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Select Index: Date | Type | Destination |
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West Virginia at its Best
Departure: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 Other Multi-Day Tour - 5 Days / 4 Nights July 15 - 19, 2008 |
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Day #1 - Tuesday, July 15th: 7:00 AM - Approximate departure time from your designated pickup location listed on your final confirmation, which you will receive 2 weeks prior to departure. Today's going to be a "travel day" so relax, enjoy the beautiful scenery and the fun we'll have on board the coach. Our day starts with Continental Breakfast* and we'll make rest and meal stops along the way to our destination - Huntington, West Virginia. Don't forget to set your watches ahead an hour as we enter the Eastern Time Zone. 7:30 PM - Approximate arrival time at our hotel for the night. Day #2 - Wednesday, July 16th: Continental Breakfast* is served before we begin our day of touring. Today we'll board Amtrak* for a breathtaking view of the New River Gorge* area. The death of the earliest coal towns established in the Gorge began during the very early decades of the 1900's, as the supply of coal in the mines was depleted. By the end of World War II only a handful of mining communities remained in the New River Gorge. Today, all of the once busy mining towns in the Gorge have been abandoned, but their history does live on! As the New River Train passes through the Gorge, guides onboard each car provide a description of the history of the various ghost towns and point out remains of the old coal mining sites still visible along the route of the railroad through the Gorge. Upon arrival in Lewisburg, you'll have time to visit the shops & galleries located here before we travel on to Beckley, West Virginia for our overnight stay. Dinner* is included this evening at Tamarack followed by the outdoor drama - "The Hatfield's & McCoy's"*. Day #3 - Thursday, July 17th: Continental Breakfast* is served at the hotel before another day of sightseeing in this beautiful area. Today we'll enjoy a Coal Baron's Tour* visiting sights in Pochahontas, Virginia and Bramwell, Virginia. In Pocahontas, we'll visit the Exhibition Mine & Museum for a tour*. The Pocahontas Mine is one of the largest in the world covering over 30 square miles underground. Several tunnels have been preserved as an educational exhibit, and a knowledgeable guide will take you through & explain how coal mining works. (The part of the mine open to tourists is a drift mine.) Next we'll visit Bramwell, which at one time was the richest town in the United States for its size, with as many as 14 millionaires living there in the early 20th century. Bramwell was the place where the coalmine owners lived (and entertained) in lavish mansions. At Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum* we'll step back nearly 800 years in time for an educational experience that's situated in the beautiful mountains of Southwest Virginia. The recreated village is near the site of an actual archeological excavation. The Village is a living museum with hands-on exploration for visitors. Interpretive guides lead you on an exploration of the living skills used by the Eastern Woodland Indians. The conventional museum displays artifacts from the actual site and other related objects. Our evening ends at the Wolfhart Haus Dinner Theatre for dinner & show* (TBD). Day #4 - Friday, July 18th: Continental Breakfast* is served again at the hotel. Today we'll be visiting the New River Gorge Visitor's Center*. The new Sandstone Visitor Center is at exit 139 on Interstate 64; the Canyon Rim Visitor Center is on U.S. Route 19, adjacent to the well-known New River Gorge Bridge. Our next stop will be at Hawk's Nest State Park*. Nestled in the heart of whitewater rafting country, Hawks Nest State Park encompasses 276 acres bordering a rugged section of the New River Gorge National River. Our final stop today will be at the Heritage Farm Museum & Village for a tour*. Step back in time with a guided adventure into days gone by - a time of a one-room schoolhouse, blacksmith shops, a country store and log homes. Stroll through up to 16 different buildings experiencing life as "it was back then" and learning about the major inventions that changed everything to create the quality of life we take for granted today. Following the tour, we depart for our overnight in either Mt. Sterling or Winchester, KY. Upon arrival we'll enjoy a dinner* at a local restaurant. Don't forget to set your watches back tonight as we've re-entered the Central Time Zone. Day #5 - Saturday, July 19th Continental Breakfast* is served at the hotel and then we're off for home. We'll make rest & meal stops along the way. 5:00 PM - This is the approximate arrival time back in Peoria. Please refer to the final itinerary for the return time to your specific pickup location. Tour Includes: Deluxe Motorcoach Transportation, Hotel Accommodations, Luggage Handling, All Attractions and meals in bold print and marked with an asterisk* If you feel your driver & escort have done a good job, it is appropriate to tip them Cost Per Person: Single: $950.00 Double: $795.00 Triple: $760.00 Quad: $725.00 Please click Tour Policy |
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