Vacation Guide 2017

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VACATION GUIDE — 3

Table of Contents 4............................Martinsburg 11 .......................Charles Town 16.........................................CATF 20............................Area Parks 22 ............................Distilleries 27......................................Caves 35.......................................Trails 41 ..........................Auto Racing 42................Berkeley Springs 44................................Wineries

46 ...............Appalachian Trail 46 .......................Horse Racing 48 .................River Relaxation 50.............Outdoor Adventure 51 ........................Water Safety 52 ..................Shepherdstown 54..................Washington D.C. 60 ....................Frederick Keys 62...............Hagerstown Suns

4 — VACATION GUIDE

Fun at your

Fingertips M

BY JIM MCCONVILLE

jmcconville@journal-news.net

ARTINSBURG — Sometimes the best vacations are the ones you find in your own backyard.

That may be specifically the case with Martinsburg and surrounding Eastern Panhandle counties of Berkeley and Jefferson.

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.

See DOWNTOWN, Page 5

Downtown

VACATION GUIDE — 5 FROM PAGE 4

Outside the museum are sawmills, tractors, husker shredders and tillage machinery, and the museum’s newest facility — the blacksmith shop. These are all part of live demonstrations held during the museum’s annual Fall Showing. Located at 3083 Ridge Road in Martinsburg, the museum is open to the public on weekends from April to October. Admission is free.

Kids — as well as adults — interested in the wonderful world of comic books, there’s the annual Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library Comic Con, to be held June 3 at the Martinsburg Public Library from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 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 St. On July 8, the ACT will feature “Oddfest —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 participation packs are $3.

See DOWNTOWN, Page 6

Downtown

6 — VACATION GUIDE FROM PAGE 5

If you happen to be in downtown Martinsburg on Friday evening this summer, you’ll literally hear music in the air. From June 2 to Aug. 18, Martinsburg will hold “Fridays At Five,” a summer concert series each Friday night.

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.

Added to this year’s concert series: the Martinsburg Farmers Market. A display will be set up on the Martinsburg Public Library plaza for concert goers to whet their appetite with fresh fruits, vegetables, fresh and dried herbs, beef, chicken and pork.

If you’re looking for a nice quiet summer ride in the country, you may want to check out Martinsburg’s 5th annual “Bike Night” on Aug. 20. Organized by Main Street Martinsburg and Blue Knights West Virginia Chapter V, a motorcycle club made up of law enforcement professionals, the ride features a police-escorted 40-mile trip through the Eastern Panhandle’s rolling hills.

Bikers pay a $20 registration fee or $25 for the ride and a special commemorative pin. Registration begins at noon at the new location of the Living Room Church on Rock Cliff Drive.

“There are a lot of back roads with beautiful scenery,” said K.C. Bohrer, president of Blue Knights Chapter V. “Martinsburg is right off of I-81, so it’s easy to find. You also have a lot of historic places like Shepherdstown and Sharpsburg just a few miles away. We’ve never had a problem attracting people.”

For a peek at West Virginia farm life, there’s the 70th Annual Berkeley County 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. 20 to 26.

There’s also the11th 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.

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 running from July 7 to 30 at locations on and around the Shepherd University campus.

“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: “The Niceties” by Eleanor Burgess; “Welcome To” by Kara Lee Corthron; “Horses” by Allison Gregory; “Byhala, Mississippi” by Evan Linder; “Everything is Wonderful” by Chelsea Marcantel; and “We Will Not Be Silent” by David Meyers.

For information on play dates and times, you can call the Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University at 800-999-2283 or 304-876-3473, or look online at info@catf.org.

A companion exhibit titled “Costumes from the Contemporary American Theater Festival” will also be on view from June 3 to Aug. 6. It will feature costumes, small properties and scenic pieces from the Contemporary American Theater Festival.

