Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 80

DO
; Winter Camping at Canaan Valley
Resort State Park (Davis). While most
state park campgrounds are closed for the
winter, Canaan Valley campgrounds remain
open for those who seek the peace and
quiet of a night in the frozen woods. It's a
back-to-nature experience you just can't
get any other time of the year. If you're
the hot chocolate by the fireplace type,
Canaan Valley and nearby Blackwater Falls
state parks offer an array of cabins. YR
canaanresort.com
; Dolly Sods Red Creek Trail (Dry Fork).
The out-and-back trail through snowy
meadows is perfect for a winter day,
especially with a good map in hand. YR
www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recreation/
recarea/?recid=12366
; Spa at Berkeley Springs (Berkeley
Springs). In our nation's first spa town,
more than 55 different spa treatments are
available. The original spa, now Berkeley
Springs State Park, offers hot whirlpool
tubs, Roman baths in mineral water, scrubs,
rubs and assorted massages to warm you
up. YR wvstateparks.com/park/berkeleysprings-state-park
FROM
TOP: The
Elkins Winter Train
departs on Friday and
Saturday.
Green Bank Observatory
conducts monthly star
parties.
Berkeley Springs Spa
offers 55 different
treatments.
MOUNTAIN RAIL WEST VIRGINIA
GREEN BANK OBSERVATORY
; Fasnacht (Helvetia). Each February
in this hidden village settled by Swiss
immigrants, a Mardi Gras-like bash before
Lent celebrates the end of winter. Hundreds
of people don on scary masks and burn
Ol' Man Winter in an effigy. They parade
through town with lanterns, ending up at
the Star Band Hall for music, dance and
yodeling. W helvetiawv.com
; Smoke Hole Caverns (Cabins). No
matter what's going on above ground,
Smoke Hole Caverns remains the same: a
lost world of bizarre and beautiful mineral
formations. Temps are a constant 56
degrees and the only sound is the distant
drip of water feeding the growing stalactites
and stalagmites. YR smokehole.com/aboutthe-caverns.htm
;
Mountain Rail West Virginia's Elkins
Winter Special (Elkins). Decompress after
the holidays by taking a four-hour ride on
a vintage diesel-powered train. Marvel at
stunning views of the Tygart River while you
enjoy a delicious cold cut lunch from your
all-enclosed, climate-controlled train car.
The Elkins Winter Special train leaves Elkins
Depot on Friday and Saturday mornings
between the months of January and March.
YR mountainrailwv.com/tour/elkins-winterspecial
;
Green Bank Observatory (Green Bank).
Contemplate the vastness of the universe
with a visit to Green Bank's great big radio
telescope, the size of one and a half football
fields, and perhaps taking an insider hightech
tour. The science center allows visitors
to explore the effects of signal interference,
play with a laser beam and learn about the
discoveries in radio astronomy. Monthly star
parties treat visitors to views of the clear
winter sky through optical telescopes. YR
greenbankobservatory.org/visit/science-center
WEST VIRGINIA TOURISM
80 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

http://www.canaanresort.com http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recreation/recarea/?recid=12366 http://www.wvstateparks.com/park/berkeley-springs-state-park http://www.helvetiawv.com http://www.mountainrailwv.com/tour/elkins-winter-special http://www.smokehole.com/about-the-caverns.htm http://www.greenbankobservatory.org/visit/science-center http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023