The stately entrance to The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Any fall trip through West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee can be considered spectacular if you hit the color change just right.  And catch the color we did during our Fall 2015 Leaf Peeper Tour.  Beginning with natural beauty at Pipestem State Park in West Virginia and continuing to Humpback Covered Bridge in Covington, Virginia, we saw nature at its golden best.

Humpback Covered Bridge near Covington, Virginia

But sometimes color bursts forth indoors, too.  Like it did in two of West Virginia’s attractions:  Tamarack in Beckley and The Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs.

Tamarack

From Pipestem in the south of West Virginia, we followed I-77 north to Exit 45 where the iconic red peaked roofline greeted us to one of the finest collections of arts and crafts known as Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia.  

Peaked roofline of Tamarack greets you as you take exit 45 off I-77 at Beckley.

And best it is.  With juried artisans from all 55 counties in the state contributing  fine crafts, photography, glass, and foods, Tamarack is known globally for regional art and local cuisine.  

A colorful quilt forms the backdrop for a folk art boat at Tamarack.

The circular building guides you through areas of similar crafts — textiles, treenware, glass, furniture, apparel, jewelry, etc.  All colorful.  All quality. All handmade.

The central courtyard offers seasonal decor to enjoy while dining on regional dishes selected from the food court — like Chicken Pot Pie, West Virginia Rainbow Trout, or Fried Green Tomato Sandwiches.  Fall pumpkins — carved and painted — as well as what appeared to be an autumn goddess greeted us in a colorful show of the season’s best.

Made entirely of natural materials, this autumn goddess took center stage in Tamarack’s outdoor courtyard.

If you love fine arts and crafts, join the over half a million visitors per year at Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia for sights, sounds and tasty food.  It’s worth getting off the interstate to see!

The Greenbrier

Since 1778, guests have been coming to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, to what is now known as The Greenbrier, America’s Resort to “take the waters” for good health. This National Historic Landmark boasts a storied history of hospitality and genteel accommodations for U. S. presidents, international royalty, and business leaders. With 710 elegant rooms, 10 lobbies, and more than 40 meeting rooms, The Greenbrier offers the finest in American accommodations on a sumptuous 10,000-acre estate nestled in the Allegheny Mountains.

The Greenbrier, America’s Resort

We, had The Greenbrier on our list of places to see in West Virginia, but specifically we came to see “The Bunker.”  During the Cold War of the 1950s, the U. S. Government approached The Greenbrier, asking for assistance in constructing and housing an Emergency Relocation Center to be used by Congress in case of war.  This amazing underground facility — exhibit hall, dorm rooms, and meeting spaces for both Senate and House — is now open for tours.  Since photography is not allowed during the tour (be prepared to surrender your phones and cameras), we can’t show you what we saw. But know this: The Greenbrier’s addition is an amazing facility that was hidden in plain sight (not even the residents of White Sulphur Springs knew the purpose) but kept ready in case of a national emergency. Well worth seeing!

Lobby in The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs

What our random strolls through the lobbies showed us was colorful, to say the least. Interior spaces at The Greenbrier are clothed in colors of the Caribbean — rose, mint green, white — colors you might expect nearer the coast.  And just walking through the beautifully appointed rooms makes you take note of the elegance of this luxury resort.

Our Fall Tour 2015 was replete with autumn colors outside, but an open crayon box awaited us inside Tamarack and The Greenbrier, 

For more information:

Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia, 1 Tamarack Park, Beckley, WV 25801; 304- 256-6843; http://www.tamarackwv.com/

The Greenbrier, 300 West Main Street, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986; 855-453-4858; http://www.greenbrier.com/

The Greenbrier — Bunker Tours: http://www.greenbrier.com/Activities/The-Bunker/Bunker-Tours.aspx