and I feel there are opportunities and challenges daily. I think we interact with people constantly and that is very rewarding,” Bogaty said. “On the other side I think the challenges we face right now include the weather, if it rains not a lot of people come out and we also wanted to be recognized more widely, not just in this area” Bogaty said there are a lot of upcoming events at Veramar. Veramar has classic wine tasting, as well as enhanced wine tasting courses. There are vineyard picnics, guided group and tasting tours, as well as meet the wine maker tastings. For more information, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/VeramarVin eyard or call 540-955-5510. Breaux Vineyards, located at 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane in Purcellville, Virginia, is also a
popular choice among the locals. This winery can be found on a picturesque piece of Virginia landscape that has evolved into one of the fastest growing wineries in Virginia. “We opened in 1997, and it is owned by Paul Breaux, and just completed renovations on the property around (three) years ago,” said Tracy Ritchell, manager of Breaux Vineyard. “We are the largest vineyard in Loudoun County and we are sitting on 400 acres, 107 on vine. We are also a state vineyard, which means that all of our grapes on our property go into our wine and we are the only facility that actually bottles their wine, so it’s never compromised.” Ritchell said she enjoys all the new customers she meets at Breaux and the fact it is open year- round. See WINERIES, Page 48
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 47
It’s Summertime in Maryland!
• We’re here for the time when your child has a “Can’t Wait” condition. • On hand needed pharmaceuticals - so you don’t have to stop at a drug store on the way home. • Compassionate Care - our goal is to offer top quality convenient medical care.
ting
Ce l
34th YEAR
r
Healthier kids, brighter futures
ra eb
Ou
After Hours Pediatrics
Beaver Creek M Antique Market
BIG CITY ANTIQUES A AT T COUNTRY PRI PRICES CES
OPEN HOU HOUSE H USE USE h June 9th 301-739-8075
• If you have questions once you get home, we are available by phone to assist you.
We strive to be your preferred health care provider
afterhourspediatricsofhagerstown.com 186 Eastern Blvd., N. Hagerstown, MD
301-302-7837
Daily: 6pm - 12am Sat-Sun & Holidays: 1pm p - 8p 8pm pm
Get TTickets ickets Now - CCall all 301-491 301-491-3177 1-3177 or Visit Cindy’ Cindy’ss Sweets V Valley alley Mall
1 mile off I-70 (Exit 32A) on Route 40 East.
beavercreekantiques.com
Open Daily 10-5 Look For The Covered Wagon
EASY ADVENTURES CLOSE BY!
SATURDAY JULY 14 - 7PM
BIKE
Washington County Ag Education Center
RAFT & ZIP
Sponsored Sponsor ed by JJason ason Hose, G GTI TI Mackintosh, Inc. REAL RREALTORS LTORS
WHITEWATER & MELLOW TUBING
SATURDAY JULY 15 - 7PM Washington County Ag Education Center
ADMISSION $15 5 *TICKETS AAVAILABLE VA AILABLE A ATT THE GA GATE TEE
Equestrian Adventures
Summer Program June-July YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING INCLUDES:
KAYAK & CANOE RENTALS PADDLE & POUR TOURS CAMPING at
• Equestrian activities for challenged riders • Horseback riding for all - abled & disabled • Field Trips p includingg therapeutic p farm animals • Public Aw wareness and Education Awareness • Horses for Heroes For mor moree infor information m mation call: 301-791-62222 or email: 301-791-622 glr glreed@starcommunityinc.org eed@starcommunityinc.org
Family Owned & Operated Since 1972
RiverTrail.com • 301-834-9950
Page 48 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Wineries
FROM PAGE 46
“I love seeing people come in and enjoy our wine. We are open all year-round, and I think at times people don’t know that we have such a large indoor space. They just think we are outside based, so we would love for more people to come out,” Ritchell said. The rustic-chic, barn-like establishment offers tasting rooms, and even hosts weddings, corporate outings and other events. Arrive in nice weather and sip on the panoramic patio. There is also a private downstairs cellar for club members. For more information, visit www.breaux vinyards.com or call 540-6686299. The unique terrain of the region offers interesting opportunities for wine tasters and wine makers alike. The incredible wineries across the region are the perfect destination if you’re planning your next trip to the area. Be sure to schedule a visit to any of these wonderful wineries:
Above Ground Winery 975 McKinley Road Middlebrook, Virginia 703-999-4534
Aspen Dale Winery at the Barn 3180 Aspen Dale Lane Delaplane, Virginia (540) 364-1722
