DAY 1 - Fly to Pittsburgh
Meet your guide who will assist with luggage and check in at your hotel. The evening is free to rest from travels, dinner is on your own. Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Airport - Pittsburgh, PA.
DAY 2 - Arrive West Virginia Mountains
Following a breakfast orientation, morning travel takes you to the small town of Romney, WV for a three hour ride on the Potomac Eagle. This train rolls through a narrow mountain valley known as "The Trough." A scenic area with a large population of Bald Eagles. Hot Lunch onboard. This afternoon travel over the Alleghenies and deep into the West Virginia Hills includes a stop at Seneca Rocks. A large crag and a local landmark it is one of the best known attractions in West Virginia and is very popular with rock climbers. From here your motorcoach climbs over the mountains of the Monogahela National Forest traveling to the town of Elkins. Dinner is at the convenient RailYard Restaurant, and is followed by a performance of the Jumpin Tyme Band. This group performs popular music with Bluegrass instruments. Holiday Inn Express Elkins RailYard - Elkins, WV (B,L,D)
DAY 3 - Train Rides & Music Shows
The American Mountain Theater's morning show "History of American Music" begins this day. You then ride on the Cheat Mountain Salamander. This diesel locomotive leads you from Elkins to the High Falls of the Cheat River, a point literally five miles from the nearest road. It then follows the remote Cheat another 21 miles across the mountain top. At the bottom of the next mountain you find the steam locomotive, Durbin Rocket and enjoy another scenic ride, this time along the Greenbrier River Valley. Returning to Elkins you have dinner at either the Graceland or Halliehurst Mansions these homes were built by timber barons in the late 20th century. Ending the day is the American Mountain Theater Variety Show. Two hours of musical styles including country, southern gospel, bluegrass, pop and patriotic music. Holiday Inn Express Elkins RailYard - Elkins, WV (B,L,D)
DAY 4 - Cass Railroad & Snowshoe Mountain
Leaving Elkins you travel to the remote, quiet valley of Green Bank. Home to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory where they listen to radio waves from Outer Space. Our next stop is Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Cass is a timber town, constructed by the Company, it is now, maintained by the State. You a chance to see a page from a history book that closed long ago. The highlight of this visit will be the two hour excursion on the coal fired Shay Locomotives to Whitaker Station high on the mountain. Arrive at Snowshoe Mountain. Following check-in we shuttle to the top of the mountain and enjoy the Scenic Chair Lift Ride to Shavers Lake. Then dinner at The Junction Restaurant. After dinner you enjoy a one man Mountain Music Show. Inn at Snowshoe - Snowshoe, WV (B,L,D)
DAY 5 - Boardwalks on the Mountain Tour
This morning your adventure departs Snowshoe with a local Naturalist and you begin a day of exploration in the deep forests of West Virginia. First stop is Beartown State Park here interpretive signs along a boardwalk provide insights concerning the ecology of the area. The name Beartown was chosen because local residents claimed the many cave-like openings in the rocks made ideal winter dens for the area's black bears. Next stop is Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park where you enjoy the view from a replica Lookout Tower built during the Civil War. You also enjoy a picnic lunch. Then at nearby Cranberry Mountain Nature Center you talk with an expert about wildlife on that mountain. Next in Cranberry Glades you find another Boardwalk leading through a distinctly different eco system. This 750 acre park was created by glacial action over 10,000 years ago. The bogs here are similar to that found in “Muskegs” of the Artic Tundra. Just eight miles farther, through the Cranberry Wilderness area you come to the Falls of Hills Creek. A Boardwalk through rhododendrons and laurel flourishing under the Shade Canopy leads to the first falls. As your afternoon draws to an end you motor across the Highland Scenic Highway a 20 mile drive of breathtaking autumn vistas from high on the mountaintops. Dinner tonight is a family style meal at the historic Marlinton Opera House, followed by a lively Bluegrass Show with more than a little audience participation. It's a chance to kick up your heels or simply tap your feet, at the end of a wonderful day. Inn at Snowshoe - Snowshoe, WV (B,L,D)
DAY 6 - Return to PIttsburgh
Afternoon Flights must be scheduled after 2:00pm. (B)
Air Information
Arrive Pittsburgh before 9:00pm
Departures from Pittsburgh after 2:00pm