WoodmenLife Virginia "Young at Heart" 2025 Day Trip Adventure

Cost: $50 per WoodmenLife member/$75 non-member guest. Includes 3 meals, museum access, tour,scenic train ride, tickets to live theater performance, and a gift!

Ticket sales open on Monday, July 7, 2025 at 9:30 am (eastern).

PLEASE scroll through photos above.

This day trip to Staunton, Virginia is for WoodmenLife Members age 55+ (non-member guests are welcome, but must be over age 55). We will confirm membership, and reserve the right to decline your registration for a full refund if you are not a member at the time of registration. To become a member, please visit https://www.woodmenlife.org/find/rep/

This is a ONE DAY trip, and does NOT include bus (or other) transportation to Staunton. It does NOT include a hotel stay. *See details below.

This event is offered for your choice of ONE of these dates (based on availability):

• Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025
• Friday, Sept. 19, 2025
• Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025

Please one date per registant so we can share this experience with as many people as possible. Seating is limited!

• 9-10 am Begin the day with a Continental Breakfast catered by Mrs. Rowe's at Wilson Hall
• 10-12:15 am Tour the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Museum, Birthplace and Giftshop
• 12:15-2pm Enjoy a delicious catered lunch by Mrs. Rowe's (Fried Chicken, Pork Tenderloin, sides, and Mrs. Rowe's Famous Pies)
• 2:30 pm Board the Virginia Scenic Railroad's Blue Ridge Flier trail excursion for beautiful fall views and a delicious dinner
• 6:30 pm return to train depot
• 7:00 pm Optional tickets to the Blackfriar Theater for a live Shakespearean production (see details below).

Registrants may opt in or out of any of these activities with no change in cost.

WoodmenLife Member Cost: $50

Non-Member Guest (1 per member) is $75 (LIMITED) Must be 55+ years in age.

If you choose to stay overnight, we have reserved a limited block of hotel rooms at Hotel 24 South in the heart of Staunton (located next to the Blackfriar Theater) you may make your own reservations by visiting: https://res.windsurfercrs.com/ibe/details.aspx?propertyid=14254&nights=4&checkin=09/17/2025&group=7769078&lang=en-us&adults=1&childAges= . Hotel 24 South is located at 24 South Market Street, Staunton, Virginia, 24401. Phone: (540) 885-4848 Email: [email protected] request the WoodmenLife Group.

Parking: Parking is reserved (and paid) for our group in the Hotel 24 South Parking Garage. 24 South Market Street, Staunton, Virginia, 24401. You will receive a parking pass in advance.

Upon Arrival, exit the parking garage and go to the front entrance of the hotel. Look for the black Shuttle Bus. This shuttle will pick you up at each venue, and take you to the next (including back to the parking garage). Please be prepared to tip your driver at the end of the day.

• First stop: BREAKFAST/Social. Wilson Hall: Wilson Hall is located right next to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. This renovated home will host our continental breakfast catered by Mrs. Rowe's from 9-10 am.
• Second stop: HISTORY: Woodrow Wilson Presidential sites. Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States. Here, our group will enjoy a guided tour of his birthplace, and unguided tours of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Museum and Gift Shop. To learn more, visit https://www.woodrowwilson.org/.
• Third Stop: LUNCH. Return to Wilson Hall for Catered Lunch by Mrs. Rowe's. Buffet of Fried Chicken, Pork Tenderloin, sides, beverages and Mrs. Rowe's famous pies. (if dietary restricted, please mark that option during registration.)
• Fourth Stop: TRAIN RIDE. The Virginia Scenic Railroad Depot- the Blue Ridge Flier. Climb aboard the Blue Ridge Flyer, and head east for an opportunity to experience the thrill of roaring through the Blue Ridge Tunnel, carved out of rock hundreds of feet below the mountain summit above. Along the way, you’ll see the communities of Staunton, Fishersville, and Waynesboro from a unique perspective before ascending roughly 1,000 feet up to the entrance of the Blue Ridge Tunnel, nearly a mile long. From Afton east, views beckon around every rock-cut bend. The train will turn around in Ivy for the return journey and make a second pass through the darkness of the Blue Ridge Tunnel. You may get to experience the thrill of a passing Amtrak train or freight train. On the train, you will be served dinner, and will be able to select your meal choice in advance. (includes restricted diets). To learn more about the Virginia Scenic Railroad Blue Ridge Flier, visit https://www.virginiascenicrailway.com/rides/blue-ridge-flyer/
• Fifth Stop:SHOW. Your choice- return to parking/depart, join us inside of Hotel 24 South for some fellowship, or...tickets to American Shakespeare Center's Blackfriars Playhouse (conveniently located next door to Hotel 24 South). This is the only American replica of Shakespeare's original Blackfriar Theater. The live performance on Thursday is "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" and Friday and Saturday, the performance will be "Romeo and Juliet." For more information on this impressive and charming live theater experience, visit https://americanshakespearecenter.com/

This event is ONLINE REGISTRATION ONLY. LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE

For questions, please contact Marla Baker at [email protected]

Where is Staunton, VA?

DISTANCE:

158 Miles to Washington DC

108 Miles to Richmond

159 Miles to Williamsburg

214 Miles to Virginia Beach

88 Miles to Roanoke

Want to make a weekend of it but not sure what else you might do in the area? Allow us to introduce you...click on the links below for information.

• Frontier Culture Museum
• Trolley Tours
• NEW Bucees! 20 miles away!
• Historical Sites
• Historic Homes Tours
• Skyline Drive
• Camera Heritage Museum
• Virginia Safari Park
• Grand Caverns Park
• Massanutten Resort and Water Park
• Tap Houses and Wineries
• Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail
• Augusta Art Center
• CoArt Gallery
• Walkable downtown shopping
• Street Festivals
• Glass Blowing Studios
• Shenandoah Heritage Market
• American Celebration on Parade
• The Cheese Shop
• Historic Lexington, VA
• Route 11 Potato Chip Factory tours
• Luray Caverns
• Shenandoah National Park
• Swannanoa
• Hull's Drive In Theater

Host or Publisher WoodmenLife