Michele Penner from our Bretton Woods office shares with our readers some of the great things about Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.

 

1. Skiing

With 464 acres of downhill skiing and riding, Bretton Woods is New Hampshire's largest ski area. Sixty-two trails, 35 glades, 3 terrain parks, 10 lifts, and 92% of trails with snowmaking capabilities. Bretton Woods consistently ranks #1 by Ski Magazine in numerous categories. For Nordic skiers there are 100 kilometers of fantastic terrain—both in the open fields and through the woods—95 of which are track and skate groomed.

2. Golfing

Did you know Bretton Woods has two championship golf courses? The Mount Washington 18-hole course celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2015—it was designed by Donald Ross in 1915. This challenging course offers the incredible scenic backdrop of both namesakes—the hotel and the mountain! The 9-hole Mount Pleasant course now includes 6-holes with junior tees and kid-friendly pin placements so the whole family can get out and enjoy the game.

3. The Omni Mount Washington Hotel

The 200-room Omni Mount Washington Hotel is one of the few remaining grand hotels in New Hampshire. Commissioned to be built by Joseph Stickney, a wealthy coal broker, the hotel took 250 Italian artisans two years to complete. There have been extensive renovations over the past 24 years on this 115-year-old grand old lady, and her surroundings making it a top "bucket list" destination! Tours are available. If you don't know about the history of the hotel, I strongly suggest taking one!

4. The Omni Mount Washington Resort Spa

The Omni Mt. Washington Resort Spa offers 25,000 square feet of full-on pampering! This luxury spa offers facial treatments, body treatments, and full salon treatments for both men and women, as well as a co-ed lounge, private ladies and men's lounges where you can relax both before and after treatments. But wait, there's more: luxurious shower facilities, locker rooms, steam rooms, saunas, and an outdoor hot tub. An unbelievable way to spend a day or just a few hours.

5. The Bretton Woods Canopy Tour

The canopy tour zip lines descend over 1000 feet of elevation—which is the longest zip line in New England, and one of the longest canopy tours in the United States. This is a great experience with 3 ½ hours of fun, thrills, and chills. You can choose from 9 different zips, 2 suspension bridges, and some repelling down off the towers.

6. Mount Washington Cog Railway

This is another great adventure. The Mount Washington Cog Railway takes you on an approximately 3-hour guided tour up the 6288-foot summit of Mount Washington—the highest peak in the northeast. Trains have been running up these tracks since 1868. They still take one run up the tracks daily with the original fueled steam engines, but most trips use the more eco-friendly biodiesel engines. You may feel yourself singing Barbara Streisand's "On A Clear Day" when you reach the top—as you certainly feel like you are seeing forever!

7. Winter Activities Beyond Skiing

Besides skiing there are plenty of other winter activities to enjoy in Bretton Woods. The Omni Mount Washington Hotel offers horse-drawn sleigh rides, dog sled rides, tubing, ice skating, snowshoeing, and an indoor climbing wall. Snowmobile rentals and trails are directly adjacent to the resort. Winter hiking and ice climbing challenge the more adventurous outdoor enthusiasts.

8. Lots of Summer Activities

Perhaps we should call these "non-winter" activities. They include: hiking, with so many trails nearby— from the easiest of hikes suitable for smaller children and less experienced hikers to the more challenging hikes like the ascent to the top of Mount Washington. There are many beautiful spots to cool off on a hot summer day along the Ammonoosuc River—especially on Base Mountain Road where you will find the Upper Falls and Lower Falls. The Upper Falls create a wonderful natural waterpark! The resort additionally offers horseback riding, carriage rides, tennis on red clay courts, mountain biking—both on the cross country trails as well as trails on the ski slope accessible via the chairlift, fly fishing—with clinics and equipment rental.

9. Additional Lodging Options

The Omni Bretton Arms Inn is a charming property with more of a bed and breakfast feel, featuring 34 private rooms and great dining. The Lodge is a 50-room basic, clean hotel. In addition, many of the 387 privately owned condos and single family homes are also available for rent—give our Bretton Woods office  a call for more information on those opportunities.

10. On-Site Dining at the Omni Mount Washington Hotel

On-site dining includes the main Dining Room at the hotel for upscale casual dining, Stickneys Restaurant pub and steakhouse in the lower level of the hotel, Rosebrook Bar in the hotel for a quick casual bite, Bretton Arms Inn for intimate dining, Fabyans Restaurant for casual dining or pub fare, Slopeside Lounge in the lodge for lunch and afternoon fare during ski season, Lucy Crawford's Food Court in the base lodge during ski season and Latitude 44 for mid-mountain casual dining. Bretton Woods is a great destination, whether for a weekend, full-time living, or a second home getaway sure to create memories for a lifetime! We invite you to stop by our Bretton Woods office and learn more!

About Michelle Penner