New Hampshire: A Winter Wonderland

Posted on January 25, 2020 by bridgeswhit

Earlier this month, New Hampshire experienced atypical temperatures, reaching almost 60 degrees. Now that the state has fully bounced back from our January thaw, you can enjoy traditional winter activities. The beauty of snow-covered New Hampshire abounds, allowing you to participate in skiing, skating, snowboarding, snowmobiling, tubing, snowshoeing, hiking, ice fishing, numerous winter festivals, and other activities appealing to people of all ages. Or if you don't want to brave the cold weather, you can drive around admiring the landscape from your car or find plenty of indoor activities.

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This blog focuses on the majestic outdoors. Whatever attracts you to this winter wonderland, you will be sure to find a Bed & Breakfast where you can come in from the cold to a warm inn and warm hospitality. Many NHBBA innkeepers are offering specials or highlighting winter activities near their Bed & Breakfasts. For a complete list of NHBBA Bed & Breakfasts throughout the state, go to www.staynh.org/inns-all.htm.

New England Today – Travel highlights 17 Ways to Have Fun in New Hampshire this Winter, featuring activities and events in all seven tourist regions of the state.

Skiing is one of the most popular winter activities in New Hampshire. Ski areas and resorts are located throughout the state, many with beautiful views. For more information about skiing, click here.

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Ice Castles, Woodstock, New Hampshire

Located in Woodstock, NH, Ice Castles is another popular winter attraction, built by professional ice artisans using hundreds of thousands of icicles to create LED-lit sculptures, ice-carved tunnels, fountains and much more. According to Trip Advisor, "Ice Castles is an awe-inspiring, must-see winter phenomenon that brings fairy tales to life." For ticket information, click here.

Henniker House Bed & Breakfast

Henniker House Bed & Breakfast, located in the picturesque college town of Henniker, NH, right on the Contoocook River, offers an idyllic setting. There is snowmobiling and cross-country skiing nearby in addition to restaurants, shops and New England College's gallery within walking distance.

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View from Henniker House of the snowy deck and Contoocook River with snowy river banks

Henniker House has five nicely appointed guest rooms each with private en suite bath. Boston is 90 minutes, Manchester regional airport in Manchester, NH is 40 minutes. Henniker House, which offers large discounts on lift and rental packages for Pats Peak Ski Area (1 mile away), is the ideal base for your Pats Peak ski trip. Mount Sunapee, which 18 miles away, is also great for skiing.

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Sign promoting Pats Peak

Sign promoting Pats Peak

The Inn On Golden Pond

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Snowmobiling at Inn On Golden Pond

Snowmobiling at Inn On Golden Pond

The Inn On Golden Pond, in Holderness, NH, a top-rated New Hampshire Bed & Breakfast and Wedding & Event Venue, is located at the northern edge of the Lakes Region and in the foothills of the White Mountains. The Inn has nine individually decorated guest rooms, including three King Suites, one of which is dog friendly. A full cooked-to-order breakfast is offered each morning using the inn's own farm fresh chicken eggs, maple syrup, and garden vegetables whenever possible.

Winter is a great time for snowmobiling, hiking, or snowshoeing our beautiful mountains and trails overlooking Squam Lake! Cross Country Skiing is also a very popular winter activity here in the Lakes Region. Hundreds of miles of groomed trails and snowmobile trails are accessible right down the road from the Inn!

Pleasant View Bed and Breakfast

Pleasant View Bed and Breakfast, located in the heart of New Hampshire's lakes region in Bristol, provides a comfortable, cozy atmosphere for guests looking for a touch of home with spectacular mountain views. Built circa 1800, Pleasant View B&B is a historical farmhouse that offers six beautiful guest rooms in the main house, all with private baths, plus a detached cottage, approximately 200 feet behind the main inn.

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Winter at Pleasant View Bed & Breakfast

Winter is a beautiful time of the year for skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, hiking, snowshoeing, and more. Tenney Mountain ski area has been open since early January. Riding your snowmobile and need trailside lodging? The inn is situated on a connector snowmobile trail (the Pleasant View trail) which takes you to Corridor 11, less than a mile away. We have plenty of room for snowmobile trailer parking.

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Snowshoeing at Pleasant View Bed & Breakfast

Snowshoeing at Pleasant View Bed & Breakfast

Embrace Winter Package. Curl up in the inn's sun room by the wood stove with your favorite beverage or soak in the hot tub after a day of playing in the snow. Book directly on Pleasant View B&B's website or call (603) 744-5547 and receive 20% off your reservation for midweek stays (Sunday through Thursday only) of two or more nights. Also receive a complimentary bottle of champagne (or another favorite beverage) upon your arrival. Not valid weekends, holidays, special events and cannot be combined with any other special listed.

