Many towns in New England are built around their ski area the way a college town like Champagne, Ill., is built around the University of Illinois. I wouldn't visit Ludlow, Vt., unless I was spending the day skiing at Okemo or Lincoln, N.H. if not to carve those turns at Loon Mountain. Bretton Woods, on the other hand, plays second fiddle to mighty Mount Washington. Every time I drive around the bend on Route 302 and see this broad-shouldered peak, the tallest in New England, I get goose pimples from the view.
Situated in front of Mount Washington, like a sprawling wedding cake with scarlet frosting, is one of the grand dames of New England lodging, the Mount Washington Hotel. First opened in 1902, this National Historic Landmark has hosted such luminaries as Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill and Alfred Hitchcock, but is best known as the spot of the International Monetary Conference in 1944 where the gold standard was set at $35 an ounce.
Not to be outdone by the Mount Washington Hotel, Bretton Woods ski area has doubled in size over the past decade and is now the largest in New Hampshire. They recently expanded their glade skiing, which sits directly across from Mt. Washington and offers some of the finest views in New England. Adding to the fun is a year-round canopy tour. Then there's the highly acclaimed Nordic center, sitting adjacent to the hotel, with groomed trails that glide along streams and leave you looking up in awe at the mountains. In the warm-weather months, golf on the recently restored Donald Ross course, originally designed in 1915. Or try your luck reaching the summit of Mount Washington, 6,288 feet tall.
Bretton Woods, NH Family Vacations
Bretton Woods, NH Family Vacations
Families will love:
- Tallest peak in New England, spectacular views
- Largest ski area in New Hampshire and year-round canopy tour
- Mount Washington Hotel, a National Historic Landmark
Written by Stephen Jermanok
Read more about Bretton Woods, NH Attractions
Best Bretton Woods, NH Family Hotels
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