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There’s just something so peaceful about being in the mountains. Especially when you’re with a group of your closest friends and things get loud and you are belly laughing so hard you have happy tears and you can’t catch your breath, you’re at peace. This sums up our recent group trip to Primland, an Auberge Resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Dan's River, Virginia. It is no surprise it is a top rated resort in the Southeast by Condé Nast Traveler. After Tuck, Maisel and I's first visit to Primland in 2022, we vowed we would come back with friends. At long last – the group trip was booked and I was able to curate an itinerary that would unlock core memories.

Highlights: Tobacco barn, RTV tour (we saw bears!), the Spa, yoga, dinner at Elements

Where to stay: 
•	Lodge rooms/suites (dog friendly)
•	Treehouses
•	Pinnacle & Fairway cottages (dog friendly) 
•	Mountain homes (dog friendly) – ideal for larger groups and a fraction of the price

Where to eat/drink:
•	Elements (breakfast & dinner)
•	19th Pub (lunch & dinner)
•	Stables Saloon (dinner) 
•	Tobacco Barn (Fri & Sat; drinks only)
•	Schlumberger Wine Cellar (private dinners)

What to pack: A mix of athleisure, casual, dressy-casual, & dressy with a sweater for cold evenings

What to do: Activities vary season to season but include RTV tours, archery, horseback riding, kayaking/paddleboarding, hunting, clay pigeon shooting, fishing! The pool/hot tub are open 24 hours and the Spa is open 9a-7p. Golfers will not want to miss the 18-hole course ranked one of the best in the country!  

Despite feeling like it is worlds away thanks to the gated 12,000+ acres, this magical retreat is just over 2 hours from Charlotte (< 3 hours from Raleigh). When you arrive at one of the two resort’s gates, expect another 30-ish minute drive up the mountain before you arrive at the Lodge – but don’t fret, the views and wildlife encounters as you ascend on the mountain make it well worth it.

Friday
We arrived on property prior to check-in so we stopped by the Lodge for snacks and drinks at 19th Pub. The deviled eggs and fried saltines & pimento cheese are not to be missed! 

After lunch, we toured the fitness room, spa, and pool/hot tub. The fitness room is equipped with a Peloton bike and a Tonal and the treadmills have views of the Blue Ridge mountains. The spa was dreamy (more on that later) and the pool left little to be desired – we knew we had to make time for swimming/soaking! 

We were able to check-in to Red Fox just after 4pm. Wendy was so attentive and thorough with the check-in process and little did we know she would become one of our favorite people of the weekend (thanks Wendy!) 

Tip: Some of the mountain homes are about a 15-20 minute drive from the Lodge (where the on-property dining establishments are located) and 30+ minute drive from the gate, so consider bringing some snacks/groceries with you if you’re staying at a mountain home! 

The accommodations options are plentiful, ranging from rooms/suites in the Lodge, Fairway and Pinnacle Cottages (dog friendly), Treehouses, to mountain homes (dog friendly). We stayed in the Woodpecker Loft Suite, a Fairway Cottage (video tour on Instagram but think heated floors, grand fireplace, private putting green, mountain & fairway views) on our first Primland trip but since we were traveling with a large group, we opted for a mountain house this time around. There are 11 rustic mountain homes on property sleeping from 2 to 22 guests each offering its own unique mountain experience while still providing all of the amenities available to hotel guests. They are also a fraction of the price when split between multiple people. The mountain homes come with towels, linens, and luxurious European toiletries.

We chose Red Fox as it was on the larger side, had a separate games room housing a pool table and table tennis, and boasted impressive views of woodlands with the Blue Ridge mountains in the distance.

We spent the evening eating, drinking, and playing games at Red Fox. 

Tip: Ask the front desk to coordinate with maintenance to provide a grill (thanks Wendy!). 

We were treated to the most mouthwatering cheese & charcuterie board by Happy Elephant Charcuteries. If you are in the NC triangle area - look no further for your board needs - cheese, charcuterie, dessert you name it HEC has it or will create it! 

Before we knew it, it was time to retreat to our cozy rooms – the beds and linens were SO comfortable. 

Saturday
We started the day with coffee on the deck (those views!!) and then the girls headed to the Lodge for complimentary yoga & smoothies. We met up with the rest of our group and realized we missed the guided hike, so we did our own! Maisel led the way.

We had just enough time for a quick lunch at 19th Pub – notable mentions include the Wagyu burger, tuna poke bowl, and turkey club, before hightailing it to the Outdoor Activity Center for archery/shooting with Alex. A few stars of the group stole the show and others left with battle scars but we had a blast! 

Tip: Wear forearm guards if you choose to do archery! 
Tip: A 20% service charge is added to your bill for all paid activities so consider this prior to tipping cash after your activity! You can ask to have it removed from the bill at check-out if you feel so inclined!  

We were fortunate to be able to experience seasonal cocktails at Tobacco Barn during our stay – it is only open on weekends but was closed Friday. We were grateful it opened back up for Saturday as it was one of our favorite places! Bartender Dustin took great care of us and the cocktails were incredible. The group favorite was the Highland Sour! 

We had requested a shuttle to pick us up for dinner (thanks Wendy) since we overindulged at Tobacco Barn. It had just rained and the most beautiful rainbow made an appearance over the mountain. Our shuttle driver Stan stopped so we could get a photo. Dinner at Stables Saloon was such a fun experience owed in part to the live bluegrass music but also the Southern family-style dining. So delish! 

The shuttle then took us to the Lodge for our Stargazing experience. We had some time to kill so we took advantage of the complimentary S’mores around the fireplace. When it was time for Stargazing, we were led through the observatory up the staircase to the telescope dome. The roof of the dome opens up to the most magnificent view. We also had the opportunity to look through the fanciest telescope I’ve ever seen. Saturn looked like an emoji. We were there during the Perseid meteor shower so we also saw lots of “shooting stars.” 

Sunday 
Sunday started with our RTV tour – this was by far the highlight of the weekend, in part because we saw BEARS – a mama bear and 4 baby cubs but also because we had the BEST guide (Mike) and saw such impressive views. We rented two 4-seaters but you could also rent 2-seaters. It was a fun-filled, muddy, exhilarating adventure that I can’t recommend enough.

We spent the afternoon at 19th Pub and the pool, relaxing before an exceptional dinner at Elements. Seriously, everyone ate in silence and we were all part of the clean plate club. We started with the beet salad and beef tartare, shared the brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes, and each ordered a unique entrée – including the special of the evening: surf & turf. We could not stop talking about how delicious everything was. Oh, and the wine list (book) was impressive! A perfect cap to round out the best weekend.

Monday
We snuck in a visit to the spa before checkout. The spa is gorgeous and plays on the resort's emphasis on land. While I normally would have preferred a massage, the only services available last minute were a body scrub or facial so I opted for the former. We stopped in the steam room and hot tub (in the women’s changing room) prior to the service and spent some time in the relaxation room after the service. Rita was my aesthetician and I thoroughly enjoyed my body scrub with her. She even let me take home some chamomile seeds to grow tea leaves! 

All in all, it was such a special weekend making memories with our best friends and we left feeling one with nature. The service at Primland is top notch and there really is something for everyone! We can’t wait to go back! 

The perfect place to connect with nature and reconnect with each other.