New Hampshire’s Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa has all the ingredients for a family holiday at a luxury New Hampshire spa resort. Whether you want a five-course chef’s tasting with wine pairings or the hearty breakfast buffet, it’s all here in Whitefield.
Farm fresh ingredients include locally sourced food, of course, but also killer views of the White Mountains, 1,400 acres of land to hike or mountain bike and a barn full of chickens, bunnies and llamas. Herbs and spices – their own custom blend – include pickleball, a screening room and axe-throwing contests. Nine holes of golf, tennis, indoor and outdoor pools, and board games add to your family’s White Mountains vacation feast.
What makes Mountain View Grand such a special New Hampshire mountain resort is that it has kept the casual charm of the inn it once was.
Mountain View Is a Grand Luxury New Hampshire Spa Resort
According to the historic film that shows daily, a stagecoach accident brought the first two tourists to Whitefield in 1865. The Dodge family, living nearby, fed and housed them for a few days. Their guests’ desire to return inspired the Dodges to expand their family farm into an inn the following year. Word spread, and an expanded Mountain View Inn soon began welcoming railroad passengers.
Notable guests to this grand inn included several presidents, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Babe Ruth, all four Marx Brothers and even astronaut Neil Armstrong. All came seeking the original wellness experience: pure, fresh air and natural surroundings at a Luxury New Hampshire spa resort.
After more than a century of success under Dodge family descendants, the resort changed hands several times in the 1980s and finally closed. In 1998, investors made attempts to restore it to its original grandeur. The expanded inn finally reopened in 2002 as a historic landmark with 142 rooms.
Being a Guest at Mountain View Grand, Best of New Hampshire
At our summer visit, guests of this Luxury New Hampshire spa resort ranged from young Dartmouth graduates celebrating with peers to couples marking an important wedding anniversary and multigenerational families.
There’s some diversity in the crowd which mostly originates from the surrounding regions of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine and Canada. Today, all ages in flip flops, khakis, hiking boots or saris rock on Adirondack porch chairs admiring the White Mountains.
Everyone stays in the main lodge, in mountain view king, double-bedded rooms or the few suites. Some rooms overlook the farm and forests; all are comfortable and bright, with a large TV, coffeemaker, safe and paid minibar. Family rooms also have a pullout sofabed, ideal for kids to share. Others choose connecting rooms, which can be configured several ways. The décor is simply country, with nothing to detract from the pastoral views.
After a good night’s sleep, all ages awake to plan a day from the extensive offerings at Mountain View Grand.
Outdoor Activities at Your New Hampshire Resort: Will it be Llamas, Mountain Biking or Pickleball?
Mountain View Grand is one of the few resorts where you don’t mind paying a Resort Fee ($40 per day) because it covers so many worthwhile activities. Of course, WiFi and parking are free, but so are the morning farm tours of llama and alpaca corrals. Meet bunnies and a wild collection of birds of a different feather – colorful, feisty chickens who lay eggs on shelves so young guests can easily harvest them.
The fee also covers a fully stocked Activities Center with kids’ playroom. Borrow gear from Angel for pickleball or tennis, which share the same courts. Pick up frisbees for disc golf or sign up for the daily Axe Throwing Competition. You, like us, may discover how much fun it is to throw double-headed axes at wooden targets.
Get the right stuff for billiards, table tennis or pool. The small spa has an indoor pool where we did aquarobics. There’s also a sauna for guest use and a variety of wellness therapies for a fee. Enjoy the gym classes, the heated outdoor pool and sundeck next to the nine-hole golf course. Ride mountain bikes along the property’s tranquil, moss and root-covered trails. (Most guests bring their own gear but the Activity Center does have a few loaner adult-size golf clubs and mountain bikes.)
Sounds too active? Request a film from the Front Desk or watch any from the posted schedule at their 17-seat screening room. A Teen Only Movie Night unspools every Saturday.
A New Hampshire Llama Stroll: Hiking Around a Grand White Mountains Resort
A family favorite pastime is MVG Breakfast with Llamas ($30 per person ages 5 and older). It is offered every morning until the snow falls.
