Colonial-Style Inn Surrounded by White Mountains and Cross-Country-Skiing Trails

Cross-country-skiing trails loop through the rolling hillsides and evergreen forests surrounding the Franconia Inn, a white-clapboard, colonial-style structure set on 107 acres in north-central New Hampshire. Guests can rent skis, boots, and poles at an onsite recreation center and then glide across 40 miles of single-track trails in the shadow of the White Mountains. The property also has rugged snowshoeing paths and an outdoor ice-skating rink that typically opens by the end of December. Beginning in late November, you can ski down green-, blue-, and black-diamond trails at nearby Cannon Mountain; some options with this Groupon include lift tickets for two.

The Franconia Inn's property has served as a homestead for more than 200 years. The three-story building that stands today dates to the 1930s. When third-generation innkeepers Richard and Alec Morris purchased the inn in 1981, they preserved its period charm by decorating guest rooms with antiques and bright, floral wallpaper. Burnished-oak paneling, brick fireplaces, and old-fashioned light fixtures can be found throughout the lobby and other common areas.

Head downstairs to the elegant dining room each morning for a full breakfast (included with this Groupon). You can use your daily dining credit here, too, to feast on lobster bisque, roasted long island duckling, and other regional specialties while looking out on panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

Franconia, New Hampshire: Quiet Mountain Hamlet with Colorful Autumn Foliage and Ski Resorts

Franconia, a quiet hamlet in north-central New Hampshire, was named for its resemblance to the Franconia region of Germany, a picturesque upland dotted with mountains, valleys, and boulders. Just a few miles south of the inn, Franconia Notch State Park is a popular tourist destination in the fall and winter. The Boston Globe praised its colorful autumn foliage and deemed Cannon Mountain “one of the state’s best ski areas.”

The town of Franconia is a nice place to spend an afternoon strolling along quaint streets lined with historic inns and shops. You might even catch a concert or play inside one of many restored buildings. The town is also home to The Frost Place, the former home of poet Robert Frost. Here you'll find a museum with a collection of signed first editions. Though the museum is closed during the winter, you can still explore the grounds.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.