It's lush and green in Berkeley Springs with sunny, warm days and cool nights -- a perfect time to visit the country's first spa.....and see birds!

Berkeley Springs is on the transitory bird highway as well as being a favorite permanent home for many types of birds. This weekend is all about our feathered friends with the Potomac Valley Audubon Society's Berkeley Springs Birding Festival. It begins with a reception Friday evening at the Country Inn plus a talk on raptors and one from Sharon Stitler entitled "The Crazy Things I Do for Birds" about her global travels. Saturday showcases hikes at Panorama and Eidolon in the morning, learning birding skills at Cacapon State Park in the afternoon and more notable talks in the evening back at the Country Inn. Sunday morning the festival closes with another walk at Sleepy Creek Retreat. Click here for all the details.

The Star Theatre may be the hottest locale in town this weekend showing one of the year's best films -- "The Help" -- on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8pm and Sunday matinee at 2pm. The Star also has a shhhhhh......secret attraction this weekend. If all goes well, the new Berkeley Springs book of historic photographs will be on sale before and during the film. It won't hit the stores until next week.

If you are coming to "The Help" on Saturday night or returning from some birding activity, stop by Jules, Enchanting Gifts and Collectibles for "A Glass of Wine in the Hand is worth Two Birds in the Bush" from 5-8pm with wine and cookies. Wilkes Street Wine Shop has wine tasting all afternoon on Saturday.

From 2-5pm at Frog Valley Artisans on Saturday, Veronica teaches you how to make a flower vessel of clay -- firing included. There's plenty of fine art shopping there as well. More art shopping at the Ice House where it's the final weekend of the WVWater Color Society Show: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

Come back to the Ice House on Sunday afternoon at 3pm for a remarkable poetry performance "Blood is Blood" by two noted Montreal poets: Carolyn Souaid and Endre Farkas. An Arab and a Jew, they take on the challenge of using art to bridge the divide.

Fairfax Coffee House has two big nights of local music with the Lickety Split Banjo Boys playing bluegrass and more on Friday at 8pm and The Hayride Trio playing honky tonk and rockabilly on Saturday, same time. Ambrae House is serving up Jonathan McBee and Peg Althoff performing acoustically on the outside deck along with steamed crabs and other tasty treats. It all starts at 6:30pm.

There are lots of great shops in town selling everything from antiques and art to books and crystals but sometimes only a giant yard sale will do and this Saturday there is one at the Moose Lodge just north of town. You need to get up early for the best stuff since it starts at 6am and continues until 5pm.

Dining is always a treat in Berkeley Springs with more than a dozen choices. This weekend, Panorama at the Peak is celebrating the first butternut squash of the season and the return of their most popular soup: butternut squash and cider. Visit Temptations, Too bakery and cheese shop to discover the cupcake of the day or try their chocolate truffles. The best food shopping of all is at the Berkeley Springs Farmers Market from 10am to 2pm -- maybe you can find a butternut squash to take home. There are sure to be some local peaches and apples are now coming in.

If the birding festival does not get you outside to enjoy this incredibly beautiful September weather, maybe hiking or biking will. Cacapon State Park is outdoor central every weekend. Especially ideal this time of year is their 18-hole golf course, one of the best public courses in the region.

There is always a memorable place to stay when you come visit whether you bring a pet, or family or travel with a friend or alone. Check the entire list and choose from elegant B&Bs, an historic inn, cottages, cabins, fully equipped vacation homes, in-town suites -- something for everyone and all at affordable prices. Make this the weekend you discover peace, tranquility, some new birds and the pleasure of a town that's been a beacon for travelers since George Washington was a teenager (and came to dangle his toes in the warm mineral springs.) Best of all -- we're closer than anywhere -- check out our magic circle map.

(Information courtesy of Travel Berkeley Springs)