See DOWNTOWN, Page 8

VACATION GUIDE — 7

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8 — VACATION GUIDE FROM PAGE 6

A Summer Exhibit of work by art students at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College runs June 2 through July 8 at the college’s Art Works Back Space Gallery. The top three visual art winners from Blue Ridge’s recent “Outlet” Arts and Letters competition are included in the exhibit.

The 25th Annual Dance Recital at Tari Jo’s Dance Studio marks the facility’s 25th anniversary. The dance recital features ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, hiphop, pointe and karate. The recital will be held at the Martinsburg High School auditorium on June 16-17 at 7 p.m. or Tari Jo’s Dance Studio on June 18 at 2 p.m.

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 23,000-acre 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 off-road 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 — 9

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Summer Jaunts C

IN DOWNTOWN CHARLES TOWN

BY TIM COOK

tcook@journal-news.net HARLES 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 June, July, August and September. 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.jeffersoncountywvchamber.org /calendar; and the Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau website at discoveritallwv.com.

See CHARLES TOWN, Page 12

Charles Town

12 — VACATION GUIDE FROM PAGE 11 winding down for dinner at a downtown restaurant or tavern, ranging from the Mediterranean Cafe at 132 W. Washington St. to Paddy’s Irish Pub at 210 W. Liberty St.

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 3, 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., with registrations at 9:30 a.m.

JULY IS FOR CULTURE

A week later, another opportunity for an easy-paced outdoor stroll happens with the Happy Retreat Wine and Jazz Festival on Saturday, June 10. 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 more than 50 wines.

The wine festival offers infor-

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mal 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.

One more festival taking place on June 17 is perhaps the largest community event of the year in Charles Town — the WV Fest 2017. During this festival, the city’s downtown streets close to vehicle traffic to create a broad pedestrian mall for the annual inthe-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.

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.

After the festival, consider

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 longestablished 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 2017 Spring Dance Recital, offering three performances this year under the banner “Dancing on the Edge.” The recital takes place from June 24, 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 23-25 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.

See CHARLES TOWN, Page 13

Charles Town

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 from Aug. 18-20. 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

VACATION GUIDE — 13 FROM PAGE 12

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 is open yearly from March 15 to Dec. 15 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and on Sunday (only in June through October) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The museum 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.

For a thorough background of the events involving Brown’s trial and execution in Charles Town, special one-hour free guided walking tours given by Harpers Ferry National Historical Park rangers starting at the Charles Town Visitors Center.

The highly informative tours, headlined “Charles Town and John Brown: The Rest of the Story …,” take place this year at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays through Sundays from June 3 through Aug. 13. They include detailed perspectives, as well as visits to the Jefferson County Courthouse where Brown stood trial and the execution site on South Samuel

Street. Tour guests also receive free admission to the Jefferson County Museum.

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 siteseeing, 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.

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14 — VACATION GUIDE

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16 — VACATION GUIDE

Theater on Display

Shepherdstown gears up for annual CATF

S

HEPHERDSTOWN — 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 27 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.

Last year, the CATF sold more than 14,000 tickets to patrons stopping in and over from 37 states, Canada and Africa. Those visitors filled not only three performance venues but also Shepherdstown’s inns, restaurants, stores and nearby tourist attractions.

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 July 7-30. The festival also added an extra day of Tuesday performances in three theaters that can collectively seat more than 700 people at one time.

This year new collaborative events are planned with the festival and the Washington County Museum of Art, including an educational exhibit at the museum in Hagerstown, Maryland, focusing on costumes, set designs and a wide range of props at past festivals that could draw more people from Washington and Frederick counties in Maryland.

See CATF, Page 17

CATF Options for Area Residents

There are several free and discounted events at this year’s Contemporary American Theater Festival from July 7-30.

Free options: ¯ Readings: July 11, 18, and 25 at 6 p.m. ¯ CATF in Context: July 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 10 a.m. ¯ Lectures: July 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 5 p.m. ¯ After Thoughts: July 15, 22, and 29 at 10pm. ¯ Gallery Talk (Hagerstown): July 12 and 19 at 10 a.m.

