2027068 Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains

Day 1

Monday, October 18, 2027
12:15pm Enjoy included lunch at Charley’s Waterfront Caf . Built in 1850 and used for many years as a tobacco warehouse, it was converted into a restaurant in 1994. Local tales also say that the building was used as a Confederate Hospital, hosting General Robert E. Lee on his retreat to Appomattox. With its spectacular view of the Appomattox River, it is truly the most beautiful setting in the Farmville area. Menu: TBD.
1:45pm Board and depart
2:00pm Visit the Robert Russa Moton Museum. Farmville, Virginia's former Robert Russa Moton High School, now a National Historical Landmark and museum, is the birthplace of America's student-led Civil Rights Revolution. Enjoy a guided tour of the museum diving deep into Civil Rights history.
2:45pm Board and depart (Approx. 32 miles, 45 minutes)
3:15pm Arrive at Appomattox Court House (111 National Park Dr, Appomattox, VA 24522). On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the effective end of the nation's largest war. Questions remained: could the nation reunite as one? How would emancipation be realized? A ranger led program is TBA. Explore the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, whether through the lens of modern day historical understanding or through the perspective of a person who lived through the experience.
5:00pm Board and depart
5:30pm Check into The Virginian Lynchburg, Curio Collection by Hilton. The Virginian Lynchburg offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern luxury. Situated in the heart of downtown Lynchburg, this hotel is a true gem, providing guests with a sophisticated and comfortable retreat.
While bags are delivered to rooms, enjoy an included dinner at the hotel. Menu TBD.
7:00pm Dinner ends.

Day 2

Tuesday, October 19, 2027
7:00am Breakfast included at the hotel prior to checking out.
8:00am Meet a local step-on GUIDE in the hotel lobby and depart on a tour of Lynchburg!
Tour Old City Cemetery. Old City Cemetery is an extraordinary 27-acre public garden, history park, located in the heart of Lynchburg, Virginia. Despite being an active place of burial and remembrance, it is one of the busiest and most popular attractions in the City. A village of five small museums helps to tell the stories of the diverse population of nearly 20,000 buried here. The grounds are also filled with hundreds of varieties of native and heirloom plants, including the largest public collection of antique roses in the state of Virginia.
10:30am Drop GUIDE back and the hotel and continue
11:15am Enjoy lunch included at Liberty Station. The newly restored station house has a rich and colorful background, its present-day use as a full-service restaurant showcases the history of the building and of the Bedford, Virginia area. Serving a classic American fare where all tastebuds would be delighted. Menu TBD.
12:30pm Board and depart
12:45pm Stop at the National D-Day Memorial. The Memorial stands as a solemn tribute to the brave soldiers who participated in the historic D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, during World War II. Often referred to as the "Bedford Boys," the men from Bedford played a significant role in the invasion, and their sacrifice serves as a symbol of the courage and valor displayed by all Allied forces that day.
2:15pm Board and depart
2:45pm Visit Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest with a guided tour. Poplar Forest was crucial to Thomas Jefferson’s life: a private retreat and plantation, situated far from the public scrutiny, where he could indulge in his favorite pastimes of reading, studying, and thinking. Visiting Poplar Forest offers a unique opportunity to hear the stories of Jefferson's family, the free and enslaved craftsmen who built the historic masterpiece and the enslaved people who lived and labored on the plantation.
4:45pm Board and depart driving a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway
6:30pm Check in to the historic Blackburn Inn and Conference Center
Enjoy dinner included at the hotel while bags are delivered to rooms.
8:00pm Following dinner, take an Historic Hotel Tour. Every building tells a story but few have stories as layered as The Blackburn Inn & Conference Center. Walk through halls that once echoed with the footsteps of patients and prisoners, craftsmen and caretakers. Along the way, you’ll hear how this retreat-style mental health facility evolved from Thomas Blackburn’s 1825 architectural masterpiece into the reimagined boutique inn you know today.
8:30pm Tour ends.

Day 3

Wednesday, October 20, 2027
7:00am Breakfast included at the hotel prior to checking out.
9:45am Board and depart
10:00am Arrive at Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum Visitor Center for a guided tour.
11:45am Board and depart (0.5 mile)
12:00pm Arrive at Sunspots Studios Glassblowing (202 S Lewis St, Staunton, VA 24401) for a self-guided visit. Feel the heat of the furnaces as you watch artists create original art glass during live glassblowing demonstrations.
1:00pm Enjoy lunch on own in downtown Staunton.
2:00pm Depart for home and drive a portion of Skyline Drive.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner