The following information is from the Travel Berkeley Springs office:

Berkeley Springs is accessorizing in yellow this week with pink a close second -- and then there are all those greens. Spring is so ephemeral -- you need to plan a trip NOW to capture the sweetness of these opening days.

There are special events that mark this as an exciting weekend to visit including Saturday devoted to the Civil War. Make a stop at the Ice House from 11am to 5pm on Saturday and you can see reenactors on the lawn, notorious Confederate spy Belle Boyd doing walkabouts read to swap information or pose for photos, and TWO exhibits hanging in the Gallery. The main show is filled with limited edition prints of the world's most famous contemporary Civil War artists plus some local originals. The Paradox Room showcases nearly two dozen remarkable eyewitness sketches of John Brown's Trial and Hanging. Come back at 7:30pm and hear authentic period music, in costume, from the Civil War Comrades.

If contemporary music is more to your taste, or you're looking for something to do AFTER the Civil War concert, head on over the Fairfax Coffee House for the exceptional blues sound of Bill Thompson starting at 8pm. Or, you can get retro yet stay in the 20th century by heading to Earth Dog Cafe and the Flashbacks starting at 8:30pm. Or you can stay up late for some serious country dancing at the Troubadour to the sound of the V-6 Band. Get started on your music dose early with the return of Thursday jam nites at Tari's Cafe featuring this week -- the fabulous Weber Brothers, longtime Tari's favorites. Sunday the music turns sacred with the annual spring concert from Living Springs Chorale, this year at St. Vincent de Paul church staring at 4:30pm. However, there is a country alternative on Sunday when Jim's Birthday is celebrated at the Troubadour with a pig roast and lots of music starting at 2pm. Bring a covered dish -- it will make you feel like family! Plan your weekend right and you can hear everything from ancient Easter hymns to the latest R&B sound all without leaving Berkeley Springs.

More family oriented entertainment is at the Star Theatre on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8pm. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief turns an ancient Greek myth into a 21st century search across America by a teen age boy and his friends to save his mom. And, an evening at the Star offers the option of the best popcorn in four states (walk-ins are welcome.)

Have a literary experience at Panorama at the Peak on Friday from 5 to 8pm when Mark McDonald signs his new historical novel set in West Virginia. Stay for dinner from the dazzling local-source menu offered at Panorama. Let's talk about some other sipping and dining possibilities. Wine is almost as important as water in this global water capital. There is Wilkes St. Wine Shop were you can take home exciting vintages at modest prices -- or buy the bottle you want to take with you to dinner at Temptations Cafe. La Luna Wine Bar starts the weekend right with Friday Happy Hour from 5 to 8pm and Saturday is the monthly wine tasting from 3-5pm feauring Cabernet Sauvignon. Down the block at Ambrae House, Happy Hour is 4 to 6 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday with half off small plate items. You can also enjoy lunch and dinner those three days. Both Tari's Cafe and Lot 12 have extensive and specially selected wine lists that compliment their exceptional food. Every weekend is full of fun at the Country Inn with High Tea on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 3 to 5pm (you need a reservation) and Sunday brunch from 11am to 3pm.

Here's a brief run-down of everything else you can do while visiting the country's first spa -- HINT! HINT! That's right, take a bath. A special bath in famous Berkeley Springs water. Then get a massage or a facial or a pedicure or a mud wrap or.....the list goes on. Plenty of spas to choose from -- or sample them all. Then there is shopping! Interesting shopping! Art, antiques, crystals, fairies, books, clothes.....and lots more. Fortunately, everything is on a couple inviting, historic blocks downtown. The trees are blossoming, the courthouse clock is working and downtown is as inviting as can be. If you want to drive, follow the Washington Heritage Trail National Scenic Byway to give it purpose -- or just wallow in the wonder of all Mother Nature's drive-by landscaping. DON'T FORGET YOUR CAMERA. If you like your history standing still, visit the Museum of the Berkeley Springs complete with George Washington's rock on display. It's open in the park from 11am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Decide on your emphasis this weekend when selecting your room. We have something for everyone whether you want to be in the country surrounded by bursting forth spring or in town with the subtle aroma of flowering trees everywhere. Check the list for riverside or mountainside -- Berkeley Springs has it all. And we're closer than anywhere.