Lewisburg Chocolate Festival - “Chocolate Heaven!”
By: Susan from Masontown, PA
The following letter was written by Susan Shoemaker, the winner of the CVB’s Spring Facebook Contest, after her visit over the weekend of April 18-19:
April 23, 2009
Thank you Greenbrier County CVB for making my weekend spectacular on April 18th!
I was so thrilled to find out that I won the Chocolate Festival package on the Facebook site! I was so thrilled that I realized I was unsure of what I had actually won.
With excitement I phoned the Greenbrier County Convention and Visitor Bureau to speak with Kara Dense, Executive Director, to find out what my winnings included. Much to my surprise I won tickets to the tasting of chocolates at the Chocolate Festival, a two night stay at the Holiday Inn Express, tickets to the Simone Concert, and a wonderful goody bag with Chocolate Festival t-shirts! All I needed to do was pack my bags.
I had never been to Lewisburg or the Greenbrier area of West Virginia; little did I know that I was in for a real “treat”! The area is absolutely beautiful! The drive to Lewisburg from my hometown of Masontown, PA (approx 3 ½ hrs) was relaxing and very easy to do. I arrived, met CVB staff, took a couple photos and off I went to eat my way through “chocolate heaven” located in Lewisburg.
The festival was wonderful and very enjoyable! The chocolate was very tasty in every store/site, although I really didn’t like the chocolate beer at the Irish Pub. I did return to that same pub for homemade Irish stew that was absolutely wonderful! The weather and day was wonderful as if it was just ordered for the festival.
The Simone concert was most enjoyable—what a beautiful voice! I was not familiar with this entertainer and found the concert to be quite a surprise. My favorite music is jazz and some blues. I was so pleasantly surprise to hear the melodies that came from this very beautiful singer!
After my wonderful day in downtown Lewisburg at the Chocolate Festival, I traveled to The Greenbrier resort. I had always wanted to visit this world renowned resort to take in its’ beauty. I visited the shops in the resort while waiting on the Bunker tour which was interesting. I never knew the magnitude of keeping a 30 year secret!
I also visited Lost World Caverns on Sunday, April 19th. I was trying to pack a lot in to a couple days. The caverns were interesting and the staff at the cave was most helpful!
Everyone I encountered at the CVB, the festival, the hotel, concert, the cave, and The Greenbrier were helpful and very pleasant. I am so glad I logged onto your Facebook page and became a member! I will return to your area soon because once I told my boss of my wonderful time, she suggested a “girl trip” to Lewisburg.
Thank you again for allowing me the opportunity to visit Lewisburg, the Chocolate Festival and Greenbrier County!!
Susan D. Shoemaker
