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Though you really won’t run out of things to do at The Greenbrier, the surrounding area is great for outdoor activities. Make sure you bring your sense of adventure. We’ve come up with a list of our five favorite things to do around the hotel. In no particular order:

1. West Virginia is known for its white water rafting. You can arrange a trip through the hotel or an outside source. The Lower New River offers 25 rapids of all different classes. This is a great activity that lets you explore the natural beauty of Appalachia.

2. You’ll notice the Alleghany Mountains surrounding the resort are just calling your name to hike. Greenbrier State Forest is also nearby and offers a good hiking setting as well. Make sure to bring a sturdy pair of boots and just follow one of the many trails to start your journey.

3. The 78-mile Greenbrier River trail is perfect for horseback riding and biking. Of course we don’t expect you to do all 78 miles, but it’s basically flat, so in theory, you could. During the winter you can go cross-country skiing as well, so don’t feel like you’ll have to miss out when the weather turns cold.

4. Just down the road, the West Virginia State Fair usually takes place in the summer. With carnival rides, a horse show, harness racing, food competitions, barn animals and free attractions, the state fair is definitely worth a visit and proves popular with kids.

5.The caverns in this area are truly breathtaking. More than 100 feet underground, natural caves grow such spectacular things like stalagmites and stalactites. Be sure to talk to the concierge about arranging a tour of the subterranean wonders.

Though you really won’t run out of things to do at The Greenbrier, the surrounding area is great for outdoor activities. Make sure you bring your sense of adventure. We’ve come up with a list of our five favorite things to do around the hotel. In no particular order:

1. West Virginia is known for its white water rafting. You can arrange a trip through the hotel or an outside source. The Lower New River offers 25 rapids of all different classes. This is a great activity that lets you explore the natural beauty of Appalachia.

2. You’ll notice the Alleghany Mountains surrounding the resort are just calling your name to hike. Greenbrier State Forest is also nearby and offers a good hiking setting as well. Make sure to bring a sturdy pair of boots and just follow one of the many trails to start your journey.

3. The 78-mile Greenbrier River trail is perfect for horseback riding and biking. Of course we don’t expect you to do all 78 miles, but it’s basically flat, so in theory, you could. During the winter you can go cross-country skiing as well, so don’t feel like you’ll have to miss out when the weather turns cold.

4. Just down the road, the West Virginia State Fair usually takes place in the summer. With carnival rides, a horse show, harness racing, food competitions, barn animals and free attractions, the state fair is definitely worth a visit and proves popular with kids.

5.The caverns in this area are truly breathtaking. More than 100 feet underground, natural caves grow such spectacular things like stalagmites and stalactites. Be sure to talk to the concierge about arranging a tour of the subterranean wonders.

The Greenbrier only offers brunch on holidays such as Easter. You can however find some delicious breakfast eat on Greenbrier Avenue, the shopping area that opens up to the casino. Here you’ll find Café Carleton and Draper’s. Café Carleton is a gourmet coffee shop that serves sandwiches and delightful pastries, while Draper’s looks like a 1950s ice cream parlor, but better. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, Draper’s serves delicious food in a casual setting.

The Greenbrier’s property is actually larger than the nearby Greenbrier State Forest. With 5,100 acres, the state forest acts as a park with plenty of hiking trails, picnic areas, volleyball courts and even a pool. If you find that you’ve run out of activities at The Greenbrier, which you probably won’t, the state forest is a good place to take a break.

For a nice long bike ride, or in the winter cross-country skiing, head to The Greenbrier River Trail. Totaling 78 miles, this basically flat trail follows the Greenbrier River. You can also ride horses on the trail, which just adds to the distinctly rustic flair the Four-Star Greenbrier resorts has to offer.

The Greenbrier boasts more than 50 activities, plenty of which are open to kids; your youngsters will never be bored at this resort. Whether they’re in the outdoor pool or getting a strike at the bowling alley, kids will always find something fun or interesting to get into. Adventure Zone offers a day camp atmosphere for kids ages 3 through 12, with activities geared toward art and the outdoors — which is to be expected at a resort of more than 6,500 acres.

