As James said yesterday, we planned Saturday to be a lazy day. We did not get in the car even once. We both read our books (I read much more than James but he still did get some reading in), James played some video games and we both just relaxed. We also wondered around town a little more today and checked out the local shops. There weren’t as many as in Thomas but still, we found some places to go. I did gather a few more gifts for people which was awesome!
We stopped by the train station to see if we could check out the shop there but it was closed. The station itself was open and we figured the shop is only open before and after the train passes through. I think this is now just a scenic tour of the area now and not operational as far as transporting goods. So it makes sense they would have the shop open for the tourists.
The plan was to get the included breakfast at the hotel and then later go out into town and grab some donuts at this shop next door. We had seen it last time we were here and wanted them but they weren’t open when we were around. So this time we had a plan. Well…we went out into the town around 2pm and they were sold out of donuts… I guess we could have gotten some other food there but the place is called Byrd’s House of Donuts so we didn’t get anything there. However, we did find a little cafe where I had a chai latte and we got a few sweet treats.
For dinner we finally ate at the hotel restaurant. I swear the last time we were here James said they didn’t have anything there he would eat but I guess they changed their menu. They had a lot of good options. James got a filet and I had a peach chicken dish. Both were very good. I also had a lavender gin drink that was so good James even said he liked it. Although, he just had the one sip.
I did take some pictures of the tree we were looking at last night with the random lady. She asked what kind it was and I was pretty sure it was a Ginkgo tree but I didn’t say it just in case I was wrong. So I came back and looked it up. It was a Ginkgo! It had turned yellow because it’s fall and it was so pretty. Especially in the dark. I found out it can grow in North America but it is native to Asia. It is a slow grower and a super weird tree. Apparently it hasn’t changed much in like millions of years and is resistant to most insects and diseases but also doesn’t offer much benefit to wildlife. You can eat the leaves in moderation and can dry them to make tea. Which is good because that crazy lady from last night said she tried one.
Elkins was founded by Stephens Elkins and Henry Davis in 1888 and incorporated as a town in 1890. It was a railway town that thrived in the first several years. There was a fire in 1897 which devastated the local business. The estimated total damage was around $85,000. I can’t image how much that would be in today’s money scale but wow. Business rebuilt with stone and brick buildings and they also started the first fire department of Elkins.
Anyway, tomorrow we check out and head home. It was another great trip to West Virginia.