Discounted options: ¯ West Virginia residents receive a special $35 rate for all performances on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays ¯ Sunday night tickets, for performances beginning after 4:30 p.m., are $35 for everyone ¯ Active and retired military members and their family members receive a $35 ticket rate ¯ A student discount is $20 per ticket.

For more information, visit www.catf.org.

CATF

VACATION GUIDE — 17 FROM PAGE 16

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 27 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 four-seasons activity gener-

“A lot of people in town will refer to the theater as our Christmas in Shepherdstown.” ates 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 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 grass-fed 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.

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 festivalgoers, 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.”

See CATF, Page 18

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Tickets $12 will be available an hour prior to show time at a nearby booth

Sabrina Harrison

Grace Aulabaugh

Summer Dance and Fall Registration will be July 10th through July 14th.

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Photos by TLC Photography

CATF

18 — VACATION GUIDE FROM PAGE 17

“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 stimulat-

ing 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.”

The 2017 CATF Lineup The Contemporary American Thesiders the notion of whether someone ater Festival has selected six plays to can love a neighborhood if he or she showcase during its run July 7-30 at contributes to its destruction.

Shepherd University in Shepherdstown.

“Wild Horses” “The Niceties”

By Alison Gregory

By Eleanor Burgess Featuring a young Two liberal femigirl portrayed by her nists clash over their adult self, this comic generational differplay confronts univerences, offering a drasal issues of achieving matic story line that identify, independence explores secrets and a solid place in the thoughts people are world. It’s a complex afraid to acknowledge. coming-of-age tale for all generations.

“Welcome To Fear City”

By Kara Lee Cothron Set in the Bronx in the summer of 1977, this play tells the story of a young AfricanAmerican man, called E, who dreams of being a poet. It con-

“Byhalia, Mississippi”

By Evan Linder

“Everything is Wonderful”

By Chelsea Marcantel A wayward driver’s actions end lives of two Amish brothers.

When he appears before the sons’ family to seek forgiveness, a struggle begins that exposes a dark history and complex themes about forgiveness.

“We Will Not Be Silent”

By David Meyers

A German school student leads an act of civil disobedience callA poor Southern ing for the peaceful couple are about to overthrow of Hitler become parents, setduring World War II. ting off a story exThis play examines the role of German ploring issues of citizens in the rise of the Nazi regime. class, race, family and For more information, visit forgiveness. www.catf.org.

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VACATION GUIDE —19

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20 — VACATION GUIDE

The Outdoor Life Area parks offer fun for all the family to enjoy

MARTINSBURG—The Eastern Panhandle has countless 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.

This summer, the park has already scheduled historical adventures, including “Not Just a Pile of Rocks: The Preservation of Archeological Resources on Loudoun Heights on June 5; “Caring for Museum Collections” on June 12; “The ‘New’ Harpers Ferry Station: Improvements on the B&O Railroad, 1892-94” on June 19; “Artifact Sneak Peek” on July 17; and “Meet Your Park Archeologist” on July 24.

The park will also have nature demonstrations throughout the summer months, including “Return of the Peregrine Falcon” on July 10 and “Botanical Invasion” on June 26.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Storer College, a historically black college in Harpers Ferry, the park has multiple events planned, including “For Freedom and Dignity: Voices from Storer College” on July 22 and “Niagra Movement Pilgrimage to John Brown’s Fort” on Aug. 20.

For history buffs, try a historic trade workshop. An option to be

offered this summer includes “The Art of the Forge: A Blacksmith Workshop” on June 10 and 11 for $150 per participant.

For a complete list of hiking options, visit www.nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/hikes.htm. For more information about the park and this summer’s planned events, visit www.nps.gov/hafe/index.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. The park boasts 6,000 acres of outdoor activities, including golfing, lake sports, hiking, 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 onehour 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 three-sided shelter in which to camp.

