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Plan Your Visit

Grocery Stores

  • Weis Market (217 Oak Lee Drive, Ranson, WV)
    Hours: 7 AM - 9 PM Monday - Saturday, 7 AM - 8 PM Sunday
    5 miles away

  • Food Lion (85 Maddex Square Drive, Shepherdstown. WV)
    Hours : 7 AM - 11 PM daily
    5 miles away

Restaurants, Bars, Bakeries, & Coffeeshops

  • Alma Bea (Shepherdstown)
    Homemade Appalachian dishes sourced from family recipes in the community, paired with exceptional cocktails - an absolute MUST TRY while in town! Hours: 5 PM - 8:30 PM Wednesday - Saturday, 12 PM - 3:30 PM Sunday
  • Bistro 112 (Shepherdstown)
    A neighborhood French bistro in the center of historic downtown offering creative French food made fresh from local sources with excellent wine and cocktails. Hours: 11 AM - 10 PM Tuesday - Saturday, 10 AM - 4 PM Sunday
  • Betty’s Restaurant (Shepherdstown)
    Classic diner that is always a great choice for breakfast or lunch. Everything on the menu is good and you can’t go wrong with their from-scratch crab cakes. Cash only. Hours: 7 AM - 4 PM Monday - Saturday, 7 AM - 3 PM Sunday
  • The Press Room (Shepherdstown)
    Upscale restaurant serving New American fare in a brick-walled space in an old newspaper building. Hours : 5 PM - 9 PM Monday - Thursday (Closed Tuesday); 5 PM - 10 PM Friday and Saturday; 10:30 AM - 2:00 PM & 4 PM - 8PM Sunday
  • The Bavarian Inn, Resort, & Brewing Company (Shepherdstown)
    German restaurant and brewery with beautiful views overlooking the Potomac. Walk in and grab a drink anytime, but best to call ahead for dinner reservations.
    Hours : 7 AM - 9 PM Monday - Friday, 7 AM - 10 PM Saturday, 7 AM - 8 PM Sunday
  • The Mecklenburg Inn (Shepherdstown)
    Beer & casual bar bites in an English-style pub with vintage decor, live music & a backyard patio.
    Hours: 3 PM - 1:30 AM Monday - Friday; 12 PM - 1:30 AM Saturday and Sunday
  • Blue Moon Cafe (Shepherdstown)
    Cozy casual eatery with salads, pizza & sandwiches.
    Hours : 11AM - 5 PM Monday - Thursday; 12 PM - 8 PM Friday - Sunday
  • Lilah (Shepherdstown)
    Quality modern American food in a casual sit-down environment.
    Hours: 5 PM - 9 PM Tuesday; 10:30 AM - 9 PM Wednesday - Thursday; 11:30 AM - 10 PM Friday - Saturday; 10:30 AM - 3 PM Sunday; Closed on Monday
  • Maria’s Taqueria (Shepherdstown)
    Cool, colorful taqueria featuring a chalkboard menu of Mexican eats, along with canned craft beer.
    Hours: 11AM - 9 PM Monday - Saturday; Closed on Sunday
  • The Green Pineapple (Shepherdstown)
    Modern casual Korean fusion, including sushi, poke bowls, tacos, and ramen.
    Hours: 12PM - 8 PM, Tuesday - Saturday, 12 PM - 7 PM Sunday, Closed on Monday
  • Shepherdstown Sweet Shop Bakery (Shepherdstown)
    Bakery and cafe with sandwiches, as well as a full range of sweets including breads, cookies, pastries, and muffins.
    Hours: 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday - Saturday; 9 AM - 4 PM Sunday
  • Black Dog Coffee Company (Shenandoah Junction)
    Coffee roastery and coffee shop, also carries meats and cheeses locally sourced from farms near Rock Spring Retreat.
    Hours: 6:30 AM - 7:30 PM, Monday -Friday; 7 AM - 6 PM Saturday, 8 AM - 5PM Sunday
  • Ortega’s Taco Shop (Charles Town)
    The Ortega family provides delicious authentic tacos made from locally sourced ingredients in a casual, non-fussy atmosphere. This is your stop for can’t-be-beat tacos!
    Hours: 11AM - 8PM, Tuesday - Friday; 8 AM - 8PM on Saturday; Closed Sunday and Monday.
  • Nutter's Ice Cream (Sharpsburg)
    Long-running parlor supplying inventive cones, sundaes, and other frozen desserts in a quaint storefront. Seriously delicious and cash only.
    Hours: 2 PM - 8 PM everyday.
  • Kelley Farm Kitchen (Harpers Ferry)
    Intimate, down-to-earth mainstay for locally sourced delicious vegan dishes.
    Hours: 11 AM - 9 PM, Thursday and Friday; 11 AM - 8 PM, Saturday; 12 PM - 5 PM Sunday; closed Monday - Wednesday.
  • Ravenwood Pub (Berkeley Springs)
    Eclectic and casual spot with fantastic food and a wide range of beer and wine offerings. More than worth the scenic 30 minute drive - and be sure to check out the warm springs (including George Washington’s bathtub) while you’re there.
    Hours: 6 PM - 10 PM (hours can be flexible based on your need), Wednesday - Saturday. By reservation only, call Regina at 727-742-8333.
  • Brix 27 (Martinsburg)
    Stylish wine bar offering a large selection of wines by the glass, plus updated American plates.
    Hours: 11 AM - 2 PM and 4 PM - 9 PM, Monday - Thursday; 11 AM - 2 PM and 4 PM - 10 PM, Friday and Saturday; closed on Sunday.

