It is a rare thing for a hotel of this scale and with such a grand past to live up to expectations under the scrutiny of a modern eye, but the Mt Washington Hotel has more than stood up to the test of time.
The Atmosphere
First impressions count and, as you crest a hill in the heart of New Hampshire’s White Mountains, the Mount Washington Resort makes a striking introduction. Set back from the road, this stately white monolith with red tile roof and renaissance columns sits at the end of long open drive and faces directly towards the imposing Mt Washington, New England’s tallest mountain.
With two hundred rooms this is a big hotel but such is the scale and grandeur of the public spaces and grounds that everything feels in proportion. From the Grand Hall to the large verandas that wrap around the building, there are plenty of welcoming spaces to sit by a log fire or relax with a cocktail. Expansive, well-maintained grounds, dotted with firepits and bisected by the Ammonoosuc River, surround the property.
When you’re not out exploring the White Mountains, there is plenty to keep you busy at the hotel from fun on horseback at the on-site stables to the longest canopy zipline in New England. The hotel is decidedly family-friendly and they have a wide range of excellent kid’s programs.
Your Room
With so many rooms in a hotel of this age, they come in many different shapes and sizes. They’re traditional in style but welcoming and uncluttered. We love the corner rooms with mountain views and fireplaces.
Food and Drink
The more formal main dining room has spectacular views of the mountains, whereas Stickney’s is a more casual pub and steakhouse. The Rosebook Bar, tucked behind a staircase, and The Cave, a prohibition-era speakeasy, are perfect spots for a pre and post dinner drink.