For National Trails Day, Cacapon will be celebrating with an inaugural 5K trail run-walk to highlight the newly-designed, off-road course that runs along four trails in the park.

There is also a Fourth of July celebration planned with free entertainment provided by the Morgan Community Concert Band.

For more information on the park, visit www.cacaponresort.com.

PARKS IN BERKELEY & JEFFERSON The following is a list of county-maintained parks in Berkeley County: ¯ Ambrose Park ¯ Disc Golf Course ¯ DuPont Park and Soccer Complex ¯ Gerrardstown Athletic Field ¯ Hedgesville Park ¯ Inwood-Bunker Hill Lions Park ¯ Lambert Park ¯ Martin Luther King Jr. Park ¯ Leeland Playground ¯ Oak Street Park ¯ P.O. Faulkner Park ¯ Pikeside Park ¯ Poor House Farm Park ¯ Rooney (Tomahawk) Park ¯ Roush Field ¯ W. Randy Smith Recreation Center ¯ War Memorial Park

¯ Wurzburg Dog Park at Ambrose For more information on Berkeley County parks, visit www.mbcparks-rec.org/parks-facilities.

The following is a list of county-maintained parks in Jefferson County: ¯ Morgan Grove Park ¯ James Hite Park ¯ Leetown Park ¯ Sam Michaels Park ¯ Bolivar Nature Park ¯ South Jefferson Park ¯ Moulton Park ¯ Mount Mission Park For more information on Jefferson County parks, visit www.jeffersoncountywv.org/countygovernment/county-agencies/parks-recreation/parks-facilities.

Discover

VACATION GUIDE —21

Jefferson County The Most Visited County in the State of West Virginia

22 — VACATION GUIDE

Regional distilleries

packed with history, intrigue

C

HARLES TOWN—When most people think of moonshine, they imagine Prohibition-era 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 co-owns 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 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 after-dinner 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 introduced 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.

See DISTILLERIES, Page 23

Distilleries

He said the key is to only use the yellow part of the peel, leaving out the white pith, which can add a bitter, medicine-like 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 taste-testings, 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 time- and 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 higher-proof alcohol because it gets diluted.”

VACATION GUIDE — 23 FROM PAGE 22

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.

“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.

See DISTILLERIES, Page 24

24 — VACATION GUIDE

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VACATION GUIDE —25

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Distilleries

26 — VACATION GUIDE FROM PAGE 23

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.”

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.bloomerysweetshine.com. ııı

SIMILAR LOCATIONS IN THE REGION INCLUDE

¯ Black Draft Distillery, located at 1140 Kelly Island Road, in Martinsburg. Open for tours on Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Founded in December 2013, the distillery produces whiskey and bourbon, using unique and all natural ingredients. For more information or to schedule a tour, visit blackdraftdistillery.com or call 540-6860100. ¯ 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 304872-7332. ¯ 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 540-3734555. ¯ 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.catoctincreekdistilling.com, find them

on Facebook, or call 540-751-8404. ¯ Belmont Farm Distillery, located at 13490 Cedar Run Road, Culpeper, Virginia.

Belmont produces craft whiskeys and moonshines and offers $5 tastings and 20-minute guided tours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit www.belmontfarmdistillery.com or call 540-825-3207. ¯ Hatfield and McCoy Moonshine, located at 297 James Avenue, Gilbert, West Virginia. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. 8 p.m.

Friday and Saturday. The distillery sells hand-crafted 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-Saturday and 1-9 p.m. 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.

VACATION GUIDE — 27

A Deeper Look Local caves offer unique look at nature B

OONSBORO, Md.—Caves and caverns can 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.

Jerry Downs, the owner and operator of Crystal Grottoes Caverns in Boonsboro, Md., 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.”