The Barns Inn at Hamilton Station Vineyards 16804 Hamilton Station Road Hamilton, Virginia 540-338-5309
Barrel Oak Winery 3623 Grove Lane Delaplane, Virginia 540-364-6402
Big Cork Vineyards 4236 Main Street
Vacation Guide
43277 Spinks Ferry Road Leesburg, Virginia 703-443-9836
Maggie Malick Wine Caves 12138 Harpers Ferry Road Purcellville, Virginia 540-905-2921
Notaviva Vineyards 13274 Sagle Road Purcellville, Virginia 540-668-6756 Submitted photo
Veramar Vinyard in Loudoun County, Virginia Rohrersville, Maryland 301-302-8032
Middleburg, Virginia 540-687-8222
Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery
Cox Family Winery
9402 Justice Lane Delaplane, Virginia 540-364-2347
Bogati Bodega & Vineyard 35246 Harry Byrd Highway Round Hill, Virginia 540-338-1144
Boxwood Estate Winery 2042 Burrland Lane Middleburg, Virginia 540-687-8778
Catoctin Creek Winery 14426 Richards Run Lane Purcellville, Virginia www.catoctincreek winery.com
Cana Vineyards and Winery of Middleburg 38600 John Mosby Highway Middleburg, Virginia 703-348-2458
Cardamon Family Vineyards 12226 Harpers Ferry Road Purcellville, Virginia 540-668-9018
Chrysalis Vineyards 23876 Champe Ford Road
702 Morgan Street Martinsburg, WV 25401 304-839-8342
Doukenie Winery 14727 Mountain Road Purcellville, Virginia 540-668-6464
Fabbioli Cellars 15669 Limestone School Road Leesburg, Virginia 703-771-1197
Fox Meadow Winery 3310 Freezeland Road Linden, Virginia 540-636-6777
Granite Heights Winery 8141 Opal Road Warrenton, Virginia 540-349-5185
Gray Ghost Vineyards and Winery 14706 Lee Highway Amissville, Virginia 540-937-4869
Hidden Brook Winery 43301 Spinks Ferry Road Leesburg, Virginia 703-737-3935
Lost Creek Winery and Vineyards
Otium Cellars 18050 Tranquility Road Purcellville, Virginia 540-338-2027
Potomac Point Winery 275 Decatur Road Stafford, Virginia 540-446-2266
RdV Vineyards 2550 Delaplane Grade Road Delaplane, Virginia 540-364-0221
Sunset Hills Vineyard 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane Purcellville, Virginia 540-882-4560
Tarara Winery 13648 Tarara Lane Leesburg, Virginia 703-771-7100
Two Twisted Posts Winery 12944 Harpers Ferry Road Purcellville, Virginia 540-668-6540
Vint Hill Craft Winery 7150 Lineweaver Road Warrenton, Virginia 540-351-0000
Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 38906 Mt. Gilead Road Leesburg, Virginia 703-777-8161
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 49
VACATION BOUND?
Get Away From It All and Enjoy Some R &R!
Before you go, make sure your vehicle is ready for the road trip.
Schedule an appointment with one of these professionals and have your vehicle serviced and inspected.
MICHAEL’S BODY SHOP II INWOOD TOWING ALL WORK GUARANTEED - 24 HOUR TOWING - IMPOUND LOT
WV State Inspection Station - Mechanical Repairs Automobile Body Repair - Discount Auto Glass Installation Insurance Specialist - Foreign & Domestic Repair Professional Detailing
(304) 229-5728 Fax (304) 229-3498 8-5 Mon-Fri
Owner, Thomas R. Smith
39 Rachel Lane - Route 51 East, Inwood WV
E.D.T. SERVICES
TRUCK CENTER INWOOD, WV
304.229.8522 2249 Henshaw Rd • Inwood, WV
GET YOUR CAR VACATION READY! BTDMJ022018
874 Cheshire Rd. Bunker Hill WV
Pre-Owned Auto Sales Towing & Roadside Assistance 24 Hour Hotline: (304) 283-7216
LES’S AUTO & TRUCK REPAIR
$19.95 Oil Change
* Some Restrictions Apply Offer Good at Martinsburg, Romney & Winchester Locations. Bring In this Coupon
BTDMJ022018
Free Brake Inspection * Some Restrictions Apply Offer Good at Martinsburg, Romney & Winchester Locations. Bring In this Coupon
BTDMJ022018
$50 OFF * Some Restrictions Apply Offer Good at Martinsburg, Romney & Winchester Locations. Bring In this Coupon
NOW SERVING BERKELEY & JEFFERSON COUNTY
24 Hour Wrecker Service • Local & Long Distance • Wheel Lift and Roll Back • 4 Door Roll with Comfortable Passenger Space • Automobile Repair & Custom Exhaust • Machine Shop
Call (304) 263-4789 389 Trimble Avenue • Martinsburg, WV
324 Winchester Avenue, Martinsburg, WV 25401 304.263.3316 | M-F 7:30-5pm; Sat. 7:30-1 www.tiredistributors.com
Page 50 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Underground
Vacation Guide
FROM PAGE 5
In addition to tours, Downs said he is open to hosting private events like parties, reunions and weddings in the caverns. “It’s not in the brochure, but if you ask me about it, we can most likely work something out,” he said. Crystal Grottoes Caverns, located at 19821 Shepherdstown Pike, Boonsboro, Maryland, is open every day from from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 1 through Nov. 30. For more information, visit www.crystalgrottoescaverns.com or call 301-432-6636.
