By WP BrandStudio
November 4, 2020
How a trip to Berkeley Springs, WV can keep kids engaged in their education—even if they aren’t attending school in person.
School closures mean more than just learning from home and not seeing classmates. They also mean putting an indefinite hold on one of the most valuable learning tools that schools have been utilizing for years: field trips. These educational outings get kids out of the four walls of their schools and into places where they can get hands-on lessons about the subjects they’re studying in their classes.
Fortunately, families can still plan their own field trips, and for those in the D.C. area, Berkeley Springs, WV—with its rich history and warm, healing mineral waters—has everything one needs. From a geology exhibit that that explains how the town’s famed springs came to be, to a farm-to-table restaurant that turns dinner into a conversation, the town is sure to provide a much-needed reprieve from on-screen learning.
“We’re open and happy to welcome visitors,” said Lori Hansroth, director of the Museum of the Berkeley Springs. Read on for a sampling of how to enjoy an educational trip to Berkeley Springs this fall.
Day One
Start off with a visit to the scenic Prospect Overlook, which is part of the Washington Heritage Trail (WHT), a 136-mile byway of historic sites that spans West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle. The overlook boasts a view of “three states, two rivers, the railroad and the Chesapeake and Ohio canal,” said Jeanne Mozier, vice president of Travel Berkeley Springs, who added that it gives a “transportation history” of the region.
Other stops along the trail include the former site of Throgmorton’s Inn, which hosted George and Martha Washington during an early visit to the springs, and Camp Hill Cemetery, which was used to station soldiers during both the French and Indian War and the Civil War.
Continue to learn about Morgan County’s history and infrastructure with a visit to the Paw Paw Tunnel, described by Hansroth as “an engineering marvel.” It’s the largest man-made structure on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, made up of almost six million bricks. Hikers and cyclists can travel through the restored towpath while learning about its origins from the interpretive signs stationed there.
After working up an appetite while exploring stops on the WHT, travel along Route 9 to Lot 12 Public House. This farm-to-table restaurant offers an educational spin on dinner, thanks to the thoughtfully sourced ingredients in its dishes; an order of the crisp goat cheese salad can be accompanied by a conversation about the local farm that the cheese came from, and the environmental significance of small, sustainable agriculture. (The restaurant is only open for dinner on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.)
When it’s time to turn in, visitors will have ample lodging options to choose from. Hansroth recommends staying at Cacapon Resort State Park, which has 13 cabins open all year round. Lately, travelers have been seeking out individual cabins like these as well as cottages and vacation homes, thanks to the privacy they offer, said Mozier.
“We have lots of those out in the countryside,” said Mozier, who noted that Berkeley Springs Cottage Rentals is “the largest of our lodging providers.”
If cabins and cottages aren’t preferred, tourists can stay in the brand-new 78-room lodge slated to open in Cacapon State Park this December (call for details). In addition to the new lodge, an existing lodge is being renovated, and will add another 40 rooms when it opens in January. And for travelers who want to be a bit closer to the center of town, Hansroth recommends staying at the Country Inn, a cozy historic inn with a restaurant operating at 50% capacity.
Day Two
Start the second day off right with a delicious breakfast at Charlotte’s Cafe, which offers outdoor seating as weather permits. Enjoy banana bread french toast, a favorite among locals, or a vegetarian scrambled egg bowl.
Then trek out into the nearby Berkeley Springs State Park, which Hansroth explained is the heart of “all things historical in our community.” While visiting the park, stop a series of shallow spring-fed pools and a channel of spring water that tourists have enjoyed for centuries; George Washington was a frequent visitor of nearby natural baths when he visited in the area in the 18th century.
For more local history, head to the Museum of the Berkeley Springs, which is currently limiting its capacity and hours of operation. Exhibits can teach kids about the Indigenous Americans native to the area; show them different vintage swimsuits that have been worn in the nearby springs over the course of 200 years; and offer information on James Rumsey, who lived in Berkeley Springs and invented the first steamboat. One of Mozier’s favorite things about the museum is the geology exhibit that teaches kids about the wonder of the town’s famous water. At its center is an astounding 400-pound faceted silica crystal showcasing the physiographic changes that helped form the springs.
After taking in Berkeley Springs’ rich history and landscape, stop by Tari’s Café to nosh on their crab cakes (a crowd favorite), then embark on the Berkeley Springs Walking Tour. It’s “a great way to get in some physical exercise while learning about architecture and history,” said Hansroth. Key stops along the way include the Ice House, the town’s art center, which houses new shows every eight weeks, as well as the Morgan County Public Library, a beautiful building constructed on a lot once owned by James Smith, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Before retiring for the night, enjoy an early dinner at the Coolfont Resort’s Treetop Restaurant and Lounge—operating at limited capacity—along with a slice of coconut cake, which Mozier referred to as the best she’s ever eaten. The recently renovated Coolfont Resort itself, another stop on the WHT, is also a great place to stay while in town.
Day Three
For the final breakfast of the trip, head to Southern Belle Truck Stop and Restaurant for classic American fare; the pancakes and breakfast potatoes are sure to please.
After filling up, head down to Cacapon Resort State Park for a day of learning in nature. Cacapon was the first state park to be completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Its Nature Center, which is operating at reduced capacity, includes educational exhibits about West Virginia’s wildlife and cultural history and a large taxidermy collection.
To see Berkeley Springs’s wildlife firsthand, venture out on a guided—and physically distanced—hike on one of Cacapon’s 27 miles of trails. The Ridge Trail is a 1.5-mile family-friendly walk that Valerie Chaney, park activities coordinator/park naturalist, takes groups out on regularly. Another favorite is the Laurel Trail, a gentle two-mile loop with great views. During these hikes, Chaney teaches visitors about wildlife tracks spotted on the trails, usually left by animals like foxes and raccoons. She also identifies native birds and trees in the park.
“[Educational travel] is priceless,” said Chaney. “It’s helping kids and families connect to their natural world—teaching them, getting them excited about finding their own tool sets to continue to explore once they leave.”
On your way out of town, stop at the Ridge Fish Hatchery, a state-owned trout hatchery, in time to help the staff feed the fish at around 3:30 p.m. Learn why hatcheries like this exist, the varieties of trout they raise and how they stock the local streams and lakes with them. It’s a perfect way to end the day (and trip).
Likely because of the pandemic and the recent resurgence of road trips, this year has brought a lot of new visitors to Berkeley Springs. Many families who hadn’t heard of it before came to love the area after learning of its close proximity to D.C.—and, of course, its educational merits.
“As a [former] teacher, you search for ways to make history real for students. Educational travel by families can make that happen,” said Hansroth.
Learn more about visiting Berkeley Springs, WV.
Sources:
https://berkeleysprings.com/whats-new-berkeley-springs-wv/
https://berkeleysprings.com/trail/trailmap.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/04/travel/to-many-travelers-2020-was-the-summer-of-1965.html
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