Every family has their own way of celebrating the holidays. Our family has always loved packing our suitcases for a week away. Since the holidays can always be a bit chaotic, there’s nothing better than checking into a relaxing resort to celebrate the holidays – stress-free!
Though we’re originally from Alabama (and now from Texas), we all attended boarding school in Virginia for high school. Since those years were some of our favorites, the region will always hold a special place in our hearts – and we love finding any excuse to visit!
The Greenbrier was our Christmas getaway for many years, but we decided to switch it up last year and visit The Omni Homestead. If you know much about these resorts, they’re pretty similar – but also very different! In high school we learned you were either a Greenbrier person or a Homestead person. As weird as it sounds, you preferred one over the other and rarely overlapped. Truth be told, as someone who fell in love with holidays at The Greenbrier, I wasn’t too sure how I’d feel about switching it up. Result: loved it!
The Omni Homestead is one of the oldest resorts in Virginia and has a unique Southern charm that’s hard to find. Between the long history of the hotel and the refined atmosphere and elegance, The Homestead truly is a breath of fresh air. Sprawled along 2,000 acres in beautiful Virginia, the resort is a peaceful escape from city-life. Whether you’re hiking, skiing, or simply drinking a cup of cocoa on a rocking chair, the scenic views are unbeatable.
What makes The Omni Homestead so unique is that it has been a vacation favorite for centuries. Since the hotel was built in 1766, 23 US presidents have visited the resort – You can even take a dip in the same mineral hot springs Thomas Jefferson enjoyed in 1818. Though the resort has been updated and modernized over the years, the signature experience remains the same!
While afternoon tea is an everyday occurance, tea time during the holidays is such a magical experience. Everyone gathers in the Great Hall at 3:00 everyday for tea, small bites, and Christmas piano music. Many of the guests have been coming to the resort for Christmas for decades, so it’s extremely social and inviting. Last year we ran into our close family friends during a holiday tea and ended up spending the entire trip together. Definitely a highlight!
Another highlight of our trip was the Christmas Eve cocktail party the resort hosted for all of the guests. The complimentary soiree featured an evening of live music, dancing, food, and drinks. It was such a fun and festive event to spend with family – and new friends!
The resort offers something for everyone, so it’s a perfect place for families, With golfing, skiing, shopping, put put, ice skating, heated outdoor pool mineral baths, and many more daily activities to introduce you to a new experience, it’s impossible to get bored. The hotel provides daily schedules with activities, classes, movie times, and more, which we loved.
For those of you that love a bit of pampering during a vacation, the spa is absolutely amazing! It recently had a $25 million dollar renovation by Canyon Ranch, and words can’t describe how wonderful it is. Be sure to book a treatment (or two) to experience it, as well as soaks in the resort’s mineral baths.
If you’re like our family and love to travel during the holidays, be sure to put The Omni Homestead on your travel list. We loved it, so we know you will too!
Do you travel during the holidays? If so, where’s your favorite place to visit? Let us know in the comments below!
Keep scrolling to see more photos from our Christmas at The Omni Homestead:
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
Click here to learn more about The Omni Homestead Resort.