Looking for a Great Summer Getaway Place? Head to The Mountain View Grand, NH

I love the Mountain View Grand. Situated near Littleton, NH, about 2.5 hours from Boston, it is one of the "Grand Hotels" of the New Hampshire and was built in 1865. It is very reasonably priced and a great place for a couples getaway, a weekend with the kids, or a larger family gathering.

Here's a bit of its history from their web site:

The architectural growth of the Mountain View House began in 1866, when the Dodges opened what was initially a modest country inn. Over the years, several additions were made, the most striking of which was the two-story piazza displaying Greek Revival details, set under the front roof overhang and supported by square Doric columns. By the summer of 1884, the Mountain View House could accommodate over 100 guests. During the months between 1911 and 1912, construction continued and the Mountain View House soon joined the prestigious ranks of those elite White Mountains hostelries with space for over 200 guests.

It closed in 1986 and reopened in 2002. My first stay there was in 2004. 

Some of the activies available include:

• Ax throwing (I'm not kidding. It looked awesome.)
• Golfing — There's a golf course right out front
• There's a full spa with a wide variety of offerings
• Hiking – both around the hotel and places like the Notch
• Witch Wiffle Ball (see picture below.)
• Horseback riding
• Carriage rides
• There's a farmhouse in the back with a variety of animals including some dwarf goats.
• Indoor heated pool and jacuzzi
• There's a small movie theater inside with a big screen and it will play any DVD you want if you get it on the schedule
• There's a game room with pool, fooooooooz ball, ping pong and a few other games.
• There's several reading rooms with fire places and some stocked with board games. And there's books everywhere through the hotel.
• A bar and very nice restaurant.
• Visit Mt. Washington
• Storyland is close by.
• The nearby town of Littleton has a few nice restaurants and plenty of small shops.
• Camp fires with S'mores (see pictures below)

Here's more pictures from inside the hotel and from a winter trip.

Top image from shelisreal1 on Flickr