See CAVES, Page 27

Caves

28 — VACATION GUIDE FROM PAGE 27

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 people from the Maryland Geological Survey,” he said.

The underground rock in the region is 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.”

According to Downs, 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.

“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, Downs said, the workers broke through a wall of rock and found a hole. 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 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 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 fanciful 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 inter-

ested 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, while not insulting their intelligence.

Downs said he gets several main types of visitors at Crystal Grottoes, each type with different interests.

“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 CAVES, Page 20

VACATION GUIDE —29

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Caves

30 — VACATION GUIDE FROM PAGE 28

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 April 1 through Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.crystalgrottoescaverns.co m or call 240-217-7623. ııı

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. 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. Walking tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. A discount of 15 percent off is of-

fered to those who show a military I.D. For more information, visit www.organcave.com or call 304-645-7600. ¯ 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. The caverns are a national natural landmark, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April 1 to Oct. 31 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from 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 High-

way, Front Royal, Virginia.

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.

Discover. Explore. Experience.

The heart of the Eastern Panhandle Martinsburg-Berkeley County, WV

Convention & Visitors Bureau 126 E. Race St. Martinsburg, WV 25401 304.264.8801 | 800.4WVA.FUN travelwv.com

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Garton Originals

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Petersburg Trout Hatchery

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visitgrantcounty.com!South_Side _Depot.html 304-257-9264

Smoke Hole Caverns

Gift Shop & Boutique • Gem Mining • Putt Putt smokehole.com • 304-257-4442

Smoke Hole Outfitters

Tours upon request 304-257-4014

Cheetah B’s Resturant 681-892-0345

Bella Vita Italian Restaurant 304-257-1713

3rd Base Bar & Grille 304-257-2273

Catch ‘n Keep Trout Pond Fly Fishing Lessons smokeholeoutfitters. com 304-25 7-5160

Top Kicks Military Museum topkicksmilitarymuseum.com 304-257-1392

Dolly Sods Views & Rock Formations

WV Made Gifts & More

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Grant County CVB 304-257-9266 www.visitgrantcounty.com

VACATION GUIDE — 35

Summer Trails Hiking & Biking opportunities abound M

ARTINSBURG — There are countless trails hidden in the numerous pockets of barelytouched 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. ııı ¯ 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. ııı ¯ C&O Canal Trail — easy to moderate to difficult (depend-

ing 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 treelined 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 ııı ¯ 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 Or-

leans 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.

See TRAILS, Page 36

June 9th | Tall, Blond & Thirsty July 14th | Made in the 80’s August 11th | South Mountain Breed September 29th | Staff Infection October 6th | Backroad Blues Band www.winddownhagerstown.com

Trails

36 — VACATION GUIDE FROM PAGE 35

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 ııı

¯ 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 ııı

¯ 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-SpringPreserve ııı

¯ 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 Agri-

culture’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 property since 1999 and had maintained it as a nature preserve on their own.

For more information, visit www.potomacaudubon.org/stauffer ııı ¯ 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.

See TRAILS, Page 38

VACATION GUIDE —37

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38 — VACATION GUIDE

Trails

FROM PAGE 36

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 ııı

¯ 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 the forest and wilderness.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/hikingsafety.htm ııı

¯ 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

BERKELEY SPRINGS

The Country’s First Spa

VACATION GUIDE —39

Boasting of world class dining, full-service spas, distinctive shops, full-service 100 lodging choices from elegant B&Bs and historic inns to cabins and resorts!

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40 — VACATION GUIDE A FAMILY FESTIVAL

SHERRY BOYD M.C.

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VACATION GUIDE — 41

Start your engines

Region has variety of auto racing choices

R

esidents 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 1/5mile bullring to a 5/8-mile speedway.

The Hagerstown and Winchester Speedways are the closest dirt tracks to the Panhandle, roughly a 30-minute drive from Martinsburg.