SIMILAR ATTRACTIONS IN THE REGION INCLUDE: — Smoke Hole Caverns and Log Cabin Resort, located at 8290 N. Fork Highway Cabins, West Virginia. The site hosts reunions, weddings and other special events in addition to hunting and fishing opportunities. Smoke Hole Caverns welcomes school groups, scout troops and other visitors. Tours of the caverns are $15 per adult and $10 for children ages 5-12. Children 4 and under are free. For more information, visit www.smokehole.com or call 304-257- 4442. — Seneca Caverns, located in Riverton, West Virginia, eight miles south of Seneca Rocks on Route 33. Tours are held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday (open Mondays from Memorial Day to Labor Day), and school groups and other large tour groups are welcome. For more information, visit www.senecacaverns.com or call 304-567- 2691. — Organ Cave, located on Route 63, about six miles south of Ronceverte,West Virginia. The cave is on the National Historic Landmarks register due to its significance during the Civil War. Summer walking tours are offered May through August, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A discount of 15
Submitted photo
Luray Caverns. percent off is offered to those who show a military I.D. For more information, visit www.organcave.com or call 304645-7600. — Lost World Caverns, located in Lewisburg. In addition to hosting parties, weddings and events, tours of the caverns are offered from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours are $12 for adults over the age of 13, $6 for children ages six to 12, and children younger than six are free. For more information, visit www.lostworldcaverns.com or call 304-645-6677. — Natural Bridge Caverns, located at 15 Appledore Lane, Natural Bridge, Virginia. Tours are available by reservation, and cost $16 per adult, $10 for children ages 7 to 17 and children
under age 6 are free. Guided tours of the caverns take approximately 45 minutes. For more information, visit www.naturalbridgeva.com or call 1-800-533-1410. — Dixie Caverns, located at 5753 West Main Street, Salem, Virginia. The property is also home to campgrounds that are open year-round. Forty-five minute guided cavern tours are offered from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round. Call 540-380-2085 for tour prices and group reservations, or visit www.dixiecaverns.com. — Grand Caverns, located at 5 Grand Caverns Drive, Grottoes, Virginia. Formerly known as Weyer’s Cave, the caverns are a national natural landmark, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from
April 1 to Oct. 31, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 1 to March 31. School groups and other large groups are welcome, but should call at least two weeks in advance to schedule a tour. For more information, visit www.grandcaverns.com or call 540-249-5705. — Endless Caverns, located at 1800 Endless Caverns Road, New Market, Virginia. Tours are offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at a rate of $18 per adult and $8 for children ages 4 to 11. Group rates are available. Visit www.endlesscaverns.com or call 540-896-2283 for more information. — Skyline Caverns, located at 10344 Stonewall Jackson Highway, Front Royal, Virginia. This 6-mile natural tunnel system is accessible through seasonal guided tours, with an on-site campground.Tours are offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and after June 15. Rates are $20 per adult over the age of 14, $10 for children ages 7 to 13 and children younger than 7 are admitted for free. Discounts of $2 off each adult ticket and $1 off each child ticket are available for military personnel, AAA members and senior citizens. For more information, visit www.skylinecaverns.com or call 540-635-4545. — Shenandoah Caverns, located at 261 Caverns Road, Shenandoah Caverns, Virginia. Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The hourlong tours are open to groups as well as individuals. For more information, call 540-477-3115. — Luray Caverns, located at 970 U.S. Highway 211 West, Luray, Virginia. The caverns are open year-round from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with tours departing every 20 minutes. For more information, visit www.luraycaverns.com or call 540-743-6551.
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 51
Antiques, Collectibles, and Decorative Accessories theshop
144 East Baltimore St. Greencastle, PA 17225 717 593 9990
Shopkeeper: Chris Johnson
Hours: Wed - Fri 10:00 - 5:00 Saturday 10:00 - 4:00
Featuring 15,000 sq. ft. of Conditioned, Fully Netted Turf! 8WLOL]H LQGLYLGXDO WXQQHOV RU DQ HQWLUH LQƓHOG Full Gym, Pitching Machines & Private Bull pen Check out our Marucci Pro Shop Private Lessons for Hitting, Pitching & Catching Available
Parents can enjoy peace and quiet in the ORXQJH ZLWK 79ōV DQG ZLƓ VWLOO EH DEOH WR watch your favorite player practice.
3160 Charles Town Rd. 304-901-4068 Kearneysville, WV thegamechangers1@yahoo.com
10% OFF On Tunnel Rentals Must Present Coupon
Vacation Guide
Page 52 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Charles Town
FROM PAGE 10
Wine and beer gardens will be among the places available to rest your feet with a refreshment. WV Fest kicks off at 10 a.m. and runs until about 3 p.m. Plan to bring your straw hat, sunglasses and suntan lotion for this all-day stroll about or stop in one of the several downtown restaurants or taverns. JULY IS FOR CULTURE With the nationally renowned Contemporary American Theater Festival running in Shepherdstown this same month, anytime in July is a good time to explore cultural arts events and activities in Charles Town. The city has plenty of cultural venues to explore on foot. The obvious start of a cultural downtown venture is at the long-established Old Opera House, the city’s premier cultural art center. Part of the West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail, the venue at 204 N. George St. features six theater performances a year, as well as dance recitals and art shows. The center also offers acting, dance and singing classes for adults and children. Two events at the Old Opera House are featured in June. First up is the 2018 Spring Dance Recital, offering three performances this year under the banner “Dancing on the Edge.” This year’s Wonder of Dance recital takes place from June 1-3, with a 7 p.m. performance on Friday and 2:30 p.m. performances on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children. Next up at the arts center running from June 22-24 is the New Voice Play Festival featuring four sequential one-act performances for $15. Friday and Saturday performances kick off at 8 p.m., and Sunday’s performance begins at 2:30 p.m. If stoked to more cultural stimulation after a dance or theater performance, check out the Jean Heiler Art Gallery, a showcase of area visual artists, located on the lower level of the Old Opera House. The gallery is accessible for free during performances. For more art within short walking distance of the Old Opera House, stop by the Fire Hall Gallery and the Washington Street Artists’ Cooperative, both located in the Charles Town Visitors Center at 108 N. George St. The gallery regularly features
