sunshine bus tours roanoke va

“TINA” THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL STEPHEN F TANGER CENTER GREENSBORO, NC

“DANIEL” PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH LANCASTER, PA (2 Days)

CHARLOTTE AUTO FAIR & NASCAR HALL OF FAME

WIND CREEK CASINO & RESORT BETHLEHEM, PA

CHARLESTON SAVANNAH JEKYLL ISLAND

THE GREAT SOUTHWEST & CALIFORNIA

WASHINGTON, D.C. CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

BILTMORE HOUSE & GARDENS FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS

TEXAS “THE LONE STAR STATE”

NEW YORK CITY “SPRINGTIME”

BILLY GRAHAM LIBRARY / STOWE BOTANICAL GARDENS

ANDY GRIFFITH’S “MAYBERRY” MT. AIRY, NC

“daniel” pennsylvania dutch lancaster, pa (3 days).

NORTH CAROLINA ZOO ASHEBORO, NC

HGTV HOMETOWN & GULF COAST LAUREL & BILOXI, MS

CREATION MUSEUM ARK ENCOUNTER

GIRLS WEEKEND / SPA GETAWAY CHARLESTON, SC

TANGIER ISLAND

EXPLORE NASHVILLE “MUSIC CITY, USA”

MICHIE TAVERN & SWANNANOA MANSION CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA

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Sunshine Tours offers tours in and around Virginia all year round. Every Tour is Escorted on modern Touring Motor coaches, giving our Passengers the most comfortable ride. In addition to being Climate Controlled and Restroom Equipped, each State of the Art Motor coach has VCR’s and DVD’s. All Tours include Deluxe Motor coach Transportation, Admission to all Listed Attractions and Baggage Handling at each night’s Lodging. From the Moment you Step Aboard our Motor coach, Wonderful Things Begin to Happen. Your Sunshine Tour is more than just Places and Things. It is a Happy Time, filled with Good Feelings and Fond Memories with Family and Friends.

We also offer charter services and can help meet your transportation needs for your next outing or trip!

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Providing safe & reliable transportation since 1927

2024 TOUR CATALOG NOW AVAILABLE!! CLICK HERE

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Need a bus?

We would love to be your first choice in motorcoach travel! Book your bus TODAY

Charter a bus with us!

We provide service for any group, big or small, from youth to senior. Planning a field trip, wedding, family reunion, executive or team transportation? Need a sleeper bus? We’ve got you covered! Call us today or request a quote and book one of our many buses. 540-343-1133 Press 2 for Charters

Book a tour with us!

Amazing tours and fun adventures are waiting for you. Our 2024 Tour Catalog is now available online!! If you travelled with us in 2023 or received a Tour Catalog in the mail, you will receive the 2024 Tour Catalog automatically. If you would like to request a catalog be mailed to you, please click on the link below to Request a Catalog. If you have questions about any of our Tours or would like to make a reservation, please call the Tour Department today at 540-343-1133 Press 3 for Tours

Private Groups & Educational Tours

If you have you are a group leader or teacher and would like us to plan your tour for you, we do that too! Abbott offers fully customizable tour packages to fit your groups’ needs. Call or Email Diane Eagle today to get started on your next adventure!

What People Say

Our driver, Dan, was absolutely fantastic. I have taken hundreds of bus rides, including some very expensive vacation tours, and I have never once had a bus driver as professional and as astute as Dan. I could tell our students really appreciated having him. He was kind, helpful, punctual, and just genuinely a pleasure to work with. aaron noble, pe, pHd mining and minerals engineering – virginia tech

First time riding the bus on 4/6/22 went to Charlestown Casino , nice trip wonderful hostess and very nice bus driver! Will definitely be back again to do this and I hope to get the same driver and hostess! steve haysi, abbott tour customer

Took a group of students to Colonial Williamsburg for the day and our driver Randy was the best. He was always on-time and he was incredibly helpful. He wanted our experience to be fantastic and it was. Thank you Randy and Abbott. Cheryl Summy – abbott charter customer

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Roanoke Tours

Tours in virginia's blue ridge.

Various tours in the Roanoke Region in Virginia's Blue Ridge are great ways to experience many of the unique facets of the region.

We offer an extensive collection of tours, ranging from self-guided walking and driving tours to outings that can be reserved with tour companies that specialize in guide services. Don't forget to check our calendar to see if any special tour events occur during your visit.

Self-Guided Driving Tours

These self-guided driving tours offer a mix of everything, including history, shopping, cuisine, live music, and all kinds of Southern charm.

Self-Guided Walking Tours

Explore some of the incredible communities that make up Virginia's Blue Ridge with these self-guided walking tours. It's a great way to trace the steps of the region's rich heritage.