You can also venture to Central Pennsylvania where you will find Bedford, Lincoln, Path Valley, Shippensburg, TrailWay 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 $1015 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 well-known 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.

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42 — VACATION GUIDE

Scenery & History

Berkeley Springs: The Panhandle’s hidden gem

B

BY DANYEL VANREENEN

dvanreenen@journal-news.net ERKELEY SPRINGS — Known for its unique blend of national history, beautiful scenery and traditional small town Appalachian feel, Berkeley Springs is a must see stop in the Eastern Panhandle.

Located on U.S. 522, the town is conveniently located an hour from Winchester. Despite the short drive, Berkeley Springs offers many sites and experiences other nearby locations cannot.

During the summer months, the Morgan Arts Council acts as a cultural and artistic hub for visitors and residents alike. The goal of the Morgan Arts Council is making art accessible to the public. They accomplish this at the historic Ice House, dating back to approximately 1910 when it was used for apple storage.

The Ice House is home to visual arts exhibits, as well as offers a space for community theatre performances. According to the MAC website, the Ice House is home to several gallery spaces including the Ice House Artists’ Co-Op Gallery, the Ice House Special Exhibit Gallery, The Hall of Dreams and the Carr-Kelly Gallery.

It is not only a space for exhibiting art, but for producing art as well. Art education classes in the visual arts take place throughout the year with programming available for all ages and experience levels, according to the website.

The biggest attraction for children will be a series of three summer camps, according to Jeanne Mozier, secretary of the

MAC. There will be a theatre camp in June where children between six and 14 can participate in a production of “The Pied Piper.” In July, kids can attend a visual arts camp to craft a “creative garden.” There is also a digital media camp for children 10 to 16 where they can learn to direct, produce and edit a video program.

For more information or to register, call 304-258-2300 or visit MAC’s web site, macicehouse.org.

The MAC will also host a summer concert series in the Berkeley Springs Park beginning on July 8. From July 8 to August 19, the council has invited bands from different backgrounds and genres to perform in town.

The Berkeley Springs State Park pool is nearby throughout the summer as well. Opening Memorial Day weekend, the pool is a great way for family and friends to cool off after exploring the nearby Cacapon State Park. The state park features 6,000 acres of land, 27 miles of blazed hiking trails, horseback riding, a lake with a beach, sporting clay shooting range, a nature center with activities, an 18 hole Robert Trent Jones golf course and tennis, basketball and volleyball courts.

Shopping and dining options abound as well, according to Laura Smith of Travel Berkeley Springs.

“We have a large artist community with specialty shops, an-

tiques and galleries,” Smith said.

“Naked Olive specializes in oils and vinegars, which is a very popular trend these days.”

Naked Olive also features an evening lounge with drinks and small plate items using their products. The Itty Bitty Global Shop offers shoppers free trade products from all over the world.

Additionally, the BlackCat music shop is the heart of music sales and events in town. Smith said Black Cat not only has items for sale, but it also offers live music throughout the summer.

“One of the newest shops is the Give Purrs a Chance, which features cat adoptions,” Smith said.

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.

Black Dog Coffee, a new BBQ trailer serving carry out BBQ options and brand new cat cafe called Give Purrs a Chance — featuring cat adoptions — are all excellent dining options, according to Mozier.

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 pro-

“Sometimes it’s hard to put what makes Berkeley Springs special into a sentence.”

duce and wares to the square by the Morgan County courthouse.

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 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., entry is donation only and it is a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon.

In the evenings, the historic Star Theatre in downtown Berkeley Springs has been operating since 1928. 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 $4.50 for adults and $4 for kids, the Star Theatre features a selection of comedy, action, drama and kids movies, and the calendar generally shows the movie schedule for 4 to 5 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.

“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 BOUND?

VACATION GUIDE —43

Get Away From It All and Enjoy Some R &R!

Before you go, make sure your vehicle is ready for the road trip.

