my day trip to Harpers Ferry, WV
The Point where WV, VA, and MD meet!
What’s good! I hope you’re able to find your own kind of joy today despite everything that’s going on in the World.
I myself was able to do that last week when me and my friends took to a short roadtrip to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia! Full disclosure, I never realized how close Harper’s Ferry was to the DMV. I mean, I obviously knew that there were some itty bitty parts of West Virginia that bordered Maryland, but I ain’t know that it was that close. Because in less than an hour, you can travel from Maryland to Harper’s Ferry and get a little bit of nature, hiking, and history too!
When I planned this trip, I didn’t have any goal in mind other than to 1) take a short roadtrip, and 2) visit a new state. So, Harper’s Ferry seemed like the ideal place since I had never been to West Virginia before, and it was so close, I could even bike there from the DMV (which is something that I considered). I mean, I wouldn’t say that I’m the type of person who wants to visit a certain number of states or countries, because I usually chase experiences and not country counts. And, honestly, given the racist history of the United States, I’m not really eager to see every state. I mean, I likely will visit more states than I care about in my lifetime, because I’m not going to let racism stop me from exploring the world and experiencing new cultures for myself. But, I would be lying if I said visiting all 50 states is something that I care about or plan to do.
But, since the year is 2020, and since many borders are closed to US citizens because of COVID-19, (which, they should be because we ain’t actin right), I ain’t got nowhere to go. So, I, like many other avid travelers, still want to use this time to safely explore my state, and even a few cities that aren’t too far away. So, that’s how I ended up at Harper’s Ferry, WV!
sis, didn’t you say you weren’t going to travel?
Wow, y’all really out here reading my blog and remembering my posts! I feel so important lol.
So yes, if you read my earlier post about why I’m not traveling anywhere anytime soon, you would indeed be correct to point out that I VEHEMENTLY said that I AM NOT getting on a plane for leisure travel to visit a foreign country anytime soon. That. Is. Correct.
And while I still feel this way, and I do understand how some people may find my road trip to be hypocritical (I ain’t mad at you if you do), I personally feel comfortable taking road trips because I can control my exposure better than I would if I was flying. I can stay in my vehicle the entire time if I want to. Or, I can stick to outdoor activities (with a mask on), and avoid other reckless people, that way my chances of exposure are limited. Granted, even though I do think it’s too soon for many states to be reopening, and the cases up here are surging, I am still slowly allowing myself to be outside more, but only at my own pace so that I can still do my part in stopping the spread of COVID (I mean, still haven’t been to the barbershop or the nail salon yet). So, taking a road trip to West Virginia was something that I was comfortable with doing. Also, another disclaimer, I made sure to take a COVID test prior to departing on this road trip. Thankfully, I tested negatively for COVID-19 and the COVID-19 antibodies, meaning that, based on the current COVID medical testing standards, I did not have COVID, and I never formed the antibodies to fight that virus (meaning that I’ve never had it or been exposed). Yay!
Now that this disclaimer is out of the way, here is a list of things that I did in Harper’s Ferry, and a few tidbits on how I tried to remain safe and adhere to proper social distancing guidelines at the same damn time.
The Quest to Harper’s Ferry · A Short Drive
Main Street Parking Lot near The Point
When you get to Harper’s Ferry from the MD side, it gives very small town vibes: a narrow two lane road leads into a quaint town with inns and small chains that line the street. Things are so quiet, that if you don’t know which road to turn down, you could drive past the whole town!
When you get to the Main Street area, there are two parking lots. There is one by the train station, which is closer to the public bathrooms (currently closed due to COVID) and a few confectionary shops, but it’s still a relatively long walk to the main street from here. This parking lot is smaller and probably only fits like 20 cars.
Then, there is another, right across from the main street, and fairly close to where The Point/John Brown’s Fort is. This lot is a lot larger, but it gets full pretty quickly because of it’s proximity to the restaurants. If you can’t manage to get a spot here, there is still quite a bit of street parking.
We weren’t able to get a parking spot down by the main street, so we opted for street parking near the visitor’s center, which was like a mile/ish away from everything. This really worked in our favor, because we were trying to stay away from people anyways, so we posted up at this cute little gazebo, which was the perfect spot for…
Our Outdoor Lunch
BGM Lunch
In an effort to avoid unnecessary exposure, and restaurants, we decided to pack our own meals instead!
So, that morning, I made some BOMB-a$$ turkey sandwiches , and packed Capri-Sun, potato salad, spinach salad, and some ribs (courtesy of my Dad, cuz I really don’t cook like that), a few Oatmeal Raisin cookies (because I’m a Grandma at heart), and a of course some juice pops into my cooler! The homies brought the music, some fruits and veggies, and voila…we had ourselves a lil feast!
