Budget Travel in Greenbrier County (budget travel series part 3)

Balance out those vacation splurges with some savings!

Here’s your budget guide to a Greenbrier County and Lewisburg area family vacation:

The Greenbrier River and the Greenbrier River Trail offer tons to do outdoors: take an inner tubing float trip down the

river, cast a line out to catch a fish, bike the trail, search for hidden geocaches along the Greenbrier Geocache Trail. Pack your own gear or rent it affordably for the trip from Greenbrier River Campground, and the whole family can adventure through scenic beauty of the area all day long.

Head 120 feet underground into Lost World Caverns, and gaze in awe up at the towering walls and rock formations, including one of the nation’s largest. The temperature remains a constant 52 degrees, so bring a jacket along, even in the summer. Afterward, take the family through the on-site dinosaur museum. The whole experience is only $12 per adult, and $6 for the kids.

Managed by the Greenbrier Historical Society, the North House Museum offers free tours to groups smaller than 10. The historic home has six period-themed rooms, filled with antique furnishings; relics from the Revolutionary, Civil and Second World Wars; the early frontier; and more.

Catch a performance at the Greenbrier Valley Theatre, and get your tickets at a discount when you’re vacationing from out of town. Show your ID or hotel room key for 15% off the ticket price. Or, you can ask about their suits-all-budget “Pay What You Can” nights.

The first Friday of every month, you can stroll through Lewisburg’s shops, hear live musicians and poets, browse art and nibble on snacks and wine at various stops.

Dig through old treasures in Lewisburg’s antique shops, and you might find some amazing deals. Brick House Antiques has 9 rooms stuffed wall to wall with collectibles, and Plaid Eagle Antiques has a wide range of finds, from jewelry and glassware to unique items that are just “out there.”

Grab a bite of  breakfast at the Wild Bean, where $4 will get you a breakfast or vegan burrito, or an egg scramble. Their tasty coffee blends include one free refill. For more of a coffee fix, get a free cup at The Bakery when you mention their website offer at the counter. Have a fresh bagel, then head to The Irish Pub on Washington Street for an affordable state staple, the pepperoni roll.

Leave the kids behind for some wine and spirits. For only $3, you can sample 10 of Watt’s Roost Vineyards‘ wide variety of wines, and you get to keep the tasting glass. Then, head to Smooth Ambler Spirits‘ tasting room to sample their vodkas and spirits. They also offer free tours on Fridays and Saturdays, or by appointment. You can also enjoy a glass of wine while shopping at Harmony Ridge Gallery‘s in-house coffee boutique and wine bar, Red Key 3.