• Hidden in Plain Site Tour
• Historic Gainsboro Tour
• Historic Fincastle Walking Tour

Themed Tours

Our themed tours focus on some of the unique areas of interest that visitors love to experience in Virginia's Blue Ridge. You can visit these stops at your own pace and pick the locations that best fit your schedule and other activities.

• Art by Bike
• The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail
• Crossroads to Settlement
• Virginia's Blue Ridge Cheers Trail

Bike Tours - E-Bikes & MTB

        View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Virginia's Blue Ridge (@visitvbr)

Roanoke Mountain Adventures is a local outfitter that offers various guided bike tours as a fun way to explore Roanoke. Guided tour options include:

• Views & Brews E-Bike Tour - featuring stops at 3 local breweries
• E-Bike Food Tours - sample dishes at local restaurants in the Grandin Village & Wasena neighborhoods
• Star City Sunday Cruise - a 2.5-hour scenic tour through some of Roanoke's most scenic neighborhoods
• Guided Mountain Bike Ride - a guided mountain bike experience that is great for beginners and helps introduce you to the trails
• Mill Mountain MTB Tour - a beginner-level guided ride that includes a shuttle to the summit of Mill Mountain and offers beautiful views

You can also contact the Roanoke Mountain Adventures team to create a custom guided tour experience, which is great for groups, parties, and team-building. 

Want to put together a particular type of trip? Our interest-based itineraries (History, Outdoors, Family Fun, etc.) can help you plan the ultimate vacation. Itineraries vary in length of stay and can be combined to create the perfect blend of activities. Learn more .

Guided Tours

Many companies in the Roanoke Region offer services for guided tours and excursions.

Whether you want to enjoy an outing on the river, a mountain biking adventure, or sample amazing food and drink, the companies listed below are ready to help you create a fantastic experience.

In This Section

Virginia's blue ridge region.

• Atlanta 430 miles
• Baltimore 281 miles
• Charleston, WV 180 miles
• Charlotte 194 miles
• Columbia 284 miles
• Greensboro 104 miles
• Lexington 356 miles
• Pittsburgh 340 miles
• Raleigh 167 miles
• Richmond 164 miles
• Virginia Beach 295 miles
• Washington, DC 251 miles

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Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge   101 Shenandoah Avenue NE Roanoke, VA 24016 (540) 342-6025 (800) 635-5535

Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge is committed to cultivating an atmosphere that welcomes and celebrates the unique backgrounds, abilities, passions, and perspectives of our vibrant community. As our region’s only destination marketing organization, we have a responsibility to showcase the best the Roanoke Region has to offer, and those assets and strengths come in varied forms. We embrace differences in race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, language, visible and invisible disabilities, and all the intersecting identities that make Virginians and visitors alike so unique. We believe our differences make us stronger– and better.

Welcome to Roanoke Tours

Join us for easy and comfortable trips to scenic locations originating out of Roanoke Virginia. Our event calendar is filled with upcoming events.

Upcoming Events

Savannah, jekyll island, st. simon’s island, and beaufort, sc, new hampshire & the white mountains, nashville and the country music scene, christmas in charleston, south carolina.

We offer easy & comfortable group travel originating from Roanoke, Virginia

Meet your host: Ernie Dale

Ernie Dale graduated from Virginia Intermont College, Bristol, VA, with a BA in Business Administration/Management. He has been doing motor coach tours since 1994. He has also done fly trips and cruises. He enjoys walking, traveling, and spending time outdoors. 

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To stay up-to-date on all the events and happenings at Roanoke Tours, Inc, and see photos of our previous travels, follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Sunshine Tours

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

SUNSHINE TOURS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• Mon - Fri 08:30 - 17:00
• (0.10 mi) Holiday Inn Express Dublin, an IHG Hotel
• (0.13 mi) Hampton Inn Dublin
• (0.21 mi) Quality Inn Dublin I-81
• (0.48 mi) Knights Inn & Suites Dublin
• (2.71 mi) Rockwood Manor
• (0.04 mi) Hunt Brothers Pizza
• (0.09 mi) Shoney's
• (0.05 mi) Cinco de Mayo
• (0.07 mi) Bojangles
• (0.09 mi) Fazoli's

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Poor customer service; Owners are... - Sunshine Tours

• United States    
• Virginia (VA)    
• Dublin    
• Dublin - Things to Do    
• Sunshine Tours

Mike the bus driver and Michelle the tour leader were very nice and did a good job. Overall the bus... read more

Went on the tour of The Green Bank Observatory and a ride on the Cass railroad. The bus was 35... read more

Poor customer service; Owners are HOTHEADS

My opinion of Sunshine Tours sure has changed. Totally the most unprofessional company I've ever seen. Had some constructive criticism and the owner, Paul Nester, was unwilling to even talk rationally about it. The owners wife, Lynn gave my wife the wrong phone number for the bus driver. They were on a field trip with special needs students and could not get a hold of the driver because they were given the drivers home number instead of cell number. Threatening the customer, cursing them and treating them that way is never the right thing to do! Totally shocked. And then to beat it all, the owner is such a coward he hung up during two different phone calls. Unwilling to rationally talk. Our family has used Sunshine numerous times throughout the years... never knew the owner was such a hothead and unwilling to talk about a mistake his wife had made. They sure didn't have a problem taking their money. A simple "I'm sorry it happened" would have gone a long way.

