A Tri-State Location - Recommend/General/Family

If none of you have ventured out into the eastern states of our nation then you are surely missing out! Not only is there so much history there but the drive itself is gorgeous! Especially during the autumn and winter seasons, granted winter season brings in the snowed in and inclement weather days but they are so used to it up in those northern states that its truly mind blowing how quickly they clear the roads up there while in Texas (or the south in general) everyone panics with a little ice or a snowstorm! Anyway I digress to move on with the topic at hand!

Aside from there being a lot of history, there are also just some good gem locations to explore whether it's for hiking, mountain climbing, camping, exploring, taking in the sites, new food, or even the occasional boat/train ride. One of our favorite locations is Harpers Ferry in West Virginia. Yes, one can  straddle the state line to be in two places at once but if you haven't managed to be in three places at once then this is an adventure for you! First off driving through Virginia is beautiful but the state has some good roads that lead into other states. Crossing a bridge like the picture I took below, you straddle Maryland Virginia, then in a brief corner of a riverbank you're in the West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland tri-state. 

After passing the river entering into Maryland, there's a nice little national park or natural preserve (to be honest I forget) and it's where many take to a few trails especially as it leads to some nice river entries for kayaking and canoeing. You park alongside the highway where there's a little constructed break-off for travelers. Once you park you make your way down this steep decline of dirt, pebbles, and rocks that leads you through pretty trees and colors until you find yourself or your ears for that matter, honing in on the intense rushing sound of water. A few feet into the tree-lines and you come face to face with a beautiful rushing waterfall that has so much natural pressure the sound alone is both intense, soothing, and peaceful. You can literally sit down on one of the boulders nearby and just take in the scenery. 

When you travel away from Maryland and finally into Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. You cross back over the bridge and take yourself into the neighborhood before you come across the main entrance in the Harper's Ferry town. Again the views, sites, and scenes are just aww-stounding and impressionable. The town itself is oddly structured but so quaint that you hardly notice the unruly nature of the winding roads and the buildings themselves. There's a lot they've done to preserve the town but you can also see that they've tried to maintain or preserve its originality while updating facades of buildings and the roads. With the town having a full train station center, you see and hear a vintage looking train station and train still in full function! Its beautiful and the area of the tracks that lead into the mountain are impressive and also a treat to see. Their main parking for travelers/guests is by the train station so you can easily walk around the whole town and then some; as in the beautiful trails in Harper especially the ones that lead across the river and into the mountains of Maryland state. There's a path that leads to some national markers from the main town area, leading up to the river's edge, which is where I caught the picture below. My oldest with my dad after looking at the coin looking plates on the ground that tell a story about the founders of the town who were explorers. It a fascinating history of the town.

Still on that same path (that I mentioned above) it continues to lead past the river edge area and onto a walkway bridge that's alongside the railroad tracks. That's where the below picture was taken of myself and my two kiddos! The walkway is truly as long as it seems in the pic but what my picture doesn't show is the beautiful scene you get to witness as you're on the walkway. You see the mountain ridges and rigid tree-lines on the mountains and the beautiful reflections against the water. One of the best parts is that breathing it all in you don't even realize how far you're walking until you realize where you're standing...Also in case I haven't explained, the "mountains" in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland aren'y your harsh and rocky material you see in New Mexico, Utah, or Colorado no these are plush with green (during spring and summer), colors, textures, fog, warmth, and cold blue colors in certain lights and in certain locations. There's a green that you just have to witness for yourself. 

So as you keeping walking this same path from the town, to a river's edge, then across the walkway bridge alongside the train railroad tracks, crossing the river to the Maryland side of the town, onto a dirt trail that is an actual trail to hike up the mountain ridge. You see a variety of people on this trail who are returning back to town from their steep hike up the mountain while others are making their way up the mountain for what is to be the most intense and inspiring site at the top of the mountain, to witness the sunset. Because of the ages of my kiddos, my family and I would alway stick to the trails while I secretly promised myself that I would return one day and make that half a day hike/climb up the mountain to sit and watch the play of the sun and sky with it's unique colors...

When we walked the trail along the Maryland side, it is what I consider to be a very intimate trail with enough spell binding spots to take in the whole experience and trail. That's where this next picture is taken (below). 

Honestly I can't fathom, how one could miss the beauty and rareness of this town. So if you're on the east coast make it a point of driving by and stopping OR if you're just looking for a new adventure, this is an area to put on your list of places to visit...whether by yourself, with a significant other, or especially a family trip. You won’t regret it!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman