The historic Omni Mount Washington is located about 2.5 hours from Boston and offers a nice retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. The property opened in 1902 and recently underwent a $50 million renovation including new bedding in the main resort, new painting, expanded meeting space and a renovated dining room, to name just a few upgrades.
The stunning property sits prominently at the base of Mount Washington surrounded by 800,000 acres of the White Mountain National Forest. Be sure to pick up a copy of The Bugle, the daily newsletter that highlights the day's events which may include a wine tasting, afternoon tea, scavenger hunt or hotel tour.
We stayed in the adjacent Bretton Arms Inn, which had not been renovated but is pet-friendly and we were, indeed, traveling with our four-legged friend. Unfortunately, the inn is not soundproof with children running up and down the halls at all hours of the night so a quieter night would certainly be had at the main resort. There is a nice little restaurant here adding to the B&B feel of the property where we stopped in for breakfast. They also offer dinner here for a more intimate experience.
We dined both nights at Stickneys, a casual pub that offered a good selection of seafood and beef entrees. Be sure to request dinner reservations here in advance. On our second night, we were told by the hostess that a table wouldn't be available until after 9 p.m. even though the restaurant wasn't completely full; but they were able to accommodate us shortly after our wait at the bar.
There are a variety of dining options here, including the Rosebrook Bar located off the Great Hall, Fabyan's Station located just up the street in a former train station and The Grille at the Nordic Center. The main dining room offers a formal experience with men required to wear jackets to dinner. It is here that a bountiful buffet is presented on Sunday, complete with eggs, waffles, omelet station, fresh fruit, muffins, pastries and the most flavorful blueberry sausages we have ever tasted.
Bretton Woods is well known for its skiing but there is an array of winter activities that can be found right on property without ever having to leave. The resort offers everything from dog sledding, ice skating, tubing and sleigh rides, as well as a canopy tour that is available year round for a high flying adventure in the trees and above the slopes.
In the warmer months, there is an on-site golf course and full service pro shops with lessons and rentals also available. You can also participate in a bicycle tour, guided hike, round of tennis or fly fishing clinic. There is also an on-site 25,000-square-foot spa that offers body treatments, massages, manicures, pedicures and even a salon to get you styled up for a night on the town. Although we didn't visit while we were staying at the property, we did meet some people who had and thought the treatments were wonderful.
Note: The resort charges a $20 resort fee per room per night in addition to the daily room rate, which includes morning coffee in the lobby, a daily newspaper, wireless internet, access to the fitness center and pools, valet parking at the main hotel, shuttle service throughout the resort, and activities such as tennis, racquetball and ice skating.
Omni Mount Washington Resort
Route 302
Bretton Woods, New Hampshire 03575
603.278.1000
www.omnihotels.com
