The following information is from the Travel Berkeley Springs office:

Berkeley Springs is where "grandma's house" is ........ over the mountains and through the woods this Thanksgiving weekend. And the weekend is devoted -- as it should be -- to eating and family fun.

The Star Theatre devotes the weekend to Disney's animated version of Dickens' holiday classic -- The Christmas Carol. There are shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening at 8pm and a special Sunday matinee at 2pm. The popcorn alone makes it an event at the vintage movie house.

On Saturday night at the Ice House, there is a rare concert featuring local roots musicians including father-son pairs. The music ranges from gospel and bluegrass to traditional country with banjos, fiddles and guitars in evidence. Hosts John Douglas and Joe Herrmann chat with the players along with Jim McCoy, founder of the WV Country Music Hall of Fame. The show starts at 7:30pm. Another Saturday music spot is the Fairfax Coffee House where at 8pm "Choo Choo" Charlie Williams and Eddie Becker play the spectrum from blues and Cajun/Zydeco to rock and jazz.

On T-Day itself, some of your favorite eateries are not serving, like Tari's Cafe, but others are offering a traditional Thanksgiving Day feast. Have no fear, though, Tari's is open throughout the rest of the weekend. Reservations are recommended for all the T-Day dinners.

Most elegant and intimate is the Holiday Silver Service dinner at Highlawn Inn. With very limited seating, this is one that would require immediate action to reserve a space.

The Country Inn offers a buffet featuring both roast turkey and baked ham plus all the trimmings from 1 to 6pm in their charming Garden Room. There is piano and harp dinner music as well. Chef Scot has gone all out with a predominantly local sourced special menu at Panorama at the Peak on Thursday featuring everything from a traditional turkey dinner and the ever-tasty turkey croquettes to an elaborately stuffed acorn squash for vegetarians. Hours are from 2 to 6:30pm when the spectacular view is at its prime. Family dining is featured in the Cacapon State Park buffet and one at the new Mountainside Restaurant open from noon to 8pm. Check at other dining places to determine whether they are open on Thanksgiving or not. We do guarantee that there will be plenty of fine dining available the REST of the weekend at favorites including Tari's, Lot 12 and Earth Dog Cafe.

Shops and spas are closed Thanksgiving but open and ready to soothe your strains and aid in holiday treasure shopping the rest of the weekend including Sunday. Check the spa page and pick your favorite one or two or more to sample and indulge. If you plan to give spa gift certificates for holiday gifts, you need to do your research. Try the spa and make certain YOU like it, just in case. As for shopping -- we will not try and list all the alluring little places to check out on the main streets. We'll just urge you NOT TO MISS a one. Stop in. Chat with the owner. Check out what they have. We promise there will be treasures you never imagined -- and no Black Friday stampedes or parking nightmares. Just sweet and friendly people wanting you to find something special, like Happy the owner of Jules, Enchanting Gifts and Collectibles. Jules is celebrating their 12th Anniversary and is saying thank you with a weekend of treats and a special evening of wine and Happy's famous chocolate chip cookies on Saturday from 5-8pm.

Now, we do have to warn you about outdoor adventures this weekend. Deer hunting season is in full swing. What does that mean? Hunters know what they need to know. It's the hikers that pose a problem. Stick to marked trails in Cacapon State Park where there is no hunting and there will probably be so many deer taking refuge you'll be bumped off the trail. The golf course is open so bring your clubs and investigate what a "deer hazard" is. Avoid the Tuscarora Trail since it passes directly into Sleepy Creek Hunting and Fishing area. The C&O Canal towpath is safe and that leads you -- eventually -- to the Paw Paw Tunnel which the kids will love. What you should NOT do, is simply wander around unknown woods.

Here's a special treat you may not have tried. Visit the Ridge Fish Hatchery on US522 about 15 miles south of town. It's open for visitors from 8am to 4pm every day and the kids will love seeing all the golden rainbow trout in stonelined pools head into the pipes where the springs feed in water. Why? It's the oxygen. No feeding them though -- they get plenty to eat. Play your cards right and next spring, you could be fishing some of these same trout out of the lake in Cacapon State Park.

For more factoids moments about Berkeley Springs, check out the Museum on the second floor of the Roman Bath House in the downtown park open this Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm -- and then next Saturday before it closes for the winter.

Lodging places fit your idea of what Thanksgiving should be -- whatever that idea is. You can choose an intown B&B where pampering is the main idea, or the Country Inn where you're sure Grandma is lurking around every corner. Then there are rustic cabins in the woods where you can snuggle up to a wood stove or fully equipped vacation homes where you can make your own Thanksgiving meal and keep the kids plugged into the screen-based universe. Whatever your taste or century -- we have the right place for you in Berkeley Springs -- a place where Thanksgiving is something we do everyday!