October 13-14 (Thursday-Friday)

Punxsutawney Phil Get-Away

Northern & Western, PA

Day 1: Welcome Aboard!  Travel in comfort aboard our deluxe motor coach  to “The Keystone State,” Pennsylvania for a mini-vacation.  Upon arriving in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, enjoy a delicious lunch at Lumberjacks Restaurant.  Next we visit the Appalachian Arts Studio, where you will learn about chainsaw art, it’s growing prestige as a collectable art form, and see a demonstration by a local artist carving a sculpture.  After checking into our hotel accommodations for the night, we board our motor coach and depart for the new Elk County Visitors Center.  At the center an introductory 3-D film about Pennsylvania’s elk is presented before we move on to the indoor and outdoor Elk viewing areas.  Finally, enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner and entertainment at the visitor’s center before returning to our hotel for a good night’s rest.  (L, D)          

Day 2: After a continental breakfast we depart for Straub’s Brewery.  Upon arriving, you’ll see how beer has been hand-crafted since 1872.  Our tour begins at the “Everlasting Tap”, next we will visit three different floors of the brewery, (accessible by stairs only), and finally we conclude our tour at the bottling area where you may enjoy a beer and can browse through the brewery’s gift shop.  We travel to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania next for a delicious buffet lunch at the historic Pantall Hotel.  Following lunch we’ll meet Punxsutawney’s most famous resident, “Phil” for a photo opportunity, and enjoy a guided tour of Gobbler’s Knob, the site where the annual Groundhog Day ceremony is held.  Also, we visit the souvenir shop and get a “top hat” like Phil’s handlers wear as a special treat.  Next we tour the Weather Discovery Center where you will learn about weather legends and lore, plus have the chance to “audition” to be a TV meteorologist.  Stand in front of the “green screen”, read from a script and point out weather hot spots and see what you look like to a viewing audience on a TV screen.  The best forecasters take home a special treat!  We depart for home taking with us fond memories of this unique slice of Pennsylvania enjoyed on our mini vacation get-away.  (B, L)  

 Included:

?  Basic amenities

?  1 night hotel accommodations

?  1 buffet breakfast

?  2 lunches

?  1 barbecue dinner

?  Appalachian Arts Studio

?  Guided Tours, including:

          - Elk viewing

          - Gobbler’s Knobb

?  Straub’s Brewery

?  Meet Punxsutawney “Phil”

?  Weather Discover Center

?  Attractions and admissions per itinerary

Price:

$259.00 Double/PP       $249.00 Triple/PP

$239.00 Quad/PP                   $319.00 Single

Deposit:  $125.00/PP

Balance Due:  August 30, 2011 

                             Depart                 Return

Gunther                 6:00 AM                10:45 PM

Carney                  6:45 AM                10:00 PM