the work of different local artists. The cooperative is an active work space for artists that regularly sponsor special events. AUGUST IS FOR HISTORY Perhaps no county in West Virginia has more history and historical sites than Jefferson County, and Charles Town stands at the middle of it all. There are a diverse and informative cluster of museums, walking tours and historical sites worth visiting in the cities. Best of all they’re within reasonable walking distance from each other. Repeating a theme, the first suggestion this month is another festival, but this one involves local history. The African American Heritage Festival happens Saturday, Aug. 18. This event showcases the deep historical roots and talents of the African American community in Jefferson County. With vendors, a parade and live entertainment, a prominent activity involves tours of historical landmarks significant to African American history in the county and the city of Charles Town. Various locations involved in downtown Charles Town are the Wright Denny Elementary School and the alternative school grounds at Avis and Lawrence streets. Afterward, a few yards away, duck into the Charles Town Visitors Center on North George Street — across from the side of the county courthouse — for a brochure of the Stepping through Black History Tour of Charles Town. The self-guided tour tells stories of landmarks at 14 stops within the city, conveniently ending at the Jefferson County Museum. Included is the marker for Martin Robinson Delany, the first black nationalist who closely associated with Frederick Douglas and other abolitionists, and the site of the old Payne’s Hotel and Rooming House, once the only hotel that served black visitors to Charles Town. The museum, open yearly from March 15 to Dec. 15 on Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., is located on the basement level of the Jefferson County Library at 200 E. Washington St. With a wide range of artifacts, it tells the stories of the events and people of Jefferson County from the 1700s to the 21st century. The large, firsthand impact that George Washington and his brothers, Samuel and Charles, had
in forming and developing the county early on is a proud and prominent part of what is documented. If you have time and rested feet, the most comprehensive historical walking tour map of Charles Town (available at the Visitors Center) features 64 stops. Sites include the Carriage Inn (Rutherford House), where Union Gens. Ulysses Grant and Philip Sheridan planned Confederate attacks during the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign, and the Gibson-Todd House, on whose grounds (before the house was built) abolitionist John Brown and his fellow Harpers Ferry raiders were hanged. And if taking a Thursday tour, trying doing so on the third Thursday of the month, when Discover Downtown Charles Town happens. Those nights feature varying activities, including special food vendors and musical performers, among the city’s merchants. It’s a good time — grab a meal and stroll the downtown to see what you might serendipitously discover. Finally, after a full day of site-seeing, you can finish the day with a spooky walk. Free self-guided walks are available through Zion Episcopal Church Cemetery on East Congress Street. Several prominent local Confederates are buried in the cemetery, including Gen. Robert E. Lee’s cartographer, S. Howell Brown. More extensive guided ghost tours stopping at 15 locations throughout Charles Town are also available by local author Ann Khiel Fern. Those tours take place — weather permitting — every Saturday night during the summer months, from June until September. Fern’s tours tell haunted tales of Civil War soldiers, epidemic victims of the “sickly season” and children scampering through a local cemetery. Starting at the Jefferson County courthouse at 100 E. Washington St., the tours through the historic East side of the city, stopping at 15 locations, including historical buildings and three burial grounds. The cost for a tour is $12 per person for civilians, and $10 per person for active military personnel or veterans. Reservations are required, so check out information on Charles Town Ghost Tours on Facebook. Because of the graphic stories told during the tour, Khiel Fern recommends that families limit young people participating in the tour to teens aged 13 years old and over.
s
g
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 53
Unspoiled beauty is just a reservation away
Zelda’s Boutique
Unique Women’s Fashions, Jewelry & Accessories
Zelda’s offers fashions from: Color me Cotton, Clara Sun Woo, Fresh Produce, Lysse, Cut Loose, G9C, and Margaret Winters Sweaters.
• 301-992-3989
New Hours: Wed 10-5, Thurs 10-5• Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5
1 North Conococheague Street • Williamsport, MD
Fully furnished two bedroom vacation cottage With rare panoramic view
Antietam Lookout Cottage 301-964-8003
antietamlookoutcottage.net
Bring Your Family To Ours! BOOK YOUR SPOT TODAY!
266 North Pennsylvania Ave. | Hancock, MD 21750
•
RV Camping • Tent Sites • Cabin Rentals
HAPPY HILLS CAMPGROUND 12617 Seavolt Rd., Hancock, MD |
“The
301.678.7760
Locked Door”
301-678-5959 hancockantiquemall.com Monday-Saturday 10am - 5pm Closed Sunday
Both Shops Feature: ANTIQUES: Furniture, Jewelry, Glassware, Kitchen Items, Civil War, Coins, Dolls, Toys & Much More! FLEA MARKET: Variety of Furniture, Glassware, NASCAR & Sports, Jewelry, Wreaths, Baskets, Picture & Houseware Items
NOW ACCEPTING QUALITY DEALER APPLICATIONS
Lingerie Boutique & Upscale Adult Gift & Novelty Store!
Celebrating 27 Years in Business! Plus Size Lingerie too!
Exotic Dancewear & Sexy High Heel Shoes at Martinsburg location!
TEXT the word “LOCK” to 51660 for INSTANT SAVINGS & to get ALL our Exclusive Specials by text message! 3 GREAT LOCATIONS:
14716 Pennsylvania Ave. | Hagerstown, MD 21742
Martinsburg, WV 304-350-8184 | 57 Meadow Lane Plaza Hagerstown, MD 800-561-7399 | Foxshire Plaza, 1423 Dual Hwy
Mon.-Thurs. 10-8, Fri. & Sat. 10-9, Sun. Noon-5.
301-714-4800 rockyridgecollectibles.com
“Mon.-Thurs. 10-8, Fri. & Sat. 10-9, Sun. Noon-6.
Monday-Saturday 10am - 5pm Closed Sunday
Also Beautiful VOTED BEST Wigs At Our LINGERIE Hagerstown Store!
LaVale, MD 240-362-0001 | 1227 National Hwy “Mon.-Sat. 10-8, Closed Sunday.”
