EZTravelpad

The Greenbrier- America's Resort opens new Casino

The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV is Amazing.

Whether you go in the front door...

or the back door-

the feeling is the same- stately!

This is no typical West Virginia back porch!

and The Greenbrier is no typical resort!

The Greenbrier Resort, located in White Sulphur Springs, WV calls itself America's Resort. Situated directly in the middle of God's Country - in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, just a handful of miles from the Virginia state line, and just off I-64, the Greenbrier has entertained Presidents and A-list celebrities for nearly as long as the United States has been around.

The resort was constructed, in various stages, beginning it 1778. At one point the Greenbrier was home to the top secret "bunker" - an emergency home to the U.S. government in case of a nuclear attack- today you can tour this space that was once so very secret

Recently emerging from bankruptcy, and purchased by West Virginia native and business man Jim Justice, the Greenbrier is in the infancy of it's resurgence.

On my visit there in July you could feel the excitement in the air- you could see and hear the enthusiasm on the faces and in the voices of the employees- The Greenbrier is back!

In early July a major event took place, the grand opening of a new casino at The Greenbrier brought in celebrities like

• Jennifer Garner
• Ben Affleck
  
• Jessica Simpson
  
• Brooke Shields
  
• Jane Seymour
  
• Raquel Welch
  
• Barbara Eden
  
• Charles Barkley
  
• Jack Nicklaus
• Shaquille O'neal
• Michael Richards

A West Virginia native, Garner was quoted as saying - "I've been to a lot of beautiful places in this great country of ours and I haven't been to anything as glamorous as this"

But it's not just about gambling and casinos-

Recently the Greenbrier hosted a PGA tournament aptly named "The Greenbrier Classic"

Stuart Appleby shot a 59 on the last day of the tournament (which means I could expect to shoot 110 on a good day).

The are 3 courses to play at The Greenbrier- The Old White, The Greenbrier and The Meadows will challenge and invigorate you (or maybe that is due to the clean mountain air).

If other diversions are more your style, try your hand at-

• Falconry
• Archery
• Bowling
• Carriage Rides
• Croquet
• Geocaching
• Horseback Riding
• Hunting
• Kayaking
• Paintball
• Mountain Biking
• Shuffleboard
• Spa
• Tennis
• Trap, Skeet & Sporting Clays
• Whitewater Rafting
• Children's Programs
• and many more activities

You can enjoy a scenic view from the outdoor pool overlooking the golf course and Blue Ridge Mountains

 

Or an equally impressive indoor facility...

Arrive by rail-

When was the last time your were able to arrive at your resort by train (Amtrack stops at the front entrance)?

How cool would that be? Get on the train in downtown DC or Chicago, take a snooze, and next thing you know you're at the resort!

The Greenbrier is a great place to retreat to the mountains, and there's still time to enjoy the beauty this summer, and into the fall for the seasonal fall foliage.

Whether you are celebrating or just retreating, The Greenbrier is perfect for- 

• Honeymoon or Destination Wedding (PERFECT for that!)
• Family Vacation
• Relaxing Retreat
• Spa Vacation
• Corporate Team Building

EZTravelpad "Your friends....in the travel business" can help you find your way to Greenbrier, or other vacation destinations across the street- or across the globe.

It's time to get TRAINed - as in taking the Amtrak Train instead of flying...

Is The Train An Option?

As gas prices soared to records in the summer of '08 many people found a new solution- the train. The train became an alternative for many commuters - and they loved it! The trip may take a bit longer than by car - or not, depending on traffic, but there are things you can do on the train that you simply cannot do while driving (at least you shouldn't)

• Read the Newspaper or Magazine
• Text
• Surf the Internet
• Eat
• Sleep
• Read a book

 

You get the idea? But not only did commuters discover the beauty of the train, but so did some vacationers. Leisure travelers have reconnected with Amtrak, and why not? 

Want to see a brochure of what Amtrak has available right now? Click here

As airline travel becomes more and more of a hassle - less and less predictable - not to mention being nickel & dimed on everything every time you turn around....

As cabins become more crowded - more loud - less comfortable - the train presents an alternative for millions-

Looking at the Amtrak route map I would estimate that a good 75% of the country lives within a short drive to an Amtrak station. So is the train an option? - Yes, sometimes.

Let's say I'm in Chicago & want to go to....

• Kansas City
• Detroit
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland 
• St Louis  
• Milwaukee 
• Minneapolis 

for a

• Weekend
• Game
• Business Meeting
• Visit with friends and relatives

Then it's a good alternative...

Or let's say you wanted to go to...

• New York
• Boston
• Philadelphia
• Balitmore
• Washington, D.C.
• New Orleans
• Dallas

to board a cruise ship or see-

• Mardi Gras
• The Liberty Bell
• The Statue of Liberty
• The Cherry Blossoms of D.C. 
• The Today Show
• The Cotton Bowl

Great alternative! 

Sure it takes longer, but for the price of a flight you might be able to purchase a sleeper (which INCLUDES meals)... leave in the evening- arrive refreshed in the morning, basically saving 1 night's lodging!

You know what you can take on a train? 3 checked bags and 2 carry -ons - and sometimes... a bicycle

Imagine you are flying to Denver & taking bus to Keystone to go skiing for few days-

Scenario #1

You take the day off work to travel-

Arrive at airport 10:30 AM for 12:30 PM flight

Miraculously, the flight is not delayed so you arrive at your connection on time!

But, there are flight delays due to bad weather in other parts of the country, so you are delayed leaving your connection, so instead of flying out to Denver at 3:15PM as scheduled, you are delayed until 4:10 & arrive about an our late in Denver - pretty good really!

Baggage claim & finding ground transport another hour

Gets you to Keystone just in time to check it, stretch out for 10 minutes, have dinner, a cocktail then off to bed for a good night's sleep.....

Now you awaken at 7:00AM get breakfast ready to get a full day of skiing starting about 9AM

Scenario #2

You work an extra 1/2 day leaving at lunch to go catch your train at 2:00 PM (so you need to be at the station by 1:30P)

After a few hours of watching the countryside roll by, you go down to the dining car for a nice dinner - served on a table - with silverware - and someone sitting across from you - and it's included in the fare - and there's no unwrapping - and it was prepared today....

! After dinner it's up to the lounge car for some conversation with other passengers, a night cap, then back to your cabin for a good night's sleep. 

Up at 5AM, freshen up for breakfast - served in the dining car - again, it's included in the fare!

Arriving in Denver at 7:15 AM you are on a bus to Keystone for an arrival mid- morning, then check in, stretch out, and hit the slopes by noon.

Cost?

Amtrak is gonna run you around $360 per person INCLUDING dinner, beverages, snacks, breakfast and checking 2 bags plus ski equipment

Flight MIGHT be able to be bought for $250 BUT REMEMBER - it's non-refundable, so if somebody gets sick or the boss calls an emergency meeting - you're in trouble....

Plus-

• $50 in extra bag fees (at least- if you're taking your skis, boots, etc)
• Dinner at Keystone - $35 (nothing too fancy)
• Breakfast at Keystone - $10 (again, nothing fancy)

So the total cost runs about the same- (less if you can sleep in a coach seat on the train), but the experience of taking the train - the comfort of taking the train - does it make it worth it?

You tell me-

Also- remember that you can save big by purchasing rail passes for 15, 30 or 45 days- now that makes for a REALLY nice vacation - and it is THE BEST way to see this beautiful land!

Oh, Did I mention that the train is MUCH MORE GREEN than either a plane or a car? 

Find out all about it here.

Let EZTravelpad help you think through your next adventure - whether it's across the state - across the country - or across the world