View Full Version : Towns close to Harpers Ferry
I am doing a section hike next month and my wife and two daughters are coming up to meet me and do the final day with me into Harpers Ferry. They want to come up the day before and stay close to Harpers Ferry but get to explore a new town. Any advice on a good shopping/resort type town they would enjoy staying in within an hour or so of Harpers Ferry?
There's always DC, Charlestown WV, and Martinsburg WV
Mrs Baggins
07-11-2008, 15:03
I don't know about a "resort" type town. There is Frederick MD, maybe 40 minutes away. The downtown "old town" area has tons of antiques stores, restaurants, a couple of very nice tea rooms, and all sorts of assorted shops. There is an art center that is free and always has some nice exhibits (Delaplane Art Center) downtown as well. On the south side of town is the major shopping - Francis Scott Key Mall, many of the big box stores, and a shopping center (I think it's called Northview Plaza) with a very good multiplex theater, and more restaurants and shops. Ample hotels are on the south side as well. Also downtown is The Trail House Outfitters on Market Street.
Yeah, I used to live in Frederick, it's nice. Also, although I've never been, at one time ALDHA was thinking of having the Gathering in Shepardstown, WV. It's a small college town right on the C&O Canal.
Gettysburg PA also comes to mind
Mrs Baggins
07-11-2008, 15:24
Yeah, I used to live in Frederick, it's nice. Also, although I've never been, at one time ALDHA was thinking of having the Gathering in Shepardstown, WV. It's a small college town right on the C&O Canal.
Yeah, me too, for 6 years. Loved it. In fact we're probably going to move back there in another year or so. There's also a great new market for natural and gourmet food items, The Common Market. They used to have a tiny store but moved into a much bigger one on the southside. Lots of bulk foods.
Gettysburg is at least a good hour up Hwy 15 from Frederick. That's a heavily traveled commute route, bumper to bumper at the wrong times of the day. Charlestown's only really big draw is the casino.
Cookerhiker
07-11-2008, 16:24
I also recommend Shepherdstown. While not a "resort," its historical district is interesting (Shepherdstown is the oldest town in WV) plus you can access the C&O Canal. And then another historic town - Sharpsburg, MD - is nearby where you can visit Antietam battlefield if you're into Civil War stuff.
Moon Monster
07-11-2008, 19:20
Can you say more about their expectations? Shopping as in boutique clothing or as in antiques and nick knacks?
Not knowing more, I think Annapolis, MD would be nice for that plan. But, it's more like 90-100 minutes away. DC is too big to casually explore in a day, but if they focus on a specific neighborhood (notably Georgetown), they would be happy. Old Town Alexandira, VA is another nice choice. Traffic out of either town towards Harpers can be very bad on weekdays, though.
I agree that Frederick has a nice mix of history and compactness. It has no real analog in North Carolina. In fact, many of the towns around there will have a different feel than NC because of their industrial roots and lasting density. But, all are lived-in towns with no real touristy feel.
Getting further afield, 2.5 hours puts Charlottesville, VA in range.
Blissful
07-11-2008, 20:01
But you will get a chance to explore Harpers Ferry too? That is a wonderful town in and of itself.
katholtz
07-11-2008, 22:35
neat downtown area, food and shops galore.
Another vote for Shepherdstown. Historic, eclectic, somewhat of a college town, and some great restaurants (bring $$$).
They would want any mix of shopping, I just think they would like a quaint, unique type of town that has shops etc, different from what they can find at home. Usually old parts of towns would have the antiques, and gift type shops they could burn up some time and $$'s with
uote=Moon Monster;663514]Can you say more about their expectations? Shopping as in boutique clothing or as in antiques and nick knacks?
Not knowing more, I think Annapolis, MD would be nice for that plan. But, it's more like 90-100 minutes away. DC is too big to casually explore in a day, but if they focus on a specific neighborhood (notably Georgetown), they would be happy. Old Town Alexandira, VA is another nice choice. Traffic out of either town towards Harpers can be very bad on weekdays, though.
I agree that Frederick has a nice mix of history and compactness. It has no real analog in North Carolina. In fact, many of the towns around there will have a different feel than NC because of their industrial roots and lasting density. But, all are lived-in towns with no real touristy feel.
Getting further afield, 2.5 hours puts Charlottesville, VA in range.[/quote]
Cookerhiker
07-12-2008, 09:17
neat downtown area, food and shops galore.
You mean Frederick, MD. Fredericksburg is another historic town but in Virginia south of DC and much too far (especially considering traffic) for what Joec's looking for.
How about advice on downtown Frederick places to stay.
Mrs Baggins
07-12-2008, 12:01
You mean Frederick, MD. Fredericksburg is another historic town but in Virginia south of DC and much too far (especially considering traffic) for what Joec's looking for.
Thanks for pointing that out! I was always having to explain to people that we lived in Frederick MD, NOT Fredericksburg VA! That's a whole 'nother world down there and nightmarish traffic on highway construction that will never be completed.
Mrs Baggins
07-12-2008, 12:05
How about advice on downtown Frederick places to stay.
There's not a lot right downtown. There used to be a B&B (McCleery's Flat on Market St) but I don't think it operates anymore. There are couple of other B&Bs. Most of the hotels are on the southside - every big chain hotel and hotel/suites are there. The best are probably any of the Marriott chain - Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, and Residence Inn. There all just minutes from the old town area southbound on Buckeystown Pike. Just head south on Market, make a right at the big intersection just past Costco, and head down the road. You can get to FSK Mall that way, too. They have big new Barnes and Noble Superstore now.
I just passed through it, so I don't know a whole lot about what's there, but Williamsport MD is obviously a cute little town. It's right where I-81 crosses into WV, a few miles southwest of Hagerstown.
wilconow
07-13-2008, 09:55
Middleburg VA, if you're into fancy stuff http://www.middleburgonline.com/index.html
JFK + Jackie used to relax there
Leesburg VA's downtown is a little smaller than Frederick, but nice as well. Both have the standard cheaper chain hotels and nicer ones
Cookerhiker
07-13-2008, 11:00
I just passed through it, so I don't know a whole lot about what's there, but Williamsport MD is obviously a cute little town. It's right where I-81 crosses into WV, a few miles southwest of Hagerstown.
And the C&O Canal passes through it. Not a whole lot to the town though but it's worth one visit.
Cookerhiker
07-13-2008, 11:02
You mean Frederick, MD. Fredericksburg is another historic town but in Virginia south of DC and much too far (especially considering traffic) for what Joec's looking for.
Thanks for pointing that out! I was always having to explain to people that we lived in Frederick MD, NOT Fredericksburg VA! That's a whole 'nother world down there and nightmarish traffic on highway construction that will never be completed.
I've always wondered if they were named after the same "Frederick." A while ago, the Washington Post had a piece on the origin of place names but I forgot what it said about the Fredericks.