Harpers Ferry, WV: worth a visit?

[weregoingtodw]

We're looking for somewhere to go for our spring break trip. Not necessarily a whole week (although we can take a whole week if we decide to). Does the Harpers Ferry area have enough to do in the spring during the week? Or would we be bored after a weekend?

Any other suggestions for great towns in the WV area? TIA!

 

[themilesfamily]

I've never thought of Harper's Ferry as a spring break destination. But it is a really cool place -- IF you are interested in history, Civil War history, museums, etc.

I used to live in D.C. and took the train to Harper's Ferry for weekends. It has one long main street that has museums, shops, cafes. "John Brown's fort" is at the end of main street. (When I say Main Street, it is very old-fashioned, very quaint. History has certainly been preserved here.) This town is also on the Appalachian Trail -- I THINK perhaps the Appalachian Trail offices are here. And there are a lot of outdoor activities -- canoeing, rafting, etc.

I don't associate this town with being a party place -- it is just very beautiful, very historic, very relaxing. I loved it.

Perhaps if you're looking for more excitement you could spend a night or two there and take the train into D.C.

 

[lvanleer]

I personally don't think there's enough in Harpers Ferry alone for a week however you could use it as a starting point and visit some other historic Civil War sites that are within a 1/2 days drive such as Antietam(the bloodiest day in the Civil War), MD; Gettysburg, PA; Frederick, MD.

 

[Poohnatic]

I used to live close by. It was great for a day trip, maybe an overnight if you want to do one of the 'ghost tours', but for a whole week, there isn't enough. However, depending on the Potomac, you might be able to do some tubing. there are a couple of outfitter companies on the Maryland side of 340, the road that brings you into Harper's Ferry. (Within two miles, you're in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia)

If you are into Civil War history, within an hour is Antietam and Gettysburg. An hour south is Front Royal, and the beginning of Skyline Drive. About an hours drive down Skyline Drive is Skyland, a hotel run by the National Park Service. I Skyland.

I lived in Hagerstown and Frederick for many years. There are plenty of things to do around the area, even if you're not into the Civil War history in the area. We never ran out of things to do when we lived there.

Enjoy your trip to the area!

Suzanne

 

[wdwmom2]

I agree with everyone saying a week is too much. As much as I love the area, I live alittle over 30 minutes away, a single day is more than enough time there. Others gave get ideas about other things to see. A quick trip to Washington DC can provide you with many, many days of things to do. Smithsonian museums, Holocost museum, The Vietnam Wall, more monuments than you can shake a stick at, the National Zoo, and I like just walking around Georgetown.

 

[PlutoPony]

Harper's Ferry is a day or so at most unless you want to do some day hiking of the Appalachian Trail, which runs right thru town. You could combine this with other places in the area however, most of which are Civil War related. Gettysburg and Antietam are fairly close, Manassas is about an hour away, and I'm sure there are others.....

 

[LadyyRedd]

Agree with the others....Harper's Ferry is a day trip, MAYBE 2. But there is so much more to do in Frederick, Gettysburg, Baltimore, DC, and down into VA that you could do that whole area for a week and not see even half of what is here.

Kimya

 

[weregoingtodw]

I should have given more info in my OP, sorry! It actually posted before I was quite ready to post, so I just let it go. Anyway...

We visit DC regularly so wouldn't want to do it that trip.

We're a family not looking for "traditional" spring break type trips.

We're big outdoors people (part of why we were looking at Harpers Ferry is because of its proximity to the AT).

Are there any other great small towns in that area or within 1-2 hours?

 

[LadyyRedd]

Are there any other great small towns in that area or within 1-2 hours?

How about Skyline or Luray Caverns in VA?

www.skylinecaverns.com
www.luraycaverns.com

Skyline's a little closer at 1 hour from HF, WV. Luray is about an hour and a half.

Kimya

 

[wvjovifan]

I live 4 miles from Harpers Ferry. You also have Charles Town Races and Slots that are 8 miles from HF. Horse racing, thousands of slot machines and all kinds of dining. The National Park at Harpers Ferry is a nice day trip. Hiking on the Appalacian Trail is popular. Shepherdstown is a quaint little town worth exploring and Sharpsburg Battlefield is also nearby. It's too cold to do any watersports, but during the summer, the river raft trips are popular.

 

[weregoingtodw]

Thanks for the input. I think we can find enough to amuse us for at least a few days! WV has some of the most gorgeous scenery that I've seen on the east coast.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I live about 15 minutes from there and I agree with the others that there isn't enough to do for more than a day.

Berkeley Springs has some nice sites and isn't too far. I would take a side trip to Baltimore and DC.

 

[themilesfamily]

Thanks for the input. WV has some of the most gorgeous scenery that I've seen on the east coast.

I agree with that! I've always thought that West Virginia is just beautiful. ENJOY your trip! Harper's Ferry is one of those places that just sticks with me as being a special place -- I really love it there. Have fun!