It was a really nice #BlackGirlMagic outdoor lunch. This gazebo (near the Visitor’s Center) came in clutch because it had benches all around. Overall, it was a very refreshing experience!
Pro Tips: When you plan these kinds of outings (or picnics as some may say), make sure to bring a blanket, bug spray, and covering for the food (to keep the critters out).
Also, just a heads up, the only bathrooms open right now are these porta potties down at the end of Main Street (past the Parking Lot). We made the mistake of walking there from the gazebo and it was horrendously hot. 0/10 would not recommend.
Celebrating Black Culture
Ngl, another reason why West Virginia wasn’t on my radar was because I didn’t know how racist the state would be. And, quite honestly, that’s a reality that many Black travelers have to face whenever we go somewhere (I know I do). I hope you’re not shocked by this as a reader, because that’s how I’ve always seen the world. Does it stop me from traveling, clearly no. But, I’m also not naive.
So, I’m sure you could understand my shock when I saw this sign outside of someone’s residence. It was reassuring, to say the least, but I still didn’t let my guard down. I mean, I can’t speak for the people in West Virginia, or even go as far as to think that people in Harper’s Ferry are actively anti-racist because of one sign. But, it was nice to see, and I hope they’re continuing to push for racial equity in this community.
I will say that the Harper’s Ferry community does have a few museums that focus on the Black origins and Black history in this community. Sadly they were all closed at the time, but I would highly recommend checking out the Allies for Freedom Exhibit (in the John Brown Museum), Education & Struggle for Equality School, and the Black Voices museum if you get a chance.
Saw this on our trek to the bathroom!
The Fort, The Point, and The Walk
Abolitionist Fort!
After we had our lunch and our long a$$ walk, we did stop by an ice cream shop on the Main Street to help cool down. There are three all on the Main Street, as well as a jewelry store, and a couple of restaurants with outdoor seating, so check it out if you like.
Once you’re on Main Street, you can head all the way to the end to check out John Brown’s Fort! This building is an old Fire House that turned into an armory during the Civil War. John Brown and a group of Black Guerrilla soldiers captured this fort and the weapons inside to provide the guns and ammo to abolitionist soldiers. Sadly, these freedom fighters were beaten by the US Marines and the Fort, and the weapons were seized. But, you can still pay homage to their fight for Black Liberation by stopping by!
After you check out this Fort, you can walk over to The Point, which gives you GORGEOUS views of the Shenandoah/Potomac Rivers. This is also the same area where you can “see” the intersection of WV, VA, and MD. There’s a few benches (in the shade) where you can sit and take a look.
Then, if you’re able, you can travel along a pedestrian bridge that starts near The Point and ends less than a quarter of a mile further down. This bridge runs parallel to a railroad that runs through a tunnel with Harper’s Ferry engraved on the side. Check out my pictures below for visual details!
The pedestrian bridge has a ramp leading up to it from The Point, and is paved all throughout, so it appears to be stroller and wheelchair friendly. Along the bridge, people have left locks to symbolize…their presence I guess. Idk, I’ve seen this done in movies and also in Paris. So, you can add your own set if you like! But, once you get to the end of the bridge, there are steps below which take you to the river for your own aquatic adventures!
More Pictures
More to Explore
Even though we only hit Harper’s Ferry for a few hours, there is still more to see in the area. You could easily spend an entire day, or even a weekend exploring! If you’re really interested in water sports, you can check out the Adventure Center, where you can go tubing, rafting, and even zip lining!
If not, you can also add Charles Town (for the casinos), Martinsburg (for the history) and Sharpsburg, MD (Battle of Antietam), to your list since they’re all within 30 miles of each other.
And, if you have more time, you can check out High Rick Overlook Hike which gives you more views of Harper’s Ferry, but from the MD side. It’s somewhat strenuous, and takes roughly six hours.
And, if you want to add a little more spice to your Harper’s Ferry getaway, try biking there instead! You can opt for a leisurely bike ride along the WO&D trail from VA to WV, and make pit stops at the many number of breweries and restaurants along the way!
I hope you enjoyed my trip to Harper’s Ferry!
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you learned a little bit about Harper’s Ferry, the Black history in the community, and also feel empowered to make a trip of your own. It could be the fun escape that you need. Next up, I’ll drop a list of tips on how to plan the perfect socially distant roadtrip! But, until then, let me know…Are you inspired to check out this town for yourself? Or, are you comfortable making any other road trip plans for the summer?
