Looking for a convenient escape? Martinsburg is more than an exit off the interstate—it’s where history meets adventure.
www.wvtourism.com/MARTINSBURG
PLAY
Kids and the young at heart will love the laughter that comes with each performance at the Wonderment Puppet Theater. See local talent in action in seasonal productions at The Apollo Civic Theatre. Take a tour of DeFluri’s Chocolates, a beautiful chocolate factory that ships its products around the world.
SHOP
The West Virginia Glass Outlet showcases hand-blown West Virginia glass. Art comes to life at Queen Street Gallery, a unique art store that features everything from posters and original art to African tribal pieces, sculptures, and antique prints. Flowers Unlimited is a beautiful European-style floral shop that also features a mix of unique and eclectic items, home decor, keepsakes, and jewelry.
HISTORY
Get a history lesson at Belle Boyd House. Built in 1853, the Belle Boyd House is the childhood home of Confederate Civil War spy Belle Boyd. The Martinsburg Roundhouse is the only roundhouse structure left in the world with a cast iron frame. It dates to the 1840s and was partially destroyed by Stonewall Jackson during the Civil War. Tours are available on Saturdays. The house of Adam Stephen, who helped establish the town of Martinsburg, was built in the late 1770s and is open as a historic house museum.
Get Outdoors!
Six miles west of Martinsburg is Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area, a 23,000-acre area that includes Sleepy Creek Lake, a beautiful small mountain lake that boasts prize-winning bass and large pike, four primitive campsite locations, recreational shooting at the shooting range, and hiking along the beloved Tuscarora Trail. The Tuscarora is a 250-mile-long spur trail of the Appalachian Trail and is part of the Great Eastern Trail System. Don’t miss the Devil’s Nose overlook.
A great way to enjoy the outdoors is through geocaching. Go on a quest to find “caches” armed only with GPS coordinates and your logic skills. The Martinsburg-Berkeley County CVB has partnered with geocaching star WVTim to design geotrails. By retrieving the code words inside the caches’ logbooks for 13 of the 15 caches on the geotrail, participants will earn a unique, trackable coin.
The Poor House Farm Park is a darling county park 3.5 miles outside of town consisting of 137 acres that include a fully stocked pond, Tuscarora Creek, soccer fields, a football field, and 5 miles of biking and hiking trails.
Because of Martinsburg’s convenient location to the interstate, one might think that the only options are chain restaurants, but think again. Try one of these local culinary hot spots.
Culinary Coolness
Brix27, a trendy wine bar and tapas restaurant that features special events, themed-food nights, and live music, has taken Martinsburg by storm. The wine bar alone draws people from near and far.
Another restaurant that is new to the scene is The Peppermill, an upscale restaurant located in a historic home. Enjoy the outdoor patio or The Speakeasy, a casual bar on the top floor.
Speakeasy Sips
You’ll also want to check out the 1920s-themed Boyd’s Steakhouse and cozy up to the bar, which was once owned by Al Capone. The eclectic menu incorporates local and regional products and an extensive beer and spirits selection.
The Blue White Grill is a local institution. This traditional diner has been serving burgers, fries, and hot plate specials for more than 50 years.
Good Natured is a vegan and vegetarian restaurant and health food shop situated in a renovated historic home with outdoor seating. For homemade Italian dishes, Casa Visone will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Italy.
Save Room for Dessert Everything Cheesecake bakes cheesecakes fresh every day in an array of signature flavors. For mini to full-size cupcakes, stop by Latte Da Cupcakery.
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