The One Thing to Do in West Virginia Before the End of the Year

If there's one thing to do in West Virginia before the year ends, it's experiencing Christmas at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs. Every year, "America's Resort," as the hotel is known, celebrates the holidays in the most beautiful way, with a 60-foot Christmas tree, a giant toy train, and over 150,000 lights on the front lawn. You don't have to be an overnight guest to enjoy all of the festivities, which include hot chocolate, caroling, photos with Santa, and, of course, strolling through all the twinkling lights.

The display is so grand that Hallmark filmed a movie, "Christmas at The Greenbrier," there in 2022. If that doesn't say enough about how magical the resort is at Christmas time, I don't know what would. Christmas cheer is in the air at The Greenbrier, where the best Christmas lights in West Virginia end the year on a high note with memories that will last a lifetime.

A West Virginia icon since 1778, The Greenbrier blends timeless elegance with modern amenities. During the holiday season, the regality is amplified tenfold, with beautiful Christmas trees, bows, wreaths, garland, ornaments, and sparkling lights adorning the stately resort, both inside and out.

Festivities begin the weekend after Thanksgiving, but if you miss opening night, don't worry. There's a tree-lighting ceremony every Saturday until Christmas, complete with carolers singing classic holiday tunes and hot cocoa to sip while you walk through the magical displays. And guess who's there to give the go-ahead for the lights to come on? None other than Santa Claus himself.

He makes a grand entrance in a horse-drawn carriage, and kids from one to ninety-two look on in wide-eyed wonder. You never outgrow the enchantment of seeing Jolly Old St. Nick, with his boisterous laugh, rosy cheeks, and ear-to-ear grin. Children can pose for a photo with Santa and tell him everything on their Christmas list.

All of the trees on the property are wrapped in lights, but none compare to the main tree. You can see it from practically a mile away as you drive up to the hotel, illuminating the night with multicolored bulbs and a shining star on top.

The front lawn transforms into a winter wonderland, with dozens of festive displays that visitors can walk through. Who needs Christmas light shows when you have this?

Additional Christmas activities at The Greenbrier include story time and dinner with Santa, a holiday scavenger hunt, family bingo, and festive cocktails for the grown-ups. There are also several workshops for making wreaths, gingerbread houses, and holiday crafts. Some activities are complimentary for resort guests, while others require an extra fee.

Visit The Greenbrier website for more information about the Christmas festivities, including which ones are open to day guests, and to make reservations. If you'd like to spend the night, the hotel offers several different holiday packages.

Have you ever experienced Christmas at The Greenbrier? Where else can you see spectacular Christmas lights in West Virginia? If you're feeling inspired, try planning your own end-of-year trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.