Winter Getaway at The Greenbrier
For a Valentine’s Day treat this year we decided to visit The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV for a winter getaway. Since visiting the Omni Homestead Resort for our anniversary, we’ve been researching winter getaways that are closer to home. The Greenbrier Resort caught our eye with its stately appearance and southern charm. We’ve always been suckers for history so when I started reading the history of The Greenbrier, I was sold.
Table of Contents
History
The Greenbrier is a large luxury resort comprising 11,000 acres in the Allegheny Mountains and is steeped in Southern tradition. The property boasts 710 guest rooms and over 55 activities to participate in. The Greenbrier is a true National Historic Landmark, welcoming guests since 1778 including 27 U.S. Presidents. The resort also has a decommissioned Cold War Bunker under its West Wing (which we were able to take a tour of!).
Accomodations
We stayed in the Draper Suite on the 4th floor, it is decorated in signature Dorothy Draper decor featuring vibrant colors, floral patterns and bold contrasts. The suite had traditional mahogany furniture as well as a seating area with a sofa and two chairs. The bathroom was a nice stark white which was a nice contrast to the rest of the room. Our room looked out of the front of the resort with a gorgeous view of the mountains.
Wintertime Activities
The Greenbrier isn’t just a hotel, it’s a destination. Aside from the more than 55 activities offered there is also an array of restaurants and bars, retail shops, championship golf, a world renowned spa, a casino, movie theater, and so much more! If you follow me on Instagram you know that my husband and I got to participate in a wintertime carriage ride, hiking, and falconry. The Greenbrier also offers ice skating during the winter months. One thing I really liked is that everyday they give you an information sheet in your room listing out all the daily activities by hour.
Carriage Ride
We met at Kate’s Mountain Outfitters for a 30 minute horse drawn carriage ride around the property. Our carriage driver was very knowledgeable about the property and had been working at The Greenbrier for many years. We rode past the original hot spring, the chapel, and golf course. It was fun to get bundled up (blankets provided in the carriage) and go on a romantic ride around the beautiful Greenbrier estate.
Hiking
We had picked up a hiking map at the front desk when we checked in so after the carriage ride we decided to go on a hike up Raven Rock Trail and Cohosh Loop. As we got higher in elevation, the trail got a little snowy at times. There are eight trails that you can hike from The Greenbrier, all with different levels of difficulty. We estimated we went about 4.5 miles on our hike.
Falconry
Now, falconry was definitely not on my list of things I thought I would ever do but I am so glad I got the opportunity to do it. Our group took a short 5 minute shuttle ride over to The Falconry Academy where we learned all about the different birds of prey that live at The Greenbrier. Next, it was time to take out Remington so we could get a demonstration of how hawks hunt in the wild. It was fascinating to watch and see how focused they are. I volunteered to have Remington land on my arm and eat a piece of food from my hand and while a little intimidating at first, it was an amazing experience.
If you’re thinking of booking a stay at The Greenbrier, just do it, it was the perfect winter getaway! It’s the perfect destination for couples and families alike. I saw an equal amount of couples there for a romantic weekend doing carriages rides, going to the spa, getting dressed up for dinner as I did families that were participating in The Greenbrier Escape Room, playing family laser tag in the Exhibition Hall or watching a movie in the theater. I’m already planning my next visit for the summer months so I can experience the amazing infinity pool overlooking the mountains, until next time Greenbrier.
Between now and March 16th The Greenbrier is offering a $699 two-night package that includes a $200 resort spending. Click Here to learn more.
Stay tuned for my next post where I will review all of the fantastic food we ate at The Greenbrier!
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My visit to The Greenbrier was provided complimentary, all opinions and writings are my own.
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