6 Best Hotels in Central and Western Virginia, Virginia

If you've got the money for it, this 1912 Tuscan villa on 600 lush acres 5 miles east of Charlottesville is a luxurious, cosmopolitan retreat. The 48 guest rooms and suites contain modern amenities like high-speed Internet and flat screen TVs, which exist in harmony among English and American antiques and claw-foot tubs. Some rooms have whirlpool baths and balconies. The 18-hole golf course designed by Pete Dye, spreads across the rear of the estate. There's no check-in desk here; you are welcomed inside as if you're entering someone's home.

Set on 55 acres in west Charlottesville, this local landmark resembles an English country inn, with flower gardens, ponds, and a gristmill from 1834. Rooms have king-size four-poster beds and Italian linens, and many are decked out with balconies or fireplaces. There are lots of activities hosted here, from cooking classes and wine tastings, to hot-air ballooning. The Old Mill Room restaurant, the Inn's fine dining outlet, is open for a lunch buffet and dinner, while Bistro 1834 and the Birdwood Grill offer more casual fare.

The 1987 movie "Dirty Dancing" was filmed here, and the resort (Kellerman's in the movie) is still a popular summer getaway. Centered on the highest natural lake east of the Mississippi, accommodations range from spartan cottages to plush suites in a majestic sandstone hotel from 1930 (the resort itself predates the Civil War). You can also rent two-, three-, and four-bedroom cottages if you need more space for an extended stay. Atop the 4,000-foot Salt Pond Mountain, outdoor activities abound: you can hike, mountain bike, ride horses, swim, and boat within the 2,500-acre Mountain Lake Wilderness, which surrounds the hotel. The adjacent Jefferson National Forest offers even more recreation, including a segment of the Appalachian Trail. A 2012 renovation included a refurbishment of guestrooms and cottages and the addition of an aerial and zip-line adventure course.

For centuries, American glitterati have retreated to this genteel Southern resort to soak in the healing springs and pursue their recreational passions. While the grand lobby still reflects the elegance and formality of the early 19th century, The Homestead has a casual atmosphere that caters to outdoor enthusiasts. Daytime activities include far more than shuffleboard: there are three championship-grade 18-hole golf courses, 4 miles of streams stocked with rainbow trout, 100 miles of riding trails, skeet and trap shooting, and nine ski slopes (The Homestead was the site of the South's first downhill skiing in 1959). The venue has evolved from a country spa to a 15,000-acre resort-and-conference facility. Rooms in the sprawling redbrick building, built in 1891, have Georgian-style furnishings; some have fireplaces. European-style meal plans are a better value than paying just the room rate.

This unpretentious, peaceful lodge is so popular in the fall that reservations are accepted beginning October 1 for the following year (but it's open year-round). Every room looks out on Abbott Lake from a private terrace or balcony, and their interiors have a folksy quality. Nestled between two of the three peaks of its namesake, the lodge was built in 1964. In nonwinter months a complimentary bus takes you to Sharp Top Mountain if you prefer not to hike, and you can see the same mountaintop from the lodge's Lake View Restaurant. Rooms do not have telephones and both cell service and Wi-Fi are spotty. There are pet-friendly rooms available in one wing.

This is a great place to get away any time of year, 25 miles southwest of Charlottesville (via I–64, U.S. 250, and Route 151). With 6,700 acres of forest, six restaurants, and three golf courses, Wintergreen is more like a community in itself than just a resort. Skiing and snowboarding are the central attractions, with 20 downhill slopes and five chairlifts. One of the golf courses, Devils Knob at over 3,800 feet, is the highest in Virginia. Accommodations at the resort include everything from studio apartments to seven-bedroom houses. Most rooms have fireplaces and full kitchens; the wood exteriors of the housing units blend into the surrounding forest.