Tour Protection: $40 per person

Monday, August 1
Our adventure begins as we travel west across the beautiful mountains of Pennsylvania into the Mountain-State of West Virginia and to our destination for the next three nights at the Blennerhassett Hotel located in the town of Parkersburg. Built in 1889 when Parkersburg was a major oil-refining center, it was a grand showpiece as well as a hub for business dealings. Fully restored in 1986, the antique-filled hotel is still a grand showpiece and captures the atmosphere of the gaslight era, but with modern conveniences, and is registered as a national historic landmark. Dinner tonight will be served at the hotel. D

Tuesday, August 2
After breakfast, we will visit the world-renowned Fenton Glass Company. During our visit we will witness molten glass being handcrafted into sparkling, world famous Fenton Glass. Next we will tour Henderson Hall, West Virginia’s finest and best preserved Pre-Civil War Victorian residence. This afternoon we will cross the Ohio River to Belpre, Ohio where we will find hidden behind a beautiful gingerbread facade of a larger-than-life doll house, the Lee Middleton Doll Company. Lee Middleton, an artist and mother, began making dolls at her kitchen table and today we have the opportunity to visit the museum. After a visit to the Mulberry Lane Country Store, the largest country store in West Virginia, we will travel a short distance up the river to Marietta, Ohio, one of the most important port towns in the days of river boating. We will enjoy a delightful dinner cruise onboard the Valley Gem Sternwheeler, traveling on the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers. B, L, D

Wednesday, August 3
This morning we will enjoy a step-on guided tour of Parkersburg, followed by a guided tour of the Oil & Gas Museum. Next, we will visit the Blennerhassett Museum before boarding a sternwheeler boat to visit the Blennerhassett Mansion on Blennerhassett Island. The exquisite mansion on the island was so beautiful many felt it rivaled Jefferson’s Monticello. A box lunch will be included for picnicking on the island, and we’ll take an old fashioned wagon ride to explore the little island. We’ll discover the romance, the mystery, and a shocking plot planned on the island that threatened the creation of a separate empire in America. This afternoon we will return to the mainland. Dinner will be on your own at a local restaurant, and then we’ll travel a short distance to the historic Smoot Theatre to enjoy an entertaining dessert tour. B, L

Thursday, August 4
After another wonderful breakfast we will begin our travels homeward. With stops for rest and lunch our adventure will bring us to Pennsburg by early evening. B