Page 54 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, has free admission as well as 2,000 individual animals of 400 different species. The 163-acre facility is set amid Rock Creek Park in the heart of the district. Visit the popular panda house or take part in daily programs that include animal training, feeding demonstrations and keeper talks. Bureau of Engraving and Printing is the place to see money being made—literally. Tours are free, but during the peak season (March-August), first-come, first-served same day tickets are required. The ticket office opens at 8 a.m. National Archives, where visitors can see important national documents including John Hancock’s signature on the Declaration of Independence, as well as others such as the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Also a great opportunity to research family immigration records. Visit Arlington National Cemetery—which was originally a burial spot for Civil War soldiers—to remember those who paid the ultimately price for freedom. Try to catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns which is especially touching. The Library of Congress regularly holds free lectures, concerts, exhibits and poetry readings. Sometimes referred to as the world’s largest library, it houses historic items including the papers of Frederick Douglass and educator Booker T. Washington. Pay a visit to Freedom Plaza, a popular rallying spot dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. History is still being made at the Supreme Court, where it is possible to visit while justices are in session. Trivial Pursuit fans may be stumped at the National Portrait Gallery, which has the country’s
Vacation Guide FROM PAGE 12
only complete collection of presidential portraits outside of The White House. See American history told through stamps at the National Postal Museum. And right across the street is the historic Union Station that is well known for its outstanding architecture The Fourth of July week is an especially exciting time to visit because many activities — including musical performances, fireworks and special festivals — are family friendly, as well as free to attend. • Independence Day Parade, 11:45 a.m. - 2 p.m., Constitution Avenue NW from 7th Street to 17th Street NW Marching bands, fife and drum corps, floats, military units, giant balloons, equestrian, drill teams and more celebrate Independence Day in this patriotic, flag-waving, red, white and blue celebration of America’s birthday • A Capitol Fourth Concert
8 - 9:30 p.m., West Lawn the U.S. Capitol Co-sponsored by the National Park Service and the National Symphony Orchestra, join host John Stamos, the National Symphony Orchestra,the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the United States Army Band as they honor our country’s 241th birthday and the centennial of the National Park Service. Gates open at 3 p.m. • Fireworks Show, 9:09 9:27 p.m. Independence Day culminates with a spectacular fireworks display over the National Mall. The fireworks will be launched from the area of the Reflecting Pool, and will be visible from many locations throughout D.C. and Northern Virginia. The fireworks will only be postponed in case of heavy rain, thunderstorms or high winds; the rain date for the fireworks is July 5. • Abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ renovated former home, Cedar Hill, offers free tours with a small booking fee. Don’t forget to take in a great aerial view of the city while visiting here. The times and life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are never far away in Washington, including the Willard InterContinental Washington where he wrote his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. Don’t forget to visit the Lincoln Memorial, where King delivered his speech. Also head to the Tidal Basin to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Explore Cultural Tourism DC’s African American Heritage Trail to learn more about lesserknown sites of significance in the city’s black history. Rock Creek Park, 3545 Williamsburg Lane N.W., was one of the first federally managed parks and offers a lot more than green space, including a
scattering of Civil War forts, a cemetery and a 19th century mill. Its visitor center, 5200 Glover Road NW, is a great place to start and has a variety of offerings including information and exhibits. It has the only planetarium operated by the National Park Service. Tours of the night sky are free. U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave., NE, was established in 1927 and has 446 acres of flora and fauna to explore, including Asia, azalea and conifer collections. In addition to gardens, the facility also has nature areas and hiking trails. The Tidal Basin, Tidal Basic and Ohio Drive NW, is perhaps best known as the place to be in the spring for viewing the famous cherry blossoms, but it is also pedestrian-friendly year round, has lots of greenery and offers a good view of the Jefferson Memorial. U.S. Botanical Garden, 100 Maryland and First St. SW, is located at the east end of The Mall. It features several gardens and plant collections contained in a large greenhouse. Additionally, the tallest part of the conservatory has great views of the Capitol and surrounding neighborhoods. Sunrise is a great time to enjoy the monuments before the day gets too busy. Early birds may want to start with the sun behind them at the Grant Memorial (in front of the U.S. Capitol) and walk the two miles to the Lincoln Memorial, passing the Washington Monument and World War II Memorial enroute. The Freshfarm Market, Dupont Circle, is held each Sunday, April through December, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. During the peak of the farm season, more than 30 farmers offer a variety of goods including fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, fish and baked goods.
