The following information is from the Travel Berkeley Springs office:

Winter in Berkeley Springs has its own charms, especially when you know that warm water is pumping from the ground just in the center of town. Later we'll guide you on your own personal spa feast from the centuries-old industry that has thrived here for "taking the waters."

But first -- let's talk about nightlife. Especially music.

Berkeley Springs has become a music mecca in the past year or so and this weekend is no exception. Two big nights of dancing awaits. On Friday night, check out Earth Dog Cafe, one reason that music has bloomed. They'll be featuring the Flashbacks, a local retro band with a great sound for dancing and at least two members who think they are Buddy Holly. Earth Dog also has culinary appeal with its three Bs: burgers, barbecue and breakfast all day.

The other music treat is Saturday night when the fabulous Weber Brothers pass through stopping at the Troubadour for music and dancing starting at 9pm. The Troubadour also wants you to eat there especially on Steak Nite which is Friday and followed by karaoke. While out on the ridge, check out the Troubadour's collection of authentic country music memorabilia -- the West Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame.

There's also music at the movies this weekend when the Star Theatre shows Disney's latest classic animation: The Princess and the Frog with a sound track straight from Bourbon St. Showtimes are 8pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday night and a special Sunday matinee at 2pm. The good news is that you can buy the Star's world class popcorn anytime the lights on on whether the movie appeals or not.

OK -- that's the fun special stuff this weekend. Let's move onto the moveable spa feast. The best part is that this feast is available EVERY DAY!

Generally, when you go to a spa, you go to one place. You choose from their particular menu. Not in Berkeley Springs, We are unique. We are a spa town -- the country's first as a matter of fact. First, as in 1750s; still as in today. So, what does that mean -- a spa town. Sample the moveable spa feast and you'll get it but here's an outline. You can park your car somewhere in the heart of town and trot around the streets picking and choosing your spa treats. The mountain mama of it all is Berkeley Springs State Park, a charming village green that is, in fact, the heart of town. The springs live here. The warm mineral springs that drew colonial elite including George Washington. They established a town in 1776 -- a town that was recently named a National Historic District. Today, when the atmospheric conditions are right, you can watch steam pour off the open spring pools and channel in the park. Then drop in and take a fabulous Roman Bath in a bathhouse that dates to 1815 (don't worry, the plumbing has been updated along with the tile tubs.) The Roman Baths have nine private bathing chambers, each a tiny room with a walk-in tub filled with 750 gallons of healing spring water heated to 102 degrees. For a simple massage, try the park's facilities located in temporary buildings as the main bathhouse is renovated.

Now that you've done it the way George did, slip into the 21st century. Adjacent to the park on the south the the gleaming jewel of The Country Inn's Five Senses Spa with what many claim to be the best treatment in town. Of course, all our spas say that and we agree -- they all ARE the best. You can get the works at the Inn -- massage, facials, pedicures, baths -- and waxing. And you can stay there. Dine there. Get a spa package. And enjoy their latest treat -- classic high tea, Thursday through Saturday from 3 to 5pm.

Across Fairfax St. from the park to the north is the Bath House Day Spa. They have a long menu of excellent treatments including several brands of massage including couples and hot stone and a focus on skin based work. They also have a shop attached so you can purchase the products when you fall in love with them. Upstairs is a pristine pair of suites where you can spend the night and get a spa package as part of the deal.

Another short block further north and you step into an historic building that morphs before your eyes into an Asian-style spa -- Atasia, brainchild of master massage therapist, Frankie Tan. Their menu of treatments runs from Tan's Thai massages to sacred Hawaiian Lomi Lomi (you can get it with TWO massage therapists working simultaneously if you choose) sugar scrubs, mud wraps, steams, pedicures, facials and more.

One more block takes you to the pink Victorian HQ of Awakenings Health Center, a type of co-op of practitioners boasting everything from reflexology and therapeutic foot baths to massage and a Chines physician doing acupuncture. No baths at Awakenings, just bodywork so make the Roman Baths in the park your first stop.

There are also a collection of individual practitioners, all licensed, and all excellent. Tamme Marggraf offers traditional acupuncture located in a suite facing the park. Michael Pushkin could be called a miracle worker if the FDA would allow for the magic he works with deep massage. People hobble in and walk out with a bounce in their step. The Healing Vessel does kabbalistic massage and reiki.

And then there is the ultimate pleasure -- having a massage therapist come to your lodging place because you threw out your back and cannot get up, or because you have a gaggle of girlfriends along and you ALL want a massage, or just because. Have Table Will Travel is the one to call. The therapist is also an expert in pre-natal and post-partum massage.

If you want to do your own work-out routines as part of the spa feast, head on down south of town to Rankin's for a therapeutic pool, machine room and trainers happy to work with walk-ins.

Last, but certainly not least, is the remarkable array of lodging places -- from log homes atop a mountain to fully equipped vacation houses to elegant B&Bs in town -- that offer a whirlpool tub right in your room so the spa feast can continue.

Since humans can not live by bathing alone -- although our 19th century bathkeeper, John Davis believed they could -- we invite you to explore on your own the various dining options, shopping treasures and outdoor splendor that is part of the package when you come to Berkeley Springs -- the country's first spa.