Jefferson County is home to many popular vacation destinations, both for local residents as well as out-of-town tourists. Shepherdstown, at the northern end of the county, is enough off the beaten path to retain the sleepy charm of a small village that makes it easy to quickly relax with a weekend or midweek get-away. The nearby Clarion Hotel and Quality Inn both closed due to the pandemic, but there are still many options to stay close to town.
The Bavarian Inn Resort, overlooking the Potomac River, offers multiple dining options on site with expansive patio seating under tents during the warmer months. Guests have access to the infinity pool (opening mid-May) and the nearby golf course. Summer weekends book fast, but midweek rooms are still available. If you want to bring your dog for a getaway adventure, Sundogs Bed & Breakfast offers canine-friendly accommodation in a country setting a few minutes outside of town.
Staying Right In Town
In town, the Thomas Shepherd Inn has reopened this spring under new owners Melissa Anderson and Joe Muscatello. For Anderson, the connection to the town was a great-grandfather who fought at Antietam. Muscatello is a graduate of WVU with family roots in the coalfields of southern West Virginia. They were looking for a place to live and decided to keep the 38-year tradition of the Inn alive by welcoming guests to their new home.
Muscatello is a retired city manager and appreciates the walkability of Shepherdstown. “You can park your car when you arrive and walk all weekend,” he remarked. “I see a town that has a young vibe and also has a lot of history. Our guests seem to enjoy the slower pace here.”
By Harriet Pearson
