West Virginia 2008 Official State Travel Guide - (Page 24) enjoy the slower pace of life that pervades the quaint, compact downtown. A walking tour of the 220-year-old town reveals streets lined with historic buildings – gracious structures with porches, pillars and arched windows – many dating to the 1830s and used as hospitals following the Civil War Battle of Lewisburg in 1862. A closer look at these well-preserved structures uncovers a more contemporary layer of cutting-edge art and craft galleries, antiques stores, bed and breakfasts and some of the state’s best restaurants. Another attraction of Lewisburg is that it’s a small town that does not close down at night. Once a month for “First Fridays After Five,” more than 30 downtown businesses offer a tantalizing selection of art events, refreshments and live music. Other nightlife options range from a year-round schedule of theater, music and film performances at venues including the Greek-Revival Carnegie Hall, built in 1902 as a gift from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, and the 40-year-old Greenbrier Valley Theatre, which the state legislature recently named “West Virginia’s official year-round professional theatre.” Shopping and dining possibilities also abound a few miles down the road at The Greenbrier resort, which has a 10-studio Art Colony, numerous shops and several restaurants that are open to the public. Visitors may also sign up for a tour of the 112,544-squarefoot underground bunker that was built during the Cold War to accommodate more than 1,100 government officials in the event of an attack on Washington, D.C. Nature lovers and Civil War buffs will also find Lewisburg an excellent jumping-off point for a variety of excursions. Nearby are Droop Mountain State Park, a Civil War battlefield; Beartown State Park, where a boardwalk snakes through dense forest and unusual rock formations; and the Greenbrier River Rail Trail, perfect for walking, hiking or cycling. Greenbrier landscape g. the New River; or taking a jet boat ride on the river. There are so many appealing possibilities that it may be hard to decide when to visit this outdoor playground. There’s Bridge Day, the third weekend of October, taking place during the height of colorful fall foliage. More than 200,000 visitors converge to watch a few hundred hardy souls parachute from or rappel under the bridge, nearly 900 feet above the gorge. There’s also the Heritage Festival, the first weekend in July, with living history events that commemorate the anniversary of the Civil War Battle of Fayetteville. Additionally, there’s the New River Nature and Birding Festival, the first week in May, featuring guided birding tours and talks and the Christmas Festival during the second weekend in December, with sparkling lights that illuminate the entire town, a Christmas parade and traditional bonfires. Whether there’s a festival going on or not, with its historic district of 19th-century and early 20th-century buildings, access to nearby Civil War battlefields and spectacular natural surroundings, Fayetteville has something to offer every visitor at any time of the year. “BRANSON,” west virginia nother West Virginia gem is Elkins, and this charming mountain town now boasts one of the state’s newest attractions. American Mountain Theater presents a popular new “Branson-style” music, comedy and variety show from a 525-seat state-of-the-art theater in the Historic Railyard in Elkins. A cast of seasoned entertainers treat audiences to toe-tapping country, gospel, bluegrass and patriotic music, along with impersonations of some of the nation’s most beloved personalities – Frank Sinatra, Roy Orbison, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, and the Beatles, Bee Gees and Rolling Stones. Along with the nearby Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Scenic Railroad, American Mountain Theater has put Elkins on the map as a prime destination for bus and group tours. A IF YOU GO: For more information on American Mountain Theater, call 304-630-3040 or visit www.americanmountaintheater.com. For the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Scenic Railroad, call 877-686-7245 or visit www.mountainrail.com. For Elkins, call 800-422-3304 or visit www.randolphcountycvb.com. Lewisburg Set amid the Allegheny Mountains in southeastern West Virginia, Lewisburg stands out for its comfortable relationship between past and present. Visitors come here to see tranquil scenery and 24 1 - 8 0 0 - C A L L W VA http://www.americanmountaintheater.com http://www.mountainrail.com http://www.randolphcountycvb.com
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