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New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Valley
“The Valley” Has It All
by Heather R. BurkeHis idea of a perfect winter retreat is exploring the great
outdoors, staking a claim to our National Parks, and getting a work out. She is
all for fresh air, but not if it means a departure from civilization and
important luxuries like Jacuzzis and maid service. Toss in some candlelit
dining, copious shops ripe for browsing and a spa and now the lady is a
traveling scout.
An easy drive north from New England’s more populated
southern states is New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Valley. This scenic valley
has been a haven for visitors since the early 1800’s. Today, the spectacular
780,000 acres of National Forest holds 5 ski resorts, some of the finest cross
country terrain, and even ice climbing. The mainstay town of North Conway offers a strand of
tax-free outlet shops, scads of lodging options, and more restaurants, pubs and
cafes than your belt will accommodate. This once quaint, now booming village
does suffer from Route 16 traffic crawl amid the shopping sprawl.
The New England Inn serves a hearty country breakfast and a
complete dinner menu in the Main dining room as part of their MAP plan. Their
restaurant is well received and enjoyed by the public. Reservations are
recommended, which is always a good sign. The menu is creative, from seafood pastas to rack of lamb
and Wiener schnitzel. Our family, of diverse cravings, was extremely pleased
with each selection. I especially appreciated the break from cooking three
squares a day. Tuckerman’s Tavern is a hot spot with guest and locals
alike, with a pleasing pub menu and Saturday entertainment providing a nice
on-property alternative. Rested, refreshed and replete from a home-style breakfast of
blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs and hash, we were ready for our day in New
Hampshire’s White Mountains. Skiing has been deemed the State’s official winter
sport. It is an obvious choice, with half a dozen Nordic centers, and 5 major
alpine ski mountains within minutes of North Conway. We headed for Attitash Bear Peak, for its 60 trails backed
up by an impressive snowmaking system and speedy quad lifts. We could have chosen the incredibly scenic and challenging
Wildcat just minutes due north. Cranmore, located virtually in downtown North
Conway has an affordable everyday lift ticket rate of $29 for adults and $15
for children (6-12). As a bonus, Cranmore
has a wide variety of new and exciting toys to get down the hill including the
“Zorb”, which you have to see to understand. Another good family choice is unadorned Black Mountain, with
blast from the past facilities and pricing. The $89 family passport includes
all day lift tickets for 2 adults, and 2 children. King Pine is the region’s
fifth area located just 10 miles south of North Conway. King Pine is a homespun
family day area. It is a rare occurrence that our vertically addicted family
takes a break from the slopes. The off-piste temptations proved more than we
could resist the following day. I browsed some of my favorite outlet shops,
Ralph Lauren, Dansk, Liz Clairborne, calculating the tax savings as
justification for my spending. Even my husband indulged a shopping mood when he
spotted Nautica and L.L. Bean. A brief tour of Mt. Washington Observatory’s Weather
Discovery Center in North Conway is fun for the kids, and meteorologically
educational too. Across the street, the Chocolate Factory is a treat to watch
candies being made, then watch them disappear. The Anna Lee Doll showcase in
the center of town displays the locally made cutie-pie mouse creations, which
have achieved global fame. Shopping can wipe you out, not entirely unlike skiing. We
were glad to return to our quaint cottage. The kids headed for playtime in what
for them were waist deep piles of snow. Cross country skiers and snowshoers
passed by on the Inn’s trail system, pausing to check out our kids’ humble snow
forte. My husband flipped the switch to the gas fireplace while I
fetched drinks to sip by our fire. Gas fireplaces make a hero boy scout out of
any urban dweller. This vacation achieved what we always look for, something
for everyone. We skied, shopped, skated, went sledding, and toured covered
bridges. Along our adventures we breathed the requisite fresh air, we learned a
bit, relaxed a lot, and found our smiles. Next visit, we hope to tour on snowmobiles, cross-country
skis, and try maple sugaring. I have ruled out ice climbing for my family. In our short stay, we discovered the winter sports
playground of the White Mountain National Forest, and “The Valley” overflowing
with all the ingredients for a family retreat. Just over two hours north of
Boston, we will be back to the Mount Washington Valley. If you go:
The New England Inn offers lodging and dining on Route 16A,
Intervale’s Resort Loop, Intervale, NH. Winter rates for 2 in a cottage with
breakfast start at $108 per night. Call 1-800-826-3466 http://www.newenglandinn.com The Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce can assist
with lodging and area information. Call 1-800-367-3364 http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org The Langley House Inn is also located on Tourist Loop in
Intervale, NH. The innkeeper/chef offers gourmet food in the romantic Victorian
inn. http://www.TheLangleyHouse.com
Ski New Hampshire has ski vacation information and daily
snow reports. http://www.skinh.com Author Heather R. Burke Images by Photographer Greg Burke © 2000 by Heather R. Burke. Reproduction of this work, in
whole or in part, including images, without written consent from the author and
photographer is prohibited. |
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TM
To bring smiles to the little faces of the touring family,
and prevent whining, amusements should be handy. Give them sledding, skating,
skiing, and kid-friendly spaces. Where do you go to find this lengthy list of
demands, while keeping a lid on your travel budget? 
“Tourist Loop”, a.k.a. 16A, diverts you from the hubbub for
a few quiet miles. It is here that you will find The New England Inn. This charming country
farmhouse is the oldest continuously operating inn of the valley, providing
lodging, grog and grub to guests since the mid 1830’s. 
Guests can make themselves at home in one of 11 guest rooms
in the gracious 1809 Main Inn. Games and books stock the Inn’s two inviting
fireplace living rooms. We opted for one of the more contemporary cottages that
dot the resort’s 9-acre grounds. With a gas fireplace, living area including a
day- trundle bed and a private master bedroom, the four of us had space to
spread out while feeling the coziness of a traditional cottage.