White Sulphur Springs Travel Guide

When the first inn was built on this spot in 1780 it was to accomodate the crowds of people who flocked to this spring. Their faith (or at least hope) in the healing powers of these mineral waters is what drew them. There's still a spa at the Greenbrier, and you can still take a dip into the waters, but few people today believe in their curative effects. If you come to the Greenbrier, however, it would be a shame to miss seeing the White Sulphur Spring which was here before anything else.

Our four hour Amtrak train stop at White Sulphur Springs gave us plenty of time for a leisurely lunch at the elegant Main Dining Room of the world renowned Greenbrier. It was a bit expensive, but an experience to remember. After our lunch we explored the hotel and the grounds, then went back to the Main Lobby for the afternoon tea. There was an exquisite assortment of pastries available, accompanied by live piano and violin music. So this is how the rich and the famous live!

Favorite Dish: Can't remember what we ate. It was Valentines weekend, just six weeks before our wedding, and stars were in our eyes. But it was wonderful.

Amtrak stops at White Sulphur Springs, and a free shuttle will take you from the station to the Greenbriar Hotel. Only problem is that the train runs through here just three times a week. Fortunately the schedule allows a traveler coming from the west (Chicago, Cincinnati, Charleston) to arrive in White Sulphur Springs on a Sunday afternoon, have lunch at the Greenbrier, then catch the westbound train back home about three hours later. We did just that from Cincinnati. It was a very long day and we loved every minute of it. The train passes through the very scenic New River Gorge - no roads - just the train and the river.