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 55
Clever Carpet
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Make Fresh Daily
Cleaners and Maid Service
FREE HALLWAY $119 99 with a cleaning of 3 Rooms
HOME COOKING 7 DAYS A WEEK Serving Battlefield Visitors Since 1960 • Homemade Crab Cakes • Homemade Pork BBQ • Fresh Fried Chicken • Fresh Baked Pies • Red Byrd Cake
Bonnie’s at The Red Byrd
WITH A SAVINGS OF $45.00
Free Pickup/ Delivery of Orientals & Other Fine Rugs
19409 Shepherdstown Pike, Keedysville, MD
(No room to exceed 200 sq. ft. per room) Cannot be used with other specials. With coupon only. Expires 6/30/18
$25 off maid service (minimum of 2 Hours) Residential & Commercial
301-432-5822
OPEN 7AM-9PM
304-267-9484 nnn%Zc\m\iZXig\kZc\Xe\ij%Zfd
BEAT THE HEAT This Summer, Relax in the Shade with a Sunesta Retractable Awning, Screen, or Shelter
SAVE
300
$
Now Thru 7/31/18
301-573-2832
whittingtonconstructiongroup.com
Vacation Guide
Page 56 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Martinsburg
FROM PAGE 26
Youth Fair, which showcases the Eastern Panhandle’s agricultural life. The fair will be held at the Berkeley County Fairgrounds at 2419 Golf Course Road in Martinsburg from Aug. 3 to 11. The fair will once again feature carnival rides, games and food for all ages as well as a calendar full of events such as the demolition derby and tractor pull. There’s also the12th annual North Mountain Art Festival at Orr’s Farm Market that will feature over 50 juried quality artisans and live musical entertainment for two full days – June 2 and 3. Free to the public, the festival serves as a venue to show off local handmade arts and crafts, food, the farm market and picking fresh fruit and flowers. Come and meet the artisans and browse top-quality works from potters, painters, jewelers, sculptors, glass artists, gourd art, wood carvers and fiber artists. Tractor rides throughout the orchard give visitors an up-close view of the picturesque Orr’s Farm complete with bison, goats and llamas. A perfect event for the whole family. If you’re seeking a taste of summer theater in the Eastern Panhandle, there’s the Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown. This year’s CATF will feature an expanded lineup of plays and showings making up the nationally renowned repertory theater festival at locations on and around the Shepherd University campus. The ultimate theater experience offers six plays in one month – July 6 to 29. “We do not want to be seen as elitist,” said Ed Herendeen, CATF’s founder and producing director. “We want theater to be accessible and affordable for all people. We want to make it as easy as possible.” Festival officials estimate the event generates more than $2 million into the local economy — a conservative calculation of economic stimulation that is nearly a decade old. The CATF this year features six new plays: comedy “The Cake” by Bekah Brunstetter; a love story “Berta, Berta” by Angela Cheri; political thriller “Memoirs of a Forgotten Man” by D.W. Gregory; a drama “Thirst” by C.A. Johnson; “A Late Morning in America with Ronald Regan” by Michael Weller; and drama “The House on the Hill” by Amy E. Witting. For information on play dates and times, you can call the Contemporary American
Submitted photo
A former “Bike Night” in Martinsburg. Theater Festival at Shepherd University at 800-999-2283 or 304-876-3473, or look online at info@catf.org. The Berkeley County Arts Council will host multiple events throughout the summer for artists to enjoy including a juried photography exhibit. The exhibit will be on display in the Berkeley Art Works Gallery, 116 North Queen Street in Martinsburg. The exhibit will be on display from July 11 to Aug.11. The theme for the exhibit is open. The exhibit is open nationally to all photographers without restriction to technique. For information on more events visit berkeleyartswv.org. The 26th Annual Dance Recital at Tari Jo’s Dance Studio featuring ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip-hop, pointe and karate will be held from June 22-24. The recital will be held at the Martinsburg High School auditorium at 7 p.m. June 22 and 23 and at 2 p.m. June 24. For more information call 304-2637368. For those looking for a taste of Appalachian music, there’s the “O’Hurley’s Heritage Music Jam Session” held each Thursday night throughout the year at O’Hurley’s General Store, located at 205 E. Washington St. in Shepherdstown. On any given Thursday night, musicians arrive at the store and start tuning up with a dozen or so musicians playing the dulcimer, banjo, guitar, fiddle, Celtic harp and flute.
Visitors can have a seat in a rocking chair and listen and experience what has become a musical staple in Jefferson County. Admission: free. For the adventurous out-of-doors type vacationer, Berkeley County offers the venue to pursue a variety of sports, including biking, hiking, camping, canoeing and fishing. Martinsburg sits right along the Washington Heritage Trail, a 136-mile scenic route that traces former president George Washington’s footsteps through the Panhandle. Summer visitors can also walk or bike on a bevy of paths located throughout Berkeley and Jefferson counties. For trail recommendations, check out www.traillink.com. Other outdoor activities in Berkeley County include hiking through the 23,000acre Sleep Creek Wildlife Management Area, and bird-watching in the oak forests and fields of Yankauer Preserve. Fans of motor sports can watch car and motorcycle races at Summit Point Motorsports Park, while next door in Morgan County, the Tomahawk MX Park offers offroad motocross and supercross tracks for custom modified trucks, SUVs and motorcycles. Martinsburg has also become a popular spot for “geocaching,” an outdoor treasure hunting game that involves sets of geographic positioning system coordinates to find hidden containers.
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 57
Page 58 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Distillaries
Vacation Guide
FROM PAGE 17
Bloomery Plantation Distillery is open Monday through Thursday from 12 to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with live music performances from 6 p.m. to closing. To learn more about the establishment, including product information and where to purchase sweet shines, visit www.bloomery sweetshine.com.
SIMILAR LOCATIONS IN THE REGION INCLUDE: • Black Draft Distillery, located at 1140 Kelly Island Road, in Martinsburg. Tours and tastings by appointment only. Founded in December 2013, the distillery produces whiskey and bourbon, using unique and all natural ingredients.To schedule a tour, call/text/email us directly at 540-686-0100 or info@blackdraftdistillery.com. • Kirkwood LTS & Isaiah Morgan Distillery, located at 45 Winery Lane Phillips Run Road, Summersville, West Virginia. Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays (closed Jan. 1 through March 31), the distillery offers tastings of wines and whiskeys produced at the site. For more information, visit www.kirkwoodwine. com or call 1-888-4WV-WINE. • A. Smith Bowman Distillery, located at 1 Bowman Drive, Fredericksburg, Virginia. The distillery is open Monday through Saturday, with tours departing each hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Souvenirs, including homemade spirits, can be purchased at the gift shop. For more information, visit www.asmithbowman.com or call 540-373-4555. • Catoctin Creek Distillery, located at 120 W. Main St., Purcellville, Virginia.
