Small Town Charm in Greenbrier Valley
“Charming” is more than just quaint streets, brightly-colored buildings and flower boxes. It’s a sense you get when friendly smiles are the norm… and visitors fit right in like long-time neighbors.
In the Greenbrier Valley, no one is a stranger for long, and if you want to know how to get from one place to another, just ask. Someone will point the way.
Historic Lewisburg, A Cultural Crossroads
This city center of just a few thousand is making a name for itself. It pops up on must-do lists all across the country. Even recently cited by Fodors.com for its “America's 25 Cutest Main Streets in Smaller(er) Towns” and a call-out in Southern Living’s “Best Small Towns to Retire.” Take some time to poke through the antique shops, boutiques and galleries, and stop in a downtown café for coffee, lunch or an afternoon treat.
RELAXED LODGING
When planning a visit, it’s easy to drive into town one afternoon and not go near the car until it’s time to leave. As for a place to rest your head, Lewisburg is equipped with quiet loft retreats to finely-appointed suites for two…and just about everything in between.
Ease into vacation mode at The Historic General Lewis Inn. You’ll find the main residence of this beautifully appointed and preserved hotel dates back to the 1800s. The Escape was built by travelers for travelers. Your personalized code accesses the hotel and your room—kitchenettes, spacious showers and lounge areas ensure just the right amount of privacy and creature comforts.
WHERE THE ARTS THRIVE
It’s a wonder how such a small town can meld so much art and entertainment into just a few blocks. Carnegie Hall, only one of four still open in operation worldwide, showcases a wide-ranging repertoire of music from all over the globe. The Greenbrier Valley Theatre, the State Professional Theatre of West Virginia, delivers exceptional main-stage productions ranging from Shakespeare to Broadway musicals. The town is also host to local talent showcases produced by the Trillium Performing Arts Collective, the community dance and theater company.
SHOPPING & DINING
The key to any fruitful downtown outing is the shopping and dining prospects. Within Lewisburg’s five-block district, stylish and independently owned shops are filled with one-of-a-kind works to the uniquely repurposed and re-treasured.
Museum-quality relics define Lewisburg’s “old hardware store,” now occupied by The Golden Rabbit. The Proprietors at A New Chapter are always in search of the next page-turner and latest in current affairs, guaranteeing their corner of the world is up on its reading. Inside Aggie's Gift Shop, Vest is an oasis in functional fashion dedicated to all things men.
Lewisburg's profusion of dining options have earned it West Virginia Living’s “Best Town for Foodies” three years in a row.
You’ll quickly see the culinary collective possesses an unbridled spirit for food. There are a dozen or more restaurants, bakeries and cafés, each with its own flavorful style.
For breakfast, Corn + Flour serves on-the-go stacked bagel sandwiches and sweet-treat-pick-me-ups. For lunch, the Stardust Café takes an artisan approach to food that features locally-raised meats, fresh breads and seasonal produce. The menu of classic favorites at Food & Friends has made it a Greenbrier Valley mainstay where locals have been celebrating special occasions for generations.
White Sulphur Springs, Refreshingly Friendly
White Sulphur Springs has an upbeat yet laid-back vibe. A place where people smile as they pass on the street—where conversations flow with ease, and first-time meetings quickly become friendly connections.
Unlike many downtowns of today, it’s a working main street and an everyday gathering place for residents and visitors alike. Colorful awnings, benches and fresh blooms welcome those who walk along its streets. Shop owners prop open doors and serve as proxy tour guides. Workers stop in for lunch, game nights bring friends together and the coffee shop gets many workdays off on the right foot.
A WALK ON MAIN STREET DELIVERS. With shops and restaurants filling Main Street, this downtown has plenty of ways to entertain. Swing by Sweet Cedar Soap Company for handmade scents, soaps and scrubs. For those needing a re-caffeination stop, Tootsie’s Place serves a variety of specialty drinks and tried-and-true basics, while the newest stop in town, The Lunchbox, has fresh-made sandwiches and salads to keep you going. When you’re ready to dust the cobwebs from your bike or need a full upgrade, Hammer Cycles is your go-to. Max and his team are a wealth of information about all things bike-related, including the regional trail options.
The Schoolhouse Hotel in downtown White Sulphur Springs is a state-of-the-art lodging experience.
SETTLE IN FOR A STAY. In White Sulphur Springs, the lodging accommodations pair perfectly with the relaxed outdoor setting. For those who want to stretch out, Howard’s Creek Inn fits the bill with apartment-style living next door to dining and nightlife. Private home rentals run the gamut, including The Manse, a historic 1923 Presbyterian minister’s parsonage, or “manse.” It accommodates up to 10 and is walkable to downtown amenities.
Just off Main Street, The Schoolhouse Hotel is the first of its kind, a top-to-bottom-ADA-compliant hotel with an unwavering commitment to inclusivity. In an earlier century, it was the city’s first high school. Last year it officially opened with thirty modern rooms that feature accessible-for-all amenities to assist with everything from opening blinds to taking a shower. Contemporary architecture, upscale dining, ballroom and rooftop bar are mainstays of the hotel—all with a charming nod to its academic roots.
