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The Greenbrier Resort: A Luxury Vacation Within Hours of Home

By Amy Ghiglieri, Publisher, Macaroni Kid Frederick March 15, 2023

This weekend I got to cross off an item on my bucket list with a trip to The Greenbrier Resort. Elegance, luxury, delicious food and drink options, endless indoor and outdoor recreation, and a leisure experience unlike any other makes The Greenbrier the perfect weekend escape for couples, families, and girlfriend getaways.

Known as ‘America’s Resort,’ The Greenbrier is a National Historic Landmark. The world-class resort has been welcoming guests from around the world since 1778, including 28 US presidents and countless celebrities.

The Greenbrier really does offer guests an almost-magical feeling of being transported far, far away on a luxurious vacation - but it's actually less than four hours from home. We went as a romantic getaway and had a grand time. The Greenbrier's proximity makes it an ideal destination for a quick family getaway (a fact my husband and I talked about once or twice while we were there). One family we spoke with during afternoon tea even shared with us how it’s an annual tradition for them to return every spring as a family. Their kids have a blast in the kids’ Adventure Club, love swimming in the pool, and delight in feeling fancy during afternoon tea.

The Greenbrier Resort is a five star resort located in the mountains of West Virginia. With fine dining, a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, golf, tennis, firepits, adventure excursions, casino, and the best adult beverages you’ll ever sip, guests get the invigorating feeling of having plenty to do and the luxurious feeling of not having to do a thing. It's the best of both worlds!

Upon arrival we were speechless. From walking the red carpet into the towering main lobby, to the vibrant colors, floral patterns and bold contrasts covering the interiors, the elegant ambiance is all encompassing. The complimentary champagne toast upon arrival and box of chocolates waiting on each bed are the perfect treats to kick off a memorable stay. We stayed in one of the traditional rooms and were memorized by all of the classic, Dorothy Draper decor in our room and throughout the property. I’m still in awe of the number of gorgeous, fragrant, fresh floral arrangements throughout the resort.




Another thing The Greenbriar does exactly right are the dining options. You can eat in the formal dining room, at a number of other on-site restaurants, on the patio, poolside, or even in your room. We sampled a few of their restaurants and found Draper’s Cafe and In-Fusion to be our favorites. The fried green tomato with bbq bacon and chevre that I had for lunch at Draper’s might be one of the best culinary delights I have ever tasted. An insider’s tip… you won’t have room for dessert after eating anywhere at The Greenbrier because the portions are so generous, but if you get dessert to go and enjoy later you’ll never regret your decision. Sipping on an old fashioned with The Greenbrier's black forest cake as a mid-afternoon treat was my happy place.

While the list of experiences at The Greenbriar are endless, here’s what we enjoyed the most during our weekend. Next time we plan on checking out the spa!

Gun Club: Sporting clays, trap and skeet for advanced and novice shooters
We jumped on a (so very comfortable) shuttle and headed to the top of Kate’s Mountain for a bit of friendly competition. We were pumped to try out their newly constructed 5-Stand shooting arrangement that merges trap and skeet shooting together for a target game that up to five people can play together. The five stand is covered and climate controlled for all four seasons. Safety is the top priority at the Gun Club and each group is provided with a Professional Trap Attendant.



Debunked Escape Room
Based on The Greenbrier’s secret bunker, you’re transported back to 1992 on a quest to stop an intruder who has plans to uncover a national secret. I’ve experienced a few escape rooms, but this was my husband’s first time. We managed to get out just in time and had a lot of fun working together during the process.




Bourbon at the Bar in Cafe Carlton 
My husband loves a good bourbon and was in his element experiencing five pours exclusive to The Greenbrier. It was so interesting to learn about the origin of each distillery and learn about the individual flavor profiles.  





Next time you need a luxury getaway, head to The Greenbrier Resort to experience ‘life as few know it.’





Disclosure: I was hosted for the purposes of this review, but as always all opinions are my own.