$1,922

NEW TOUR “Almost Home” West Virginia Tour

Greenbriar Resort, Bunker Tour, Trains, Snowshoe Village, Patsy Cline…

Monday, October 7, 2024 - Saturday, October 12, 2024

A stop will be made along the way to visit the Belle Grove Plantation This antebellum plantation manor house, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, was originally home to Major Isaac Hite and his wife Nelly, sister of President James Madison.

We stay overnight in Staunton VA. You second day will include lunch at the world-class resort, Greenbriar Resort, that has hosted 26 US Presidents, celebrities and royalty from around the world! Enjoy the elegance around you as you savor your meal and be on the lookout for any "special guests" that may be around. You will also tour the declassified Bunker at The Greenbrier that takes you behind the scenes and walks you through a fascinating period in the resort's history. Carved deep into the mountainside beneath the West Virginia Wing is an emergency Cold War fallout shelter. Travel to Lewisburg, WV and check in to your hotel for the night. The next morning you will ride the Cass Scenic Railroad, the same line built in 1901 to haul lumber to the mill in Cass. Once you board the train, the real excitement begins. The great pistons of the carefully resorted Shay locomotive will start pulsing, driven by hundreds of pounds of steam pressure. As the train rounds the curve up Leatherbark Creek, you'll pass the Cass Shop, where the locomotives are serviced. You travel up the mountain toward the two switchbacks, which allows the train to reverse the steep grade. Finally the view opens to fields and Whittaker Station. You will have a "sack" lunch on the train as you journey up the mountain. You will visit Cass Historical Museum located in the Company Store Building, and founded by Kyle J. Neighbors. The museum features items and artifacts of Cass. You can learn more about the trains, community spirit and history of Cass and the surrounding area. The history of Cass and the regions logging industry come alive before your eyes through railroad artifacts, train paintings and antiques. The next two evenings will be spent at the new Corduroy Inn and Lodge, an upscale boutique hotel at WV’s Snowshoe Ski Resort. This beautiful resort sits atop the second highest peak in WV with incredible views. This evening you will partake of a wonderful Almost Heaven Sunset dinner. Here you have an undisturbed western view of a WV Mountain sunset. In addition to the wonderful meal and superb views, your evening includes a local musician, who will perform at least one of John Denver’s songs!

The next day, you will experience the Greenbrier Wilderness Train. This new train ride leaves from Cass, WV on a four hour excursion into the wilderness of the Greenbrier River Valley. Framed by forested hills on both sides of the river this remote, rugged, unpopulated region is home to Bald Eagles, Osprey, Black Bear and Coyotes. You may spot these species and others as you ride round trip between Cass and Durbin with a lunch onboard the train. This afternoon you cross into the next valley and find it filled with giant satellite dishes. This is the Green Bank Radio Astronomy Observatory intentionally located in one of America’s most quiet spots. Here our scientists are listening for sounds from space, and you will tour the facility.  This evening return to Snowshoe for free time. You may wish to take a chair lift and ride down to scenic Shaver’s Lake. There are a number o shops and recreational activities. Dinner is on your own to either explore the restaurants in the village or enjoy the hotels food facilities. Friday, All aboard! It’s not an accident that West Virginia is known as the Mountain State and after riding and having lunch on the New Tygart Flyer of the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad scenic excursion trains, you will definitely understand why. You will enjoy stunning scenery, freeflowing rivers, historic sites, and a serene waterfall only accessible by hiking or train riding. The four-hour, 46 mile round trip has been called one of the most relaxing mountain wilderness train rides in the United States. This afternoon, enjoy a visit to Patsy Cline's Historic Home in Winchester, VA. Patsy resided here from 1948-53, longer than at any other house associated with her in the Winchester and Nashville areas, and she returned to it intermittently until her singing career began in 1957. The house serves as a proud testament to Patsy's love of family. Her devoted and influential relationship with her mother and their drive and determination launched Patsy's career. Dinner tonight will be at the historical George Washington Hotel in Winchester, Virginia. You will be dining at the hotel's private banquet room. After dinner, you will be taken back and entertained by a Patsy Cline tribute singer performing all Patsy's hits. You will stay in Winchester, VA this evening. Saturday, after breakfast, check out and depart for home with " Almost Home, West Virginia" memories

Package includes motor coach transportation, Belle Grove Plantation tour, Three Scenic Trains, Cass Scenic Railroad to Bald Knob with Lunch, Greenbrier Wilderness Train with Lunch, New Tygart Flyer with Lunch, Greenbrier Bunker Tour, Cass Historical Museum & Showcase, Green Bank Radio Astronomy and House Tour, Patsy Cline Tribute Singer, five Nights Lodging, Five Hotel Breakfasts, Observatory, Patsy Cline Hometown, Three Train Lunches, Four Dinners, driver's gratuity and trip leader.

$1,922 pp double, $2,422 single

Bus departures

7:30 AM Jackson Church, 68 Bennetts Mills Rd Jackson NJ 08527

8:00 AM Target, RT 70, Brick 

8:00 PM Approximate return 

What’s included

• Premium motorcoach
• Driver's Gratuity
• Overnight Accommodations
• Meals: 5 breakfasts, 4 dinners, 3 lunches
• Three Scenic Train Rides
• Admissions
• Tour Director
• Entertainment on Bus: Games, prizes, music and fun leaders
• Snacks and Water
• Step on Guides: destination expert guides
  

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