West Virginia 2020 / Just added adventure for July 19-25
You've been home for three months...
isn't it time for some adventure with your friends?
Boys will have an option of an aerial adventure course or a paintball experience. This photo was from last summer's trip to the North Carolina High Country.
This one-week adventure to West Virginia was just added on May 29 to replace the Wyoming-Montana trip. (That adventure has been postponed until 2021.)
This West Virginia adventure will offer a fantastic choice of activities -- all of which are private to just our group or where our group will be separated from the general public.
We will travel with as few as 12 boys and can accommodate probably as many as are interested since we'll be traveling by chartered coach.
Our week of adventures will be based out of Lewisburg, West Virginia.
How our program works...
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If you're brand new to the MindStretch Travel Adventures program, please check out this link on how a day unfolds. You can also find links to frequently asked questions and more under the "about us" tab above.
These are not camping trips. We stay in hotels (usually three boys per room) and have our dinner meals in sit-down restaurants. Breakfasts are served continental style at the hotel and lunches are sometimes a trail lunch that we will prepare or from a fast-food restaurant. Boys get to choose what they want within reason. Our days are filled with kid-sized adventures but not so crammed with stuff that we can't just stop and enjoy life. And of course, the hotel will have a pool and it's nice to have a nice room with comfy bed and air conditioning at the end of the day. Boys are not allowed to bring electronics, but they can watch the TV. |
A ride on the Cass Scenic Railroad is one of our activities this July. The train is powered by a steam locomotive and boys find it fun to sit back and enjoy the scenery while experiencing the sounds, smells, and fun of old-time train travel.
We will enjoy the trip in a private car. |
Activities
Since we've had other trips to West Virginia, we were able to quickly put together a package of kid-friendly activities. Here's the line-up of what we have planned. It's a lot to cram into one week but we'll do it!
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Mountain Biking on the Greenbrier River Trail
The Greenbrier River Trail is a Rails-to-Trails conversion and a wonderful way to get some exercise and see scenery at the same time. Since the trail follows an old railroad bed, the grade is very minimal making for easy peddling. On this trip will bike to a set turn-around spot and return to where we started. Bikes and helmets will be provided by the outfitter. |
Aerial Adventure Course or Alpine Tower
Choose Your Adventure...
For one of our activities, boys will choose between an aerial adventure course or an alpine tower climbing experience. Both activities are offered by an outfitter on the grounds of the Greenbrier Resort.
Boys will need to choose one or the other and there is a space limit. So, the sooner your son has his choice, the better chances of getting that particular experience.
But really, you can't go wrong with either.
Choose Your Adventure...
For one of our activities, boys will choose between an aerial adventure course or an alpine tower climbing experience. Both activities are offered by an outfitter on the grounds of the Greenbrier Resort.
Boys will need to choose one or the other and there is a space limit. So, the sooner your son has his choice, the better chances of getting that particular experience.
But really, you can't go wrong with either.
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Cass Scenic Railroad
We will enjoy this step back in time as we start our train journey at Cass and make our way through the forest and up the hills to the Whittaker station. The train is pulled by an authentic coal-fired steam-powered locomotive. We will travel in a private railcar. The railroad is part of the West Virginia state park system and includes an 11-mile long heritage railroad operated by the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. |
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Lost World Caverns
We'll travel deep and far into the earth as we have a private tour of Lost World Caverns. The caverns weren't discovered until 1942. Today it is a recognized National Natural Landmark. And of course, you will love the gift shop. 
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The Bunker at the Greenbrier Resort
The Bunker was built, under disguise, at the beginning of the Cold War. It was designed to be a hiding place for the United States Congress in case of nuclear attack. The bunker was fully equipped with dorms, health facility, dining room, kitchen, and of course meeting chambers for both the Senate and House of Representatives. It was finally uncovered by a reporter and once this news was out, The Bunker was no longer a place to hide anyone. But it's still "secretive" enough that photos aren't allowed...so this photo was taken on a balcony at the resort. And no, we're not staying at the resort. |
And there's more...
Click on each photo for an enlarged version and a bit more information about our week in West Virginia.
Some Notes
This information is just to give you an idea of our program for this week in West Virginia. Virtually everything we do during this week will be for our group only...or we'll be separated from other people. We will be avoiding all crowds. This is one of the reasons we made this switch from our original trip out West. We knew that many of our activities including getting out West via air would be problematic. We would be in too many crowds.
We will still adhere to guidelines when planning mealtimes and other situations where there are other people around. Face masks will be required in some limited situations such as in gift shops.
All outfitters have assured us that they are following all health guidelines for their businesses including frequent cleaning and sanitizing equipment, rooms, etc.
We plan to rent a meeting room at the hotel (if available) to use as our own private breakfast room, game room, or dining room if we have to have to get meals to go.
Ready to Sign Up?
Click for the West Virginia application.
What About Wyoming & Montana in 2021?
That is the plan. The trip will be the basic itinerary as what we would have taken this summer had it not been for this pandemic.
The dates will be July 18 - 27, 2021. Sign-ups have started. The trip is at 50% capacity as of 6/1/20.
This information is just to give you an idea of our program for this week in West Virginia. Virtually everything we do during this week will be for our group only...or we'll be separated from other people. We will be avoiding all crowds. This is one of the reasons we made this switch from our original trip out West. We knew that many of our activities including getting out West via air would be problematic. We would be in too many crowds.
We will still adhere to guidelines when planning mealtimes and other situations where there are other people around. Face masks will be required in some limited situations such as in gift shops.
All outfitters have assured us that they are following all health guidelines for their businesses including frequent cleaning and sanitizing equipment, rooms, etc.
We plan to rent a meeting room at the hotel (if available) to use as our own private breakfast room, game room, or dining room if we have to have to get meals to go.
Ready to Sign Up?
Click for the West Virginia application.
What About Wyoming & Montana in 2021?
That is the plan. The trip will be the basic itinerary as what we would have taken this summer had it not been for this pandemic.
The dates will be July 18 - 27, 2021. Sign-ups have started. The trip is at 50% capacity as of 6/1/20.