Public Tour: Autumn Leaf Peeping/Winery Trip

Fall Colors

TOUR NAME: Public Tour: Autumn Leaf Peeping/Winery Trip

DATE: Friday, November 4 – Sunday, November 6

DURATION (ROUND TRIP): departing at 6:30 pm sharp on Friday – returning Sunday around 7 pm (ish; tunnel traffic dependent) 

DESCRIPTION: Stunning scenic overlooks await you on the “National Scenic Byway” – the Skyline Drive through the Shenandoah National Park. This is a seasonal experience you will not want to miss! Come adventure with us. We will hop off of the bus at many overlooks, with panoramic views; perfect for taking stunning photos. These sweeping views will not disappoint. While on the Skyline Drive, there will be an optional nature walk for those interested in going. Others can relax and enjoy some social time by the trail center/gift shop. We will also take in a visit to a winery. Charlottesville area, here we come! Every year this is one of our most memorable tour weekends!! There are 16 seats total on the bus, so tell your friends and family and get your tickets immediately before they are sold out. For meals we will make stops at local restaurants (bring $ for your food and drink). Be a bit flexible because we will “vote” on some decisions (aka which restaurant, etc). Come have an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G weekend! Create happy memories!

Regarding accommodations, “rough cabins with bunk beds” are included in your tour cost (more details regarding these cabins below). To stay in these cabins, you need to embrace a sense of adventure! They are just a step up from tent camping. If you prefer to be dropped off at the famous Charlottesville Pedestrian Mall and picked up in the morning, you are welcome to make your own alternative sleeping accommodations (hotels, Air b&b, etc). We will have a specific time and location to pick you up in the morning (don’t miss the bus!) 

PRICE: $150/person; rough cabin included (food, drink not included)

THINGS TO BRING:
– We will go to some restaurants (bring $ for your food and drink). But also bring some of your own food and drink/BYOB. Feel free to bring “snacks to share” with others if you would like. We have 3 medium-sized coolers. You may want to bring your own mini-cooler (“soft sided” because it won’t fit on the overhead rack otherwise)
– Bring SOFT SIDED duffle that can squish into the overhead rack. Suitcases will not fit. Pack lightly!!
– If staying in the cabins, bring a sleeping bag, pillow, towel, toiletries (see more info about cabins below)
– Your digital/printed ticket
– Printed/signed waiver (it holds up the check-in process so please print and complete before arrival)
– Photo ID
– fun (drinking games?) and other board games you enjoy
– hiking/workout clothes and closed-toe shoes if you want to take a nature walk
– please bring cash; sometimes guests want to “split the dinner check” and it is easier done with cash
– CASH (it is customary to tip 15% to the driver/guide)
– $20 cash if you’d like to purchase a Nature Bus t-shirt (available on board)

WHAT’S INCLUDED:
– Air conditioned/heated new vehicle
– Transportation; gasoline; tolls
– All fees (including admission fee to all of the locations; INCLUDES “rough cabin sleeping accommodations” (excluding all food/drink)
– Expert pre-planning services

Important NOTES  “Know before you go” ~

*We will go on this tour rain or shine. See our weather policy FAQs  page. Please dress for the weather. Bring rain gear if there is rain in the forecast. In the case of rain, we simply take cover and wait it out. ALL SALES FINAL/NO REFUNDS

*PLEASE: Eating, drinking, chewing gum is not permitted on the bus. Please arrive 30 min before departure. Save time at check-in by bringing your signed waiver. No restroom on board the bus; arrive early enough to use the rr at REI/Fresh Market grocery store. We will make rr stops throughout the tour. We cannot wait for latecomers because we must adhere to our planned itinerary. Therefore we must pull away at the exact departure time. We cannot receive telephone/text calls to let us know you are running late because we will driving and using the phone as a GPS.
*PLEASE BE AWARE: ALL OUR TOURS INVOLVE WALKING; GUESTS SHOULD EXPECT VARYING DEGREES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.  TRAFFIC CAN BE HEAVY TRAVELING TO AND FROM. ALSO THE SKYLINE DRIVE TRAFFIC CAN BE BUSY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. “PEAK” LEAF COLORS CAN VARY EACH YEAR DEPENDING UPON DATE OF FROST. LATE OCT, EARLY NOV IS USUALLY THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VIEW LEAF COLOR CHANGE, HOWEVER IT IS VARIABLE. TICKETS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE. Even with all of the “warnings” this tour has been a FAVORITE for many years in a row. Are you adventurous and flexible? Then go ahead and ignore all the “possible issues” and sign up! You don’t want to miss out!

COVID SAFETY MEASURES: We care about the health and safety of those participating in our nature experiences. The Nature Bus has been outfitted with dividers between rows of seats. The bus is sanitized between each tour. Feel free to open your window if you prefer. Please stay home if you are not feeling well or have a fever. Federal Law no longer “requires” masks be worn on airplanes, trains and buses, however we strongly recommend them in the closed in space.  It is optional and encouraged to wear your mask while inside of the bus (however most guests are not wearing them lately); of course mask can be removed when outdoors.

We look forward to seeing you on the tour! Check out all of the 5-star reviews, so you will be super confident that you will have an amazing experience! You can read these reviews at TheNatureBus.com > click the REVIEWS tab. See you soon!

Please help fill up this tour! Share on your social media and with everyone you know! We need a minimum of 10 seats, maximum of 16 seats for each tour to go. Spread the word!
If you have any questions, please text/call the owner. Suzanne 757-288-9595

Want more info about the “rough cabins”? They are located 15 minutes from Charlottesville’s main street. There is a main lodge with a commercial kitchen and lots of room to hang out and socialize. It’s a wooden building with a large porch and many windows. Rustic, maybe even a bit charming. It is totally fine for cooking a meal and socializing with new friends you will make on the tour! There are dishes and pots and pans, etc for cooking and eating. A short walk away are the sleeping cabins. These cabins have bunk beds. There are many of these cabins, so you could choose to have a whole room to yourself if you prefer. If you feel COLD at night, you may want to bring an electric blanket and an extension chord, in addition to your sleeping bag, blankets, sheets, pillow, towel (I will be bringing an electric blanket for sure). You are also welcome to drag your mattress to the main lodge for a warmer sleep if the temperatures get very low. I was told that the main lodge will be toasty warm; no guarantees for the cabins. Think of it as a “Pajama Party” in the main lodge! Restrooms? Hmmmmmm. Well . . . yes there are flush toilets and showers, but you will have a short walk to the “bath houses” (separate male and female) located in adjacent cabins. As we mentioned, it is a step up from camping, and you would need to have a sense of adventure for this type of sleeping arrangement. For me (the owner) I am totally fine with it. The days are filled with a seasonal experience that I don’t want to miss, so where I put my head down to sleep is not a concern for me. But if you prefer to make alternative sleeping arrangements (not included in the ticket price), please do so. Be aware that this is the busiest time of the year in the area, with many tourists filling the hotels and air b&bs, so most of these accommodations are double, or even triple their regular rates. The Nature Bus will allow you to disembark from the bus at the Charlottesville Pedestrian Mall (one stop only) to drop you off and we will pick you up the next morning at 9am. We will repeat this for the 2nd night. We are not responsible if you miss the bus. It is recommended that you find accommodations close to the drop-off/pick-up location. The very expensive Omni Hotel is closest to this drop-off point).

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Venue:  

Address:
350 Independence Boulevard, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462, United States

  •  November 4, 2022 - November 6, 2022
     6:30 pm - 7:00 pm