The White Mountains

Shannon's Top Ten in the White Mountains

1. Explore the Lost River.
2. Drive across the Kancamangus.
3. Climb to Arethusa Falls/Frankenstein Cliff
4. Shop the Outlet Malls.
5. Ascend in the Wildcat Mountain Gondola
6. Brave the Polar Caves.
7. Slide down Attitash Mountain.
8. Play Adventure Golf!
9. Drink Apple Cider.
10. Visit the - deceased - Old Man of the Mountain.

    Quick Tips:

    There's really no need to make reservations, with so many places to stay up here. But if you have your heart set on a particular hotel, by all means reserve in advance.

    To avoid the crowds, drive up on a rainy weekend. The rain will probably stop but you won't have to deal with the masses.

    Best Way To Get Around:

    Having a car is necessary for seeing all the remote places in the White Mountains, but North Conway and Lincoln have walkable town centers.

Website: StonehurstManor.Com
The main house is supposed to be quite beautiful. The newer Mountain View wing isn't nearly as nice. Our view was of the parking lot. While the furnishings are pleasant, the rooms are small. We ended up in the worst rooms in the house, right next to the kitchen. We were woken early by barking dogs and clanging in the kitchens, and kept awake late at night by the restaurant. The jacuzzi and fireplace rooms sound much nicer, and the main house used to be a private manor. The lobby and dining rooms are sumptuous, and I imagine the guest rooms are similar.

Food - two meals per day - is included with the cost of the room. The food is above average, and very rich. For myself, I'd rather be able to choose my own restaurants rather than having to eat at the same place every night.

In my opinion, the walking trails were over-rated. There is a nice overlook from the hotel, and a hot tub right on the hillside.

Most of the guests were older, and my girlfriend and I didn't feel completely comfortable at this hotel.

Driving up on a rainy Memorial Day weekend, my boyfriend and I pulled into the Rivergreen Resorts at 5pm on a Saturday. With our incredible luck, we were able to score two nights of luxury for $75/night. Included was a hot tub for two in our first-floor room.

The hotel rented out game machines and vcrs, as well as movies. We rented a few movies as well as played a few games while the rain poured. We also enjoyed the hot tub, especially with some glasses of champagne.

The Beacon Resort has a variety of properties, from motel-like accomodations to cabins. Prices also range based on the type of accomodations you choose. Many rooms have hot tubs and fireplaces. We visited in January. Unless you ski, January is no time to be in the White Mountains. However, this resort is so popular that booking in October meant I had to postpone our trip to January. It was highly recommended by a co-worker as a romantic place to stay.

The hot tub in the room itself was a plus. It was quite large, not the half-size tubs that some hotels offer. The two double-beds were not that romantic, but that's what you get for booking over the internet.

Most of their packages include breakfast and dinner, with your pick of the menu. Dad's restaurant is large enough to serve all the guests in the hotel. Perhaps we ate at odd times, but there were rarely many people in the restaurant. In this quieter section of the White Mountains, it is nice to have a restaurant to return to in the evenings. The food was satisfying, if not gourmet. Steak, shrimp, and chicken -- cooked American-style, figure largely on the menu. You can even get a lobster.

It is a moderate hike to the beautiful Arethusa Falls. In dry years, the falls may be no more than a trickle. On the way, stop and swim in the clear waters. Do not swim at the falls! It's dangerous.

Another mile or so further on the path will bring you to Frankenstein Cliff, where you will be able to look down at passing cars far below. This is a challenging hike.

White Mountain Cider Company is a great place to stop before or after a hike in the woods. We came back after seeing Diana's Baths to have a refreshing glass of hot cider with a cider donut. The cider donuts were so good that I considered ordering more over the Internet. This store sells baked goods, cider, and lots of specialty foods and crafts. We got some very unusual mustards here. At the right time of year, you can also watch the cider pressing in the barn.

Details Located 1 mile west of the RT. 302/16 Jct in Glen, NH.
Open Daily 7am-6pm
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Hike Distance: 1 mile there and back
Hike Difficulty: Easy
Description This is a well-developed tourist attraction not far from North Conway. Wooden walkways were added to assist even the most out-of-shape visitor. The series of small waterfalls will be a big hit with kids, and it's a fun spot for photographers. You may bring dogs here.

When I came here on Labor Day weekend, the sight was near deserted. Unfortunately, some unsightly garbage had been left behind by other visitors. Such things are common in easily accessible locations. Please do not litter in America's beautiful natural places. Costs There is no cost to see Diana's Baths. There is an honor system parking permit. Please do pay to park, as it keeps the site kept up. How to Find It Diana's Baths is off the West Side Road, a half-mile from the turnoff to Cathedral Ledge on West Side Road, Bartlett, N.H. (near North Conway).

Great fun for kids and adventurous adults, Lost River is a river that one "loses" as it dips into caves. There is a gentle hike into the gorge on wooden scaffolding and staircases. There is also a gift shop, a snack bar, and an ecology trail.

Lost River is a family attraction, but all its wonders will not be accessible to everyone. Smaller adults and children can follow the river through the caves, whereas some larger adults may only be able to walk through the larger caves. There are some definite tight squeezes, but you are warned in advance. In addition, there are some places where it is damp, or indeed, you may be crawling through a waterfall. A Rainy-Day Activity? Recently, I visited Lost River on a damp, rainy day in May. Because of the weather, Lost River was nearly deserted, despite being a holiday weekend. Figuring that we were going to get muddy and wet anyway, my boyfriend and I went ahead and explored the caves. Only one cave was closed due to the flooding. The rest were open and we were the only people in the park. Summary Lost River is safe, soft adventure. You feel the excitement of spelunking without much of the danger. Very popular on hot summer days, the dank caves and the river running through them provides a cooling-off for sweaty visitors. Details Dates and Hours Lost River is open mid-May to mid-October. July and August 9am-6pm. May, June, September and October 9am-5pm. Last ticket sold 60 minutes before closing. Prices Adults: $9.50
Ages 4-12: $6.50
Ages 3, 2, and 1 with adult: Free

Website: Find Lost River