Testimonial Letter (pdf)

Join us as we explore Greenbrier County and the surrounding area, beginning with historic Lewisburg. Named one of National Geographic's 'Best Small Town Escapes,' Lewisburg is surrounded by rolling hills, mountain forests and picturesque farmlands. Venture onto the grounds of the exclusive  The Greenbrier resort for a guided field trip of the Cold War Bunker, formerly a top secret relocation facility for members of Congress. Experience the traditional music, stories, and arts and crafts of the Appalachian Mountains. Learn about the land, early settlement, Civil War battles, and cultural heritage of our unique region.

Date Specific Information

5-15-2011, 8-21-2011, 9-18-2011

Program includes: tour of The Greenbrier Cold War Bunker, lunch at The Greenbrier Hotel and an interior tour of the historic hotel. Program will not go to Cass Scenic Railroad or the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

6-12-2011, 7-10-2011

Program will include Cass Railroad and National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and will include only a tour of The Greenbrier Cold War Bunker.

From a raft in the New River Gorge, explore the coal industry that changed the way of life for West Virginians. Raft the upper New River as it takes you through the remains of the coal camps that line the gorge while an experienced trip leader relates the story behind them. Learn of the lifestyle that the emerging coal industry provided to those in the camps and consider the part that the nearby railroad played in making the gorge a pivotal cog in the nation's coal machine. Visit Thurmond, a ghost town of the coal era, and learn how area geology made the coal industry in West Virginia possible. Also, visit and learn the story of the New River Gorge Bridge, the highest and longest single arch-span bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

Marvel at one of the oldest rivers on the continent - the New River! - with its rich natural and cultural history. During a field trip to New River Gorge Bridge, you'll see and learn about the world's second-longest single arch steel span and, at 876 feet above the New River, the second-highest bridge in the U.S. Then go back in history to a time when towns were booming because of the coal industry as we visit one of the few remaining company stores, now being restored. We'll encounter an incredible array of authentic West Virginia arts and crafts at Tamarack, where artisan studios produce special creations, and enjoy a presentation by one of the artisans.