The following information was disseminated by the Travel Berkeley Springs office:

Berkeley Springs has a long list of reasons why you should come for a quick summer getaway -- or a longer summer stay. It starts with the As -- antiques and art, moves to F for fine food, a quick slide to G for golf, hops to M for massage and music then finishes up the alphabet with S for scenery and W for water -- the reason for it all.

Music heads the list of special events for this weekend. Thursday night in the Berkeley Springs State Park it's a Young Artists Art Show with local youth bands beginning at 5:30pm and then free swimming in the park pool at 6 with an ice cream social at 6:30pm. Earth Dog Cafe has live, mostly local music, every night from Wednesday through Saturday. They also can lay claim to a big red F for food including breakfast all day and tasty barbecue. Tari's Cafe is next in chronological order with Jam Night on Thursday at 8pm, this week hosted by The Draps. Tari's also is part of Team F and they match jam night music with special jam night appetizers and a prime rib special. Friday at 8pm the featured music scene moves to the Fairfax Coffee House with the remarkable R&B-flavored acoustic sound of Stephanie Corby, on tour, and accompanying her, super guitar player and singer-songwriter David Glaser from Annapolis, MD.

Saturday gets two special Ms. The Morgan Arts Council's concert in the park series at 5:30pm in Berkeley Springs State Park presents the African dance, drum and spoken word troupe -- Soul in Motion. This is true roots music. Later in the evening, at 9pm, country music fans can head out to the Troubadour to dance to the live sounds of the Country Majestics. The African music compliments an A event -- the African Art special gallery show at the Ice House where there is a room full of handcrafted treasures at affordable prices and the chance to help a womens health project in Uganda. Gallery hours are Friday through Sunday 11am to 5pm.

The Star Theatre is the place for action fans with "Transformers" showing Thursday through Sunday night at 8pm. For people interested only in the Star's legendary popcorn, feel free to drop in off the street and just get the buttery treat. For other late night eating, check out La Luna Wine Bar just across the street from the Star and the Country Inn's Tavern where food is served until midnight on Friday and Saturday. La Luna has a special treat on Saturday afternoon from 3-5pm, a wine tasting of four types of Riesling with food to pair.

For an S shopping special, stop by Nature Niche. They're having a sidewalk sale Thursday – Monday offering different items on sale each day. Mention this little weekly message and you get a 15% discount on any one item inside the store other than birdseed.

The Farmers Market offers a triple F -- for farm fresh food -- on Sunday from 10am to 2pm in the square. One of the largest in the region, the Berkeley Springs Farmers Market has everything from exotic beans and yellow plums to treasured tomatoes and peppers. There's even prepared food from the famed kitchen of Lot 12, Chef Damian Heath's gourmet eatery where dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday. Local food and meats dominate the menu at Panorama at the Peak where you can enjoy lunch and dinner all weekendlong -- as well as sampling some of the prime S -- scenery, with the most stunning view in the area.

Lets finish up by talking about W -- water, both inside and out. Water is the reason for Berkeley Springs being a town way back when in the 18th century George Washington and his friends and families chose this as their favorite getaway. Today, it's the same warm mineral springs water that draws folks. You can soak in it inside in several spa locations including the historic Roman Baths in Berkeley Springs State Park. Or choose luxurious whirlpool tub filled with the spring water at Atasia Spa and the Country Inn's Five Senses Spa. The state park's spa moves into temporary quarters this weekend as they renovate the 1929 main bathhouse. The story of the water is showcased inside at the Museum of the Berkeley Springs open Friday through Sunday from 11am to 4pm over the Roman Bath House. And, of course, you can drink the spring water from a fountain in the park or in every business and home in town.

The spas are not just about bathing however. You can find cutting edge bodywork treatment at all three spas as well as several other day spa and health center locations. There are at least a dozen different types of massage as well as facials, pedicures, scrubs and rubs not to mention acupuncture, reflexology and more. Berkeley Springs is both the country's first spa and still an award-winning spa town with health and relaxation at very affordable prices.

Outdoor water also includes the springs. Visit the park in the center of town and wade in springpools or swim in the outdoor pool, a favorite of the kids. There are two rivers -- the Potomac and the Cacapon -- for boating, fishing and tubing. Try the sand-beach lake at Cacapon State Park for family fun. Inside and out -- water fun is readily available in the town the springs built.

We have some wonderful S for shopping -- more than 20 one-of-a-kind places to find a treasure or two -- as well as for sleeping places. Villa Firenze has both rooms as well as an incredible Italian "hands-n" cooking weekend with 3 hours of cooking lessons followed by a typical 5 course dinner. You need not stay at the Villa to take the class. For a charming in-town stay in a private, amenity filled guest cottage choose Berkeley House with full kitchen, back deck and front porch, in-house whirlpool tub and pool table as well as several bedrooms -- enough for the whole family. They are offering a 15% discount for any two night stay all month long. Check the lodging pages for many more choices from brand-name hotel to rustic cabin to elegant B&B to the historic inn. Everyone is ready to make your stay memorable and live up to F for friendly.