here. A monument at Rumsey Park commemorates the 1787 trial of the steamboat invented by James Rumsey, and most of the well-preserved downtown served as a Confederate hospital after the Battle of Antietam. Reserve ahead at Shepherdstown Pedal & Paddle ( thepedalpaddle.com ) to enjoy the views from the trail or river. Ten miles south on State 28 is Harpers
Ferry , home to John Brown’s notorious raid and now the site of a national historical park. Stroll the historic downtown and take the short hike to Jefferson’s Rock , with a view Thomas Jefferson described as “one of the most stupendous scenes in nature.” Nearby Charles Town was a Washington family retreat. Several family homes are in private hands today but brother Charles’ Happy Retreat hosts occasional concerts.
Eas tern Panhandle
Charles Town Race Track offered some of the area’s best thoroughbred racing in the 1950s, and you can enjoy racing today at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races ( hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com ). Follow Washington Street, then Summit Point Road, then VA 761 to
A circle tour of the Eastern Panhandle crosses broad valleys once covered in apple and peach orchards and passes through towns rich in colonial history. At Berkeley Springs , mineral baths
U.S. 50 west of Winchester, Virginia, picking up scenic State 259 south 12 miles later to Wardensville . Stop here for a delicious home-cooked meal and road provisions at Lost River Trading Post ( lostrivertradingpost.com ) or Star Mercantile ( starmercantilewv.com ). For a recreational side trip, continue another 25 miles on State 259 to reach Mathias and Lost River State
were frequented by colonial notables. Dip your toes in the stone “bathtub” said to have been used by George Washington. Pamper yourself with a spa experience, then stroll the historic downtown and take in the galleries and a show at the vintage StarTheatre . A side trip south on U.S. 522 is CacaponResort State Park — horseshoes and shuffleboard, wobble clay shooting, a lake with a sand beach, all with Civilian Conservation Corps charm. Or check out the just-renovated 1965 Coolfont Resort ( coolfont.com ). A 25-mile drive southeast on State 9 takes you to Martinsburg. Get a flavor of the region’s orchard past with a visit to Orr’s FarmMarket , where you can pick your own fruits May through September ( orrsfarmmarket.com ). It’s just 10 miles farther on State 45 to Shepherdstown , contender, with Romney, for West Virginia’s oldest town. Shepherd University is
Park , where you can swim in the CCC-built pool, saddle up at Hidden Trail Stable s, and see the 1804 cabin built by Revolutionary War Major General “Lighthorse Harry” Lee. Or follow U.S. 48 west out of Wardensville to Moorefield —detour five miles south on U.S. 220 for West-Whitehill Winery ( westwhitehillwinery.com )—then take U.S. 220
north to Junction and U.S. 50 east to Romney . KoolwinkMote l here is a satisfying vintage overnight ( koolwink.com ). Eight miles east of Romney, at Pleasant Dale , complete your circle by taking State 29 to State 9. Several miles short of Berkeley Springs, don’t skip the pull-off at Prospect Peak , overlooking a bend in the Potomac— long considered among the most scenic views in the nation.
Main route: 210 miles. Berkeley Springs to Martinsburg on State 9, 25 miles—Martinsburg to Shepherdstown on State 45, 10 miles—Shepherdstown to Harpers Ferry via State 28, 10 miles—Harpers Ferry to Charles Town on U.S. 340, 7 miles—Charles Town to Wardensville via Summit Point Road, VA 761, U.S. 50, and State 259, 54 miles—Wardensville to Moorefield on State 48, 25 miles— Moorefield to Junction on U.S. 220, 20 miles—Junction to Pleasant Dale on U.S. 50, 19 miles—Pleasant Dale to Berkeley Springs via State 29 and State 9, 42 miles.
78 wvl • summer 2020
Made with FlippingBook Online document