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44 — VACATION GUIDE

Tasting Pleasure

Wineries found in every corner of region

B

BY ADRANISHA STEPHENS astephens@journal-news.net

ERRYSVILLE, 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, Nor-

ton, Albarino, Vidal Blanc and Malbec wine grapes,” Bogaty said. “Each wine distinctively expresses our dedication to premium Virginia wine making.”

Bogaty finds there are challenges 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.

“We have rock the grapes that will be coming up in October.

Also, on Friday, June 9, there will be a Full Strawberry Moon Rise event and tickets are available for $30 to join us in the vineyard to see the valley illuminated by moonlight,” Bogaty said. Live music will be held from 7 to 10 p.m.

Veramar has classic wine tast-

ing, 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/VeramarVi neyard or call 540-955-5510.

Breaux Vineyards, located at 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane in Hillsboro, 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 two 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.

“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. Tastings are offered from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from May to October at $5 per person. For more information, visit www.breauxvinyards.com or call 540-668-6299.

See WINERIES, Page 45

Wineries

VACATION GUIDE — 45 FROM PAGE 44

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 540-364-6178 ¯ 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 Rohrersville, Maryland 301-302-8032 ¯ Blue Valley Vineyard and 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 540-668-7707 ¯ 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 Middleburg, Virginia 540-687-8222 ¯ Cox Family Winery 726 Zodiac Lane Bunker Hill 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 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 ¯ 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 ¯ Unicorn Winery 489 Old Bridge Road Amissville, Virginia 540-349-5885 ¯ Vint Hill Craft Winery 7150 Lineweaver Road Warrenton, Virginia 540-351-0000 ¯ Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 38906 Mt. Gilead Road Leesburg, Virginia 703-777-8161 ¯ Zephaniah Farm Vineyard 19381 Dunlop Mill Road Leesburg, Virginia 703-431-2016

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46 — VACATION GUIDE

Appalachian Trail

Fun-Filled Package

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 thru-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 5 to 7 months for a thruhike.

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 .2-mile blueblazed trail.

There is no camping in the town of Harpers Ferry or in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, but there are many nearby campgrounds, as well as bed and breakfast and hotel options.

Citizens and business owners 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 park brings more than 250,000 visitors each year, and the national visitors center of the Appalachian Trail brings 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.

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 or soon to be 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 pair-mutel 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. 14 and will

feature a nine-race card.

Also on the schedule this year is the Grade 3, $300,000 Charles Town Oaks on Sept. 23. There will a few other stakes races, as well, on that night.

Throughout the year, racing is typically held Wednesday 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.hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com.

VACATION GUIDE —47

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48 — VACATION GUIDE

Beat the Heat

Keeping cool this summer on area rivers

H

ARPERS 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 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.

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 1-800-8369911.

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 offers 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 304-535-1239 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 304-876-8030.

VACATION GUIDE —49

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50— VACATION GUIDE

Outdoor Adventure

Region has no shortage of fresh-air opportunities

M

ARTINSBURG — 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 year-round 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 Appalachian 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.

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 hikers a variety of natural scenery, including a waterfall, woodlands, river views and wildflower meadows. The park is

open year-round.

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 $5 charge per vehicle and a $3 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.thewagonwheelranch.com or call 540-868-9427.

VACATION GUIDE — 51

Safety First

River adventure starts with safety and caution

H

ARPERS 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.

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.

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52 — VACATION GUIDE

Area’s Cultural Hub History and entertainment merge in Shepherdstown

S

BY DANYEL VANREENEN

dvanreenen@journal-news.net

HEPHERDSTOWN — 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 Street 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 was featured in the first season of the Ghosts of Shepherdstown, and Davis said they will be featured in the second season as well.

For those looking to learn about ghostly haunts and experiences from the past, a mystery walk is available to visitors from April to November. To find out

more about Mysteries Walk, visit www.shepherdstownmysteriesw alk.com, or call Dana Mitchell at 240-593-2317.

