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By WP Creative Group

November 8, 2021

All decked out for the holidays, this charming West Virginia town offers updated accommodations, great food and a slate of activities that make it ideal for a festive trip to celebrate with family and friends.

As travel makes a comeback, Americans are yearning for accessible destinations to trade their holidays at home for a holiday away. But instead of long-haul trips to urban destinations, travelers are choosing close-to-home getaways as their ideal travel option right now.

Enter Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, where the entire community comes together to create a magical event for locals and visitors alike. As a cherished local tradition for years, “Hometown Holidays” transforms downtown Berkeley Springs into a winter wonderland, making it the perfect place to visit this holiday season.

Plan a close-to-home holiday getaway

Just a 90-minute drive from the Washington D.C. metro area, this small, picturesque town in the Appalachians sprinkles its holiday magic throughout the entire winter season. During November and December, residents of Berkeley Springs stroll the bedecked downtown area of festive, twinkling lights, holiday-themed decorated meters, refurbished street lanterns and decorated Christmas trees. Little ones stand on tip-toes to put their wish lists in the special Santa mailbox maintained by volunteers at The Bath Christmas Project. Friends gather round “elfie” stations for photos to capture their holiday memories. In the town’s gazebo, a crowd gathers to sing carols and hear a child read, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” This charming town feels like it’s straight out of a holiday movie.

“We’re a small, close-knit community who looks out for one another,” says Lori Hansroth, Executive Director of the Berkeley Springs-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce and resident of Berkeley springs for 25 years. “The comment we hear a lot from visitors is that everyone here is friendly and welcoming.”

Reconnect with loved ones through small-town, festive fun

No need to wait until December to get in the holiday mood. For many local businesses, like The Country Inn, the holidays start around Thanksgiving.

“Our chef, Scott Collinash, creates an awesome Thanksgiving dinner, and that kicks off the Christmas season,” says Matt Omps, General Manager of The Country Inn, a 70-room property he and his family purchased in 2013. “My mom Barbara and sister Lara decorate the property, including 15 Christmas trees and life-size nutcrackers. It’s beautiful time to visit the inn.

Located in the heart of Berkeley Springs, the inn provides guests with easy access to the walkable downtown area and sits next to Berkeley Springs State Park. “We’ve got a lot of families and friends that meet here over the holidays. They hang out, have a glass of wine in front of the fireplace and play board games,” Omps says. “They don’t have to cook, so they spend time getting reacquainted with one another in a really homey atmosphere.”

Berkeley Springs officially launches its 2021 Hometown Holidays festivities on November 27 with Small Business Saturday, featuring discounts, prizes, and special events from local merchants such as Berkeley Springs Memories, Mineral Springs Trading Co., and Sage Moon. A slate of holiday activities continues through the end of the year, with the line-up including both beloved traditions and new events. For instance, locals typically fill the downtown area for the Annual Town of Bath’s Winter Fest parade, held this year at 5pm on December 4, followed by the tree lighting in Berkeley Springs State Park.

To everyone’s delight, the Cocoa Crawl returns. This free event (beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 3), maps out local shops to visit, each offering a different holiday treat or cocoa flavor (think red velvet, salted caramel and hazelnut). Visitors can embrace a warm cup of cheer and meet local shop owners. Merchants stay open later, allowing visitors to peruse the downtown marketplace with holiday shopping list in hand.

Shop, dine, and relax like a local

Ready to shop local for some unique holiday gifts? “The shop owners really out-do themselves with decorations and filling their shelves with unique items,” says Hansroth. She suggests visiting Inspired Chaos, known for its 11-foot tree and show-stopping seasonal decorations.

This year, the Morgan Arts Council (MAC) Ice House Gallery continues its tradition of hosting a special holiday gift show with handcrafted items by regional artisans. Called “A Season of Wonder,” the event runs Nov. 13-Jan. 3 and curates a unique selection of items including holiday ornaments, jewelry, wearables and other artistic treasures.

With no chain restaurants in Berkeley Springs, you’ll want to dine where the locals eat. If you have kids, bring them to Charlotte’s Café. “Little ones might spy one of the owners, John Mason, and believe it really is Santa,” Hansroth says, noting the café offers several opportunities to visit Mason dressed as Santa during the season. Other locals favorites include Lot 12 (fine dining in a restored Victorian house), Tari’s Café and Naked Olive.

After all the holiday activity, it’s time to unwind. Atasia Spa mixes their own vanilla pumpkin spice sugar scrub in-house during the holidays, says Frankie Tan, who’s owned the spa since 1998. “It makes the spa — and guests — smell so good!” Despite its size (6,000 square feet), Atasia Spa feels warm and intimate. Guests can relax in serenity rooms after (or between) services or head to the Zen-like garden outside surrounded by lush landscaping and two waterfalls. Like the rest of town, Atasia Spa gets into the festive spirit with decorations and special packages for the holiday season.

Berkeley Springs is actually known as a spa town, thanks to the healing mineral waters that flow out of the state park’s spring, adjacent to The Country Inn. “We use the same water in our facilities, so waters and healing have always been the big draw,” says Omps. He notes that many of the town’s activities feed off of the healing and spa atmosphere, from canoeing and hiking to rejuvenation and pampering.

“Imagine getting snowed in and you can walk to the coffee shop, build a snowman in the park, sit by a fire at the local inn, soak in a Roman Bath and visit with local shop owners without ever having to move your car,” says Hansroth. “We’re all that and more.”

Ready to experience the warmth of the season and the kindness of Berkeley Springs community? Plan your trip to Berkeley Springs, WV.

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