My Daughter And I Spent a Luxurious Weekend at the Omni Homestead Resort, a Hot Springs Spa in the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia

In February, my daughter Pearl turned 7 and my iPhone's "Memories" of her early days had me feeling a little sad that my littlest kiddo isn't so little anymore.

But then I turned my attention to our trip to the Omni Homestead Resort, a beautiful hot springs spa in the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia that had kindly offered to host us for a weekend.

I like to fly when I travel, for many reasons. First, it's nice to sit back and have someone else in charge for a change. (Coke, no ice? Yes please!) Second, having spent many years road-tripping with young kids, I've had more than my fair share of bumps in the road that have made me very, very hesitant to drive. (I can "hold it" for as long as necessary, but asking a 7 year-old to do the same is risky, at best.)

But for this trip, flying wasn't really an option. The closest airport to the Omni was at least an hour's drive, so I'd have to rent a car, and when factoring in time spent driving to the airport, from the airport, and at the airport, it just didn't make sense to fly. We'd have to drive.

Giving Road Trips a Second Chance

As luck would have it, I had just spent weeks deep in preparation for Only In Your State's Routes launch. Routes is our brand-new road trip mapping feature that celebrates the joy of the journey. I'd mapped out a coastal Maine route that made me so excited, I booked a trip to Portland this summer in order to drive the itinerary; I decided to bring that enthusiasm to this adventure. I studied the map and put together a route through Ohio and West Virginia; the Omni was our pot of gold at the end of the road trip rainbow.

Pearl and I set out early and took our time, setting mini "goals" along the way and not following any sort of schedule. We'd get there when we'd get there, we said.

Just after crossing the border of Ohio into West Virginia, we arrived at our first stop: the Mothman Museum. Pearl and I were both a bit apprehensive about this roadside attraction; what I will say is that, if you're into cryptid culture and not easily spooked (I have a very overactive imagination), put this museum on your next road trip itinerary because it's really quite fascinating.

The remaining stops on our road trip included: the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, Cathedral Falls (one of the tallest and most accessible waterfalls in West Virginia!), New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and a surprise stop at Humpback Bridge, a delightful detour we discovered as we neared the Omni.

Breaking up the trip into smaller stops made the time (and miles) fly by, and frankly, I felt bright eyes and bushy tailed upon arrival, not achy or road weary.

Final Destination and First Impressions

With roots dating back to the 1700s, the Omni has a reputation as one of the most prestigious places to stay in the country. The hotel dates back to 1766 (you'll find "1766" emblazoned on everything from t-shirts to topiaries), when Thomas Bullitt first built on the property. In 1832, Dr. Thomas Goode established his famous European-style spa and water treatments here, and while today's resort also features golf courses, skiing, and myriad outdoor recreation options, it's the spa for which the Omni is best known.

Time Magazine listed the Omni as one of the World's Greatest Places for 2024, and as we drove down the driveway and the property came into view, both Pearl and I were stunned.

The Omni is magnificent; this is a place that makes an impression.

Stepping inside the lobby had us both giddy and expectant and this feeling continued throughout our stay. Our room was gorgeous, with a balcony that afforded breathtaking views of the property. The dining options were diverse and plentiful—Jefferson's Restaurant was our favorite and Pearl loved ordering Shirley Temples at each meal. The indoor pool we enjoyed during Family Soak session felt luxurious and certainly healing (perhaps we discovered our very own Fountain of Youth? Time will tell.).

While snow affected our plans for a horse-drawn carriage ride around the homestead, we happily pivoted. We had a blast exploring the grounds, warming up by the fire(s) and playing games of larger-than-life chess on the back lawn. We took full advantage of the on-site shopping and movie theatre ("Star Wars" was playing one of the nights we were there!). We wandered the opulent halls of the Omni, hand in hand, discovering antique bookshelves full of classic titles and a glittering ballroom wherein we had our own dance party.

As parents it's easy to feel sad about days gone past. I get it. But that pang of nostalgia isn't a bad feeling, not really. It's bittersweet to think that those days are over, but the thing I've learned is that the days now, and the days ahead, are equally promising. Getting to know my kids as they grow is a gift, and these 1:1 trips had given me the time and space to relish each of my kids as they are, right now.

So while it's easy to feel sad that Pearl isn't the chunky little cherub she once was, the little girl who's missing her two front teeth, who snuggled next to me in our king-sized bed at the Omni, and who belted Taylor Swift as we drove through the mountains, that girl is amazing and I'm so grateful we got to spend an uninterrupted weekend together.

(**Makes a mental note to remember this feeling next year when my iPhone's "Memories" make an appearance.**)