If elegant charm could be bottled, Highlawn Inn would be a best-selling label...

The flavor of a more gracious time saturates this elaborate Victorian bride's house with its wraparound veranda overlooking the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

Meticulous restoration and authentic furnishings are blended in a bouquet of unique rooms. Individual porches, sitting areas for tea, varied bed styles, and claw foot tubs--all immersed in an atmosphere of thoughtful privacy--promise cherished memories for couples bent on escape. Ideal spots for quiet reflection abound on sloping lawns crossed with pebble paths filled with flower and herb gardens, providing the perfect backdrop for a weekend getaway or relaxing weeklong vacation retreat.

Begin each day with an opulent breakfast created by innkeeper Sandra Kauffman, guaranteed to please even the most dedicated health seeker. Homemade pastries using local fruits, vegetarian dishes, ethereally light scrambled eggs, secret coffee blend, and a potpourri of other specialties are served in the Victorian dining room from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

An ornate fireplace graces Highlawn's intimate dining and sitting areas, the tasteful setting for Sandy's opulent breakfasts and silver service gourmet dinners. Delectable snacks and springwater-based beverages are always available.

A favorite guest spot is the wraparound veranda which boasts a premier view of the mineral spa town of Berkeley Springs below. Relax on an inviting porch swing, inside by a comforting fire or on sloping lawns crossed with pebble paths and filled with flower and herb gardens.

Choose from a wealth of activities an easy stroll down the hill. Bathe in historic warm mineral springs, yield to the relaxing fingers of a massage therapist, hike nearby mountains, or treasure hunt from nearly 100 antique and collectible dealers in two malls and a sprinkling of shops.