Golf destination: The Greenbrier

PITTSBURGH -- Five hours south of Pittsburgh in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia is a luxury resort and National Historic Landmark that's been welcoming guests since 1778.

The Greenbrier in the town of White Sulphur Springs draws guest from around the world with its renowned golf courses, nine restaurants, championship indoor and outdoor tennis facility, mineral spa, shops, casino and sprawling grand hotel.

The Greenbrier offers 710 rooms, including 33 suites and 96 guest and estate houses. Sports enthusiasts flock there for the Greenbrier Classic, a PGA Tour and FedEx Cup event. Pete Sampras will take on Andre Agassi at the grand opening of Center Court at Creekside, the resort's new, state-of-the-art tennis stadium, June 20.

Activities

From tennis to laser tag, carriage rides to canopy tours, the Greenbrier offers an array of activities for guests.

Off-road driving, falconry, horseback riding, bowling, swimming and Segway tours are just some of the available options. Or, if a trip back in time is what you seek, explore the Bunker at the Greenbrier, an emergency Cold War fallout shelter carved deep into the mountainside beneath West Virginia.

But, perhaps the most popular activity at the Greenbrier is golf. The property features five courses including the Old White TPC, the Greenbrier, the Meadows, Oakhurst Links and the Snead Course at the Greenbrier Sporting Club. The Greenbrier Faldo Golf Center features a large practice tee; three different putting, chipping and pitching greens; a large greenside and fairway practice area; bunkers and an uneven lies area. The building also includes six covered hitting bays and putting areas, two classrooms and a lounge area.

Dining

The Greenbrier features dining options to suit nearly any taste.

Guests looking to experience traditional Southern resort dining can find it in the main dining room, featuring custom-made chandeliers, stately columns and arched windows.

The Forum features the best of Italy. Cafe Carleton (named for interior designer Carleton Varney) is ideal for a small plate paired with one of 50 wines. Steak is the specialty at Prime 44 West.

Draper's offers casual all-day dining with a menu that includes classic Dorothy Draper recipes as well as traditional Southern dishes. The Greenbrier Gourmet is the spot for coffee and small snacks. Sam Snead's, named for Greenbrier's first golf professional emeritus, reflects its namesake with a relaxed, yet lively, atmosphere and variety of menu choices including salads, steaks, pasta, seafood and hand-tossed pizza.

In-Fusion offers a variety of small plates from various parts of China, Japan, Korea and Thailand. Tree Tops Cafe overlooks the outdoor infinity pool and features summertime fare such as burgers, ice cream and shakes.

Greenbrier's bars and lounges include Cafe Carleton, 42 Below, Greenbrier Royale, Twelve Oaks, JJ's Sports Lounge, the Lobby Bar and Slammin' Sammy's.

Spa

For more than 230 years, people have traveled to the Greenbrier to bathe in the white sulphur spring water. The resort's spa specializes in incorporating the native sulphur water into state-of-the-art therapeutic experiences. Hydrotherapy, massage and facials are just some of the offerings. Special services for golfers include a deep tissue sports massage and antioxidant facial.

Casino

Greenbrier bills its casino as "Monte Carlo meets 'Gone With the Wind.' " It offers 320 state-of-the-art slot machines; 37 table games including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and three-card poker; and Texas Hold 'Em poker tables, all in a setting highlighting the charm of southern hospitality.

The casino frequently hosts special events, including celebrity poker tournaments and complementary champagne toasts.

Shopping

The Greenbrier's collection of 37 stores and boutiques features gifts, art, toys, furniture, sporting goods, fine jewelry and luxury apparel. The Art Colony Shops offer items created by artisans working with metals, leather, wood, glass and pottery.

Greenbrier vendors and shops also offer trunk shows throughout the year featuring home goods, clothing, jewelry and other wares. They also have seminars on fashion and makeup.

Center Court at Creekside

Greenbrier tennis pro emeritus Sampras will take on eight-time tennis Grand Slam winner Agassi on June 20 at the grand opening of Center Court at Creekside.

Sampras made his debut at the Greenbrier in 2012 at the inaugural Greenbrier Champions Tennis Classic, and returned in 2013 and in 2014 to headline the Tennis Classic along with fellow Hall-of-Famer John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Tommy Haas, Ivan Lendl and others. Sampras was named the Greenbrier's first-ever tennis pro emeritus in April 2014.

Agassi and Sampras first met at a Grand Slam final in the 1990 U.S. Open and went on to play each other 34 times in a 12-year-span. The two will meet again at the Greenbrier's state-of-the-art tennis stadium, featuring views of Howard's Creek, the Old White TPC and the mountains beyond. The property's rich architectural history is highlighted with a colonnade at the stadium entrances and other historical references.

Other nearby attractions

Lewisburg: The nearby town of Lewisburg is a historic district with locally owned restaurants, bars and shopping. Art galleries, antique shops and clothing boutiques are just some of the featured businesses. Details: downtownlewisburg.com.

Lost World Caverns: Visitors travel 120 feet below the Earth's surface into a vast wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites. The property also features a dinosaur museum and gift shop. Self-guided tours are available and take about 45 minutes. Guests also can book a four-hour guided tour. Details: 304-645-6677 or lostworldcaverns.com.

Greenbrier River Trail: The Greenbrier River Trail is a 78-mile long rail trail operated by the West Virginia State Park system. Trail uses include bicycling, backpacking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding. Trail visitors also can swim and fish in the Greenbrier River. Details: greenbrierrailtrailstatepark.com.

This article was written by Rachel Weaver from The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.