West Virginia 2008 Official State Travel Guide - (Page 23) 5reasons WV why we LOVE 1. IT’S CLOSE West Virginia is located within a day’s drive of 60% of the U.S. population. 2. IT’S COOL Summer temperatures in the mountains run about 10-15 degrees cooler than in congested big cities. 3. IT’S ECONOMICAL The state’s cost of living is one of the lowest in the nation, making vacations here less expensive. 4. IT’S RELAXING The land is breathtaking, the towns smaller, the people nicer, the pace slower. Just how we like it. 5. IT’S CALLING Whenever you need to get away – with friends, family or just your thoughts – West Virginia is waiting. » From top to bottom right: Ice House and Washington Street, both in Berkeley Springs ; a family enjoys a fall hike. f Berkeley Springs Berkeley Springs is a historic spa and art-filled town nestled in the mountains of West Virginia, but less than two hours from the Washington/Baltimore metro area. The best way to visit is to choose one of the many bed and breakfasts, cottages or inns as a base for enjoying the town’s warm mineral springs and exploring the restaurants, art galleries, shops, spas and live entertainment, most of which are easily accessible on foot. Historically known as Bath, because of the springs that have attracted visitors since George Washington and his contemporaries vacationed here, Berkeley Springs beckons visitors to take the waters in one of several private spas or in several different types of tubs at the centrally located Berkeley Springs State Park. The spas – which usually require advance bookings for weekends – also offer a broad menu of other relaxing and therapeutic services, such as massage, Reiki and facials. In the years since George Washington vacationed there, Berkeley Springs has also gained fame as one of America’s “best small arts towns.” Even in restaurants, such as the high-cuisine Lot 12 Public House and the casual Tari’s Cafe, works by local artists abound. Galleries feature handmade quilts, glass art, knitting and weaving as well as paintings and sculpture. The Ice House, a former apple cold storage facility turned cultural center, houses several arts and crafts galleries, and serves as a venue for music and theatrical events. For entertainment, visitors and locals alike also congregate at the vintage 1928 Star Theater, with its 1949 popcorn machine, and at Thursday night music jam sessions at Tari’s and summer outdoor concerts at Berkeley Springs State Park. The Country Inn, an updated version of one first built more than 160 years ago, has a supper club with live music. Fayetteville Across the mountains and to the southwest, a stone’s throw from the New River Gorge and its famous bridge (the world’s second-longest steel-arch span), Fayetteville is the nerve center of world-class outdoor activities. Athletic visitors can choose from whitewater rafting, kayaking, fishing, rock climbing, hiking and biking on the New River, Gauley River and in several nearby state and national parks. Visitors can also appreciate the scenery of the mountains, rivers, forests and waterfalls by taking leisurely hikes; hitching a ride on an aerial tram, taking off from the lodge at Hawks Nest State Park, descending from the cliff to a marina on W W W . C A L L W VA . C O M 23 http://www.callwva.com
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