Activities & Entertainment

    • Wine Country
      Virginia’s Loudon County is home to over 40 wineries and vineyards organized into 6 clusters, all of which are within a short distance from Rock Spring Retreat. You could easily make an entire trip out of visiting these beautiful properties and enjoying their locally grown wine. While you’re there, grab a couple of bottles and bring them back to Rock Spring Retreat to enjoy outside or from the sunroom!

    • Breweries
      In addition to wineries, there are also a number of breweries close by that offer great locally produced beer. Several of the breweries also have outdoor space with great views, food, and live music, making it easy to spend a whole afternoon there. Harpers Ferry Brewing, Bear Chase Brewing Company, Dirt Farm Brewing, and Harvest Gap Brewery are all good choices.

    • Antique Shopping
      The area within a 50 mile radius of Rock Spring Retreat, including the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, as well as western Virginia and Maryland, is an antique lover's dream. There are dozens of small and large shops with treasures of all kinds waiting to be found. Jump into your search by checking out this list of places near Shepherdstown, as well as Two Crows Antique Mall, which is less than 3 miles from Rock Spring Retreat.

    • Hiking
      The area around Rock Spring Retreat offers some of the best hiking and most scenic views in the region all year round. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking to get your heart rate up and spend all day outdoors or are more in the mood for a casual hike and excuse to check out a brewery.

      The 2,178 mile Appalachian Trail, which runs up the east coast from Georgia to Maine, reaches its midway point in Harpers Ferry. This makes the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park the perfect jumping off point for enjoying the natural beauty of the area. From the park you can access 9 different trails offering varying views and levels of effort. Of these, the Maryland Heights Trail is among the more strenuous, but rewards you with an unparalleled view of Harpers Ferry and its location at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.

      If you are looking for a hike that doesn’t fluctuate in elevation, check out the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal National Park. The 184 mile long C&O Canal operated for nearly 100 years as a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures. From Shepherdstown you can access the canal via Lock 38, which has a parking lot and easy access to the canal. For something more structured, you can also hike along the canal between Harpers Ferry and Shepherdstown using the 12 mile C&O Canal Hike 13.

    • Farmers Markets
      Both Shepherdstown and Charles Town have farmers markets in their historic downtown areas, which are great opportunities to go into town and check things out. The Shepherdstown Farmers Market is located on South King Street directly behind the library and is open each Sunday from late March - December from 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM. The Charles Town Farmers Market is located at 100 Block of S. Samuel Street (across the street from the Charles Town Library) and is open every Saturday from April - October from 9 AM - 12 PM

    • Tubing & Whitewater Rafting
      Its location on both the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers makes Harpers Ferry a water lover’s dream. No matter your preferred pace, there’s something to do on the river for everyone. Harpers Ferry Adventure Center and River Riders Family Adventure Resort both offer a wide range of activities, including whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, white water tubing, flat water tubing, ziplines, and ropes courses.

    • Shepherdstown Ghost Tour
      Shepherdstown was founded in 1762 and has been witness to some of the most significant events in American history, including the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. This history has brought with it plenty of stories of souls who still linger in the area, including a TV show called Ghosts of Shepherdstown. The Shepherdstown Ghost Tour will take you through Shepherdstown with a costumed guide who leads you by candlelight from one haunted and historic location to the next. The tour is a great way to see Shepherdstown, learn more about its history, and decide for yourself whether the stories are true!

