Pittsylvania County outings proving popular

Very simply, the Pittsylvania County Parks and Recreation Department wants people to have some fun.

To that end, the department sponsors trips that include a wide variety of activities, enjoyment and destinations.

The first outing offered by the department, which is less than a year old, was a November bus trip from various stops on U.S. 29 to the Lynchburg train station where the participants boarded an Amtrak train to Washington returning in the evening, according to Ernie Dale, the department’s contracted trip coordinator.

“The first trip offered was a complete sellout within three weeks of being announced,” Dale said. “The next trip was Christmas with Elvis at the Paramount Theatre in Burlington, N.C., [in December].”

Really enjoyable

Liz and Lonnie Campbell of Pittsylvania County took the trip on the Amtrak to Washington, and really enjoyed it.

“I’d never ridden on an Amtrak train, so I wanted to go,” Lonnie said. “When you’re my age, you want to see what is out there.”

The couple enjoyed the train ride and got to spend a little time at one of the Smithsonian museums before heading back.

“I thought it was a very nice trip. It was just a little getaway, not that expensive, and was short, so you didn’t have to make too [many] arrangements to be gone,” Lonnie said.

He said they would be interested in going on more trips, especially a possible one to Tangier Island.

Ron and Dianne McMahon were also on the Amtrak trip to Washington, and loved the convenience of not having to drive themselves to Lynchburg.

“We had talked for a long time about taking the Amtrak, but this was so much more convenient. We drove about 10 minutes to Tightsqueeze and parked our car,” Dianne said. “We loved it; it was very nice.”

They also plan on taking more of the trips in the future.

What’s planned

Upcoming planned and possible trips this year include trips to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington; the six Rock Churches on the Blue Ridge Parkway with a stop at the Hillsville Courthouse; Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Baltimore to see the Yankees play the Orioles; New York City; the James River Rambler (a train excursion); Tangier Island; Myrtle Beach; the Biltmore House; and a fall foliage tour.

“We are trying to plan one trip per month,” Dale said.

The aim is also to keep the price of the trips affordable, he said.

Dale, who has been in the trip- and event-planning business for about 20 years, said he encourages the people of Pittsylvania County, Danville, Chatham, Gretna and the surrounding cities, towns and counties to be a part of these trips.

“We want to continue to be able to offer these traveling experiences to the people of this area,” he said. “They are educational, enlightening, relaxing and enhancing to tour participants. People get to go to places that they have dreamed of going to. The trips help people’s dreams to come true.”

To learn more and to sign up for the trips, go to www.pittgov.org and click on the “Parks and Recreation” link under “County Offices” or call (434) 432-7736. There is no extra charge for non-Pittsylvania County residents.