One Tank Getaway:
Where The Rivers Meet
A Trek to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

by Julie and Greg Peters

Directions: Take 81 South past Martinsburg (no shopping on the way down, please). Exit Route 9 South to 340 East and follow into Harpers Ferry. The National Park Visitor’s Center will be on your right, the West Virginia Visitor’s Center on your left. Go about a mile past these entrances and you can turn left onto Shenandoah Street to go into Lower Town. You should be there in less than two hours - and if not, for goodness sakes, stay in the right-hand lane!

You could also take 15 South to 340 West.

Pack-a-long — Comfortable walking shoes. Sweater/light jacket — it gets pretty breezy at The Point. Suntan lotion/hat/sunglasses, Money - there’s no MAC machine directly en route. Camera. Pick-up Truck (well, it would have saved us a trip!)

Accommodations: KOA Campground (304) 535-6895
Comfort Inn
(304) 535-6391

Sweet Dreams and Toast Bed &Breakfast (304) 535-2462

Harpers Ferry Guest House Bed &Breakfast
(304) 535-6955

That’s where we journeyed this month — Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. A sweet little town located about an hour and a half from the ‘burg. Of course, Civil War buffs track all over this village and can probably tell you much more about what role this town played in America’s history. However, since a history lesson is not intended to be the focus of this story, we’ll only spend a brief moment to discuss this aspect of Harpers Ferry...sort of like doing homework before we can go out and play!

As for the history, Harpers Ferry has seen a lot of American leaders pass through. The National Park Service provides an in-depth look at these individuals, but here are a few highlights for you. George Washington surveyed this area before he got "the big promotion." He realized the strategic value of the land located where the Shenandoah and the Potomac Rivers meet. He also installed a federal armory at this location-the significance of which will become clear.

Those land surveying fellas, Lewis and Clark, purchased their weapons at this very armory before setting out on the Louisiana Purchase expedition. (In case you were asleep during yesterday’s history lesson, the Louisiana Purchase got the Midwestern states into the Union.)

This armory was also the site for John Brown’s 1859 revolt at slavery when he and his cronies tried to take control of the armory. Naturally, President Buchanan, in all his wisdom, sent Robert E. Lee and J.E.B. Stuart down to quell the uprising. This sets the stage for the War Between the States. You should note that as of 1859, Robert E. Lee represented the United States Government. Due to a split in the Federal Government’s policy regarding slavery, Lee reevaluated his allegiance and left the service of the United States to lead the Confederate Armies.

Harpers Ferry has continued to play crucial roles in the development of our nation even after the Civil War. For example, it served as the site for Storer College (a college devoted to educating former slaves) and DuBois’ civil rights meetings, which later developed into the NAACP

Whew! The history lesson is over. Let’s have some fun. Gym class is next. Hiking enthusiasts are probably aware that the Appalachian Trail passes through Harpers Ferry. Because of the rivers converging on this point of land, scenic vistas abound! A stretch of the upper portion of the trail provides a dramatic view of Harpers Ferry. The rivers also serve as a prime location for rafting, kayaking, tubing and fishing. Landlubbers need not feel these activities are out of their reach — Blue Ridge Outfitters (304-725-3444) will guide kindergarten kayaks and teenybopper tubers safely through the waters. More advanced water enthusiasts can utilize the services of Blue Ridge Outfitters or may prefer to experience the Class II and Class III waters (advancing up to an occasional Class V in the spring) on their own.

Trail maps and additional information on guided tours can be accessed when you enter the National Park Visitor’s Center (you’ll see signs for this as you enter the area). Please don’t get confused with the West Virginia Visitor’s Center right across the street from the National Park. This would provide great information on statewide sites, however you would need to sift through advertising brochures outside the Harpers Ferry vicinity.

For those wishing to experience more of the tourists activities, you should venture directly to the Lower Town. Don’t get trapped into paying $5 to park at the Park Service Visitor’s Center lot in the Upper Town as we did. It is the Park Service’s intent to collect your money and have you board buses to take you down to the Lower Town district. Not so bad, except those who prefer not to walk the 1/4 mile from the bus stop to the center of Lower Town would be better served by driving around and finding a parking space of your own. Just follow the signs to the historic downtown district as you enter the town.

Interesting craft shops and antique stores are interspersed between the sites of the town (The Point where the rivers meet, the John Brown Museum, the Civil War Museum, the National Park bookstore, etc.) It’s about the perfect blend for a stereotypical husband and wife — all of these places are centrally located so neither should get too bored. And, of course, Greg and Julie would never go somewhere where there’s not food! However, most of the choices within the walking district will be limited to sandwich shops or small cafes.

If you’re interested in furniture, we spent an inordinate amount of time at Jason’s Antiques (1307 Washington Street, (304) 535-2450 - only a mile from the Park Service and Lower Town, in Bolivar). We found a decent selection of both antiques and reproduction furniture at competitive prices. We both agreed we should have taken a pick-up truck — now we’re planning our next trip to pick-up some furniture.

We might go back during there Spring Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival, held June 13 - 15 at the Sam Michael’s Park near Harpers Ferry. Admission will be charged. You can obtain more information by calling (304) 725-2055. And this time, we’ll definitely take some time out for horse racing at Charles Town Races - about 15 minutes away. Post times can be obtained by calling 1-800-795-7001.

Since we’ll be heading back there soon — we hope to see you there! But don’t bother looking for us at the historical sites — in case you can’t tell, we’re not really history buffs. Did we fake it well?