Catoctin Creek also provides guided tours and takes reservations for events. For more information, visit www.catoctincreek distilling.com, find them on Facebook, or call 540-7518404. • Belmont Farm Distillery, located at 13490 Cedar Run Road, Culpeper, Virginia. Belmont produces craft whiskeys and moonshines and offers $5 tastings and 20minute guided tours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit www.belmontfarmdistillery.co m or call 540-825-3207. • Hatfield and McCoy Moonshine, located at 297 James Avenue, Gilbert, West Virginia. Open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The distillery sells handcrafted 90 proof moonshine. For more information, visit www.drinkofthedevil.com or call 304-664-2821. • Heston Farm Winery & Pinchgut Hollow Distillery, located at 1602 Tulip Lane, Fairmont, West Virginia. Open Monday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The establishment also offers French-style food, live music and other events, and can be reserved for weddings, reunions and other events. For more information, visit www.hestonfarm.com or call 304-366-WINE. • Smooth Ambler Spirits Distillery, located at 745 Industrial Park Road, Maxwelton, West Virginia. The tasting room offers samples of vodkas, gins, bourbons and whiskeys made from local ingredients from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit www.smoothambler .com or call 304-497-3123.
CATF
FROM PAGE 7
Dickinson & Wait’s inventory planning for the festival begins in April, Wait said. That involves connecting with craft artists and often arranging for special items that would be particularly appreciated by festival-goers, she said. “We need a full inventory,” she said. “We need to be ready for them.” After more than 25 years in business alongside the festival, Wait said she has “a pretty good feel for what our cosmopolitan folks would like.” “There are certain kinds of inventory we purchase for the theater festival,” she added. “The world of crafts people in the United States is actually a fairly small group of folks. A lot of people collect certain artists.” Her shop has a lower overhead than similar stores in big city markets where many festival patrons visit from, which in turn allows Wait to offer them lower prices on the crafts she sells. The shop has shipped items from furniture to dresses to virtually every major city in the country. “We’ve shipped all over the U.S.,” she said. To keep cooking less complicated, Bistro 112 keeps to its standard menu items and eliminates entree and appetizer specials during the festival. For newcomers and regulars alike, the regular fare doesn’t disappoint, and an uncomplicated menu helps keep service as efficient (and sane) as possible for patrons with limited time to grab a meal between performances, Tucker said. A popular signature dish of the house is pepper steak with French fries — or in cuisine lingo “l‘entre cote,” which is translated to “between the ribs” for where in the cow the beef that’s used comes from. During the festival, Tucker also limits the dinner groups to eight people, because larger groups tend to stress the cooking
staff and servers already working hard to accommodate a full house for long hours and many days. The restaurant can normally serve 65 people at a time. If the weather is cooperating, it can accommodate another 10 people in its back garden. But Tucker and Wait said the benefits the Contemporary American Theater Festival bring to local merchants, restaurateurs and even regular townspeople go far beyond the financial. The social buzz the festival creates in town makes the change of pace in exhausting workdays and sometimes minor everyday hiccups and hassles during the event well worth the adjustments they require, they said. A person who enjoys theater and stimulating conversation, Tucker tries to attend a few early weekday performances during the festival, which also offers a range of free preview events, lectures and discussions and play readings. Having knowledge and opinions about the plays showing allows her to engage in meaningful conversations with her customers about them, conversations she and her guests both enjoy. All of that social interaction enriches the dining experience, the human connections and memories made for everyone. For Wait, the festival is an opportunity to see longtime customers who have become friends for many years. That means a lot more smiles, hugs, laughter and even tears in the shop during July, which means as much or more than the more frequent rings of cash register sales. “They’ve kind of watched us growing into our business, and we’ve watched them age,” Wait said of her loyal customers. “After 25 years, after a quarter of a century, you kind of get attached. You look forward to seeing them.”
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 59
Time for some... SHARPSBURG, MARYLAND
THE INN AT ANTIETAM
With newly-renovated suites, we invite you to stay at The Inn at Antietam, a Bed and Breakfast surrounded E\ WKH $QWLHWDP %DWWOHĂ€HOG LQ historic Sharpsburg.
• Breakfast Included • Family Friendly • Dog Friendly • Free WiFi
301-432-6601
www.innatantietam.com
Berkeley Springs
f 5 1 a 7 Sat., Oct. 6th & Sun., Oct. 7th
UNNERS’ ETREAT 36868 Runners Retreat 135 N. Loudoun St. Winchester, VA 22601
540-665-8394
Mon-Fri: 10-7pm • Sat: 10-6pm • Sun: 1-5pm
www.runnersretreat.com
Summer Is Here & So Are Summer Storms!
Summer is a wonderful season but it can bring some brutal storms! Make sure your home & roof are secure all season, especially before you go on vacation. We can perform a quick check and if you need work, a free estimate! There’s a reason we were voted best roofer ďŹ ve years in a row!
Not just rooďŹ ng...all of your household needs! HOME CONSTRUCTION
BE
of the BES ST
T
READERS’ CHOICE
2
01
1
7
K&K
304-876-2522 540-539-8282 Where the promise 5RRÂżQJ &DUSHQWU\ is performed. Over 40 years of exp. Lic & Insured, WV 043714
3-20
AREA LODGING BOASTS AMPLE AMENITIES AND FAMILY FUN! HAMPTON INN & SUITES HOME 2 SUITES BY HILTON HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS
Ranson Convention & Visitors Bureau 216 N. Mildred St. 304.724.3862 | ransonwv.us
Page 60 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Vacation Guide
“Shepherdstown is a place where history continues to live. The entire town is on the National Registry of Historic places.” Marianne Davis Director, Shepherdstown Visitor Center Submitted photo
Shepherdstown during a previous downtown event.
