Anniversary Weekend in the White Mountains

This area is known for skiing, but those who don't like the idea of careening down a freezing mountains will enjoy the beautiful scenery and isolation. The best way to experience this area is to get your map out and start driving. Stop when you see a spectacular view or a beautiful ice-covered creek. Also, don't miss the town of North Conway. We didn't realize that they would have such great outlets and shopping. Plan to spend some time enjoying the shops.

Quick Tips:

Our bed and breakfast experience was perfect for a romantic weekend. But make sure you choose a bed and breakfast that is actually in the mountains. Ours was at the 'entrance' to the mountains, so it took quite a while to get into the beautiful peaks. I would suggest staying nearer to North Conway. It offers the best of all worlds - scenery, shopping, and dining.

Best Way To Get Around:

Driving is the best way to get around (unless you enjoy your nose and feet going numb within minutes of starting out on a walk), but pack some boots and get out in the snow! Oh, and bring your warmest coat too.

Check out the website for this quaint Bed and Breakfast: http://www.new-hampshire-lodging.com/

We normally don't pay this much for lodging, but it was our first anniversary. The experience was worth the money!

The hosts were incredibly friendly and helpful. They sent us to a wonderfully romantic restaurant for dinner. It was a place we would have never discovered on our own, located off of the main roads. The food was unbelievable, and there was a roaring fire, as well as candles and roses at each table.

Our room was cozy (not large), and the whirlpool wasn't really worth bothering with. It was really a normal size tub/shower with water jets in it. Definitely go for a room with a fireplace instead! The details in the room (lace, flowered wall paper, soft carpet) were perfect. They even had a tape player with romantic instrumental music by the bed.

The breakfast here was amazing! It was served to all of the guests at an ornate table. All of the food was out of this world.

They also had a nice selection of videos that were available to guests at no charge, and there was a VCR in each room. We enjoyed lounging on our comfy bed and watching a movie.

The only drawback to this inn is that it is at the southern entrance to the White Mountains. You must drive a good hour to find yourself in the heart of the snowy peaks. I would recommend this inn if you are more concerned with being together and taking long drives than if you would like to ski. For skiing, go further north.

Delicious, delicious food! Our hosts at our Bed and Breakfast told us about this restaurant, and it is not on the beaten path. There was a crackling, warm furnace burning, and there were fresh roses and candles on the tables. The dining area was dim, perfect for an anniversary dinner. It was a diverse crowd - obviously some locals visit regularly and do not feel the need to dress up. But if you're looking for a romantic evening in the mountains, this is a great spot.

The bread that they serve before dinner is very fresh, and we regretted eating so much of it once we tasted our entrees. I had a filet mignon that was tender and full of flavor. We also split an excellent chocolate dessert and even had some left to take home with us.

We visited here in the heart of winter, and we enjoyed driving around the entire forest and coming upon small towns, ski slopes, and frozen rivers. This forest is truly beautiful. There are many evergreens here (many more than in my homestate of South Carolina). I love the way evergreens hold snow on their branches. It really was a winter wonderland. There were occasional lookout points along the main roads with excellent views of the peaks, and there were also picnic areas along the rivers. The snow was about a foot deep in some places, but the roads were kept clear for the ski traffic. There are cross country ski trails in the forest, as well as ski resorts sprinkled throughout the region. Since we don't ski, we just enjoyed site seeing. The forest was so beautiful, though, that we have been considering trying out cross-country skiing!

It's too bad we didn't have more time to spend in North Conway. We passed SO many outlet shops - everything from Gap to LL Bean to Aigner. It's a shopper's paradise! I can imagine my mother and myself getting into some serious debt there. We did stop into a fudge shop and bought some delightful chocolate and a cute little stuffed moose.

We decided that in the future we would like to stay closer to North Conway. The town has so much to offer, and it's snuggled in between beautiful mountains. We saw a few adorable Bed and Breakfasts along the main street. This was definitely the most crowded area we drove, basically because the slopes and shopping are right there.