Travel Colorfully – The Greenbrier Resort

If you follow me on instagram, then you might remember a little girl’s trip I took with my momma to visit the gorgeous Greenbrier Resort earlier this year. From the magic of Dorothy Draper’s strikingly colorful, traditional interior style to the historical traditions rooted in Southern charm, not to mention the more-than 55 activities on the 11,000 acre property, if the The Greenbrier doesn’t already top your must-visit list, you’ll be adding it very soon! I already shared a peek at one of my fave rooms at The Greenbrier and the stunning outdoor pool here on the blog, but today I’m SO excited to finally share my full review of America’s Resort (and you’ll see why it took me so long – there are so many pictures!!).

Click through giant round- up of photos of the breath-taking resort and my recommendations of things to see, eat, and do while visiting The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

PS – don’t forget, you can get a FREE room upgrade when you book your stay at The Greenbrier with code VANDI. 

Believe it or not, I actually had never heard of The Greenbrier until just a couple of years ago (so if you hadn’t either – you’re not alone!) Having grown up in Texas, I’ve never had family or friends in Virginia or West Virginia, so I’d actually never even visited the state before. So when I discovered this dreamy, colorful American princess palace, I was first smitten and then startled that I’d never heard of it before. A traditional, Southern-style castle that’s home to Dorothy Draper’s iconic, candy-coated interior design work?! Yes, please! That’s why I was absolutely tickled when The Greenbrier reached out to little ole’ me about a partnership so I could help spread the word about this breathtaking, iconic hotel.

The first thing that drew me in about The Greenbrier was the stunning, colorful interiors and interiors designed by the original American interior designer, Dorothy Draper herself. What I didn’t know was how incredibly historic The Greenbrier is and how many amazing things there are to see and do beyond the interiors. My momma and I were certainly in for a treat!

THE HISTORY

Nestled in the gorgeous mountains of West Virginia in the small and charming town of White Sulphur Springs, The Greenbrier is a world-class resort that has been welcoming guests since 1778 (nope, that’s not a typo!) Recognized as a National Historic Landmark, The Greenbrier has welcomed royalties and celebrities alike for more than 235 years, including 26 of the 45 U.S. presidents. Guests were originally drawn to the valley in the Allegheny Mountains because of the natural sulphur springs and the cool mountain air that was a refreshing escape from the summer heat in the South. The resort even served as a highly-classified secret bunker for the U.S. government in case of emergency from the 1950’s to early 1990’s (which you can tour and learn all about on their Bunker Tour!)

THE TRADITION

One of the things my mom and I absolutely loved about The Greenbrier was that although the luxury resort is equipped with the latest comforts and technology, the resort is rooted in Southern class and tradition. That means you actually have to dress up for meals (which I totally love – you can find their dress code here!) and have the opportunity to engage in pastimes like a horse-drawn carriage ride, afternoon tea, croquet and more. There’s a feeling of tradition and Southern hospitality that you can feel the moment you walk into The Greenbrier, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.

 

WHAT TO DO

Offering up countless activities, including championship golf courses, delicious restaurants, a renowned mineral spa, a stunning outdoor infinity pool, an enormous casino, a movie theatre, the list goes on (and you can see all of the activities here), The Greenbrier is truly a destination resort with something for everyone to do. What’s also amazing about the resort is that it’s a four season’s resort, meaning that each season you come, you’ll find new things to see and do (also in West Virginia they have four distinct actual seasons – can you imagine?!) As you can see in the below photos, my momma and I got to experience just a few of the countless activities offered up at the resort, including a carriage ride, some pool time at the gorgeous outdoor infinity pool and an incredible spa treatment at The Greenbrier Mineral Spa. Perhaps more importantly for us foodies, we were also treated to an array of dining experiences, and each one as delicious as ever. From lunch at the adorable Draper’s (I wanted to move in!) and delicious pizza at The Forum to an incredible fine dining experience at Prime 44 West, we loved all of the different variety and options The Greenbrier dining offered up.

 

Before I keep rambling, I’ll stop and let you view the photos because words simply don’t do this magical resort justice. If you’ve never visited The Greenbrier, book your reservations to stay now (I’ve been told Christmas is the most incredible experience!) and enjoy a free room upgrade with code VANDI.

Stay tuned for more travel reviews here on the blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair-well xx,