I recently celebrated my birthday with a weekend stay the Mountain View Grand Resort. My twin sister and I live in New England and were looking for a resort that was within driving distance yet far enough away from our daily lives to ensure we felt like we were on vacation. The Mountain View Grand Resort in Whitefield, NH, was just the place. It’s a beautiful, historic hotel perched above the town of Whitefield with gorgeous, panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The resort is perfect for escaping the stressful pace of daily life and working on your mental fitness. It’s also the site of my introduction to axe throwing. Yes, that’s a thing and it was so fun! There’s nothing like a new experience to make you feel revitalized.
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About The Resort
The Mountain View Grand Resort is one of the Historic Hotels of America. I absolutely love staying at historic hotels. They are rich with stories and the architecture is much more detailed and beautiful than modern day hotels. (You can read about my stay at the historic Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.)
Stepping through the front door of the Mountain View Grand Resort is like stepping back in time. As my sister and I made our way up the front steps onto the front porch filled with Adirondack chairs, a doorman opened the large front door with a warm greeting to welcome us into the expansive lobby. I wanted to drop all my bags and warm up in front of the cozy fireplace that was right in front of us but I continued on to the reception desk to check in. I would later learn that the eagle I saw on the wall above the reception desk was the last remaining artifact from the original hotel. In 1986, due to the financial and legal trouble of the owner, the hotel closed and all the contents were sold. Eventually, when the resort was restored to its full glory in 2002 the person who bought the eagle donated it back to the hotel to assume its rightful place above the reception desk
After checking in we walked to our suite. I couldn’t help but be reminded of Steven King’s The Shining. Long, dimly lit hallways in old hotels will give you that feeling. If you’ve the seen the movie, you know what I mean. If you’ve never seen the movie, then put it on your watch list! Better yet, read the book. One unique element I loved about the hallways was the built-in bookcases. I couldn’t tell if they were decorative or had been installed to mask the multiple additions to the original building. Unlike many resorts, the Mountain View began as a small inn and gradually grew over the years through multiple additions. Either way, the bookcases are unique and add to the hotel’s charm.
Rooms and Lobby Area
Our room with a super comfortable king size bed had a mountain view, and I definitely recommend one of these rooms. Of course, you can walk down to the common areas of the hotel for the same view, but the beautiful view that greets you first thing in the morning sets the tone for the day. Plus, the early sun will help to naturally wake you up.
If you need a little caffeine boost to start the day (I definitely do), coffee is served every morning in the lobby of the hotel and it’s delicious! I love enjoying the peace and quiet of the morning with a cup of coffee and a good book. While others sipped their coffee in the lobby or the restaurant, I snuck away to the Eisenhower Library.
In the morning, the library is a bright and sunny room in the front of the resort with panoramic mountain views and is just far enough away from the lobby to provide a quiet retreat for reading or enjoying the view. The library’s namesake is President Dwight Eisenhower, who was a frequent visitor to the resort during and after his presidency. The President was a guest of the Dodge family (long-time resort owners) so he stayed at their home. However, in the middle of the night he stole away to the library to read, thus it was named in his honor.
Evenings can also be enjoyed in the library on the comfy couch in front of the fireplace. The parlor is also open throughout the day and board games are available for guests. It’s also a popular room for playing cards. Both of these rooms encourage quiet conversation and engaging with those you’re traveling with. While the hotel offers wi-fi, it’s refreshing to see space where screens are not encouraged. There are no TVs or signs displaying the wi-fi password. Challenge yourself to leave your phone behind and enjoy quiet reflection and/or conversation.
Fireplace in the Eisenhower library 
Parlor
The resort offers live piano in the evenings in the lobby. There is nothing like piano music to help settle your mind. Listening to music has multiple health benefits. It releases dopamine to help you feel happier and listening to calm music before bed has been shown to promote better sleep. Greg Goodwin entertains with his large catalog of piano music on Friday and Saturday nights in the winter and 5-6 nights a week during the busy summer months of July and August. Settle into one of the comfy chairs in the lobby after dinner to unwind and enjoy the music.
