The Greenbrier
 

We'll be driving North in May along the Blue Ridge Mountains. Is it worth a detour to spend a day or 2 at The Greenbrier? Any other suggestions. Planning on spending a day in Asheville & then heading North.

The Greenbriar is lovely if you like big, old, fancy hotels. It is in a beautiful setting. They recently declared bankruptcy but are still operating. I don't know what effects this will have on food and service.

We like old and charming with good food. I don't know if we'll get back that way again. I've heard so much about it over the years. I wonder if we're crazy to do this drive. We need to move a car from one place to another. It seemed like an opportunity. I just hope we're not bored to death. One person says it's spectacular through the mountains and the next says it's monotinous.

I would suggest the Hotel Strasburg, Strasburg, VA www.hotelstrasburg.com off I-81 just before I-66. Built in 1902 as a hospital, it was converted to a hotel in 1978.

Because we live near it, we have stayed there, but have eaten there many times on holidays. Their holiday buffets are delicious.
I just looked at the menu and think we will eat there Easter.

Oooops, should have read Because we live near it, we have never stayed there etc.

The Greenbrier is a beautiful old hotel in a spectacular mountain setting. There is lots to do within the resort property as well.

However, service, decor, and everything else feel very old-fashioned. Not for everyone....

Dorothy Draper was my grandmother's interior decorator for her apartment on Ave. Kleber in Paris.

When my grandmother died, we found a few rolls of the wallpaper Dorothy used for my grandmother's dining room in a closet. I took that wallpaper and used it on the walls of my own dining room.

I have always wanted to visit Greenbrier, but have never had the opportunity to do so.

Thin

There was a thread just this past week about the Greenbrier going into bankruptcy and being bought out or taken over by Marriott. I'd sure check out the current situation there before staying there.

Definitely find out about any changes due to the bankruptch/purchase by Marriot. The Greenbrier of old was a wonderful experience.

Wow! Thank you all for your input. We're still in the planning stages, but I will include all of your input in our decisions. And I'll check out the prior Greenbrier thread. Thanks again.
L

lynnesm - Depending on what route you are following you may want to take a look at the Homestead in the mountains of western Virginia. www.thehomestead.com

thin- that's a lovely story about the wallpaper.

Having stayed at both resorts, we greatly preferred the Homestead, for what that's worth.

If you have the time, make sure you tour the Biltmore. We really enjoyed it.

Biltmore also has a nice hotel . .

So, we have decided not to go to the Greenbrier this trip. So far we are stopping in Savannah the first night. Still deciding on a B&B there. Then heading over to Asheville, NC. We want to be downtown-we're still looking at options for a small Hotel or B&B. We will definitely go see The Biltmore while we're there. Then we will head North on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I want to do that slowly so we can stop at some of the Natural sights-Craggy Gardens, Linville Falls, Blowinf Rock and do a short walk or 2 and stop at the Music Center.
So I need one overnite along the Parkway route. Someone suggested Boone. Any other thoughts on that.Then I wanted a stop at the end. I'm thinking we should go see Monticello while we're so close by. Might want to have dinner at the Inn at Little Washington,. Though I think it is probably too expensive to stay. Rather spend the money on the dinner. So that will be 4 nights on the road and then head home to CT. All thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

I adore the Inn at Little Washington and definitely think you should have a meal there if you are into food at all. I feel fortunate to live only a couple of hours from there. Keswick in Charlottesville and well as Barboursville Winery are some places to consider also.

A dinner at the Inn at Little Washington is an event. There are B&B's in the area that you could stay at.

Very close to Monticello are a couple of my favorite places to stay -- Clifton Inn, and Keswick Hall. I like both better than the Greenbrier.

The best meal of my life was at Clifton, though that was probably 10 years ago.

Definitely dinner at Inn at Little Washington~~I'd pick your night now (maybe a weekday?) and book it! I would say: staying overnight there is indeed a marvel - it starts with the loveliest tea at about 4pm, they then recommend dining at about 8 or 8:30 (it's been two years since we've done this) - they definitely recognize you as guests during dinner; then they give you a little woven box to keep with a fake scrimshaw of their logo, filled with tiny cookies, dried fruits, for the late night hour when the wonderful meal has almost worn off! and then: breakfast! the lobster omelet?? omg.....and their mixed fruit salad with breakfast is simply amazing - the quality of the pineapple in it or something really sets it apart...and that's what helps run up the cost of the rooms.
okay, that does it - I need to fit this in my budget and get back there!! and midweek is so much cheaper than weekends....guess I know now what the anniversary celebration will be!
Your trip will be wonderful! Enjoy!
wow. logging into fodors may have just cost me money!

Sorry top hear you are not going to The Greenbier but don't blame you. Not sure what the situation is now with what they are going through. Have stayed there about 20 times over the last 17 years. The Greenbrier has a wonderful Old South feel, wonderful food, charming, and there is plenty to do. If you can't find something unique and interesting to do at the Greenbrier then you aren't looking very hard. Not sure if things will remain the same since after the Marriott takes over. Will be staying there this summer and will give a report.