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VCU Elderhostel in Natural Bridge

Experience the ever-changing moods of this secluded mountain valley retreat, from the bloom of spring to cool summer breezes to forests flaming with brilliant color and the serenity of winter. Explore caverns, woodlands, the beautiful Blue Ridge, the ancient nature-sculpted masterpiece called Natural Bridge, and its spectacular setting that Thomas Jefferson called the most sublime place on earth. VCU's site at Natural Bridge is just minutes from I-81 on Route 11, south of historic Lexington.

The Natural Bridge Inn & Conference Center, a national landmark hotel, features fine dining, onsite classes, double occupancy, singles extra charge, private baths, hiking, tennis, and seasonal indoor pool. Below you will find a listing of our upcoming Elderhostel programs at Natural Bridge, as well as links to sites about tourism in Virginia and areas surrounding Natural Bridge. To register for any of the courses listed below, contact Elderhostel Participants Services at 877-426-8506 or visit the website at www.elderhostel.org.

Site Coordinator: Jim Gray

Natural Bridge Photographs:

Current 5-Night Programs for 2009

April 26-May 1 #17168
Born Under a Common Star: The Legacies of Lincoln and Darwin

May 3-8 #7292
Spectacular Spring in the Blue Ridge Mountains: Nature, Hiking, Birding and Presidents

May 10-15 #4078
In Jefferson's Footsteps: A Journey of Discovery

June 7-12 #11055
The Shenandoah Valley and the Big Bands

June 21-26 #5171
The Life and Times of Stonewall Jackson, The Lees of Virginia, The Music and Times of Stephen Foster

July 12-17 # 5177
Virginia's Splendid History, Heritage and Heroes

August 2-7 #9329
Virginia: Birthplace of Presidents, Thomas Jefferson, Explore the Universe

August 9-13 #16228 - See program description below.
A 21st Century "Chautauqua" At Beautiful Natural Bridge

August 30-September 4 #15891
Virginia's Historic Springs, Spas, and Scenic Byways

September 13-18 #5171
The Life and Times of Stonewall Jackson, The Lees of Virginia, The Music and Times of Stephen Foster

September 27-October 2 #17170
Shenandoah National Park: A Story of Natural and Human History

October 4-9 #17168
Born Under a Common Star: The Legacies of Lincoln and Darwin

October 18-23 #16680
The Splendor of Autumn in the Blue Ridge Mountains

November 1-6 #14350
Revolutionary America, The Music and Times of Stephen Foster, Virginia: Birthplace of Presidents

November 8-13 #4078
In Jefferson's Footsteps: A Journey of Discovery

Current 3-Night Programs for 2009

#9125 In the Footsteps of Thomas Jefferson
Program Dates: September 8-11, October 13-16

Examine less well-known facets of Jefferson's life, career and personality with noted scholars who discuss his architectural creativity, scientific interests, ambassadorship, educational beliefs and agricultural endeavors. Spend an afternoon at Poplar Forest, Jefferson's octagonal country villa and personal retreat. Then enjoy a full-day field trip to explore Monticello, Jefferson's architectural masterpiece: visit his house, burial site, extensive gardens and woodlands and have lunch at historic Michie Tavern. Evening classes feature music and the history of Natural Bridge, a new world wonder Jefferson purchased from King George III. As a special highlight, join our naturalist for a guided walk through Natural Bridge Gorge.

#12969 Songcatchers, Stephen Foster and Wonders Of Southern Appalachia
Program Dates: June 28-July 1

Music is the mysterious pulse at the heart of the human experience. Explore the roots of American musical heritage and melodies that denote the evolving sentiment of a young nation. Learn about the "songcatchers" who captured and preserved aural traditions, trace the passage of ballads from Scotland and Ireland to the Appalachian Mountains, and immerse yourself in the life and music of America's first great composer of songs, Stephen Foster. Enjoy fascinating classes, live musical performances, a walking field trip to Natural Bridge—a favorite of Thomas Jefferson—and a field trip to the unique American Frontier Culture Museum showing how Scots-Irish, English and German pioneers lived when the Shenandoah Valley was our western frontier.

#15171 The History of Jazz and the Heritage of Historic Lexington
Program Dates: May 19-22, July 21-24, September 22-25, October 27-30

In the scenic Shenandoah Valley, survey jazz history from its Dixieland origins to the 1950s with an expert PBS jazz historian. Learn about styles including Chicago jazz, "hard" jazz, bebop and great musicians such as King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Delve into Lexington's lively heritage and examine notable personages such as Sam Houston, Cyrus McCormick, Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. Visit Lexington film locations, the George C. Marshall and other significant museums, the Lee and Jackson gravesites, and two of our nation’s oldest colleges — Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute. Enjoy a gentle hike with our naturalist amidst the pristine beauty of Natural Bridge Gorge.

A 21st Century Elderhostel "Chautauqua" at Beautiful Natural Bridge #16228AU - 4 NIGHTS - DBL $525 - SGL +$82 - August 9-13, 2009

There's something for everyone in this program! Top instructors from all of VCU's Elderhostel sites present 12 tantalizing and thought-provoking classes on history, literature, mythology, science, music, the arts, Shakespeare and more. Plus, enjoy two evenings of superb music and entertainment, an evening laser-light show, and an afternoon to explore this National Historic Landmark that was sacred to the Monacan Indians and that Thomas Jefferson called "the most sublime of Nature's works."

Join us to re-create the spirit of Chautauqua! You'll have outstanding classes, excellent accommodations, fine dining – and experience the southern charm that still exists here in the Blue Ridge.

We hope to fill the entire hotel with Elderhostelers!

This program is structured so that three Elderhostel groups, each with its own coordinator, can attend all classes and seminars on a rotating basis, while enjoying evening performances together. All new classes. Registration for this program includes a Monday-Friday ticket to explore attractions that include the Caverns, Cedar Creek Nature Trail, the Wax Museum, Monacan Indian Village, and the incomparable Natural Bridge itself.

To register for this or other programs, or to learn more about these programs, including registration information and transfer/withdrawal schedules, please call Elderhostel toll free at (877) 426-8056 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET) or at www.elderhostel.org

Tourism and Places of Interest in Virginia and near Natural Bridge:

Visit Virginia On-Line Travel Guide

Guide to Historic Virginia

Virginia Tourism Corporation

Natural Bridge: Experience the Wonder of It All

Washington & Lee University

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