First, farm manager Jessica introduces the rules of llama leading. “Don’t let your llama put his face into another one’s butt,” she advises. The five kids in our group giggle wildly.
Our hour-long stroll with Finnegan goes well until Elmer decides he wants to walk in front of Bourbon. Jessica arbitrates and we continue back to the barn, where Maddie distributes breakfast boxes for a picnic breakfast.
Fall & Winter Family Attractions at Mountain View Grand
With 1, 700 acres to explore and weekend tractor rides, revel in the variety of fall foliage. Join the staff in celebrating autumn with apple cider making workshops at their on-site press and apple tastings on the verandah. Stop by the many local festivals.
While New Hampshire resorts are most beloved for their summer season, the bountiful snowfall makes winter a very interesting time to visit. At Mountain View Grand, families count on ice skating, snowshoeing, tubing, and cross-country skiing right on the property. Book a carriage and sleigh ride on resort trails or glide off to harvest local Christmas trees.
Younger kids will love the themed “Journey to the North Pole” scenic train ride to Santa’s workshop in Lincoln. The weekends around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s boast special dining events, tree lighting, fireworks and more programming at the resort, all at special rates.
Drive Scenic New Hampshire Route 302 through Crawford Notch
Mountain View Grand, or MVG as some call it, is about 10 miles northeast of Littleton, where Route 3S meets Route 302. This little town at the western end of Crawford Notch has several shops and markets where you can buy picnic provisions.
The Saco River parallels the White Mountains Highway through “The Notch,” as it’s known. This geological feature, a valley or depression, was carved out during the Ice Age. The steep granite cliffs are punctuated by the evergreens of the White Mountains National Forest. Every turn reveals a state park — Franconia Notch, Crawford Notch, Mount Washington, Echo Lake – that hides everything else from view
Then you reach the ski resorts like Bretton Woods and Cranmore, surrounded by small motels and chain hotels. In summer, they attract visitors to their mountain biking parks and scenic gondola rides. Bird watchers with binoculars are everywhere. Nostalgic activities like a day in Storyland, an old-fashioned amusement and water park celebrating seven decades, have to be booked way in advance.
In the fall, things slow to accommodate leaf peepers. In winter, shoppers at the Christmas Loft and eager skiers clog the road with even more traffic. Cathedral Ledge is a popular trail with three season views of the mountains, foliage and rock climbers testing themselves against the granite faces.
Shop North Conway, Commercial Capital of the White Mountains
Soon, you’re in the bustling town of North Conway, by the Maine border. The contrast could not be more dramatic.
Conway is known for its outlet shopping malls, more upscale now than in the past. Settlers Green is one outdoor mall packed with brand shops. There’s an LL Bean Outlet, a Home Depot, Lowe’s, a TJ Max. There are a lot of local restaurants and shops, including a wonderful arts and crafts gallery.
The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, established in 1932, has a half dozen shops in the state which carry the work of nearly 300 member artisans. It’s all beautiful quality work, ranging from stained glass to blown glass and a lot of woodwork like burled Maple tables. Gift shopping includes jewelry, ceramics, household goods and fiber arts, making it definitely worth a stop. They also have Pottery classes and craft workshops in case you’re in town.
A White Mountains Rest Stop: The John Willey House in Crawford Notch
For three seasons, families spend at least one day exploring the natural attractions in Crawford Notch. Make a stop at the Willey House, site of an 1826 landslide in which the Willey Family, who evacuated their home, lost their lives while their house survived. A split log visitors center and cottage with a wrap-around porch have replaced it.
The John Willey House is run by the helpful ranger Rex Wiley. As he explains his name, his mother’s side of the family were the New Hampshire Willey’s who married the Maine Wiley’s. Ask his advice about trail conditions and which ones your family would enjoy.
Across the road, a small bridge crossing the Saco River leads to a sand beach and a short, round-the-pond trail. It’s an ideal place to introduce young children and non-hikers to the best of the White Mountains.
