West Virginia:
Romantic Mountain Getaway
Spring 2022
Location: The Greenbrier
If you are looking for an adventurous and romantic getaway, I highly recommend West Virginia! Ben and I recently visited the state for the first time and we were blown away with the beauty that surrounded us. West Virginia is literally Almost Heaven and it made for an unforgettable and much needed vacation with the hubby. Why did we choose West Virginia? To start off, it is one of the most scenic states in the nation. West Virginia is the only state completely within the Appalachian Mountain Range which is the reason why it is nicknamed the "Mountain State." We took a short flight from Orlando and from the moment we entered the state, all I could see was green raw beauty for miles. It is truly one of the most beautiful places I have visited. We flew into Charleston, West Virginia (CRW) which was a very charming little airport. From there, we rented a car and our adventure began!
Weather: We visited during the Spring time, April to be exact and the weather was just about perfect. Warm enough to enjoy with a cool breeze from time to time. It was that perfect spring jacket weather. I would also very much recommend visiting in the fall as well as I have heard the foliage is beautiful.
Our first stop was West Virginia's capital, Charleston. The city is positioned perfectly amongst two rivers and is a boasting cultural hub! The first thing you will probably notice when you enter the city is the state capitol building as it has a striking gold dome that can't be missed. We did a drive through the city to get a feel for it and really enjoyed all the art in the area. There were also many flowers in bloom at the time of our visit which was very nice. I would recommend visiting the Capitol Market for local finds and yummy treats before hitting the road. We ended up having lunch at Coco's Kitchen and Cafe and I highly recommend it! All of our dishes were so delicious and made from scratch in house. If you have a little sweet tooth, try the peanut butter smoothie, you won't regret it ;-)
Location: Tamarack Marketplace
After spending some time in the city, we hit the road and made our way towards our first destination. On the way, we made a stop at the iconic Tamarack Marketplace. Immediately when we pulled up, I noticed the peaked red roof building which made quite an impression! The marketplace had products and pieces of art from over 2,800 artists from all from the Mountain State. It was very apparent there was a lot of talent in the state and I loved seeing all the unique pieces on display. It's the perfect spot to also pick out some souvenirs and gifts. Not only is it a great place to see art, but the Tamarack Marketplace is a great local spot to socialize and indulge in some Appalachian cuisine.
For our first night, we stayed at The Resort at Glade Springs which is a large and charming property that offers numerous activities including golfing, swimming, hiking, bowling and many more. The property has four restaurants and my personal favorite is the Small Talk Café! The cafe offers delicious and homemade treats, fresh coffee and a fireplace to make the mood even cozier. It is the perfect place to visit to kickstart your day.
We stayed in a Deluxe King room and found it to be very spacious, warm and inviting. We had a balcony that overlooked the beautiful golf course and we loved waking up and seeing the view. Just 2 miles from The Resort at Glade Springs is Mallard Lake which is a really great spot for fishing and canoeing.
In the evening, we took a drive to the town of Daniels which is just a couple minutes away from the resort and found many cute shops and restaurants. Some of the locals had mentioned that The Dish Cafe has delicious food so we decided to give it a try and are so glad we did! As soon as we sat down, I knew I was going to love the place because not only did the menu look amazing but I also loved that the food came from a local farm. You could tell there was a lot of love in the restaurant and in the food. We split the fried pickles which I can't rave enough about. For dinner, I had the pecan encrusted trout and Ben had the cajun shrimp over creamy polenta. Both were to die for! An absolute must when visiting Daniels, West Virginia.
Fried Pickles at The Dish Cafe
The next day we hit the road for our third destination and this one has been on my bucket list for such a long time. I was so excited to see The Greenbrier, also known as America's Resort since 1778, in person after many years of hearing about it. Let me just tell you, it was stunning and exceeded all my expectations. This place had it all and we had such a great time learning about the rich history of the resort. Many famous people have visited The Greenbrier including Judy Garland, Grace Kelly and Bing Crosby. Also, there is a beautiful chandelier hanging in the lobby that was featured in the movie Gone with the Wind. The interior decorator who designed The Greenbrier was Dorothy Draper and she did such a fabulous job with the place. My favorite room is by far the spa area as it has a beautiful canopy draped above the pool. It gives a real wow factor and a very romantic yet playful feel to the area! Just something you have to see for yourself :)
There are numerous activities and things to experience while visiting The Greenbrier Resort including visiting their casino, bowling, swimming, hiking, taking a carriage ride or perhaps taking a historic tour. There are also plenty of dining options to choose from but I would highly recommend visiting Drapers Cafe which offers a casual menu and all of Dorothy Draper's favorite meals. We had a reuben sandwich paired with cheesy grits and were so satisfied! There is also a very cute ice cream parlor connected to the cafe that is worth visiting :)
We visited the nearby town of Lewisburg, which is a quick drive from The Greenbrier. The charming town was voted as the "coolest small town in America and it is easy to see why! The bustling downtown area is filled with unique restaurants, antique shops and everything in between. The area also has a very exciting art scene and plenty to offer. We visited The Stardust Cafe for dinner one evening and it was one of the best meals we had on the entire trip. The food was so fresh and delicious and I really enjoyed their cocktail selection as well. I would highly recommend visiting for lunch or dinner. Another great spot in town where you can grab some coffee is The Wild Bean! Make sure to try out some of their signature drinks with unique flavors.
Stardust Cafe
Overall, we had a amazing time in West Virginia. There is so much to see and do and my only wish is that we had more time to explore the beautiful state. West Virginia has so much raw beauty, one could explore endlessly. It was the perfect romantic getaway and I can't wait to come back one day to see more.
Head to WV Tourism to start planning your getaway!
This trip was sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Tourism and all opinions are my own and honest.
