1.800.447.8797                                                   Official Website of Berkeley Springs, WV ~ The Country's First Spa

HEY, GIRLFRIEND! THIS WEEKEND’S FOR YOU

JUNE 5-7, 2009

Art sales on the street, an all-girl jam session, quilt show and a trio of wine tastings are a few of the weekend events on June 5, 6 and 7 that flavor this come-with-your-gal-pals getaway to Berkeley Springs. The 8th annual Hey, Girlfriend weekend in Berkeley Springs, girlie capital of West Virginia, is irresistible.

With open-daily spas and blocks of unusual shops, Berkeley Springs is always attractive to discerning women, both residents and visitors. "Gangs of women roaming the streets downtown is an almost every-weekend sight in town," says Jeanne Mozier, vice president of Travel Berkeley Springs, the local travel council. "The hot trend of women traveling together is old news here. That's why this year marks the eighth time that we've gone all out to celebrate the sisters, cousins, college roommates and carpooling moms who need time away with just the girls."

Lots of art events are no surprise in this top 10 art town, but Mozier noted the abundance of wine tastings this year. "I'm not sure how this will all turn out but Saturday has at least three wine tastings. Girls can start at 1pm and finish at 8pm," she says. "Fortunately, they can walk from one to the other and stop for a spa treatment along the way." Art lovers can be satisfied with dozens of quilts on display at the Ice House Gallery, a live production of "Peter Pan" and outdoor art sales all weekendlong. For women who want to learn a new art, Pocket Meadow Farm is hosting a free lace knitting workshop on Saturday.

Tari's Cafe has long been Girlfriend HQ and this year is no different. In addition to free Friendship bracelets and arts sales on the sidewalk on Saturday, Tiara Time at Tari's promises pink drink specials to girls who wear tiaras. "Boas are a good accessory too, " says Mozier, "and Tari's provides tiaras for those girls who forgot to bring their own." Sunday, Tari's hosts Torch and Twang, an all-girl jam from 2 to 4pm, that serves as finale to the weekend. "We may officially end Hey, Girlfriend! weekend on Sunday," says Mozier, "but the truth is that in a town where many of the businesses are owned by women and the attractions are just what women like, it's always a celebration of girlfriends."

As if proving Mozier's words, the Country Inn -- owned by one of the town's prominent "girlfriends" -- has the best lodging special. Their weekend package includes everything from meals and spa treatments to a Saturday night pajama party, all for one price. Highlawn Inn is another woman-owned business with a lodging special that includes free wine and cheese tasting for guests on Saturday afternoon.

In between all the special events are the standard attractions of this historic spa town. Girlfriends can assemble their own spa tour, sampling among 53 different body treatments at five spas or treatment centers ranging from European facials and La Stone massage to acupuncture and mud wraps. Dining choices are varied and where to stay depends on how many girlfriends are in the group and whether you choose town or countryside. There are state park cabins, vacation homes with whirlpool tubs, log houses on a mountain top, in-town cottages and Victorian B & Bs with marvelous breakfasts and first-rate service.

Three attributes of Berkeley Springs make it an ideal choice for getting away with the girls -- it is affordable, less than 90 minutes from the Washington or Baltimore Beltways, and filled with folks who still know how to smile.

For more information about visiting or details on the weekend call 1-800-447-8797 or check online at www.berkeleysprings.com.

All Weekend Long

Hey Girlfriend Weekend

by Jeanne Mozier

HEY, GIRLFRIEND! THIS WEEKEND’S FOR YOU
June 2-4, 2006

BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV ---- REPORT ON 2005......In May 2005, USA Today reported that girlfriend weekends were a hot, new trend. Berkeley Springs was a month away from its 4th annual Hey, Girlfriend! weekend. The moral of this story? While the rest of the world is just catching up, we're old hands at the trend. As the pictures show, Hey, Girlfriend! 2005 was a big hit. Clusters of women roamed the streets. "Steel Magnolias" opened at the Ice House to rave reviews. Girlfriends lined up for astrological mini-readings and rotated their hips in belly dancing classes. Art was highlighted at an Artwalk and three gallery show openings and it was sold on the streets. Some brought their own tiaras and boas, others wore the "house" tiaras. Torch and Twang even lured Tari of Tari's Cafe to her own microphone for an afternoon of old time tunes.

HEY,GIRLFRIEND! 2006 has some favorite events back for a 5th time including Torch and Twang and Tiara Time at Tari's on Sunday; Wild Women Artists on the Street and mini-star readings on Saturday. Make your plans now!

For a detailed schedule of all weekend events plus lodging specials call 1-800-447-8797, pick up a brochure around town or check online at www.berkeleysprings.com.