Hotel at a Glance: Snowvillage Inn

Perched on Foss Mountain, the 4-star Snowvillage Inn is a peaceful alpine retreat. There are no TVs here to distract from the scenery; guests are instead invited to sip cocktails on the patio facing the Presidential Range mountains or explore the hillside hiking trails.

• Adventure for two: This getaway includes a tandem kayak or canoe trip with an introductory lesson.
• Free housemade breakfast with meat, eggs, and locally roasted organic coffee
• Country chic: The inn’s 17 guest rooms are spread across three buildings. Amenities vary, but each has a private bathroom and free WiFi.
• Fresh seafood including Maine oysters and scallops is served at the onsite Max’s Restaurant and Pub.

White Mountains, New Hampshire: Soaring Peaks Surrounded by Historical New England Towns

There are 48 peaks that rise more than 4,000 feet in the White Mountains National Forest, making them New England’s tallest mountains. The 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington is the tallest in the entire Northeast; from the top, you can get amazing views of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, and, on especially clear days, Canada. To get to the top, you can either attempt the challenging hike up or take a scenic drive along the Mount Washington Auto Road. For a less daunting climb, there’s Crawford Notch State Park, where you can hike the Mount Willard trail. It climbs 3.9 miles to a summit with gorgeous vistas.

A handful of small historical towns dot the surrounding lowlands, and they all serve as excellent gateways to rugged adventure in the national forest. Many became popular vacation spots during the railroad era, when Bostonians and New Yorkers flocked here to exchange stifling city streets for mountain air.