Since the late 18th century people have been drawn to the healing waters of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. But there's so much here to experience you won't want to spend the whole day soaking in the spa.
The Greenbriar Resort is a well-known vacation spot and has been serving guests since 1778. It has more than 50 activities including horseback riding, mountain biking, art galleries and a 40,000-square-foot spa. Rooms are pricey, however they do offer special packages for some events and activities. While you're there you won't want to miss the bunker, a government relocation facility that was built during the Cold War in the event the United State was attacked by nuclear weapons.
Coal mining is an essential part of West Virginia's economy. No place tells the mining story better than the small town of Mount Hope. A little over an hour drive from White Sulphur Springs, historic Mount Hope is a link to the time when coal was king in the region. Much of the downtown area has been preserved as it was in the 1920s when Mount Hope was at its height as a center of mining. Visitors should not expect a touristy supply of gift shops and professional tour guides. Mount Hope is a real town, in which you are free to wander and discover on your own.
Located due south of the Monongahela National Forest, White Sulphur Springs is a nature lover's nirvana. Tour companies such as Outdoor Adventures offer biking, canoeing, white water and fishing trips along the Jackson River and through the Greater Greenbriar Valley. If you are looking for something to do with the kids stop by Monongahela National Forest and sign up for one of their cultural or environmental programs.
The Greenbriar Resort boasts three championship golf courses: the Old White, the Greenbriar and the Meadows. Golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead have played here, and Tom Watson a former PGA and current Champions tour player is the golf pro.
