MOUNTAIN MAGIC CHRISTMAS ITINERARY

 

Enjoy traveling through the mountains of western Virginia into West Virginia the

seasonal home of the spectacular Festival of Lights in the mountains of Ogleby Park,

with over 2,500 LED lights in displays throughout the 1,600 acres of this self 

supporting park given to the city of Wheeling. We will have the opportunity to

stay at the historic Wilson Lodge filled with Appalachian knotty pine and mountain stone.

After our dinner show in the Lodge we will board our bus to be amazed at the fabulous light displays originally started in 1973.  

 

After our Wilson Lodge Breakfast we will tour the Earl W. Ogleby Mansion built in 1846 with 13 seasonally decorated period rooms followed by a visit to the Carriage House with over 3,000 glass pieces featuring the Sweeney Punch Bowl, the largest piece of cut glass ever made. These pieces represent the booming Wheeling Glass Industry 1829-1939.  

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Off to the The Good Zoo and their extensive train display, a definite highlight for young and old. 

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Down the mountain we go to Wheeling, where we will have lunch on our own in the Historic Center Market featuring the Coleman Seafood Sandwich, a Wheeling Hoagie and more. In the afternoon we will have a guided tour of the West Virginia Independence Hall housing exhibits of West Virginia History.

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Our day will end at the Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center where we will each grab a dinner on our own, allowing for plenty of time to try your hand at games of chance, winning enough to pay for this Mountain Holiday?

 

After breakfast at Wilson Lodge we will board our bus to depart for the Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum along I70 in a restored schoolhouse. It houses a fun collection of historical toys and miniature trains, fun for all of us.  

 

Our short drive will take us to the beautiful city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania while crossing more mountains and rivers.  

Our first glimpse of the city will take our breath away as we enter directly where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers meet to create the mighty Ohio River. No napping ! This is a must see !

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Our coach will take us to the "Strip" District" ( commercial land along the Allegheny River ) for lunch. Maybe even at that famous Pramanti Brothers (1933) sandwich or another deli in the area.

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Eat up as we will then bus to Phipps Conservatory created by Henry Phipps

in 1893 in the heart of the educational/museum area of Oakland (Pitt, Carnegie Mellon and Carnegie Museum and Library).

At Phipps you will view the spectacular Christmas show with over 2,000 varieties of poinsettias and their famous Orchid collection set in among plants from around the world. Cameras ready !  

 

Leaving Phipps Conservatory we will travel along the mighty Monongahela River watching over 466 bridges pass by as we cross the oldest, The Smithfield Bridge to our Sheraton in Station Square right along the river. Dressing tonight for our final dinner at the famous LeMont Restaurant overlooking the entire city of Pittsburgh you may wonder how will we get up there to Grandview Avenue. Surprise! We will ride one of two remaining inclines to the LeMont. What a view will be had and our three course dinner to be enjoyed as we watch Pittsburgh light up in the night.  

 

After breakfast, we will board our bus for our scenic ride back to Williamsburg, vowing that we shall return.​​​​