Mountains, Music & Railroads 26

Day 1

Welcome Aboard! Settle back, relax and enjoy a leisurely drive to "The Mountain State," West Virginia. Our first destination is the Green Bank Observatory, home to the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia. Enjoy a guided tour of the fascinating world of radio astronomy from the pioneering instruments of the 1950's to the world's premier single-dish telescope. Included are science demonstrations and an excursion into a restricted area that takes you up-close to the world's largest fully steerable telescope. A lunch is included here. Enjoy your meal and an incredible view of the Green Bank Telescope and surrounding mountains. We continue onto Elkins, West Virginia, where we spend two nights at the Wingate by Wyndham Elkins, nestled in the breathtaking Allegheny Mountains. You will have time to unwind and freshen up before we go out for dinner and entertainment at The Gandy Dancer Dinner Theatre. This evening's show, "Tribute to Musical Legends" is a live country music show that is the perfect blend of country classics from some of country music's most legendary artists, and the contemporary country hits of today's country megastars.

Day 2

After breakfast we depart for the New Tygart Flyer, a classic streamliner train from the 1930's. We will embark on a round-trip train excursion through West Virginia's majestic wilderness. On board, you will find a souvenir shop, comfortable seating, and enjoy a delicious hobo lunch that is included. The outing features a stop at the High Falls of the Cheat River. Situated in a spruce and laurel grove far from any human activity, the falls are 150' wide and 18' high, and accessible only by rail. Disembark the train and you will find a set of trails and viewing platforms. Following our train ride, we return to our hotel where you will have time to sit, relax and freshen up before we go out for dinner and entertainment at The Gandy Dancer Dinner Theatre. The evening includes a delicious plated dinner, followed by a Branson-style show, "The Premier Show". The show features music that spans the 1950's through today. Enjoy country, pop, Motown, gospel, and patriotic music provided by the Mountain Memories Show Band. This musical extravaganza features a terrific cast of singers, dancers, comedians, and musicians that will entertain all!

Day 3

After breakfast we travel to the historic town of Cass, West Virginia for a ride on West Virginia's newest train ride, the Greenbrier Express. The original 95-mile section of this railroad was first constructed in 1902 by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway to encourage the development of the lumber industry. Our train excursion today takes us on the northern 15-mile portion of the original railroad and will travel through the rugged and beautiful Greenbrier River Valley, and the iconic Cass Scenic Railroad State Park to the century-old town of Durbin, West Virginia. Our ride upriver to Durbin passes through a secluded wilderness portion of the Monongahela National Forest and offers unparalleled river and mountain views at every turn of the river. Sightings of deer, river otters, and black bear along with a wide variety of eagles, hawks, ospreys, and other species of aquatic birds are common along the way. Following our train excursion, we depart for an included lunch at Asbury's Restaurant in Riverton, West Virginia. Serving delicious, homestyle meals using fresh, high-quality ingredients that keep visitors and locals coming back, Asbury's offers a warm, welcoming dining experience. After lunch, enjoy a guided tour of Seneca Caverns, which is known for its unique geological formations and underground tour. Opened to the public in 1930, the cave has calcite formations throughout including stalagmites, stalactites, cave coral, and flowstone mounds and features natural stone steps, and an underground river. Be sure to visit the gift shop with its spectacular collection of minerals, gemstones, and natural treasures plus much more and pick up a souvenir of your visit. Next, we depart for home and conclude our amazing get-away filled with many fond memories of picturesque mountains, delightful regional music, and exhilarating railway adventures, recalling an era when train travel was an essential part of everyday life! Note: Please make sure you are an able walker before booking this tour. Seneca Caverns does not have an elevator and there are 282 steps located at the main entrance to the cave. A sweater or jacket is recommended because the temperature is 54 degrees and wear comfortable walking shoes. This tour is not suitable for people who have trouble with mobility!

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D =Dinner