The Four-Star resort also offers golf clinics and tennis lessons for children. Your little one can even start getting pampered at The Spa at Greenbrier, with kid-friendly options such as a manicure or pedicure. For an evening activity, the Greenbrier Theater has nightly showings of newly released movies. Your kids can also join you for a nice game of croquet or a trail ride on horseback. Between all the indoor and outdoor activities, The Greenbrier has enough variety to keep you and your kids occupied no matter what time of the year you visit.

The Greenbrier’s gym is the place to go if you want a solid workout for each and every muscle in your body. The weight training machines are lined up against the wall, allowing you to look over the balcony to the indoor tennis courts below while you pump out your reps. With 14 Cybex machines targeting every major muscle group, you can do your arm curls, ab crunches, leg presses, flies, shoulder presses and back extensions without missing a beat. The smith press is also a gym staple, allowing you to get your shrugs or your squats in even during vacation. There’s also a Nautilus assisted chin-up and dip machine.

With 16 weight-machines, a full rack of free weights ranging from two pounds to 40 pounds, Swiss balls, medicine balls and mats as well, the gym at The Greenbrier has everything you need to stay lean and toned during your stay at the Four-Star resort.

Though you really won’t run out of things to do at The Greenbrier, the surrounding area is great for outdoor activities. Make sure you bring your sense of adventure. We’ve come up with a list of our five favorite things to do around the hotel. In no particular order:

1. West Virginia is known for its white water rafting. You can arrange a trip through the hotel or an outside source. The Lower New River offers 25 rapids of all different classes. This is a great activity that lets you explore the natural beauty of Appalachia.

2. You’ll notice the Alleghany Mountains surrounding the resort are just calling your name to hike. Greenbrier State Forest is also nearby and offers a good hiking setting as well. Make sure to bring a sturdy pair of boots and just follow one of the many trails to start your journey.

3. The 78-mile Greenbrier River trail is perfect for horseback riding and biking. Of course we don’t expect you to do all 78 miles, but it’s basically flat, so in theory, you could. During the winter you can go cross-country skiing as well, so don’t feel like you’ll have to miss out when the weather turns cold.

4. Just down the road, the West Virginia State Fair usually takes place in the summer. With carnival rides, a horse show, harness racing, food competitions, barn animals and free attractions, the state fair is definitely worth a visit and proves popular with kids.

5.The caverns in this area are truly breathtaking. More than 100 feet underground, natural caves grow such spectacular things like stalagmites and stalactites. Be sure to talk to the concierge about arranging a tour of the subterranean wonders.

The Greenbrier gym is located near the golf club, in the same building as the five indoor tennis courts. Lining the balcony and overlooking the indoor courts below, 17 cardio machines and 16 weight-training machines give you plenty of exercise options. As you’re working up a sweat on one of the six treadmills, you can watch your fellow resort guests playing tennis on one of the five outdoor courts.

Separated from the cardio machines by the tennis pro-shop, the weight training section of the gym is complete with a machine for just about every major muscle in your body. There is also a rack of free weights ranging from two pounds to 40 pounds. Several water jugs filled with water from the nearby Anthony Cave Springs can help keep you hydrated. If you forgot your headphones, there’s no need to worry, as the pro-shop has some to lend you. Locker rooms on the lower level let you store you stuff and freshen up after a tough workout session. All this goes without mentioning the even bigger gym The Greenbrier offers: the great outdoors. Sure, you can hit the weights or run on a treadmill, but we think you should take advantage of all the green space and fresh air the Four-Star hotel has to offer.

The gym at The Greenbrier is well equipped with plenty of cardio equipment. As you work up a sweat on one of the 17 Cybex cardio machines, you can enjoy the view of your fellow resort-mates playing a game of tennis on one of the five outdoor courts. Behind you are five indoor tennis courts that are on the level below the gym. There are six treadmills to get in a nice jog, as well as a stair master, eight arc-trainers and two stationary bikes; one upright and one recumbent. If the tennis scenery at The Greenbrier gym doesn’t suit you, the machines have personal televisions for you to catch up on your shows.

