Issues → January/February 2007 → Travel →
Mount Washington Valley: Winter's Hometown
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There are many reasons to spend a night or more at the Appalachian Club's Highland Center, overlooking Crawford Notch. Everyone shares a love of the outdoors. There's an L.L. Bean gear room where you can try out snowshoes and other gear for free. The rooms are new, the fireplace is stoked, the bread is warm and fresh, and the club's conservation ethic touches everyone who stops by. [DETAILS]
Wildcat Mountain Ski Area and Summer Gondola
The single most scenic ski trail in America is Wildcat Mountain's nearly-three-mile, twisting, top-to-bottom Polecat run. Never mind that its gentle grade allows even snowplow novices to enjoy it; this trail is not about thigh burns or bragging rights. It's about looking. Nearly the entire way down, you can see across Pinkham Notch into the snow-covered chasm that is Tuckerman Ravine. [DETAILS]
Jackson Ski Touring Foundation
Zigzag tracks lead in all directions, everyone heading for solitude and beauty. Three hundred miles of trails bring skiers all throughout the valley, but home base is Jackson -- the largest, most famous Nordic ski town in the East. [DETAILS]
Sleeping in Mount Washington Valley, New Hampshire
Bartlett Inn
Located near the southern entrance to Crawford Notch, this unpretentious 1885 New England farmhouse boasts a large living room with a few sofas, games, a fireplace, an outdoor hot tub around back, and a country-style dining room. A full breakfast provides the energy you'll need for exploring and skiing. There are six rooms (two with fireplaces) and 10 small cottages. [DETAILS]
Grand Summit Resort Hotel at Attitash Bear Peak
When Les Otten ran the American Skiing Company, he was criticized by some for creating all his resort hotels from the same mold. But one thing he got right was making sure steam rose from the outdoor pools so guests could toast in tropical waters as they watched the skiers on the slopes. [DETAILS]
Inn at Ellis River
The quiet, relaxed, cozy atmosphere makes this a great romantic retreat. (Children 13 and over are welcome, too.) You can cross-country ski by day and relax by the fireplace in the pub by night. [DETAILS]
Pinkham Notch Visitor Center and Joe Dodge Lodge
The center, run by the Appalachian Mountain Club, is base camp for anyone wanting to explore the Presidential Range in winter. Essential and potentially lifesaving information is given by resident staff. You'll find weather reports and a scale model of the Presidentials, plus a retail store. At the end of the day, stop in for a hearty meal or a welcoming bed. [DETAILS]
Nereledge Inn
This 1780s home with a warm Colonial-style sitting room has 11 guest rooms, some with views of the 700-foot sheer face of Cathedral Ledge. The inn is within walking distance of the Saco River, Cathedral and White Horse Ledges, and North Conway's commercial stretch. [DETAILS]
Reader Comments
Comment from Kathy Radford on January 9, 2009
As a freelance photographer I'd say the Mount Washington Valley is one of my favorite spots in NH. It has so much to offer, beautiful scenery, shopping, wonderful cozy inns and B&B's, skiing, snowmobiling, a shopaholics dream, wonderful food and restaurants to satisify even the most discriminating diner.
It's a rare treat no matter what time of the year you arrive. Be sure to check out the Weather Center, Zeb's Country Store and be sure to take the Notch Trip on the Conway Scenic Railroad those stops are real gems. Once you come to the area you will want to come back time and time again. For me it's a magnet that I just cant resist.
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