Superlative Stays Spice Up the Ski Season
Finding a warm, soft spot to land at the end of the day can make slopeside slip-ups seem a little less awkward in retrospect, and help soothe sore muscles after a long day skiing and snowboarding — especially if there’s a Jacuzzi to luxuriate in or an in-room fireplace to warm up in front of.
New Hampshire’s ski country has a wide range of accommodations with an endless list of amenities, from spas to welcoming après-ski spots. We took a look at some of the more inviting destinations with a particular eye on creature comforts.
Here’s a list of where we’ll be staying this winter, and why.
Most Romantic Hotels
The Princess Carolyn Suite at the Omni Mount Washington Resort is just one of its 200 luxury guest rooms and suites.
Omni Mount Washington Resort
The iconic red roof topping the instantly recognizable Omni Mount Washington Resort hints at the charm and glamour inside as guests approach from Route 302. The flagship of New Hampshire’s grand resorts, the Mount Washington provides a wide range of activities (or lack thereof, depending on your agenda), for couples seeking an idyllic Granite State winter. Try the Love and Luxury package, which gets couples bottle of Sparkling wine paired with artisanal chocolates, late 1 p.m. check-out and more.
The Sugar Hill Inn
Looking for a couples-only weekend away? The Sugar Hill Inn has you covered in a completely unique way. This bed and breakfast, known for its fine dining, original art and stylish guest rooms and cottages, has been restored to a 1789 farmhouse setting. But most importantly, it’s a child-free zone. Indulge, relax and enjoy each other’s company at this boutique country inn. The Sugar Hill Inn has become renowned for its culinary reputation, so arrive hungry. The on-site spa can also help release tension, with either a Swedish massage, a deep tissue massage or a hot stone massage.
Hotels With the Best Views
At the base of Mt. Washington in the White Mountains, The Glen House has opened as a new 68-room eco-conscious hotel.
The Glen House
The Glen House, in Pinkham Notch, is technically one of the newer structures in the region, but its roots run deep in the Whites. The fifth iteration of The Glen House to stand near the site of the original, which opened in 1852, the new, stately structure offers a classic look in a bucolic setting. At the heart of the three-story Glen House is its expansive great room, which extends from the lobby to a welcoming sitting area featuring a towering stone fireplace and massive windows reaching up to the cathedral ceilings, framing expansive views from the west-facing rooms and lobby and overlooking a network of trails and the Presidential Range. In a word, spectacular.
The 141 luxurious guest rooms and suites blend perfectly with the year-round natural beauty and panoramic mountain views of the White Mountains.
Mountain View Grand Resort
Getting the “truth in advertising” nod, the Mountain View Grand Resort, in Whitefield, delivers what its name promises. This butter cream, classic New Hampshire grand resort offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Settling in on the veranda for an unfettered view across the valley may make it challenging to tear yourself away, so before you head for the lifts, book a Vista Studio Room and look out onto Mount Lafayette and Cannon Mountain, as well as partial views of the Kilkenny Range and Percy Peaks.
Most Unique Hotel
Rated one of the top ten theme hotels in the world, Adventure Suites is a one-of-a-kind property, with themed rooms that include: The Cave , The Club, Cupid’s Corner, Deserted Island, Dragon’s Lair, Haunted Castle, The Jungle, Log Cabin, Love Shack, Motorcycle Madness, New York Penthouse, Rocket Launcher, Roman Rendezvous, Showtime, Sky Captain’s Lounge, Treehouse, Victorian Spa, Wine Cellar and Wolf Den
Adventure Suites
Some resorts boast a Victorian theme or a European feel with carefully researched décor and appointments. Adventure Suites, on the White Mountain Highway in North Conway, has it all — and more than most people would expect. Created with “a cup of fun, a pound of adventure, a bunch of love and a sprinkle of magic,” Adventure Suites has themed accommodations ranging from Log Cabin and Treehouse to Haunted Castle and Motorcycle Madness. The Cave allows guests to go back in time and live in “primal luxury” in a two-story primitive-looking suite (with modern comforts); Dragon’s Lair features a floating round bed, a TV in the shower and a waterslide sink from Estonia; and Cupid’s Corner is a burlesque boudoir with a heart-shaped king-size bed and a heart-shaped jetted tub with underwater lighting. And when a day skiing and boarding is over, guests can retire to their unique suite, enjoy the outdoor fire patio, spend some time on the snow luge or in the on-site igloo — outfitted with chairs, lights and music.
Best Hotels For Non-Skiers
Kahuna Laguna has been voted one of the 2019 Top 10 Indoor Water Parks in the nation by readers of USA Today in their 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel awards.
The Red Jacket Mountain View
As hard as it is to conceive of, there may be members of your party who do not ski. Once the shock of this unthinkable eventuality subsides, you may be looking for something to occupy their time.
The Red Jacket Mountain View may be the perfect choice. This North Conway resort is located on 25 acres surrounded by some of the most beautiful country in the state. A sloping, expansive lawn unfolds from the top of Sunset Hill, providing guests with a view of the Moat Mountains, White Horse Ledge, Cathedral Ledge and the Saco River Valley. But most importantly, for the non-skier, it’s home to Kahuna Laguna — a 40,000 square-foot, year-round indoor water park packed with slides, waves and pools that are all heated to a perfect 84 degrees year-round. While you’re on the slopes skiing, boarding and having a good day, your friend-with-questionable-taste can be back at Kahuna Laguna, well, having a great time.
With all the amenities you would expect from a high-end luxury resort, plus an on-site commercial winery, fine Italian cuisine, award-winning spa and ice skating around the outdoor all-season heated pool, your stay at RiverWalk offers plenty of things to do for skiers and non-skiers alike.
RiverWalk Resort at Loon
The RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain, in Lincoln, provides plenty to do, as well. Take a swim in the resort’s heated all-season outdoor pool or hot tubs. Step into the pool from the inside, poke through the faux wall and venture into the winter air — all while staying beneath the surface of the heated outdoor pool. Also in winter, adjacent to the outdoor lap pool, the laguna is frozen over and is open for ice skating. Following a few laps or skating, go back inside and sample some wine and take a tour at the on-site Seven Birches Winery, or head to the nearby North Country Climbing Center, in Lisbon, to tackle the more than 6,000 feet of climbing walls.
Hotels With An In-Room Fireplace
The Inn at Thorn Hill & Spa
Packed with rooms named for the nearby Presidential Range, The Inn at Thorn Hill & Spa provides a classic, comfortable French Country feel with a fireplace in every room of the main lodge, and in each of the private cottages. Pro tip: the fireplace pairs perfectly with a two-person Jacuzzi (also in every room and cottage). Light up one of the gas fireplaces and the bone-chilling grip of a Granite State mid-winter will never seem further away.
Nestled in the majestic White Mountains of Jackson, New Hampshire, The Wentworth is a charming, 61-room inn within close proximity to cross-country skiing, a stunning golf course and an abundance of year-round, outdoor activities.
The Wentworth Inn
The Wentworth Inn, in Jackson, offers guests fireplaces in all of its deluxe- level rooms, some of which have been recently renovated, bringing modern comfort to classic European cottage ambiance. While heading to your room, however, you’ll pass by a gorgeous wood and marble fireplace in the lobby — an elegant and utterly welcoming portal to one of the most romantic getaways in the Mount Washington Valley.