    • Washington Heritage Trail
      The Washington family (of George Washington fame) has significant ties to the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, including Charles Town, which is named for our first president’s brother, whose home Happy Retreat is located there. The Washington Heritage trail is a 136-mile National Scenic Byway through the easternmost counties of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. The trail forms a loop through the three counties and traces the footsteps of George Washington and the marks his family left in the Eastern Panhandle, including several within a very short distance of Rock Spring Retreat. In addition to homes and sites related to the Washingtons, the Washington Heritage Trail also includes various museums, historic districts, parks, and other sites of historic significance in the area.

    • Antietam National Battlefield
      Antietam National Battlefield is a National Park Service-protected area along Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Washington County, northwestern Maryland. It commemorates the American Civil War Battle of Antietam that occurred on September 17, 1862. The area, situated on fields among the Appalachian foothills near the Potomac River, features the battlefield site and visitor center, a national military cemetery, stone arch Burnside's Bridge, and a field hospital museum. In addition to the historic significance of the battlefield, the park itself is set among rolling hills and some of the best scenery in the area.

    • The Rumsey Monument
      Among the many historical events that Shepherdstown has witnessed includes the first successful use of the steam engine to propel a boat in 1787. By inventing the steamboat, James Rumsey revolutionized water-going transportation and commerce around the world, all of which began in Shepherdstown. To commemorate this spot in history, the town constructed the James Rumsey monument and park in 1915. The park is located on a cliff in walking distance of downtown and offers beautiful views of the bend in the Potomac River where the steamboat came to life.

    • Historic Shepherdstown Museum
      The Historic Shepherdstown Museum is located in the Entler Hotel, at the corner of Princess and East German Street in Shepherdstown. The first floor of the museum holds the dining and sitting chambers. An invitation to a dinner at the Entler in honor of Colonel John Francis Hamtramck in 1847 sets the tone. Upstairs there is a room furnished as an old hotel bedroom. It is in this bedroom that the hotel’s resident ghost, William Payton Smith is said to sometimes spend the night. Smith engaged in a duel in the summer of 1809 with a friend and was mortally wounded in the exchange of fire. He was brought to the Entler Hotel and died of his wounds in a few hours. The museum is open from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturdays and 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Sundays from April through October and the two weeks of Christmas in Historic Shepherdstown.

    Local History

    About Shepherdstown

    Chartered in 1762, Shepherdstown is the oldest town in West Virginia and 30 years older than the United States. With many of its buildings pre-dating the Revolutionary War, you will find history and charm around every corner. Situated along the banks of the Potomac River, and just 70 miles north of Washington, DC, and west of Baltimore, MD, Shepherdstown is a mixture of metropolitan thought and rustic ambience.

    During its over 200 years, Shepherdstown has played a pivotal role at important periods of American history. It was in Morgan’s Grove Park, just 3 miles from Rock Spring Retreat, that in July 1775 just over 100 backcountry militiamen set out on the 600 mile Bee Line march to Cambridge, Massachusetts in response to General George Washington’s request for men to compose the Continental Army at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. It is for this reason that Morgan’s Grove Park is known as the birthplace of the United States Army. You can find more information about Shepherdstown sites associated with the colonial and Revolutionary War period here.

    Shepherdstown again sat at the crossroads of history during the American Civil War where it was pivotal in Lee’s Maryland campaign of 1862 and many of the 1,500 days of armed conflict in our country. During the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, and Shepherdstown, the town switched hands between the Union and Confederacy on multiple occasions. It was during this time that nearly every building in town served as a massive makeshift field hospital for 8,000 wounded Confederate soldiers. The plaque in front of Trinity Episcopal Church on German Street tells the story of how the church’s congregation shifted back and forth from Union soldiers to Confederate soldiers again and again over the course of the war. Rock Spring Retreat has its own story in this chapter of American history, when in November 1864 Henry Miller Snyder, a Confederate soldier home on leave, was killed in the foyer of the house where you are staying by intruders who were trying to rob his elderly parents. To learn more about the fascinating history of Shepherdstown, plan a visit to the Historic Shepherdstown Museum on German Street.

    Shepherdstown is also home to Shepherd University, a public liberal arts college established in 1871 and home to a student population of 3,100. Each July, Shepherd University is host to the Contemporary American Theatre Festival, an annual festival of new plays by American playwrights. Each summer Shepherdstown swells with the actors, directors, choreographers, technicians, and coordinators from around the world who bring the festival to life. In its 2019 season, the festival Issued over 18,500 tickets to 6,000 patrons from 38 states, DC, and around the globe.

    With its mix of history and culture, it's no wonder that Budget Travel lists Shepherdstown as one of the Coolest Small Towns in America.