Virginia's Best Resort for Families: The Homestead Resort

The Omni Homestead Resort provides the ultimate escape for families in Virginia -- and there are plenty of reasons why it's the best resort for families in The Commonwealth!

If you're looking for relaxation or unstructured fun, you can splash in the indoor or outdoor pools, play arcade games & putt putt, and visit the luxurious spas. If adventure is more of your family's cup of tea, you can race down the snow-covered mountains in skis, zipline through the trees in the adventure course, cast your rod in Cascades Stream and so much more!

...And I have a special discount code for you to use for your spring trips! If you use MEGAN, you will receive 25% off your reservations between February 24 – April 30, 2025.

*Follow @thewestendmom on Instagram for things to do with kids in Virginia!

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USE THE WEST END MOM DISCOUNT CODE:

I have a special discount for to stay at The Omni Homestead this spring! If you use MEGAN, you will receive 25% off your room cost.

If you'd like to use this 25% discount, you need to make reservations between February 24 – March 28, 2025 for a trip between February 24 – April 30, 2025.

This means you can save 25% on your stay for a SPRING BREAK TRIP!

About The Homestead Resort:

Opening in 1766, The Homestead Resort is located on 2,300 acres in the Allegheny Mountains & it’s hosted 23 presidents! It’s just under 3 hours from Richmond, so it’s the perfect getaway for families. 

We love the historical aspect of The Homestead Resort and their resort activities. You can pick from guided hikes, zip lining, horseback riding, skiing & more. Our favorites are the roasting marshmallows on the S'mores Express, fly fishing in the stream, playing putt putt by the pool, watching movies in the theatre & snow tubing in the winter!

Also, I highly recommend visiting between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. The outdoor pool is so much fun for families - it has a little kids’ splash zone, a lazy river for all ages & water slides for anyone who is 42" and taller. These pools are heated, so you can enjoy the main pool area and lazy river even in the winter.

If you'd like to see our itineraries from past and upcoming trips to The Homestead Resort, check out this guide The Homestead Resort: Things to do with Kids on your Getaway.

Where is The Homestead Resort?

The Homestead Resort is located in Hot Springs, Virginia.

Distance from RVA: 2 hours, 48 minutes

Distance from DC area:  X hours, 48 minutes

Distance from Raleigh/Durham: 2 hours, 48 minutes

Which Room should I Book for my family?

My favorite rooms to book are: Deluxe Rooms in The Garden Wing and Executive Suites.

First Floor Deluxe Rooms in the Garden Wing are larger than traditional rooms, giving families more space in one room. They also French doors go directly to the lawn. Our kids loved running around outside our room, and we also enjoyed sitting outside while the children were napping.

*Make sure to book a "Deluxe Room," and include a note on the reservation that you'd like your room to be located in "The Garden Wing" and on "The First Floor."

The Executive Suites come with two rooms: one is the bedroom, and the other is a sitting/TV room. There is a door that separates the two spaces, which works really well if your children are napping or going to bed earlier than you. You can also request an adjoining room, if you need another bedroom. This would provide space for up to 8 people to sleep (2 queen beds in two separate bedrooms).

*I like the executive suites located on the 11th and 10th floors the best. The 11th floor is the "main level" of the hotel, so you never have to take an elevator - you just walk down the halls to get to The Great Hall, to shop, to eat, etc. The 10th floor is really easy with kids too - if you don't need a stroller, you can walk up a flight of steps for quick access to your rooms. All floors have elevators - most of the time, I prefer to walk to my room with kids.

*All rooms receive a complimentary turn down service. You will find chocolates on your pillow too!

Which restaurants are the best to dine at with kids?

The Omni Homestead Resort has 5+ dining options on property, including in-room dining. All dining options also have kid-friendly dishes on the children's menu - buttered noddles, chicken tenders, etc.

My favorite for families are American Audubon's breakfast buffet, Martha's Market for a quick bite, and Woody's for a delicious and more casual dinner. My children love them too!

American Audubon Dining Room: This fine dining experience serves breakfast and dinner daily. You can also enjoy Afternoon Tea on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations are encouraged for dinner, and there is also a dress code.

Jefferson's Restaurant: The restaurant is elegant, yet casual - Jefferson's features a farm-to-table dining experience with regional meats from Virginia. Reservations and a dress code are encouraged for dinner.

Jefferson's Taproom: Can't miss your favorite team? This casual dining experience is located in the front of Jefferson's Restaurant, and you can watch any and every game that's on live. It is first come, first served.

Woody's: Located just steps outside the main resort, Woody's is a causal, Italian dining experience. You will find menu items like craft pizza, build your own pasta dishes, and desserts! This dining experience is first come, first served.

Pioneer Picnic: Located in the Casino building, this causal, family-friendly experience serves lunch and dinner. Menu items honor the cuisine of the region -- smoked Virginia ham sandwiches & chicken salad sandwiches, charred caprese salads, BBQ picnic platter and crunchy peanut butter sandwiches for children.

Kober's at the Mountain Lodge: This dining experience is only open in the winter months, and it's at the foot of the ski mountain. You can order anything from chili to hamburgers and chicken nuggets. It is first come, first served.

Martha's Market: Located next to The Washington Library, Martha's Market is perfect for a quick bite to eat or coffee. You can find salads, sandwiches, breakfast pastries, and ice cream. You can take your items to-go or enjoy them in the library or on the covered-front porch.

