Why West Virginia
Seldom will you find an area so rich in opportunity, so accessible to large cities, yet so unaffected by the detriments of growth.
Visualize if you will, the city of Martinsburg in Berkeley County, next to I-81, with Maryland and Virginia each within a 10 minute drive. With the MARC Train servicing the town daily, commuters and tourists make the trip to Washington, D.C. with little or no effort. Imagine being able to enjoy Nationals baseball, Redskins football, championship tennis and golf, not to mention theater, opera and museums all within driving distance. And the best part is the ‘hustle and bustle’ of the city life can be left behind when you come back home to a charming, quiet community.
The advantages of the community are enhanced by surrounding features. Just east of Martinsburg, along the Potomac River, Shepherdstown in Jefferson County is one of West Virginia’s oldest towns and home to a variety of 18th and
19th century architecture. Elegant shops and restored homes, many converted into bed and breakfast inns, make a walking tour charming and pleasurable.
Education at it’s Best.
Shepherd University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, pre-professional programs and non-credit continuing education opportunities. Constantly expanding to meet the ever growing student body, Shepherd is proud to boast of both fine academic and athletic programs. Shepherdstown is also the host of performances by the Millbrook Orchestra. Through the generous donations and financial support of area businesses, this exceptional orchestra society presents live professional programs and new compositions by local and guest artists.
Entertainment For All
Charles Town, only 15 minutes from Martinsburg, has a variety of pleasures, from horseracing, slots and dining at Charles Town Races and Slots to car racing at Summit Point. Enjoy its historical downtown, then continue further east to Harpers Ferry. The whole town is history, quaint shops, tours and reenactments plus white water rafting for a change of pace. In addition, the Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival is held twice a year, featuring fine crafts and artist demonstrations.
Live. Relax. Enjoy.
West of Martinsburg, in Morgan County, is Berkeley Springs. Known for it’s ‘baths’, Berkeley Springs once drew American Indians from the Carolinas to Canada. As America’s first spa, its popularity with George Washington and Lord Fairfax has drawn thousands to the warm mineral waters and roman baths. Today, in addition to visiting the baths, day-trippers and weekenders come to Berkeley Springs for the fine dining and numerous antique and specialty shops. In the fall, the town puts on the Apple Butter Festival where you can enjoy blue grass and ethnic music, crafts, farmers market and, of course, many varieties of homemade apple butter. If you’re the outdoor type, Cacapon Resort State Park has many activities from golf and swimming to hiking, horseback riding and fishing. Come for an afternoon or an entire vacation while you get to know Morgan County.
In addition to being rich in history, the Eastern Panhandle supports fine golf courses, tennis courts and retreats. For example, The Woods Resort – a 200 acre ‘respite’ nestled in the Sleepy Creek Mountains, is only 90 minutes from Washington and Baltimore. This year-round playground provides indoor and outdoor swimming, racquetball, tennis, saunas, walking trails, fishing, volleyball, basketball, a weight room, two golf courses, canoeing, a whirlpool, fine dining and relaxation galore!
Berkeley County
Centrally located with air service from three major airports (Dulles, Reagan and BWI) within an hour and a half drive, the affordability of real estate is still a bargain compared to the Washington metropolitan area. With new housing and developments constantly springing up, the availability of both a quality home or a tract of land is vast.
You can also stay close to home while furthering your education. Mountain State University, Martinsburg is known as a leading provider of flexible learning opportunities that bring higher education within the time constraints and economic reach of working adults. Since opening in 1999 the curriculum has steadily grown to include such programs as forensics, nursing, business administration, computer networking, legal studies and many more.