I recently took my special needs class on a trip to Gatlinburg, TN this past Friday. The only good thing that I have to say about the trip was that our drivers were kind and considerate. However, the rest of the experience was a train wreck at best. First, we had to send our itinerary multiple times, although we had been told it had been received and accepted, not to mention the numerous phone calls. The trip coordinator even threatened to cancel our trip two days before even though all paperwork, contracts, and payment had been cleared. Once on the trip we could not get a hold of our bus driver for pick up. When I called to company to ask for assistance, I was told the first time "I don't know what you want me to do about it from here" meanwhile all of my special needs students were standing outside waiting with a thunderstorm coming. I called back again to see if the company had any luck only to be told again " What the F%#@ do you want me to do about it!!!" I was mortified. As a professional this type of language was unacceptable. Our bus driver ended up calling me and after we compared notes it was NOT his fault at all because the coordinator gave us his HOME number not his cell. Upon returning I called the owner to let him know our dissatisfaction. I was told that our coordinator was his wife and to "be careful what I said". Before I could say anything he continued to say " we have discussed and and think it would be best not to do business again" and HUNG UP!! I don't know how this place continues to stay in business if this is the customer service that they give. I have been in education for more than 20 years and have planned and taken numerous field trips with several bus companies. This was by far the WORST experience that I have ever had with a touring company! I would rather pay twice the price than to do business with them again!!!

Mike the bus driver and Michelle the tour leader were very nice and did a good job. Overall the bus trip was ok. It felt very rushed and this lead to the 3 rating. We stopped for breakfast at McDonalds but were only given 15 minutes. The tour was suppose to return to Roanke at 10 pm. We were in Roanoke at 830. We were assured that we would have plenty of time to see and enjoy the Christmas Show Exhibit in Charlotte. We got there a little after 10 am and had to be back on the bus at 3 pm. This did not give us time to see and enjoy all that was offered. An extra hour would have helped immensely. I wouldn't take this trip again.

I had traveled last year with Sunshine and had a blast. Talked a friend into taking a trip to New England this summer.. it was absolutely the worst trip I have ever been on. The first day I was on the cramped buss for 17 1/2 hours with only 3 stops.. Tour guide had no interaction with us, just sat and talked with bus driver. We forgot two ladies, and had to turn around and go back to Lexington to get them. They had waited 3 hours past their pick up time. The hotels had separate issues including, dirty, rats and a very high crime area, homeless population outside the lobby in Boston. The friend I traveled with attempted to contact the owners to point out just how awful this trip was. She was informed that they had contacted everyone else on the bus and they advised that the trip was great. This is a BOLD face lie, you did not contact me or several others that also had complained of how unorganized and ill planned this trip was. I was willing to give sunshine the benefit of the doubt and figured they had an untrained guide, but to answer a complaint with a lie is not only unethical but tells me more then I ever needed to know about this company.

This company does a horrible job. It was the worst experience for me. The company clearly does not value their customer. Some experiences: 1) The bus we had to ride on was filthy, handles falling off seats/missing, no wifi, and very cramped. 2) The great breakfast they advertise was a 5 hr old greasy buscuit with warm OJ. 3) The majority of the hotels we stayed in were dirty and in high crime areas. One of the hotels actually had a swarm of rats outside the front door and many people standing on the sidewalk wanting drugs. See photos attached. At one hotel when we woke up the floor was actually flooded with water due to lack of maintenance of the AC unit. We were always late for every stop. Did not get tour guides we paid for, etc. The entire trip was nothing but caaos and disappointment. The schedule always changed without notice. Very little entertainment; we found ourselves always at the hotel. Most of our entertainment was FREE TO THE PUBLIC. It was very clear Sunshine took the cheapest route/hotels, etc. for their trip. When attempting to share this information with the office after the trip, they took no accountability and could not have cared less. SO, BUYER BEWARE!

Went on the tour of The Green Bank Observatory and a ride on the Cass railroad. The bus was 35 minutes late picking us up because of people being late at the pickups before us. This threw the entire day off and we were rushed through each stop. We didn't have enough time at either destination. Why should the people that are on time suffer because of those that are irresponsible for theirs. The rule should be the bus leaves with or without you at a certain time. The driver and guide did their best but were set with a handicap to begin with (time). Seemed very unorganized compared to another bus trip that we took with a different bus tour line.