*Where can you find caffeine in the morning? Each room has a Keurig coffee maker, Martha's Market is a full coffee bar, and on weekends, a complimentary coffee bar is set up for guests in The Great Hall.

*A morning coffee bar is set out for guests on Saturdays and Sundays between 7am and 10am. This is a complimentary coffee bar with coffee and hot tea.

*Social Hour is daily from 3-4pm in the Great Hall. This is one of our must-do experiences every day. During this social hour, the entire resort gathers for complimentary refreshments - hot or iced tea and hot cocoa and an assortment of tea sandwiches and pastries.

What activities are complimentary at The Homestead Resort?

Indoor Pool: The indoor pool is heated and open all year! It goes from 3 feet deep to 6 feet deep. Make sure to bring puddle jumpers, pool toys, and noodles.

Heads up: There are no lifeguards at the indoor pool.

Outdoor Pools: Allegheny Springs is the outdoor water park. It spans two-acres, and it's amazing for grow-ups and families! The pools are fed by the natural springs, and it has two 100-foot water slides, a 400-foot lazy river, a family pool and a whirlpool. In order to ride down the water slides, you must be at least 42' tall.

The main pool and whirlpool are heated and open all year from 9am-8pm. The Lazy River and Water Slides are open Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Heads up: Lifeguards are only monitoring the pools from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

For little kids, there is a separate water play zone. It is a zero-entry, 2 feet deep, play pool with splash park features and a sand play area. It also has cabanas around it, so families can stay out of the sun!

The Homestead Theatre: This 1920s theater shows nightly movies. Family-friendly and children's films are shown at 6:30PM and an adult movie is shown at 8:30PM. You can enjoy complimentary popcorn, drinks and candy too!

Afternoon Social Hour: Between 3pm-4pm daily, you can enjoy afternoon tea in the Great Hall. You can try hot & cold teas or hot chocolate and sweet treats created by the pastry chef! You will taste items like miniature tea sandwiches -- we had chicken salad sandwiches during our recent visit. We also enjoy blueberry muffins and apple tarts.

Indoor Games: Puzzles and cheese boards are around the resort. You can play them at anytime!

*While it is not free to play the arcade games or putt putt, you don't need advance registration to participate in these activities.

Putt Putt: Children 5 and younger get to play putt putt for free!

Arcade Games: While it is not free to play the arcade games, you can drop in at your convenience and play. You can also monitor the amount of time or games your family plays.

Which activities should you sign up for?

The following activities require advance registration. I recommend booking them as soon as you book your room! For pricing and to make a reservation, call 540-839-1766 and press 2 to be connected to the Activities Desk.

S'mores Express: This hour-long experience takes you on a tractor ride up to the equestrian center. You get to roast marshmallows and listen to live music, plus visit with the horses. We've tried this experience twice, and my children love it!

This is offered daily: 3pm-4pm and 4pm-5pm.

Snow Tubing (December through March 1): You can go snow tubing in the Penguin Slides Tubing Park on Thursdays-Sundays during the winter. Each time slot is for an hour, and it costs $25 per person.

Requirements: Must be 42' tall and 5 years old.

Little Penguins Ski School (December through March 1): This ski school is open to children ages 5-11 years old, and it happens every Thursday-Sunday during the winer. Instructors will teach children the basics of skiing from 9am-noon. Each ski school participant will also get a life ticket and rental. Make sure your children dress warm - layers, gloves, hats and goggles. Helmets are required.

Warm Springs Pool: The Warm Springs Pools are a natural hot spring in Bath County, just 5 minutes from the resort. Family soaking time is from 10am-1pm daily in the Ladies Bathhouse. It costs $25-35 per person, depending on the day.

The Homestead Adventure Kids: This kids club program provides supervised and structured fun for children between the ages of 5 and 12 years old. Activities include arts and crafts like painting flower pots ot lanyard making, indoor games like giant Jenga or Twister, and outdoor adventures like hiking, archery, and scavenger hunts. On weekends, The Kids Club hosts movie nights and pj parties between 6:30-9:30pm.

*Check here for more videos of the activities we tried with kids!

More Tips and Tricks for booking your stay at The Omni Homestead Resort:

1. If you use MEGAN, you will receive 25% off your room cost. This code is for bookings between February 24 – March 28, 2025 for stays between February 24 – April 30, 2025.

2. Sign up for the free Omni Loyalty Program. You’ll receive discount codes regularly. 

3. Check out the events calendar before booking your stay. If you’re visiting during a holiday, there will be lots of festivities like resort BBQs, concerts, games, etc. 

4. Make dinning reservations when you book your stay. If you want to eat at The Jefferson, select an earlier dining time. We also loved Woody’s & the main dining room. 

*Check here for my review.

*Check here for information about our first trip with kids in 2021.

USE THE WEST END MOM DISCOUNT CODE:

I have a special discount for to stay at The Omni Homestead this spring! If you use MEGAN, you will receive 25% off your room cost.

If you'd like to use this 25% discount, you need to make reservations between February 24 – March 28, 2025 for a trip between February 24 – April 30, 2025.

This means you can save 25% on your stay for a SPRING BREAK TRIP!

If you'd like to see our itineraries from past and upcoming trips to The Homestead Resort, check out this guide The Homestead Resort: Things to do with Kids on your Getaway.

Looking for more Virginia Getaways? Check out this guide on places to visit 2 hours or less than Richmond.

If you are ready to take a day trip, check out my guide on the best day trips from RVA!

For details on these Virginia places and more things to do with kids around Richmond, follow our family on @thewestendmom on Instagram!