Harper's Ferry

I went to Harper's Ferry for the first time this weekend with a group of friends (DC bucket list item -- check!), and... it was absolutely GORGEOUS!! I haven't done a corn maze/hayride/haunted thingy in a few years, and when I saw a Living Social deal come up last month, I knew I had to get a group organized to go.

I've now been to West Virginia twice, and let me tell you: West Virginia does NOT disappoint!

To kick off our Harper's Ferry adventure, we did a little nature walking and caught a beautiful sunset.

the group

You know my theory about benches. There had to be some love on this one! Even if it was just friend love. :)

Then we did some more walking around the town (which is adorable, btw).

The gentlemen, getting informed.

We saw a beautiful church (where a ghost tour was about to start!),

ghost tour! (photo by Joel)

night shot

and the ruins of a church (where Joel maybe took some model shots of us girls?). The following photos are all brought to you by the one and only Joel:

What we all came away with from this experience is that... I can't keep a straight face. I just can't do it! I laugh every time.

nope. can't do it.

And, of course, we ate food. Lots of food. Lots of delicious food.

"wet" walnuts over pumpkin ice cream = amazing & life-changing!

The adorable B&B where we ate dinner. We felt so welcome here. ;)

delicious, local apple cider!

West Virginia's finest pumpkin butter, made from West Virginia pumpkins

We finished the night with our haunted house/hay ride/corn maze excursion at Ridgefield Farm & Orchard (which is also where I bought the above-featured pumpkin butter. It's delicious!).

hayride!

A funny story about the hayride. We got on the cart, and a girl got on after us who was all alone. The tour guide asked her if we should wait for her friends or group, but she said she'd come alone. The tour guide thought it was weird, but we decided to befriend her. "Come sit by us!" we said, and Jordan introduced us one by one. She scooted closer and told us about herself (her name was Maggie, she was a local, yadda yadda).

In the middle of the hayride, the tractor "broke down" (oh. no. <insert sarcastic tour guide voice her>), and we "had to go the rest of the way on foot." (aka- the haunting was about to begin!)

Out of nowhere, the haunted guys jumped onto our cart, and... they took Maggie! Only then (the tour guide's sarcastic "oh, no" comments helped) did we realize... Maggie was one of THEM! She wasn't a newcomer there to enjoy an autumn hayride! She was a co-conspirator! A haunter! 

After the excursion was over, the tour guide (whom we like to call "Prince Eric") remarked on how friendly we were to her. He said never before had he seen such a friendly group in all his years/months of haunting!

My response? "We're Mormon." :)

I'm so glad we all got to go on this adventure together! We had a blast, and the scenery in Harper's Ferry just took my breath away. I hope to visit again soon (maybe on a Sunday afternoon?). :D