Best Things to do in Berkeley County, WV (An Insider's Guide)

Welcome to wild and wonderful Berkeley County, WV, and an insider’s guide of the best things to do!

From its rich history and natural beauty to its vibrant culture and wonderful communities, Berkeley County shows off what’s special about living in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.

DRB Homes builds in many wonderful communities in this Shenandoah Valley location. Our new homes showcase the DRB difference: a combinations of decades of award-winning experience and devotion to a personalized homebuying journey.

To help you on your homebuying journey, we wanted to share a little insider’s guide into some of the best things to do in Berkeley County, WV.

DRB Homes in Berkeley County

Of course, the very best thing to do in Berkeley County is live in a new home by DRB Homes. We have a wide range of home options, floor plans, and sizes to choose from in some of the best communities in WV! Let’s look at just two to whet your homebuying appetite.

The Overlook at Riverside Townhomes in Falling Waters are beautiful places to call home. Here, you’ll enjoy gorgeous views, a park and playground, gazebo, basketball court, dog park, and the closeness of the fine dining and shopping in Martinsburg, the Maryland state line, Falling Waters, and the MARC train for easy commuting to Baltimore and Washington, DC. Choose between two home plans with 3 bedrooms, 2–3 baths, and up to 2,528 Sq. Ft. of impeccably designed and detailed living space.

Perhaps you are looking more for a single family home. In that case, we recommend you explore Stone Mill Estates. Also in Martinsburg, the final home site in this community sits on a gorgeous two acres and give you more home than you could dream of. With 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a 2-car garage, this home is spacious, luxurious, and stylish. The enormous primary suite includes a walk-in closet large enough to be its own featured room. And that’s only one example of the beauty found inside this marvelous new home. 

Historical and Cultural Attractions

Berkeley County has many historic and cultural venues to explore. Here are three of our favorite:

Historic Downtown Martinsburg

It’s a stroll through the past as you walk through Historic Downtown Martinsburg. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, this trip through time takes you past buildings in many popular 19^th-century styles, boutique shops, restaurants, and many other businesses and services you’ll want to enjoy. There’s even a Town Square that serves as a public meeting and celebrating space, including weekly farmers’ markets, summer concerts, and an old-fashioned Christmas tree lighting!

Belle Boyd House

Belle Boyd was an infamous Confederate spy, author, and actor. And you can visit her childhood home, now the county’s history museum, in Downtown Martinsburg. Inside, the ballroom has been decorated in the Victorian style of the late 1800s, and the rest of the home houses various exhibits highlighting different aspects of Berkeley County’s history, including costumes, military, industry, medical, and toys. The Belle Boyd House is a destination for history lovers of all types.

Apollo Civic Theatre

Opened in 1914, the Apollo Civic Theatre (ACT) has stood the test of time. It’s served the area in various forms, sometimes as a stage for performing arts, a dance hall, and sometimes as a movie theater. Now, it features both filmed and live performances, welcoming everyone to take part. This community theater not only stages five shows per year, it also welcomes traveling musicians, children’s theatre, pageants, dance recitals, festivals, and more. It’s your go-to place for family entertainment (and to “get into the ACT”).

Family-Friendly Activities

The family fun doesn’t stop at the Apollo Civic Theatre, however. This is a county full of places the whole family will want to explore, including:

War Memorial Park

War Memorial Park stretches 19.5 acres and is the most visited park in the entire county. And for good reason. This amazing recreation area features an outdoor pool, 2 tennis courts (also lined for pickleball), 2 sand volleyball courts, 4 playground areas, a covered concert stage and bleachers, 6 pavilions, a concession stand, and an 18-hole lighted miniature golf course! At War Memorial Park, you can make a splash and get a hole in one in the same day!

JayDee’s Family Fun Center

Just like War Memorial Park, JayDee’s Family Fun Center has way more than you would think available for families to enjoy. JayDee’s is home to a waterpark & splash zone, arcade, go-karts, batting cages, jungle gym, and miniature golf. It also has a 24/7 fitness center and an academy preschool for children ages 2–5. JayDee’s makes sure the whole family has fun, learns, and grows!

Outdoor Adventures & Natural Scenic Beauty

Berkeley County also celebrates the wonderful great outdoors. With mountains, rivers, and plenty of hiking trails to explore, you’re going to want to spent a lot of time in the fresh air. Here are just a few of the exciting things waiting for you.

Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area

Sleepy Creek is where outdoor enthusiasts find true happiness. Sitting on two parallel mountain ridges, this area offers almost 23,000 acres of terrain to conquer. The mature forest of Sleepy Creek is home to game and non-game species, making this the perfect place for hunting and fishing, as well as birdwatching, respecting nature, and hiking rewarding trails. Tent and trailer sites are available (as are primitive camping areas), so you don’t have to head home when the sun goes down!

Poor House Farm Park

With colonial land dating back to 1766—and used as a refuge for the poor around 1850—Poor House Farm Park now stands as a 207-acre outdoor oasis. A stocked trout stream and 5-acre Rickard Lake support catch-and-release fishing (license required). Seven miles of jogging and hiking trails take you around the whole park, making it easy to see the pavilions, playgrounds, sand volleyball courts, 27-hole disc golf course, and more!

Berkeley Springs

Though officially established by George Washington’s family in 1766, Berkeley Springs in neighboring Morgan County (but wonderful enough to mention in this blog post) was first mapped in 1747 by Thomas Jefferson’s father! With waters at a constant 74°, Berkeley Springs is a magical place—as is the town that formed around them. Visiting here, you’ll not only find the springs (the Country’s First Spa), you’ll also find a town with a museum, state park, historic district, art galleries, historic movie theater, George Washington archives, and even a castle! A visit to Berkeley Springs is a step back in time and a journey through imagination all rolled into one.

Potomac River, Cacapon River, and C&O Canal

The northern border of Berkeley County sits along the Potomac River. This waterway was so important, the C&O Canal was built on the Maryland side to help transport good (primarily coal) from Cumberland, MD, to Washington, DC. Now, both the river and the canal are scenic destinations, with kayaking, canoeing, and fishing possible in the former and biking and hiking on the towpath of the latter. And for a memorable day trip, head about 40 miles southwest to the Cacapon River. This American Heritage River in the Appalachian Mountains is a fantastic place for tubing, swimming, and picnicking in the natural beauty of West Virginia.

An Insider’s Guide to the Best Things to do in Berkeley County, WV

Berkeley County, WV, is a marvelous place to play, but it’s an even more phenomenal place to live. Surrounded by nature, proud of its culture, and delighted to offer families a place to grow, this fantastic county is a vibrant place to call home.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this brief guide to the beauty of Berkeley County. When you are ready to find your forever home here, make sure to visit DRB Homes. We’re ready to welcome you home to wild and wonderful West Virginia.