There’s always something new to do in the White Mountains. A popular playground for more than a hundred years, every season yields new adventures and new reasons to visit. The small towns team up to make sure there’s a little something for everyone.
The mountain range covers about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a portion of western Maine. As part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England and a popular vacation haven for their proximity to Boston and New York City. This time of the year, skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers are having the times of their lives.
New Hampshire, specifically, features a slew of small towns, each interconnected with area events. Here is a smattering of some of the area’s most popular attractions:
Bears in Parade
A variety of businesses have each decorated, adorned, embellished and painted 36” tall dancing bears. During the February School Vacation Week in February, 2011, the bears will be having fun playing up at nearby Loon Mountain. They will be skiing, hibernating in the lodges and playing hide and seek around the mountain, among other fun activities. The bears will be auctioned off on Thursday, February 24, 2011 at Loon, proceeds will go to support local community programs.
The Washington Cog Railway
Ride to the top of Mt. Washington on the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway! This round trip journey is New England’s most unique vacation experience. Step aboard an authentic coal-fired steam train or one of the new biodiesel locomotives to climb the Northeast’s highest peak. Enjoy the view and watch the trains from Marshfield Base Station featuring a museum, restaurant and gift shop.
Alpine Zipline
Hang on for dear life atop two unique zip-line canopy tours. Choose from, 13 different zip-lines, ropes bridges and platforms. This is the longest and highest course in the Northeast. You may also choose to race on the “Sky Rider” tour, which features side by side zips.
Clark’s Trading Post
Popular among younger visitors, is Clark’s Trading Post, an amusement park of sorts. The main attraction is a bear show, where trained bears balance on balls and perform dazzling tricks. Other attractions include a slanted building called Tuttle’s Rustic House where everything is topsy-turvy, and a half hour steam train ride through beautiful countryside, among many others.
WHERE TO STAY
New Hampshire and Maine are two mountainous states dotted with charming bed and breakfasts. Here are three B&Bs where you can hang your hat:
The Buttonwood Inn. This 10-room, 1820’s Inn is nestled on six secluded acres on Mount Surprise and is minutes from the North Conway and Jackson. Hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski right from the inn’s backdoor. Most rooms feature fireplaces and Jacuzzi tubs. Full gourmet breakfast with sweet or savory entrees are prepared daily. Afternoons are marked with home baked treats, English teas or hot chocolate.
The Snowflake Inn Bed & Breakfast. Lavishly appointed king suites, two-person Jacuzzis tubs and fireplaces provide a romantic escape in the heart of Jackson, New Hampshire. A beautiful “mountain hamlet” this inn is soothing place where afternoons are spent with a cup of tea and evenings bring roasted marshmallows. The inn also features a tropical indoor spa.
Harmony Mountain Abode. This cozy bed and breakfast is located in New Hampshire’s Twin Mountains, in the center of the White Mountains with easy access to ski and hiking trails. The B&B also offers views of majestic Mount Washington. A wood-burning fireplace greets and warms guests in the formal dining room. Tea and coffee are always available to guests. Breakfast is served daily.
Being a popular vacation spot, there are too many bed and breakfasts to choose from – each more beautiful and welcoming than the next. To narrow your search by amenity, use the advanced search feature on BnBFinder and find a White Mountains bed and breakfast or a New Hampshire bed and breakfast that best suits your own personal style.