The Greenbrier is home to 13 restaurants and bars, each adding its own unique flavor to the resort. Some favorites have been around for years, while some are new to the game. Here’s a list of our five favorite things to eat and drink at the Four-Star resort:

1. On a hot day, it’s tough to beat a good old mint julep. The Greenbrier serves up an original recipe from 1816 in a traditional pewter mint julep cup, complete with a sprig of mint and powdered sugar. Watch out: they’re strong and sweet, and sure are tasty.

2. The fried green tomato sandwich at Draper’s is made with tomatoes directly from the Greenbrier Farm that are lightly fried. Topped with Chèvre cheese, black pepper aioli, smoked bacon and onions, this sandwich takes a southern specialty and adds a gourmet flair.

3. The lobster mashed potatoes at Prime 44 West are a slam dunk at this basketball-themed steakhouse. Served in a large cauldron, these mashies are meant to be shared, even if you think you can eat ‘em all.

4. As far as dessert goes, you can’t pass up The Greenbrier bread pudding. The southern favorite is one of the most popular dishes at the resort. Served tableside with warm vanilla sauce, the richly sweet pudding will leave you craving seconds.

5. The legendary cream of five onion soup served in The Main Dining Room takes a sweet onion puree and combines it with shallots and chives to make for a soup that’ll warm you up from your taste buds down to your toes.

With 13 restaurants on the property, The Greenbrier has plenty of signature dinner dishes to offer you. In The Main Dining Room, you’ll be served traditional Southern classics; the cream of five-onion soup has been on the menu for years and when the restaurant tries to take it off, people complain. It’s that delicious. After the soup, we recommend ordering another signature dish: the Dover sole meunière.

Downstairs at Draper’s, enjoy the delicious fried green tomato sandwich during a rather casual dinner. The fresh tomatoes are straight from The Greenbrier Farm and are accompanied by smoked bacon, black pepper aioli and onions. And for a comfort food, we suggest the chicken potpie. After all, you’re in a country setting, so you might as well indulge in some country food.

Of course, you shouldn’t dine at Prime 44 West without ordering a steak. We like to enjoy our steak with a side of the divine lobster mashed potatoes. But no matter what kind of food you fancy during your stay at The Greenbrier, one of the myriad restaurants will have something to satiate your hunger — and often times, with a signature dish you won’t find anywhere else.

The ultimate room at The Greenbrier actually consists of not one, but seven bedrooms. The Presidential Suite is located within the Windsor Club, which is The Greenbrier’s answer to the concierge level. Complete with a grand piano and a large private patio, this suite is definitely a place to indulge. You’re supplied with the latest and greatest technology, including personalized environmental settings allowing you to set your ideal room temperature and have it set at that temperature every time you return to the resort, and each of the seven bedrooms in the suite has a king bed. Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco are among the VIPs that have slept in this elegant suite.

If you’re looking for a smaller, yet still decadent room, we suggest a room within the Windsor Club. The standard rooms feature all of the technology in the Presidential Suite, without the six extra bedrooms. Though it’s nice to have a palatial room, the one-bedroom guestrooms in the Windsor Club receive the same Greenbrier treatment in a cozier space. Each room offers a unique design with a custom canopy above the headboard, allowing you to feel like royalty, without having to deal with all those regents and advisors.

The Greenbrier is located in the rural town of White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. Once a vacation spot for the rich and famous, including a few presidents, the historic resort is still the center of most activity in this part of West Virginia. Known for its ornate interior design, golf and, well, the Bunker, The Greenbrier is definitely a place worth visiting. The resort is situated on 6,500 acres surrounded by almost nothing — and that’s why most people come. The address is 300 West Main St., White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. No matter which way you’re coming from, the adventure to The Greenbrier is beautiful, particularly in the fall with the bold colors of the surrounding nature.