New England is world-famous for its spectacular autumn scenery, and for that reason many choose to visit this northeastern U.S. region during the fall.
Often forgotten, however, is the summer season, particularly when venturing to the interior areas away from the coastline. This is where my wife and I headed recently to get a taste of inner New England’s distinct flair and style.
Our first stop was Bretton Woods and the iconic Mount Washington Hotel and Resort in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This sprawling hotel was built in the late 1800s by local tycoon Joseph Stickney, who brought in 250 Italian stone artisans to craft the building in Renaissance Revival style. It was one of several grand hotels built in New Hampshire at a time when droves of wealthy New Yorkers took refuge in the White Mountains in the summer.
The resort spans 2,000 acres within the 800,000-acre White Mountain National Forest, and boasts a Donald Ross-designed golf course, an alpine and Nordic ski centre, a spa, fine and casual dining facilities, and nine high-flying zip-lines.
Upon entering the hotel lobby, which has retained the ambience of the early years, you can easily envision those who stayed here back then. The open-space areas encourage guests to wander about; be sure to take in the wrap-around open porch where you can enjoy the fresh air and marvel at the majesty of Mount Washington towering in the distance.
Although a total of $90 million has been spent on much-needed renovations over the last 10 years, a number of the rooms still have that old-fashioned look of years ago, and the bathrooms can be a bit on the small side.
The resort has plenty of activities, including organized excursions, but we found that one of the best ways to experience the area was to simply rent bikes and go in whatever direction took us. This is actually a great way to unwind and as we rode we felt the stress of city life dissipate.
Those rich New Yorkers who fled the city for New Hampshire in the summer had it right—the White Mountains is a great place to escape to.
