Weekend field trips

Day trip to Harper's Ferry

Fall is likely my favorite season. The crisp cool air and brilliantly colored leaves falling from a blue sky invigorates and inspires me in a way that's hard to describe. It's the one time of year that I actually crave things folksy and country - hay barrels, apple picking, baking, scented candles, listening to Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion, wearing cozy sweaters and...um...sporting plaid shirts.

Everyone should take at least one road trip, big or small, in the fall. One of the most memorable days from college was when Ally and I spontaneously decided to leave our college stress behind and hop in the yellow convertible Miata for a little trip to an orchard stand 30 minutes from Carlisle.  I was having both research and writer's block and the trip loosened me up just the right amount I needed to complete the paper in an A-earning way. 

Just last weekend I got awesomely lucky because work let me take of Friday so I could drive up to Emma Willard (where I taught Spanish and coached volleyball) and surprise the volleyball team at their last home game. Pulled out on my house at 5:30am, listened to all of NPR's morning edition (which never happens!), jammed to Ray LaMontagne, Solas, Nickel Creek, Kate Rusby, among others, munched on some fresh apples and 7 hours later I was in Troy, NY. Fall colors were about at their peak, so needless to say it was a worthwhile 7 hours.

Just today mom and I decided to make our way northwest to the quaint little river town of Brunswick, MD, the revolutionary and civil war town called Shepherdstown, WV, and tiny and hilly historic town of Harper's Ferry where revolutionary and abolitionist John Brown tried to start a slave uprising, but this lead to his capturing and death by hanging. 

In Brunswick, we found a coffee shop housed in an old church. How awesome is that!? It's called Beans in the Belfry. Everything in it is mismatched and funky. All but two pews are removed and the food and register are located on the altar. Walls are a creamy pastel green and the main source of light comes through the yellow tinted stain glass windows. Decor is old and antiqueish. Small and large tables scatter the room and clunky and cozy couches and love seats line the walls and some corners. One corner has a mirror and box full of dress-up clothes and toys for the children.

We found a great boutique shop in Shepherdstown where I discovered a $200+ long green, large buttoned boiled wool coat. It was gorgeous and perfect to wear with work clothes in the cooling temperatures. Unfortunately, not in my budget :(

It felt like we stepped back in time while in Harper's Ferry. It's hidden in the hills, by the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers and has the cutest little stone cottages, shops and even gas lamps. A perfect place for a historic ghost tour, which they have, and would be a wonderful visit covered in snow in the winter.

How exciting it is to discover such havens of beauty, culture, and history that are just within one hour of my home!