The following information is from the Travel Berkeley Springs office:

In Berkeley Springs this weekend, Mother Nature's colorful foliage art is the ideal backdrop for the fall Berkeley Springs Studio Tour especially if you are on a motorcycle. Winding along country lanes and up tree-covered ridges is part of the aesthetic appeal of the art adventure as 16 studio and gallery locations are open for visits, sales and refreshments. More than 20 different artists are featured working in media ranging from stained glass and weaving to jewelry and watercolor. The Studio Tour is open 10am to 5pm both Saturday and Sunday. Signs help you navigate and descriptive booklets are available at various locations including the Ice House Gallery.

You can participate in art at the Ice House on Saturday from 10am to 1pm when figure maker, Pat Marggraf conducts a free class in soft sculpture heads. Be diligent and you can leave with three heads waiting for you to create bodies. Spectacular finished products are on display and for sale at the Magical Mystical Fantasy Creations show in the Ice House Gallery. Literary art takes precedence in the afternoon when award-winning local author and newspaper editor, John Douglas, conducts a book signing from 2 to 3:30pm at Recycling Works for a new combo book of his first two murder mysteries, long out of print.

Music is the art featured Saturday at 8pm at the Fairfax Coffee House when Lickety Split Bluegrass Band plays beginning at 8pm. Actually, local music can be heard all weekend long. Start on Thursday at 8pm at Tari's Cafe when Jonathan McBee & Fiends host the traditional Jam Night that comes with a side of special appetizers and a prime rib special dinner. Friday the scene shifts to Earth Dog Cafe home of the all-day breakfast and great barbecue. The music is The Bad Bitches Friday at 8pm and The Tell Tale Signs on Saturday at 8pm. The Humane Society take over the Troubadour Lounge on Saturday with an open to the public auction beginning at 6pm and a country style dance at 9pm.

If your kids have done enough studios by Sunday afternoon, take them to the Star Theatre for a 2pm matinee of "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs." The outstanding animated feature appealing to the whole family is also showing Friday through Sunday at 8pm.

The Studio Tour is a special treat in the year 'round shopping paradise that is Berkeley Springs. Touring around to different studios encourages shopping at some of the few places outside the town like Valley Caravan where there are amazing closing sales of authentic Afghani and other rugs and artifacts. A portion of all sales are used to build schools and hospitals for women in Afghanistan. Valley Caravan is located south on US 522 situated near Hsu Studio on the Studio Tour. Other intown shopping stops range from a pair of antique malls -- Berkeley Springs Antique Mall and Old Factory -- as well as other specialty shops. The list of unique places ranges from Himalayan Trading Co. and Wilkes St. Wine Shop to the Gypsy Shop, Mountain Laurel Gallery and Nature Niche. You can find herbs and homeopathic medical remedies, health food and new age supplies. Strolling the six historic blocks -- more or less -- downtown brings you face to face with an amazing array of owner-operated shops.

For fresh food shopping, plan to make the Berkeley Springs Farmers Market one of your stops on Sunday from 10am to 2pm before leaving on Studio Tour. Fall produce is at its peak and includes everything from peppers and apples to pumpkins and greens. The same local produce makes menus at our many fine restaurants shine this weekend including one of Highlawn Inn's silver service dinners. Check the dining listing for everything available putting Lot 12, Panorama at the Peak and The Country Inn at the top of your list is what you want is local ingredients in tasty food. This will be a busy weekend, so wherever you plan to go, reservations are advisable.

Spas are also open all the time and offer a wide range of treatment services. Check the list for details. Note that although the main bathhouse at Berkeley Springs State Park is undergoing renovation, the services are still available at the home of the famed warm springs. You can soak at the Roman Bath House in historic tubs then receive a massage at the temporary buildings in the park.

Outdoor fun has not gone into hiding because it is an art weekend. Hiking trails are dotted with leaves and the crisp fall light pouring through yellow, gold and red leaves has a quality not found any other time of year. Check out trails at Cacapon State Park or the Tuscarora Trail on Sleepy Creek Mountain. For motorcyclists, there are seven mapped rides that promise to be blazing technicolor this weekend -- all can be printed from the website.

When choosing a location to lay your head for the weekend, decide first -- in town or out. Both will offer an array of colors. Then decide cabin, inn room, b&B room or fully equipped vacation home. Check out whether pets or children are allowed. You may want a wood stove or fireplace to create those fall aromas. Breakfast or not? In-room whirlpool or outside hot tub? No matter what is on your list, there is the ideal location for you -- this weekend in Berkeley Springs. Don't miss the colors!