Coppertoppe Inn and Retreat Center

Coppertoppe Inn and Retreat Center is a modern bed and breakfast in historic Hebron village on Newfound Lake, where the White Mountains meet the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Coppertoppe is convenient to five ski resorts, the nearest being Tenney Mountain, Ragged Mountain and Waterville Valley. Other nearby attractions include the Flying Monkey Performance Center, the Silver Center, Museum of the White Mountains, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, and the Ice Castles.

Weather-proof Fun Getaway. New Hampshire is famous for winter activities, but what if it doesn't snow? We've got a special for that! There's always indoor fun at Coppertoppe! $595 covers two nights in a suite, with full breakfast, snacks and beverages, plus a choice of classes in growing and cooking with herbs, caring for house plants, arts or crafts, writing, or using your computer. Have more fun with board games, chess, cards, Trivia, Scrabble, Uno, Cribbage, puzzles, a movie marathon or a few good books. Children under 12 are free and pets are welcome.

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View from Coppertoppe Inn's deck

At Coppertoppe, we are not merely pet-friendly, we are pet-passionate. Don't assume you can't bring the whole family because most hotels don't accept dogs, cats, rabbits, Guinea pigs, birds or reptiles. We love them all. We adore children of all ages. We really do have a big library/playroom with books, movies from vintage Disney to F/SF, toys, puzzles, games, crafts and musical instruments. It's soundproof, too. Your kids won't be a bother to anyone.

To learn more about the Weather-proof Fun Getaway, other popular packages, or to create a retreat or reunion for your group, contact Sheila at sheila@coppertoppe.com or 603-744-3636.

The Bridges Inn at Whitcomb House

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Winter at the Bridges Inn at Whitcomb House

Winter at the Bridges Inn at Whitcomb House

The Bridges Inn at Whitcomb House, located in Swanzey, NH, is known for delicious, gourmet breakfasts, warm hospitality, comfort, and cleanliness. The decor of this quintessential 1792 inn is lovely with distinctively decorated rooms, tin ceiling, and many antiques. There are five guest rooms, each with modern, private bathroom, WiFi, cable TV, and even chocolates and bottled water. There are also many comfortable common areas to enjoy by yourselves or to mingle with other guests.

The Bridges Inn is nestled in the beautiful Monadnock region, where you'll find opportunities for skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, hiking, and more. Check out Granite Gorge Ski Area, Crotched Mountain Ski and Ride, and Windblown Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing Area for winter fun.

Winter Hiking in Monadnock State Park. Open 365 days a year, Monadnock State Park is plowed and cleared for winter hiking. Other trail-heads may not be accessible, clear or parking may be limited. There are also un-groomed cross-country ski trails in Monadnock State Park. (From the Monadnock Trails website, read more.)

Another favorite in the Monadnock region is the 18th Annual Keene Ice & Snow Festival, Saturday February 1st in downtown Keene; a day of family fun all free. Shown below, ice sculpture being carved and the same finished ice sculpture.

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Lantern Inn B&B

Located in the beautiful Lakes Region, the Lantern Inn B&B, Laconia, NH, is a delightful year-round retreat situated on five beautiful acres, just minutes from Weirs Beach, Lake Winnipesaukee. The Lantern Inn delivers an easygoing charm with an accent on comfort and genuine hospitality. It offers five cozy guestrooms each with an en suite bathroom. Every guestroom has been carefully decorated to radiate its own unique style and make you feel as if you have stepped into a tranquil haven. Your comfort is our top priority.

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Winter sunrise at Lantern B&B

The Lantern Inn is an ideal escape for couples and traveling companions who wish to unwind and enjoy a serene atmosphere, but yet still be close enough to enjoy all the amenities that Weirs Beach and the surrounding area has to offer. Check out Lantern Inn's specials.

The Lantern Inn is also the perfect place for intimate wedding events (Shay is a Justice of the Peace), small family gatherings, holiday parties, girls' getaways, knitters' or quilters' retreats, scrap-booking get-togethers, or other special occasions or celebrations.

For skiing and family fun, Gunstock Mountain Resort is only 20 minutes away; check out their calendar of winter events!

Written by NHBBA board member, Susan Karalekas, who owns and operates the Bridges Inn at Whitcomb House in Swanzey.