June 19 - 23
5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
DEPARTS: Lanc 7:00 A.M., Hbg E: 7:45 A.M., Hbg W 8:00 A.M., York 6:30 A.M.
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June 23 - 27
5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS
DEPARTS: Lanc 7:00 A.M., Hbg E 7:45 A.M., Hbg W 8:00 A.M., York 6:30 A.M.
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Day 1: A new tour offers excitement, entertainment and lots of beautiful scenery. Trains will thrill you, riverboats will charm you and estates will dazzle you. Today we travel to Asheville, NC, where we relax over a fine dinner after our travel day. (D)
Day 2: We begin our day with a visit to the Biltmore Estate, one of America's most fabulous mansions. Featured in many movies, the former home of George Vanderbuilt has to be seen to be believed. We continue to Chattanooga and the Holiday Inn, whose atmosphere sets the tone of our tour. Peaceful garden paths featuring antique fountains lead the way to retail shops, restaurants and luxury rail cars. Dinner this evening will be at the Station House, where singing waiters entertain us with songs from the era of railroading. (D)
 Day 3: We begin our day with a visit to the hotel's Model Railroad exhibit, one of the world's largest, followed by a ride on
the authentic New Orleans Trolley. Then we are off to a day of adventure as we enjoy the Chickamauga Turn of the Tennessee Valley Railroad. This 6-hour excursion in comfortable antique coach cars features a 21/2-hour visit to historic Chickamauga. At day's end we return to the city and enjoy a dinner with beautiful scenery on board the Southern Belle Riverboat. (D)
Day 4: We visit Rock City Gardens in the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, where trolley cars take us up Lookout Mountain "cloud high" on the steepest passenger railway in America. Next, inside Lookout Mountain we enjoy a visit to thundering Ruby Falls; at 145 feet, it is the world's tallest underground waterfall. We continue our trip to Knoxville, where we enjoy a final dinner. (D)
Day 5: We travel home, returning early evening.
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Day 1: We travel to West Virginia, featuring high wooded meadows, deep valleys and broad rolling plateaus. We travel to the Canaan Valley Resort, where we spend the next two nights. Dinner this evening is at the Lodge and will be accompanied by entertainment from an Appalachian musician or storyteller. (D)
Day 2: Following breakfast, we visit nearby Blackwater Falls and ride on the Potomac Eagle Railroad. This
three-hour scenic ride along the South Branch of the Potomac River includes a nice picnic lunch and a chance to see bald eagles. Late day at Canaan we enjoy a cookout plus more West Virginia entertainment. (B, L, D)
Day 3: We journey to Elkins and ride the New Tygart Flyer. This climate-controlled passenger train is a four hour roundtrip journey to the high falls of the Cheat River. This 18-foot high, 150-foot wide waterfall is situated in a spruce and laurel grove, far from any human activity and accessible only by rail. Returning to the depot we enjoy dinner at the mansion restaurant Graceland, overlooking the mountain-rimmed valley. Tonight we enjoy the show at the American Mountain Theatres. (B, D)
Day 4: We begin our day with a ride on the Cass Scenic Railroad, a logging train that climbs into the high timber much as it did 100 years ago. We will then tour the Green Bank Radio Observatory before an afternoon ride on the Durbin Rocket. The Rocket is an authentic stream locomotive that travels the Greenbrier River Valley. Dinner this evening is at the Durbin Depot. (B, L, D)
Day 5: We travel home, returning in the afternoon. (B)
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