The Spa Experience
The Tower Spa is the oasis of the hotel. It sits alone on the fourth floor, safely away from the hustle and bustle of the lobby area. The elevator doors open directly into the spa, and as soon as the elevator doors opened, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. The soothing music helps set the mood for total relaxation. I recommend arriving a half hour before your appointment to allow time to change into your comfy spa robe and enjoy a cup of tea or water in the lounge area prior to your treatment.
I treat myself to deep tissue massages once a month so suffice to say I’m a big fan of massages. The massage treatment that caught my eye on the spa services menu was the Chroma Tub Experience. This hydrotherapy treatment is supposed to be the equivalent of receiving a massage without the human touch. I was intrigued by this concept so decided to give it a try.
I had no idea what to expect and was pleasantly surprised when I was led into a treatment room that was similar to a traditional massage room except that the table was replaced by a tub. The Chroma Tub looks like a cross between a claw foot bathtub and a jacuzzi. Instead of the few large jets of a jacuzzi, this tub was equipped with 252 mini jets all around the tub that “massage” your whole body as you soak in the hot water.
The hydro-massage lasted for 20 minutes with the last minute being a lymphatic cleanse, where the water is reheated in an effort to drain the toxins released during the massage. I’m a bit skeptical of the lymphatic drain process but I rolled with it. I was warned the water would get super hot during the last minute. There was even a cup of ice on the side of the tub in case it got too hot. This may have been a precautionary measure for insurance purposes since I definitely didn’t need the ice.
As my massage was nearing its end I was doubting whether the hydro massage would have the same effect as a traditional massage. But when the jets shut off I could instantly tell the difference. My whole body felt more relaxed and loose. I prefer a traditional deep tissue massage but the Chroma Tub Experience is an excellent option for those seeking an inexpensive massage. It definitely did the trick!
Pool and Fitness Areas
The indoor pool and fitness center at the Mountain View Grand Resort are located on the lower level at the far right side of the main building. On a bitterly cold winter day, I couldn’t wait to jump in the hot tub and warm up in the sauna. Both of these have the double benefit of soothing sore muscles and helping to flush toxins by making us sweat. And let’s not forget about how they can change our moods. Has anyone not felt relaxed after a short stint in a hot tub or sauna?
I started with the sauna for 10-15 minutes and then spent time reading poolside to allow myself to cool down. Be sure to hydrate after a visit to the sauna, as it’s common to lose a pint of fluid. The heat is very dry so you’ll lose water by sweating almost as soon as you step into the sauna. Your perspiration will dry immediately so you won’t notice you’re sweating.
There were only a few people in the pool area and I took advantage of an empty pool to swim a few laps and perform a few quick exercises. While not an intense workout, the water creates enough resistance for an effective full body strength training session. Lateral leg lifts, flutter kicks, shoulder raises, rows and walking are great pool exercises. Here are a few other ideas you can use to build your pool workout program. If you’re looking for more traditional exercises, the Mountain View Grand’s fitness center is just outside of the pool area. With free weights, nautilus and cardio equipment, the sizable (by hotel standards) fitness center is certainly sufficient enough for your workout needs.
I followed the pool with a stint in the hot tub to continue reading my book. Total relaxation! For those history buffs, you’ll notice the wall behind the hot tub is made partially of stone. This is because this wall was once the outside wall of the resort. The hot tub and indoor pool were later additions to the resort and the original stone wall was retained during the renovation.
There is also an outdoor pool for the warmer months. I would love to come back to enjoy this because it’s in the back of property and enjoys gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains. I can imagine cooling down in the outdoor pool after a day spent hiking and exploring the area.
Axe Throwing
The resort offers many activities and the one I couldn’t wait to try was axe throwing. Apparently, axe throwing is a growing trend, since I’ve since learned of indoor axe throwing complexes close to where I live and around the country. Axe throwing appears to be the modern day bowling league! There is even a National Axe Throwing Federation. I may have found my new sport! People have been throwing axes since they were invented, so it’s more than appropriate the Mountain View Grand Resort host a morning axe throwing competition.
It’s not your ordinary axe throwing competition either. Be prepared to thoroughly embarrass yourself in the name of friendly competition. The first round is meant as a practice round, where you simply throw the axe at the target. Things get interesting with the second round. Channeling Braveheart, you’ll announce yourself, where you’re from and declare you will not be defeated. With the next round you will shout your preferred inspirational phrase (keep it family-friendly) as you throw your axe. It gets really interesting in the last round. Before throwing, you will perform your “signature move”. Your move is completely up to you and the more creative the better. My signature move was riding the pony. The reaction I got was “that’s not the strangest thing we’ve seen but…” At least I earned style points since I didn’t earn any real points. I hit the target several times but not hard enough for the axe to stick.
