The Hidden Gem of Accessible Destinations
Greenbrier Valley, West Virginia has been on my radar since they built the most accessible hotel in the world. The Schoolhouse Hotel is the world’s first fully accessible hotel – with 100% of the space being accessible to all. Before committing to a five hour drive to stay in this transformed schoolhouse, I needed to address my concerns about finding anything in the valleys and small towns of West Virginia that would be accessible for our family.
There’s not a lot of disability travel blog coverage in West Virginia, but I have a feeling that’s going to change. Not only did we find plenty of wheelchair accessible family activities to fill our weekend, but we found very few things that we weren’t able to do!
Here’s everything you need to know for planning the perfect wheelchair accessible family vacation in the beautiful Greenbrier Valley, tucked away in the mountains of southern West Virginia.
**This was a hosted trip, but all opinions are my own.**
Getting There and Around
There is public transportation available, but to fully experience the area you’ll want a personal vehicle.
Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB), is only 15 minutes away from The Greenbrier and offers daily nonstop commercial flights from Washington, D.C. (Dulles) and Chicago (O’Hare) through United Airlines. The closest major airport is Roanoke, VA (ROA). Charleston, WV (CRW) and Beckley (BKW) are the next closest convenient options. All of these have rental car options.
Amtrak would be a fun option for this one, with a beautiful accessible station right in White Sulphur Springs.
Handicap parking is available on street in town and at every museum, restaurant, hotel, and trail head we visited. Street parking is free.
When to Go
Because of the array of attractions and activities, there is no bad time to visit Greenbrier Valley.
We visited in spring for Lewisburg’s Chocolate Festival, and there’s no sweeter time to go (April 6th, 2024). The event is hosted by the United Way, which means each $1 ticket is for a good cause. We had 42 tasting options, from milkshakes to chocolate covered cheese and sesame crackers. The event also includes free live music and entertainment, as well as chef demonstrations (with bonus chocolate).
That said, the mountain foliage would be breathtaking in the fall and they do a Taste of Our Towns Festival in October!
What to Do
Whether you’re an outdoor adventurer, history buff, or simply seeking a peaceful getaway, the beautiful Greenbrier Valley has something for everyone.
Take a Hike
The Greenbrier River Trail offers 78 miles of packed gravel hiking at nothing higher than a 1% grade. Following along the old C&O railroad track, you can hop on from a variety of access points and take in all the views – from several small towns, to bridges and tunnels, to some of West Virginia’s most remote areas. This wheelchair accessible trail is rated in the top ten in the country!
Go on a Scavenger Hunt
The Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center in Lewisburg is a great place to start your trip. The kids’ scavenger hunt doubles as a checklist to make sure you see some of the coolest things in the area. The activity and all finds on the list are free (some are at destinations where you can pay to do more, but you can always find your scavenger hunt items without admission). This will take you to the Christmas at the Depot at the train station, down the Greenbrier River Trail, and through the towns natural, cultural, and historical highlights.
Skip Carnegie Hall if you’re visiting with a wheelchair – the square is multi level and it’s hard to navigate around all the steps. You’ll still have plenty of points to earn your Explorer Badge.
Relax at the Resort
Greenbrier Valley is most famous for The Greenbrier – America’s resort since 1778. Similar to other casinos, the indoor “streets” are lined with shops and cafes with things for all ages and interests. This luxurious resort offers spa passes to outside guests and the expansive grounds, gardens, shopping, and cafes are open to the public. Many of their over 55 ongoing events, like carriage rides and bunker tours, are also available to the public with a reservation and/or paid ticket.
Visit a Museum
Greenbrier Valley is steeped in history and culture. You can take a self-guided historic walking tour, but the North House Museum would be a great place to start for understanding the region’s diverse history.
The museum, exhibits, and facilities are wheelchair accessible.
I can’t vouch for the accessibility in other museums, but there are other options, including Railroad History that were interesting to our kids (we’ll have to check them out next time!).