Natural Waterfalls Surround Your New Hampshire Spa Resort
Most families opt for seeing a few of the White Mountains National Forest waterfalls. Look for the well labeled parking areas ($5 per vehicle paid to an Honor Box) and trail markers. The Flume Cascade and the Silver Cascade, west of the Willey House, can be seen from the north side of the road. No hiking required. The flows are especially full during late summer after a robust rainy season.
Judge everyone’s ability and interest realistically and plan a few hike-to waterfall excursions during your stay. The uphill hikes can be steep but doable with kids if you take your time. Most routes are densely wooded and surprisingly silent, with an occasional bird cry or chipmunk sighting for company. The views from the top are well worthwhile.
We chose Ripley’s Falls, about a mile east of the Willey House. Hike the very wooded path up a moderately challenging path of moss, stones and tangled roots for about 25 minutes. Soak your feet in the pool at the top drop or bathe like the locals.
Arethusa Falls, the tallest of the many cascades in the region, requires 1.5 miles of uphill hiking. It’s a popular trail with beautiful views from the summit and gets slippery in wet weather.
A Luxury New Hampshire Spa Resort with Dining Options
Other than sightseeing, there aren’t many good reasons to leave MVG. Dining options are varied enough to satisfy most families. Off the lobby, the Verandah Bar serves burgers, a few salads and a delicious New England clam chowder at lunch and dinner.
Most families belly up to the bar to order a pizza from their extensive, celebrity-chef menu, then take it out to the verandah. This the place to appreciate that namesake “mountain view.” Try out the telescope and guide map to identify the peaks of the Presidential Range as it stretches out in front of you. Mount Washington, the tallest, is framed by the steps at the entry of the resort.
Harvest, next door to the bar, is open for three meals including the popular breakfast buffet. Ask for a window table, then choose from housemade granola, smoked salmon and bagels, quiches and local maple sausage and bacon. The friendly wait staff, largely seasonal workers like Kevin from Jamaica, warmly greet returning families.
Across the brilliant green lawn there’s a small Golf Clubhouse by the outdoor pool. Order a pizza or a Club sandwich with a Rockpile IPA and enjoy the sunshine.
Celebrating Special Occasions at a Special White Mountains Resort
We were startled to discover the sophisticated Wine Cellar 1865, winner of the 2024 Wine Spectator award for its cuisine and selection of wines. Less than a dozen tables tucked between wine racks in the farmhouse’s original cellar make an intimate and elegant venue. There’s also a private dining room for family events, although children must be 15 or older.
The four-course menu at our visit started with a delicious charcuterie board loaded with locally cured meats, New England cheeses, olives, spreads and crackers. Grace brought a glass of champagne to accompany our Ahi tuna tartare and Chicken Lumpia spring rolls. The entrées were a vegetarian pasta dish or a choice of swordfish, chicken and beef tenderloin. Attentive service, presentation and flavor matched the celebratory mood. Our meal ended with a key lime tart whose meringue topping reminded us of the beauty of the White Mountains.
Trip Planning Details for Your Luxury New Hampshire Spa Resort Getaway
Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa (855/837-2100) is located at 101 Mountain View Road, Whitefield, New Hampshire 03598. Their website is the place for seasonal specials and the current family activities schedule. One pet up to 40 lbs is welcomed per pet-friendly room, with a pet fee. Note that from November to March, themed activities abound and resort rates drop by 25%.
There are several motels and chain hotels in the area, but only one other “grand” resort. That’s the famous ca. 1900 Omni Mt. Washington Resort at nearby Bretton Woods. Wealthy New Hampshire native Joseph Stickney built it to be the most opulent resort of its day, catering to the elite with steel construction, plumbing and electricity. Today, some families find that the Mt. Washington Resort is a such a Gilded Age beauty that its décor and luxury amenities compete with the natural surroundings.
At Mountain View Grand, we learned that a feast of the White Mountains is the best thing on the menu.
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