SperlingViews - Charles_Town, West_virginia

Charles Town is a town with a small town feel. Having grown up and lived there until the age of 18, I've maintained a fondness for that "feel". Living the past 22 years in a city with a population of over 200,000 (Cape Coral, Florida), I appreciate a city such as Charles Town more than ever. I still make a trip there annually for that reason. It is close enough that many of the residents work in and around our nations capital (commuting daily by train from nearby Harpers Ferry) while maintaining a sense that you are very far removed from the hustle and bustle of bigger city life. It is a wonderful solution to greater employment opportunities with the advantage of a slower pace and a peaceful place to raise a family with a greater quality of life.[read more...]

Charles Town is a beautiful, historic town just a short distance from the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. It used to be inexpensive to live here but in the last ten years it has become a bedroom community of Washington, D.C. Real estate prices have soared as a result. Many people, including me, commute 70 or so miles by car or train into D.C. to make a living. I believe it is a good tradeoff to live in a beautiful, small town and drive the 74 miles each way to work every day. Not everyone would agree. Winters are mild, summers are fine, and the living is easy. The Appalachian Trail is a stone’s throw away—if you’ve got a good arm. What's not to like? Oh, and there is a thoroughbred race track, slot machines and soon to be table games if you are of a mind to lose your hard earned cash.[read more...]

You can spend a day at Charles Town Races and Slots either cheering on the winning horse or getting lucky at the slots. You can visit many historical sites such as the Charles Town Courthouse where John Brown was tried and sentenced. You can visit the nearby Summit Point Raceway and watch the cars on the speedway. And since historic Harpers Ferry, eclectic Shepherdstown and the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers are only minutes away, there is something for everyone.[read more...]