Tour Description

Your package includes deluxe transportation and accommodations, all listed tour fees, and 10 meals.

West Virginia, the Mountain State! It is indeed the most mountainous state east of the Mississippi and fabulously beautiful with its rocky peaks, rivers rushing through narrow canyons, waterfalls tumbling down steep hills, and vast forests ablaze with autumn color. In the fall the landscape blazes with color as untold millions of leaves change hue. The nostalgic scenic railroads carry passengers beside mountain streams and scenic mountains for breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. You will truly be “Making Memories” in the wild and wonderful state of West Virginia as we breathe in the Appalachian’s Autumn Air.

Day 1:

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We begin our journey and travel through Missouri, Illinois and into Corydon, Indiana, the first State Capital of Indiana, for our first night of the gorgeous tour. The colors should already be making themselves known as we travel through the Hoosier National Forests of Southern Indiana.

Day 2:

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Meals: Breakfast
We have an absolutely magnificent drive ahead of us today as we cross the Ohio River into Louisville; continue through the bluegrass and horse farms of Lexington and across the hills of Eastern Kentucky into West Virginia. We will visit the Canyon Rim Visitor Center for panoramic views of the 1000 ft. gorge and the New River Gorge Bridge. Contrary to its name, the New River is believed to be one of the oldest rivers in North America, perhaps as many as 65 million years old. We will end our day in Beckley, West Virginia with a visit to Tamarack built specifically to showcase the state’s cultural heritage and traditions.

Day 3:

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Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
What a day we have in store for you! Not only the spectacular beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, but we are going underground as well. The secret is out! The declassified Cold War Bunker at the Greenbrier Hotel is a must see experience that takes you behind (and beneath) the scenes and walks you through a fascinating period of history. We will have a narrated tour of the secret Eisenhower-era underground bunker, designed to house members of Congress and their staffs during (and after) a Nuclear attack, and built under the West Virginia Wing of the Greenbrier Resort. After the tour, we will have an included lunch and some free time to explore this natural historic landmark hotel before departing to Elkins, West Virginia for the next two nights.

Day 4:

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Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Today as we get to the depot to board our train, the Cheat Mountain Salamander, as it takes us to the High Falls of the Cheat River and 21 miles deep into the wilderness. Watch for deer, bobcat, and bear! Next our motorcoach will meet us for a short ride to Durbin, West Virginia where we board the Durbin Rocket, a steam locomotive, for an open air ride along the Greenbrier River. We return to Elkins for an included dinner at the new Railyard Restaurant. We complete our day with a fantastic show at the American Mountain Theater.

Day 5:

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Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
We head back east today for a journey into the past. We board our Sternwheeler for a ride down the Ohio River bound for Blennerhassett Island. We will enjoy an included picnic lunch and then tour the mansion built by Harman Blennerhasset in 1798. Enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride to tour the Island and time to check out the Blennerhassett Museum is included. We re-board out Sternwheeler to return across the river to Parkersburg, West Virginia for our overnight.

Day 6:

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Meals: Breakfast
Our travel today will take us back toward home. Gorgeous fall colors and beautiful scenery should still abound as we travel through Ohio, Indiana, and into Effingham, Illinois for our last night of the amazing tour.

Day 7:

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Meals: Breakfast
Our thoughts turn toward home but there is still plenty of time to reminisce with our new friends over the absolute beauty and exciting things we have enjoyed as we traveled through the Appalachian Mountains. Thank you for traveling with us we hope to see again.