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.

“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.shepherdstownvisitorscent er.com or drop in. It’s located at 129 E. German St. in the historic Entler Hotel next to the Shepherdstown Museum. Call 304-87602786 or email info@ShepherdstownVisitorsCe nter.com.

VACATION GUIDE —53

54 — VACATION GUIDE

National Pleasure

Quick tips to enjoying the capital city’s offerings

W

ASHINGTON — 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 2015 by the tourism bureau, Destination DC, visitor spending totaled $7.1 billion, representing more than $757 million in new tax dollars. Washington, D.C., welcomed a record 21.3 million visitors in 2015 – a high that includes more than 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. ııı

FRUGAL FUN

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 on-

line, 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 See CAPITAL, Page 56

VACATION GUIDE —55

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Capital

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Monument Lodge on 15th Street (adjacent to the monument).

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, selfguided 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.

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. ııı

HISTORY COMES ALIVE AGAIN—AT NO CHARGE

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 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.

ııı

FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES—FREE FUN

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 ¯ United States Navy Band(s), 6 - 9:09 p.m., Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument Grounds

See CAPITAL, Page 58

VACATION GUIDE —57

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The United States Navy Band including the Cruisers Rock Band, Country Current Band, Navy Concert Band and the Sea Chanters ¯ 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 pop superstars Smokey Robinson and Kenny Loggins, soprano Jackie Evancho, host Tom Bergeron and many more as they honor our country’s 240th 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. ııı

REFLECTING ON CIVIL RIGHTS—FOR FREE

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 Her-

itage Trail to learn more about lesser-known sites of significance in the city’s black history. ııı

GOING GREEN—WITHOUT SPENDING BIG BUCKS

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.

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VACATION GUIDE —59

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Big-League Talent

Stars of tomorrow take the stage for Frederick Keys

F

BY RICK KOZLOWSKI

rkozlowski@journal-news.net

REDERICK, Md. — The influence of Francis Scott Key, the author of the “Star Spangled Banner,” is big in his hometown, and the influeunce is perhaps no morer 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 29th 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 nolls 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 that will be accompanied by taped music from popular acts, ranging from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift and Stevie Wonder.

A large crowd is to be expected when the Keys host Seinfeld Night on June 17 with an appearance by actor John O’Hurley, who played J. Peterman on the sitcom that’s still popular in syndication.

There are different promotions virtually every day the Keys are at home, including Spiderman Manny Machado Bobblehead Night.

A current member of the Baltimore Orioles, he’s been one of the more popular players to come through Frederick.

Another popular player who moved quickly through Frederick is 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 general admission (with a $3 discount for senior citizens, children and military personnel) to $13 for field seating.

More information can be found at www.FrederickKeys.com.

VACATION GUIDE —61

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62 — VACATION GUIDE

Boys of Summer

Hagerstown Suns provide major-league excitement

H

BY RICK KOZLOWSKI

rkozlowski@journal-news.net

AGERSTOWN — 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 the Suns.

The Suns won’t be moving anywhere at least until the conclusion of the 2018 season after the Washington Nationals organization, the parent club of the Suns, and the city made a six-figure investment to improve 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 environmentally friendly LED lighting throughout the stadium.

Still, the stadium hearkens back to a bygone 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 fourth 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 three seasons and has kept the Suns at the top of the Northern Division of the 14-team league for most of 2017.

The Suns’ roster includes some of the highest-ranked prospect in the minor league system. Among those players are shortstop Carter Kieboom, a first-round draft selection of the Nationals who hopes to follow the line of players such as pitcher Stephen Strasburg and outfielder Bryce Harper as big-league stars. They spent time in Hagerstown at the

start of 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 youngers, 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.

The Suns expect to get a boost in patrons when the Columbia Fireflies and their famous minor leaguer, Tim Tebow, comes to town June 1 through 4.

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