Old-school Southern hospitality is the draw at two historic luxury resorts: The Greenbrier in West Virginia and The Homestead in Virginia, both a four to five hour drive away from D.C. A leisurely weekend at one of these grand historic resorts, which date from a time when visitors would spend their days at afternoon tea and golf, before getting dressed for a formal dinner, is a fast-disappearing experience in today’s world of sleek boutique hotels. Though both resorts have been updated with modern amenities, they remain paragons of a classic old-world type of vacation—after all, the Homestead is where founding father Thomas Jefferson soaked in the hot springs and the Greenbrier is where Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher honeymooned.

Both The Greenbrier and The Homestead are famous for their golf courses and spa services, but they offer plenty of additional activities. Over at the Greenbrier you can tour a once-secret government bunker that was built to house Congressmen and their staffs in case of a nuclear attack, or for the more athletic guests, take a whitewater-rafting trip. At the Homestead, you can have a falconry or fly-fishing lesson or go skeet shooting at the gun club. Formal dining (with afternoon tea, natch), along with more casual options are also available as part of all-inclusive packages.

The preceding post is part of the DCist Fall Guide, sponsored by Lexus.