Additional Activities
If you’re not into axe throwing, don’t worry. There are lots of other activities at the resort. A network of trails runs throughout the property so guests can enjoy cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snow mobiling, hiking and mountain biking. Channel your inner child by going snow tubing or practice your triple axel jumps on the resort’s outdoor ice skating rink.
In the warmer months, a golf course (another reason for me to return this summer) awaits just outside the front door and four clay tennis courts are available on a first come first serve basis. The resort also organizes fly fishing and white water rafting trips. The staff is happy to help you plan day trips within the surrounding area. Feel free to ask for assistance!
Regardless of when you visit, be sure to check the list of daily activities posted in the lobby for everything from wine tasting and history tours to yoga classes and chicken bowling (wish I could have done that!).
Getting There
Thanks to the modern highway system, which most definitely didn’t exist until years after the hotel opened, the Mountain View Grand is easily accessible by a couple of routes. Many visitors to the hotel live within driving distance, but if you don’t you can fly into Manchester-Boston Regional Airport or Logan International Airport in Boston. From Boston, take I-93 north into NH then take Rt. 3 north to Whitefield. If you’re in the NY area, follow I-91 north to I-93. My sister and I drove Rt. 16 north to Rt. 3 since we were coming from the NH seacoast. Rt. 16 runs through the popular resort town of North Conway, which we reached a little more than half way into our drive.
We stopped for lunch in North Conway and had an awesome meal at Table & Tonic. This restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and serves breakfast all day (love!). Table & Tonic is a farm to table restaurant, using local, fresh ingredients whenever possible. Since we visited in the dead of winter we missed out on the farm fresh food but still enjoyed the scratch-made food.
I was in the mood for a sandwich, despite rarely ordering sandwiches because I’m kinda picky about sandwiches. The homemade sourdough bread sold me! If you are carb conscious or sensitive to gluten, sourdough bread is the way to go. The fermented yeast makes it more easily digestible than other breads. All the sandwiches on the menu sounded delicious, and I opted for the turkey pesto because I love pesto and the tomato and spinach upped the veggie count. Gotta get those veggies in whenever you can! I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the awesome pickles! Often times, the pickle is an afterthought, but these were crisp dill pickles packed with garlicky goodness. Not only was it tasty but good for gut health. Ending a meal with a pickle or other fermented food aids in digestion for improved gut health.
Wrap Up
There are many beautiful places and hotels to visit in the New England area, and if you want a serene mountain retreat that encourages stepping away from the daily grind to enjoy nature, good food and good conversation, then the Mountain View Grand Resort is the place for you.
Bonus Tips
- Crawford Notch- One of the nearby NH State Parks, enjoy sightseeing and hiking. I recommend the 1.5 mile (one-way) hike to Arethusa Falls, NH’s largest waterfall at close to 200 ft. The trailhead is just off the main road running through Crawford Notch and the waterfall is amazing!
- Kancamagus Highway- This scenic highway running between Lincoln and Conway is definitely worth your time and beautiful in all seasons. Read my post about “the Kanc” for additional details and waterfalls to see.
- Ski resorts- Bretton Woods and Cannon Mountain are a short ride from the Mountain View Grand. I definitely recommend bringing your ski gear when visiting the resort in the winter. Both these mountains offer alpine skiing and Bretton Woods also has cross country trails.
- Mount Washington- The summit of the northeast’s highest peak is accessible by everyone. You can hike, drive or even take a train ride. Choose what’s right for you and visit the site of some of the world’s worst weather. Check the Mount Washington Observatory site for more information.
- Dunkin’ Donuts- No matter where you go in New England you will find a Dunkin’ Donuts. While I preferred the coffee the resort offered, if you need your Dunkin coffee fix, there is one in the town of Whitefield. It even has a historic link to the resort. The coffee shop occupies the former train station, and prior to car travel, the train was the primary means of transportation for visitors to the Mountain View Grand Resort.
