We invite you to join us on a relaxing tour through beautiful Virginia to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. You will thrill to experience the luxury of America’s Resort: The Greenbrier! Located amid the breathtaking mountains of West Virginia, The Greenbrier is a National Historic Landmark and world-class resort that has been welcoming guests from around the world since 1778. The natural mineral springs that drew its first guests over 235 years ago continue to lure visitors to the 11,000 acre luxury retreat today. With a guest list that includes 27 of our country’s 45 Presidents, America’s Resort has long been a favorite destination of royalty, celebrities and business leaders. Combining graciousness of the past with exceptional comforts of today, a new era of elegance awaits you at The Greenbrier. This renowned property offers 710 rooms, including 33 suites and 96 guest and estate homes. The Greenbrier has 10 lobbies, 40+ meeting rooms and a complete conference center facility. The Greenbrier is widely regarded as one of the finest luxury resorts around the world. Surrounded by the wondrous Allegheny Mountains, The Greenbrier offers exclusive services and amenities such as championship golf, fine dining, more than 55 activities, designer boutiques, a world-renowned mineral spa and a 103,000 square foot casino, gaming and entertainment venue. From The Greenbrier, you will travel east/northeast through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley to Staunton, Virginia. Staunton has a vibrant arts and music scene, hosts a reputation for excellent local food and dining, and has an array of independent shops and galleries clustered along the historic Main Street. Your tour includes the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum. Returning southward, your tour will take you to the Nation’s D-Day Memorial and Ikenberry Farms. You will return home well fed, relaxed, and inspired by the autumnal beauty of Appalachia. Tour features include travel by luxury coach; accommodations at first class/select hotels; most meals; services of a professional tour escort; comprehensive sightseeing throughout; all admission fees, porterage, hotel taxes and service charges.
Itinerary
Day 1: Tamarack / The Greenbrier Resort (D)
Depart Cleveland and traveling through Virginia and into West Virginia stopping for lunch in Beckley at Tamarack—the nation’s first statewide collection of handmade craft, art and cuisine showcasing The Best of West Virginia. Their Taste of West Virginia food court, managed by The Greenbrier, serves delectable meals and desserts. From glass or pottery, to furniture and Appalachian quilts, Tamarack features West Virginia’s best handicrafts, regional specialty foods, live performances and craft demonstrations. We leave Tamarack traveling on to our destination for two nights at the magnificent Greenbrier: America’s Resort, in White Sulphur Springs.
Afternoon Tea and Dinner in the Main Dining Room are included this evening at the resort.
Day 2: The Greenbrier (B, D)
This morning we will enjoy a leisurely breakfast, with time to relax and enjoy the many facilities available at the Greenbrier, including golf, Spa and Mineral Baths, gift shops, indoor pool and much more. Your day will also include a tour of the declassified Bunker at The Greenbrier, a must-see experience that takes you behind the scenes and walks you through a fascinating period in the resort’s history. Formerly the Government Relocation Facility built to house the leadership of the United States under the Eisenhower Administration between 1958 and 1961 in the event of nuclear war, the secrecy of its location was maintained for more than 30 years until May 31, 1992 when the Washington Post published a story effectively exposing it. The bunkers are a protected substructure buried 720 feet into the hillside under the West Virginia Wing of the hotel. Ceiling and walls that are three to-five-feet thick reinforced concrete surround it. In addition, there is 20 to 60 feet of dirt cover between the substructure and the West Virginia Wing. The facility has four entrances, each protected by a large steel and concrete door designed to withstand a modest nuclear blast approximately 15-30 miles away. Included within the facility are 44 separate locations with 153 rooms making up a total of 112,544 square feet of space on two levels. The facility was equipped with it’s own power plant, cafeteria and kitchen to feed 400 people at one seating, 18 dormitories on two levels with each dormitory to sleep 60 persons, one 12-bed ward, medical and dental operating rooms, x-ray area, laboratory, intensive care unit, examining rooms and pharmacy, vaulted records storage room, lounges, exhibit hall, laundry and two conference rooms.
Afternoon Tea and Dinner in the Main Dining Room are included today.
Day 3: The Greenbrier/Staunton/Roanoke (B)
After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, we will depart The Greenbrier and head east/northeast through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley to Staunton, Virginia. Enjoy some leisure time to have a light lunch and explore Staunton’s charming downtown. We will then learn about the legacy of Woodrow Wilson at his museum and presidential library. From Staunton, we will travel south through the Shenandoah Valley to our overnight accommodations in Roanoke.
Dinner on your own this evening.
Day 4: Roanoke/Ikenberry Orchards/Bedford/Cleveland (B)
Following breakfast, we head out to Daleville and Ikenberry Orchards & Country Store. In addition to farm-grown produce, you will find an array of locally-sourced food items like Angus beef, sliced country ham, bacon, vegetables, dried beans, country butter, many varieties of cheese, a large selection of preserves, candies, wines from local vineyards, and gourmet foods. After enjoying Fall in the Orchard, we will enjoy a short drive to Bedford, Virginia. There we will visit the National D-Day Memorial. Dedicated on June 6, 2001, the memorial was constructed in honor of those who died fighting in one of the most significant battles in our nation’s history. Congress warranted the establishment of the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. Proportionately, Bedford suffered the nation’s severest D-Day losses. From Bedford, we will travel south as we make our way homeward bound!