West Virginia Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 26) wild & wonderful > Small-Town Gems Big Charm in a Small-Town Package By Ellen Hoffman For wonderful treasures all around West Virginia, seek out some of these small-town gems. From quaint downtowns with original shops and restaurants to cultural offerings you wouldn’t expect, each has a unique personality that makes it worth a visit. 1 2 Berkeley Springs: Spas and art. These words define this Eastern Panhandle town of little more than 600 residents. The thermal waters that attracted George Washington and his contemporaries to vacation here have morphed into a gaggle of spas, complemented by a blossoming creative arts scene throughout the town’s surrounding studios, galleries and shops. » Berkeley Springs, 304-258-9147 or f 3 g Davis & Thomas: These twin towns on the edge of Canaan Valley may be small, but you can stay busy for days in this area. Shop at MountainMade for artisan crafts, visit local breweries (yes, more than one!), listen to live music at The Purple Fiddle in Thomas and get your exercise by doing everything from skiing and snow tubing to hiking, fishing and canoeing. » Davis and Thomas, 800-782-2775, www.canaanvalley.org 800-477-8797, www.berkeleysprings.com History and architecture buffs love visiting this Southern West Virginia “town of millionaires,” once lauded as having residents with the highest per capita income in the country. Gaze at the turrets, porches and stained glass of dozens of elaborate Victorian homes built in the 1880s, glory days for the coal and railroad industries. Stop at the visitor center for a historical perspective. h Bramwell: » Bramwell, 304-248-8595, www.coalheritage.org 4 Elkins: The summer Augusta Heritage Festival at Davis & Elkins College is an explosion of artisan activity and music that enchants both professionals and wannabes – and has contributed to Elkins being named one of the 100 “Best Small Art Towns” in America. Now the new year-round American Mountain Theater, with a show of comedy and music styles ranging from gospel to bluegress, is earning Elkins the moniker, “The Branson of the East.” g » Elkins, 1-800-422-3304, www.randolphcountywv.com 26 1-800-CALL WVA http://www.canaanvalley.org http://www.berkeleysprings.com http://www.coalheritage.org http://www.randolphcountywv.com
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