Shepherdstown is a mixture of culture, history and fun
SHEPHERDSTOWN — Shepherdstown is a cultural, historical and entertainment hub in the Eastern Panhandle, according to director of the Shepherdstown Visitor’s Center, Marianne Davis. Located just along the Potomac River, Shepherdstown’s historic district boasts more diversity in activities and adventures than an out-of-towner might expect. Exploring Shepherdstown is largely dependent on your interests, according to Davis. “Shepherdstown is a place where history continues to live,” Davis said. “The entire town is on the National Registry of Historic
places.” History buffs can learn about the birthplace of America’s Army at Morgan’s Grove, the Civil War, the Retreat from Antietam and the Battle of Shepherdstown. Davis said the Historic Shepherdstown Museum located at 129 East German St. is a good place to learn about historical landmarks in the town. She said it’s also a great opportunity for kids to experience and learn about history as well. Going hand-in-hand with history, Davis said Shepherdstown is also known for the ghosts allegedly lurking around the historic town. Shepherdstown has been featured in
the series “Ghosts of Shepherdstown.” Food and shopping is another main attraction for Shepherdstown visitors. Davis said there are no chain stores or restaurants in the historic district of town, and most local shops are dog friendly no matter what time of year. Maria’s Taqueria has been a fixture in downtown Shepherdstown for eight years. Featuring a Mexican and South Californian inspired menu, owner Maria Allen said her business brings fresh, inexpensive food to visitors and regulars. See SHEPHERDSTOWN, Page 62
Vacation Guide
Sunday, May 27, 2018 – Page 61
Page 62 – Sunday, May 27, 2018
Fresh Air
Vacation Guide
Shepherdstown
FROM PAGE 18
FROM PAGE 60
Submitted photo
Contra and Square Dancers spin on the floor of the War Memorial Building Sat. night at the Upper Potomac Appalachian Music Weekend in Shepherdstown. Submitted photo
The C&O Canal Trail runs along the Potomac River. In nearby Loudoun County, Virginia, the Washington and Old Dominion Trail offers 45 miles of paved trails and 32 miles of gravel trails. These paths offer a combination of urban and countryside scenery from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Beginning in Hancock, Maryland, the Western Maryland Railtrail is another nearby paved trail. The 22 mile paved route is ideal for families and amateur cyclists. The trail was open in 1998, and it is open year-round for hiking, biking, inline skating and cross country skiing. The Mount Vernon Trail in Alexandria, Virginia, features 18 miles of paved pathways. With multiple available trails, visitors can choose to stick to the scenic route or follow the path to Old Town Alexandria to finish the trail with some entertainment. In McLean, Virginia, the Scott’s Run Nature Preserve has four miles of trails, offering hik-
ers a variety of natural scenery, including a waterfall, woodlands, river views and wildflower meadows. The park is open yearround. With 10 different trail options, Great Falls Park, located in McLean, Virginia, features day long excursions for hikers, climbers and bikers, with trails ranging from easy to hard. The park is open from 7 a.m. to dusk and has $10 charge per vehicle and a $5 charge per biker or hiker. The Wagon Wheel Ranch in Winchester, Virginia, is another great way to get outdoors this summer. Offering guided trail rides starting at $50 per rider, lessons and birthday party packages, Wagon Wheel’s website says experienced trainers and guides are saddled and ready for an adventure. For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.thewagonwheel ranch.com or call 540-868-9427.
“There were no Mexican restaurants or burrito shops in Shepherdstown when we opened eight years ago,” Allen said. “We try to source all our ingredients locally.” A friendly staff, fresh food made in a timely manner and a great location on German Street are a few reasons Allen says Maria’s Taqueria has been successful. Despite many great menu options, Allen said the fish tacos are most popular. Visitors can grab a fish taco with fried cod, jalapeno aioli, spicy cabbage slaw and cilantro before heading back out to explore the rest of Shepherdstown. During the month of July, visitors can also visit the Contemporary American Theatre Festival for a chance to see the debut of six professionally performed and written plays. Davis said the CATF was called “essential” by the New York Times, and many plays debuted at the festival go onto larger professional venues as well. Live music is impossible to
escape, according to Davis. More formal performances are held at the Frank Center on the campus of Shepherd University and Shepherdstown Opera House. However, many bars and restaurants in town host live music events as well. For families and children, there is a toy store on German Street, and five parks near the heart of Shepherdstown. The Little House — a miniature house designed for children in 1929 – also has scheduled days where children can go to play. “Shepherdstown is very dog friendly, and we welcome all people,” Davis said. “We are a 21st century town with deep, deep respect for its past.” To find out more about the many shops and restaurants Shepherdstown has to offer, visit the Shepherdstown Visitor’s Center website at www.shepherdstownvisitorscen ter.com or drop in. It’s located at 201 S Princess St. Call (304) 876-2786 or email info@ShepherdstownVisitorsCe nter.com.
ASSISTED LIVING MEMORY CARE A resort style senior living community in Martinsburg. Reserve your apartment suite now before they are gone!
Schedule a tour today! To learn more, Call 304.596.0783
Reserve Now! Please note the facility being advertised has not yet obtained a license from the state of West Virginia. Pursuant to WV code 16-5D-6(a), no assisted living (including memory care) residences may be occupied until such license is obtained.
13857 Apple Harvest Drive | Martinsburg, WV | 304.596.0783 | thecrossingsatmartinsburg.com