(In the voice of the Town)
Welcome to West Virginia’s oldest town! Yes, I may be “old”, but I am very “hip”! Within my borders are some the coolest shops and restaurants in the State. By staying with me at the Thomas Shepherd Inn, you will be able to stroll our streets without worrying about parking, (which, by the way, is very limited in my town). As a guest of the Thomas Shepherd Inn, you will have access to free parking and free Wi-Fi.
Here are some of the sites and activities that I have to offer guests of the Thomas Shepherd Inn.
First, after having a wonderful night’s sleep on the most comfortable bedding you have ever slept on, take a nice warm shower then meet me downstairs for a light bite, with fresh coffee or tea, then head out for a brisk morning walk.
Heading north on Duke Street for a few blocks as we pass Ram Stadium, home to the Shepherd University Rams, we will be overlooking the Potomac River, looking into the State of Maryland. If we have our bikes with us, we can cross the river and ride our bikes on the C&O Canal Towpath. If we are adventuresome, we will continue south on the towpath for 12 miles to Harpers Ferry! If we decide that a short walk is all we want to do today, we cross the bridge back to Shepherdstown and continue our stroll through campus.
Feeling a slight chill in the air, we decide to stop at the campus bookstore to purchase a sweatshirt. After mingling in the excitement of campus life we notice a flyer for a free concert offered by the school of music for tonight’s entertainment.
Leaving campus we walk one block to the site of the original Thomas Shepherd Mill, located on the “town run”, a stream that flows through town. Admiring all the historical homes as we meander through the streets of Shepherdstown, we are feeling a little hungry! We have a great selection of restaurants to choose from. Are we in the mood for a tradition American lunch? Then let’s try Betty’s for a meat and three, or the Blue Moon Café on the banks of the town run for a salad and/or burger. If we decide on ethnic food, we have a great selection from Mexican at Maria’s Taqueria to Korean Fusion food of the Green Pineapple. If sushi is desired, we will select Kome Thai and Sushi Bistro. How about Appalachian cuisine at Alma Bea’s? Or French cuisine at the newly re-opened Bistro 112? There are numerous choices for such a small town.
After lunch we decide to shop the many art galleries located along German Street. As we proceed across the tracks, we must stop in O’Hurley’s General Store to browse and purchase from an eclectic mix of items. On Thursday evenings, O’Hurley’s has live traditional folk and dance music. All this shopping has made us want an afternoon pickup, so we stop by the Shepherdstown Sweet Shop for a delicious cookie. As we make our way back to the Thomas Shepherd Inn, we pass some beautiful old churches along the way. Many of these churches were established in the 18th century and have beautiful outdoor gardens.
As we return to our comfortable room at the Thomas Shepherd Inn to freshen up, we may be greeted with a selection of afternoon goodies. After freshening up and reading the local information provided by the Inn, we decide to sample some of the local brews in downtown. Our first stop is the Mecklenburg Inn where we sit outside in the English style garden while drinking our favorite beer. Our next beer stop is at the Devonshire Arms Café and Pub. Noting that Shepherdstown was founded while under British Rule and King George II, we toast Merry Ole England. Yes, I used to have a pronounced English accent! Continuing with our beer tour, we decide to take a walk back through campus and on to the Bavarian Inn. Their on-site local brewery produces some of the finest beer in the area.
Some of our party would like to visit some of the nearby wineries, but we decide that that will be left until tomorrow. For now, we will walk back to the Thomas Shepherd Inn to prepare for dinner. We will relax on the upstairs outdoor porch while sipping on our beverage from the retro guest refrigerator. Reservations have been made for us by my good friends, Innkeepers Melissa and Joe, for the Press Room restaurant, located a few steps from the Inn. Thank goodness we have walked a great deal today, or we would have gained a few pounds. We may also opt for entertainment at the recently re-opened historic Opera House located less than 2 blocks from the Inn.
As the busy day closes, we retire to our comfortable room, snuggle into bed and prepare for a good night’s sleep, knowing we have so much to do in the area tomorrow! The best part of the day was being able to walk to every activity from the Thomas Shepherd Inn, located in the Historical District, and so convenient to all Shepherdstown activities. Maybe tomorrow we will visit some nearby wineries, Antietam Battlefield, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the Horse Racing Track and Casino in Charles Town, play a round at local course Club at Cress Creek, or take an evening Mystery Walk through Shepherdstown with Janet. Again, so much to see near me!
