Doug Griffith

A wonderful place to take in works of art, flowers and gardens, a charming cafe, and more. The tapestries were the favorite for several in our group; mine was the Italian Renaissance paintings. Tickets are reasonable (you reserve a time), and the staff is friendly (unless they're on guard duty) and helpful. There are 4 stories, the stunning inner courtyard, and plenty of restrooms. Easily toured in a couple of hours, though you can stay longer and really soak things up.

Our party of 4 came for dinner around 6 on a Wednesday. The Philly cheesesteak egg roll appetizer was small (4 pieces) but tasty. We all had different burgers, with 3 of us getting K fries and one person trying the roasted sweet potatoes; both were good. The beer selection is solid, the service is excellent and attentive, and the 6-steps-below-the-street location gives a cool neighborhood vibe. Very enjoyable.

We had a family gathering of 4 here, and could not have been more happy with our meal or experience. The lighting is very low and cozy, with a few very quiet tv's. It was Taco Tuesday, and our barbacoa and carne asada tacos were scrumptious. Keep in mind that these are fork & knife tacos--absolutely stuffed with tasty ingredients, so you won't be able to close them at first. My chips (very thick) with homemade pico de gallo were splendid. Other highlights included the wonton appetizers, beer and cocktail selection, and street corn. Last but not least,our server was friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and patient. Stellar restaurant (though the big sin outside proclaims BAR with a tiny "Audobon" under that), and could not recommend it more highly.

Nestled in downtown Charles Town, this is a cozy brewery with a good variety of beers, plus a few ciders and local wines. The 5-beer flight in the West Virginia board is a good bet, and you can sit inside or out. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable, and the clean restrooms even have music. My favorite was the Insurrectionist (very dark) brown ale.
Update: we were able to visit again this year on "Funksgiving," and 3 of us had flights. My favorite this year was the (red currant) Abolitionist Ale. I really like how this place continues to develop their theme, such as having cards of important abolitionists on the indoor tables.