Special Events

Washington, DC Cherry Blossom Special

April 14 and 15, 2012

The Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum and the North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation are partnering to sponsor the Washington, DC "Cherry Blossom Special" rail trip on the chapter cars Clinchfield and Crescent Harbor operating behind Amtrak’s "Carolinian". This is an overnight trip scheduled for Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15, 2012 and offers a wonderful opportunity to see Washington DC during the Cherry Blossom Festival.

The train will leave Charlotte at 7:00 am on Saturday, April 14 with additonal passenger pickups scheduled for Salisbury 7:43 am; Greensboro at 8:39 am; and Raleigh at 10:15 am. Upon arriving at Alexandria, Va 4:05 pm, passengers will unload and board a motor coach to the hotel- where they will freshen up before returning to the bus for dinner at the Washington's Union Station (meal not included in ticket). After dinner, the tour lines will take passengers on a lighted night tour during the Cherry Festival. This is a chance to see our national monuments and federal buildings flooded in lights - from the illuminated dome of the US Capitol to the World War II Memorial. Passengers will be able to step off the coach and visit the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean Memorial, FDR Memorials, and the White House. This memorable tour around Washington will be approximately 3 hours. After the night tour of Washington DC, passengers will travel back via motor coach to the hotel. On Sunday, passengers will have breakfast on their own before boarding the bus for a tour of Old Towne Alexandria which includes many sites and a special stop on the Potomac River Front viewing Washington. After the Sunday Morning Tour, passengers will arrive back at the Alexandria Amtrak Station to board the Clinchfield and the Crescent Harbor at 11:12 am for the return trip. The train is expected to arrive back in Raleigh at 4:50 pm; Greensboro at 6:32 pm; Salisbury at 7:24 pm; and Charlotte at 8:12pm.

Seating Options

First Class fare aboard the Crescent Harbor (seating very limited) includes:

Train Ride to Alexandria, VA and return.
Motor Coach transportation from the Alexandria Train Station to the Hotel.
Busing throughout the tour during the stay in Washington/Alexandria.
The motor coach tour of Washington and the return back to the Hotel.
The motor coach tour of Alexandria and the trip back to the Alexandria Train Station.
Lounge seating with breakfast and lunch served at your seat on Saturday; Lunch and Dinner served on Sunday.

Coach Class fare aboard the Clinchfield includes:

Train Ride to Alexandria, VA and return.
Motor Coach transportation from the Alexandria Train Station to the Hotel.
Busing throughout the tour during the stay in Washington/Alexandria.
The motor coach tour of Washington and the return back to the Hotel.
The motor coach tour of Alexandria and the trip back to the Alexandria Train Station.

COACH CLASS PLEASE NOTE: All meals will be on your own including the meal on the Amtrak cafe car on the train ride. A box lunch for Saturday, April 14 only will be available for purchase for $10 at the time you purchase your ticket if you desire.

Prices and Ordering Tickets

Members from the Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum, North Carolina Transportation Museum and Railroad Heritage Alliance will receive discounted rates. With only 77 available seats for both cars, we expect a fast sell out. To obtain prices and to order tickets, call the North Carolina Transportation Museum at (704) 636-2889 or email Sara Gettys.