Head for Higher Ground - Visit the Virginias
Adventure, relaxation and America’s great golf courses await you in the Virginias. Get pampered on this West Virginia golf and resort tour and find small-town charm and natural wonders in the Appalachians of Virginia.
West Virginia Hospitality
Day 1: The Oglebay Resort awaits you in Wheeling, West Virginia as amateur and seasoned golfers tee off on some of the state’s finest courses, designed by Arnold Palmer and Robert Trent Jones. Not a fan of the fairway? Resort amenities include tennis, swimming, fishing, hiking, skiing, boating and even a zoo–not to mention the supreme comfort of the newly-renovated lodge.
Day 2: I-70 East and I-79 South lead to fabulous views–at Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa, that is. Play one of two championship courses offering superb mountain and lake scenery and wind down in the evening at the resort’s pool and spa facilities before retiring to a well-appointed room in the lodge.
Day 3: Follow I-68 East and US-219 South to the valley of Canaan and find respite at Canaan Valley Resort State Park. Enjoy more first-class golf with world-class views. The resort also offers tennis, swimming, a sauna, a spa and workout center. Make the lodge your home base (they offer rooms, cabins and campsites) and check out the many surrounding attractions such as hiking, rock climbing and cavern exploring.
Day 4: A southerly trek down state highway 55 takes you through the stunning Monongahela National Forest and deposits you in the outdoor paradise that is Snowshoe, West Virginia. Head out for a quiet day on the links at the Gary Player-designed Raven Golf Club or tear it up on the ski slopes or mountain bike trails, depending on the season. This resort town offers unique dining and shopping with plenty of lodging options from traditional resort rooms to backcountry huts.
Day 5: From Snowshoe, it’s an hour and a half down state highways 55 West and 92 South to reach what some consider the pinnacle of golf in West Virginia–The Greenbrier. Three challenging 18-hole championship courses make the stunning backdrop all the more worthwhile. No slouch when it comes to fun, “America’s Resort” offers dozens of recreational activities, from ice skating to off-roading and kayaking.
Day 6: In less than an hour on I-64 West, you’ll find yourself in Daniels, West Virginia, home of The Resort at Glade Springs and its plethora of indoor and outdoor activities. Several superb golf courses and luxury accommodations make this a can’t-miss stop.
Day 7: From Daniels, the mountaintop lodge and leisurely activities of Twin Falls Resort State Park are a mere 45 minutes away on state highway 54 South. Play 18 scenic holes on the championship course and relax in the newly-renovated Twin Falls Lodge with pleasant golf course views.
Day 8: For a special experience on your final day in West Virginia, Pipestem Resort State Park fits the bill. Known as the “Crown Jewel of West Virginia State Parks,” Pipestem has it all. The resort features 18-and 9-hole course with the stunning Bluestone River Canyon serving as both a backdrop and a natural hazard. Beyond the links you’ll discover more than 100 miles of hiking and horse trails, swimming, fishing as well as the luxurious touches you’d expect from a resort–a sauna, tennis and exercise facilities, game rooms and enticing restaurants.
Nature and History in Virginia
Day 9: Interstate 77 South will take you across the state line into Virginia and on down into the charming town of Wytheville. But don’t let the sleepy, small-town atmosphere fool you–there’s a lot to do and see here. The adventure begins at Beagle Ridge Herb Farm, where 160 acres of gardens, hiking trails and scenery await nature lovers. Visit the butterfly house (Thursday-Sunday 10-5) or the shop–full of soaps, lotions and more made at the farm.
Big Walker National Forest Scenic Byway will help you remember what it’s like to take a drive just for the sheer joy of it. Wind your way through Jefferson National Forest and enjoy history and scenery at every bend. Stop for a climb to the top of the 100-foot Big Walker Lookout observation tower or get a closer look at nature on the nearby hiking trails.
Day 10: There’s no better way to start your day than a bit of antique shopping, and Collector’s Lane is happy to oblige. More than 50,000 square feet of antiques await hard-core collectors and casual browsers alike. Then drop by the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum honoring President Woodrow Wilson’s wife, who is often referred to as “The First Woman President.”
Ready for a little outdoor adventure? Fort Chiswell Animal Park offers a petting zoo and a guided safari, where you can see wildlife from all over the world. Get your recommended daily allowance of fun at Galewinds Amusement Park, and go head to head with friends and family on the go-kart track, the video arcade and mini-golf course.
Day 11: Stroll, bike or ride your horse down the New River Trail and marvel at the historic shot tower. Guided tours are also available for history buffs. Also popular with history fans is the Haller-Gibboney Rock House Museum. This building served as the home of Wytheville’s first resident physician and the museum staff provide guided tours that focus on 19th-century life, furnishings and medical practices.Spend the afternoon exploring a different kind of vintage at the West Wind Farm Vineyard and Winery tucked up in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Take a tour of the facility and savor the taste of award-winning hand-crafted Virginia wine.
Day 12: For history buffs young and old, the Thomas J. Boyd museum is a real treat. Learn everything there is to know about the history of Wythe County, from geography to the 20th-century polio epidemic. Aside from exhibits, the museum offers hands-on interactive learning experiences for all ages. Next, head to the Wolf Creek Indian Village and Museum. You’ll see a replica Indian village based on an actual archaeological site and get a guided lesson in primitive skills.
For dinner, treat yourself to a four-course meal and Broadway-caliber musical production at Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre. Catch some fresh air in the outdoor Bier Garten, grab a pint in the Matterhorn Lounge and check out the Edelweiss gift shop.
Day 13: An hour and a half to the north on Interstate 81 you’ll find Roanoke, and it’s definitely worth a stop. Grab lunch at the Roanoker Restaurant and check out the Virginia Museum of Transportation, complete with locomotives, automobiles and even a Jupiter Rocket! Explore the museum store and mosey on down the Railwalk, where transportation aficionados will enjoy more trains and hands-on rail history exhibits as well as the Roanoke Farmers’ Market.
Running out of steam? Head into Blue 5, a Roanoke restaurant and hot spot and enjoy southern-inspired cuisine and live entertainment. If you find yourself in Roanoke on a Wednesday night this summer, you’re in luck–Roanoke’s “Downtown Live!” features free summer concerts in the Market Square from Roanoke Valley musicians.
An adventure of this magnitude can be a bit overwhelming when you’re talking about a land as rich as the Virginias. To get the true essence of this Appalachian paradise, we recommend paying a visit to these three staples of fun, food and entertainment.
Go Wild in Wytheville
Think you need to go to Africa or the Outback for a safari? We’ve got news for you. Fort Chiswell Animal Park offers safari excursions through its 45-acre animal park. You’ll get up-close and personal with exotic wildlife from six different continents, and our petting zoo offers a more hands-on experience with the park wildlife.
A Classic Virginia Vineyard
This is winemaking in its purest form. The family-owned West Wind Farms in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwestern Virginia handcrafts small batches of wine each year with time-tested methods. The relatively small yield allows for the kind of attention to detail that produces unique wines of the highest quality. You’ll get a taste of hospitality, too–West Wind Farm welcomes everyone to their inviting and comfortable atmosphere. Enjoy views from the patio in the summer months or sit by the fire during the cooler parts of the year.
Dinner and a Show
The Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre is like nothing else in Virginia, and you’d be pretty hard-pressed to find something like it anywhere else in the world. Take charming German architecture, stately four-course meals and Broadway-caliber entertainment and you have an experience that equals more than the sum of its parts. Throw in a fireside lounge and a café-style outdoor bier garten and you have a can’t-miss dining event in the Appalachian Mountains of Virgina.