Shop Small
Lewisburg has been voted the coolest small town in the U.S. and it’s worth a weekend of its own with all there is to explore. The main street through town, Washington Street, is easily accessible with appropriate curb cuts, ramps, accessible parking, and mostly zero-entry shops. It’s the perfect place to ramble and enjoy all the local boutique shops have to offer.
A New Chapter was our absolute favorite. We visited three times in the span of a weekend. The staff interacted with each of my children as readers, connecting on what they liked to read, and helping them choose the perfect books for their personalities and preferences. They also have a wine bar and espresso drinks – so it’s the kind of place you can cozy up with a book and read for a bit! This was our rainy day hideaway. The store is designed with wide spaces to make it easy to navigate with a wheelchair.
Love Child was a great stop for children’s toys and clothing, in the type of welcoming boutique where children are allowed to be themselves and mom ends up buying all the things.
Harmony Ridge Gallery is not really a children’s shop – it’s filled with unique artistic pieces for every part of home and life – but it has too many perfect photo opps to skip!
Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center is the perfect place for souvenirs from your trip, and they have the best accessible restrooms in town.
Where to Eat
There are plenty of reasons why Lewisburg was voted in the top ten small town food scenes of the U.S.. Here are our wheelchair accessible and family friendly favorites, but feel free to explore more dining options, here.
Thunderbird Taco
I’m putting Thunderbird Taco right at the top because they served me the best smothered burrito of my life. It would be worth the five hour drive for me just to eat another on of their Braise the Lord burritos. They use locally sourced ingredients, have a great children’s selection, and the building is easy to navigate with wheels.
Jim’s Drive-In
Have you ever been to a drive-in? I don’t see many of these, but Jim’s Drive-In is a great throwback with delicious food. The classic drive-in serves up hamburgers, homemade chili, BBQ, English-style hotdogs, fried green tomatoes, deep-fried pickles and ice cream brought right to your car. It doesn’t get much better than that! Heads-up, it is cash only.
Big Draft Brewing
Local breweries are almost always a great find, and Big Draft Brewing is the perfect example. This laid back brewery features locally sourced ingredients when possible. Their menu changes seasonally, but they have a wide variety of flavor profiles, beers, and cocktails. Their jalapeno popper burger taught me that cream cheese belongs on burgers. Everything was fresh and delicious and the kids could play cornhole and life-size connect four while we waited for our food.
Accessible parking and the main entrance are on the back side of the building. Accessible dining options both indoor and out and Accessible restrooms available.
Hill & Holler
Hill & Holler serves up wood-fired specialty pizzas anyway you want them. I enjoyed the T-Rex, with pepperoni, soppressata, house capicola, house sausage, and fresh mozzarella. The kids all did the build-your-own pie option – which was perfect for my combination of picky and adventurous eaters. They’re known for their wings, but we ended up being too full to try them! Next time, we’ll share a pizza and save space for wings.
Accessible indoor and outdoor seating. Accessible facilities.
Amy’s Market
Amy’s Market is just behind Hill & Holler. You could swing by for ice cream after your pizza, or make it a separate stop for lunch. In addition to 16 varieties of Hershey’s creamy ice cream, they serve up a selection of sweets like artisan chocolates, fancy and old fashioned cookies, cupcakes, candies. They also offer breakfast and lunch with an array of sandwiches and salads.
The Wild Bean
The Wild Bean is the trendy, small town coffee shop you’ve been looking for! In addition to hand crafted espresso drinks, they offer locally sourced baked goods, sandwiches, and made to order omelets.
Where to Stay
The Schoolhouse Hotel is what brought us to the area, and it’s an experience that shouldn’t be missed, no matter what type of traveler you are. The boutique style is upscale enough to be classy, and down-to-earth enough to be family friendly. The smart rooms and accessible innovation make it an easy stay for wheelchair users and add a touch of luxury for anyone. There are adjoining rooms available for large families and accessible rooms with any bed type.
Breakfast is reasonably priced and convenient. There’s a dinner restaurant on site (also serving brunch on Saturdays) and a rooftop lounge with incredible mountain views. The fitness room has equipment for all abilities and there is a quiet room for people with sensory needs.