Five Places to Get Snowbound This Winter

From Manchester, Vermont to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, here are some charming inns to enjoy in the snow around New England.


kimpton taconic inn

The Kimpton Taconic Inn, courtesy photo

It may not be that attractive when you need to dig out your car, but there’s nothing quite like looking out the window to a blanket of fresh snow. And let’s face it: Sometimes the best part of a New England winter is hiding from it. If you’re game to snuggle up by the fire, sip hot chocolate, and watch the flakes fall, here are five perfect destinations.

Kimpton Taconic Hotel

Covered bridges, mountain vistas, and proximity to prime skiing: Manchester, VT is a true winter wonderland. There’s miles of trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing, and downhill skiers and snowboarders will love that Stratton and Killington are less than an hour away. If you want to venture out, make a visit to nearby Hildene, the summer home of Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert.

3834 Main St., Manchester, Vermont, taconichotel.com.

sailmaker's house snowbound

Image provided

The Sailmaker’s House

If you like the idea of a quaint New England getaway but want to avoid desolate locales, Portsmouth is a sure bet. Located right on the Piscataqua River, it combines the natural beauty of water views with a lively downtown area. The city’s food scene is filled with breweries, restaurants, and coffee shops, and there’s endless activities ranging from live music to museums. Plus, it’s only an hour north of Boston.

314 Court St., Portsmouth, New Hampshire, sailmakershouse.com.

mountain view grand snowbound

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Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa

Tucked in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, the Mountain View seamlessly blends rural beauty with fun, wintry activities. Hit the ice at the skating rink, or zoom down the hills on an inner tube. You can even learn how to throw an ax! The food and cocktails are divine, but we’d definitely encourage you to order a stack at Polly’s Pancake Parlor, a visitor favorite just a half hour away.

101 Mountain View Road, Whitefield, New Hampshire, mountainviewgrand.com.

Oliver Wight House at Old Sturbridge Inn & Reeder Family Lodges

Embrace the historic vibe of Old Sturbridge Village, a living museum depicting early 19th-century rural New England. Built in 1789, OSV’s Oliver Wight House embodies true New England charm. (Think cozy embroidered bathrobes and and cherry four-poster canopy beds.) And if you visit in December, be sure to catch Christmas by Candlelight, an evening filled with the magic of Christmases past.

1 Old Sturbridge Road, Sturbridge, Massachusetts, osv.org.

winvian farm inn

Courtesy photo

Winvian Farm

If you’re looking to go 100% luxe, Winvian Farm in Connecticut’s picturesque Litchfield Hills is the place. Their 18 unique cottages range from a luxurious log cabin bordering the 4,000-acre White Memorial Nature Preserve to the Library, a private villa with a wood-burning fireplace and ladders that climb to a book-lined, wrap-around mezzanine. Venture outside for some snowshoeing (the Winvian will arrange for a guide to join you if you’d like) or luxuriate at their spa. Love antiquing? Litchfield is an antiques goldmine.

155 Alain White Road, Morris, Connecticut, winvian.com.