Five couples got on a bus in Mount Vernon Tuesday without a clue as to where they were going.

Hours later, they were in Page County as part of a promotion by the Virginia Tourism Corporation that is trying to reinvigorate tourism in the Valley.

The program was part of a statewide effort to keep travelers moving through the Shenandoah Valley, bringing money into the region.

When the phone call came into Maryland saying they were winners of a trip, Jennifer Meyers and William Smith thought it was a joke.

"No, actually, I thought it was a scam when they called. And I didn't answer the phone. They left me a message," laughs Meyers.

"These are the kind of things that people want in today's economy, particularly. They want to get away from the rat race of the city and bad news about the recession. They want to come to a place like Luray and reconnect with their family and friends," says Alisa Bailey, president of the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

The Luray-Page County Chamber of Commerce also says the unique charm of the Valley is what it's banking on to reinvigorate the local economy.

"It is so exciting to see events like tourism here related to Luray-Page County. And clearly Luray Page County is a premier travel destination," says Karen Riddle of the Chamber of Commerce.

After a brief stop at the hotel where they'll be staying, Meyers and Williams were back on the bus and headed out for an adventure they never expected to be having.

They say they won't let the unstable economy affect them.

"Definitely it's a big part of trying to relax. You know you still have to try to make the time to take vacation if you can," says Smith.

The travelers have two days of events ahead of them. Local businesses pitched in, in the hope of working together to drive in tourism dollars.

Page County was also proclaimed the Cabin Capitol of Virginia Tuesday.