If you are looking for a luxury resort getaway in Virginia, hopefully this will help you plan your trip!
This post is LONG overdue. Well, actually not that long overdue, as I only visited Keswick Hall and Primland earlier this year. But if you have been around here for a while, you know that we have been going to the Homestead for over 20 years! We were lucky enough to bring Olive along to Keswick Hall over spring break and Primland with Catherine, Kevin and Phoenix in late March. So, now I feel like I can write an extensive, knowledgeable post comparing them and letting you know which is best for what.
The Homestead
I figured I better start out with The Homestead. It is probably the most well known, as it is “America’s First Resort” and has been a household name since long before Omni added it to its’ resorts collection. We got married at the Homestead back in 2015, so it has a special place in my heart. We have been going a couple of times a year since then and I am happy to report that they have recently undergone some major renovations and it looks better than ever! I hate to say that it needed it because I am such a lover but, it needed it.
( Omni Homestead Renovations as photographed by moi )
The Homestead is definitely the most family friendly option, in my opinion. From the lazy river and water slides in the summer to ice skating in the winter and Down time arcade, they have something for kids to do year-round. They have a KidsClub so you can enjoy a kid-free day or plenty of activities for the whole family to do together. Every week they put together a resort guide with activities for the whole family and there is literally always something going on!
If golf is your thing, all of these resorts have golf courses, but the Homestead was famous golfer Sam Snead’s home courses. Have you ever wondered what “falconry” was? Homestead has it. Sporting clays? They’ve got you. I would say The Homestead is the home of activities. But at the same time, they have an excellent spa. My favorite part of the spa experience is the Serenity Garden which has a natural hot spring, hot tub and pool where you can relax all day on the day of your services. Order a glass of bubbly after your massage and soak in the hot spring. There is absolutely nothing like it.
They also have multiple great dining options for the whole fam! If you want pizza and salad, they’ve got that. If you want a Prime Rib fine dining experience, they have that at Jefferson’s. We have been there during every season now and it is safe to say that each has its own charm. Christmas is absolutely magical, summer is a blast with the pools, the fall foliage is stunning and Easter felt special, too! You can’t go wrong.
Want to see The Homestead on video? I’ve got lots of Homestead Reels ::
April with Olive // Summer Highlights // Fall Weekend
see our wedding photos at The Homestead here.
Keswick Hall
When you pull up to Keswick, you are immediately transported away from Virginia. It looks like you are checking into a resort in Europe. Seriously. I would say this is the best spot for a romantic getaway. Olive was young enough to just do whatever we did, but I wouldn’t say there aren’t as many things for kids to do here in comparison to The Homestead and Primland. Keswick Hall is more about the luxury accommodations, Jean Georges restaurant and spa. And those things are FIVE STARS.
If you are looking to sit by the pool with a drink in hand, next to your partner, bestie, group of besties or family, this is the place. The infinity pool that looks out over the stunning golf course is unlike any other I have seen. It truly transports you out of Virginia. The rooms are luxurious, most have balconies and the views are gorgeous. To read more in depth about Keswick Hall, see this recent blog post that gives alllll the good details about Marigold by Jean-Georges and more.
Also, here’s a reel from our stay <3
Primland, Auberge Collection
We had the pleasure of going to Primland with Catherine, Kevin & Phoenix this past March! We got a FREEZING cold weekend, but that didn’t get in the way of us having an absolute blast. We stayed in the Pinnacle Cottages which were beyond stunning, had great views and honestly we could have stayed a week. (Maybe next time 😉 )
I would say that Primland is the most remote location – literally in the middle of nowhere in Southwest Virginia on a mountain. It felt GREAT to getaway. It reaaaaally felt like a getaway. It is a great destination if you like outdoor activities, golf, and of course, a great spa experience. The boys did a sporting clays round while we were there and we got to hit the spa for facials! Other activities they offer include horseback riding, kayaking, ATV adventures, hiking, and more. As I peruse the website as a refresher, I am thinking, dang, we gotta get back there in the summertime next!
The resort itself is stunning enough to just sit and relax and enjoy your surroundings and the views. All of the activities and amenities are a spectacular bonus. And the food? Delightful. Every meal we had was amazing. From room service delivery for breakfast, to lunch in the pub and Elements for dinner, we thoroughly enjoyed ever meal.
One unique gem that Primland has is an observatory (!!!!!) We didn’t get a chance to check it out because *babies* but next time we will definitely make it a priority. They do stargazing at night from the top of the observatory — which is the top of the silo you can see in the last photo. I would say the only thing missing at Primland is an outdoor pool (the spa has an indoor pool) and we heard that mighttttt be in the cards in the future! So, keep that in mind when you are planning your trip.
I am happy to answer any and all questions about our stays and about each resort if you are interested in planning a trip! Leave a comment here or slide into our instagram DMs.
~ PIN FOR LATER ~
