We started going to Mountain View Grand in January of 2016. We loved it so much, we decided to keep going there every year to celebrate my birthday. We missed going this year due to the pandemic, but hope to return next winter. The first time we went, we found this place on a Groupon. The selling point for me at the time was the award winning 1865 Wine Cellar. I love fine dining! The addition of wine pairing to specific dishes sounded perfect. It also looked perfect for families. We contacted my sister and asked if her family would like to join us in giving this resort a try. They agreed and have joined us each year since.
Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa ( https://www.mountainviewgrand.com/) is located in Whitefield, New Hampshire. Their story began in 1865 and is rich in history. What we love about it, is that we are able to spend an entire weekend there and never really leave. We arrive on Friday after work and get checked in. Then we head down to the Harvest Tavern bar for an appetizer and welcome drink. The kids hit the game room and carefully review the activity schedule to plan their weekend. They are sure to include reserving a movie and time slot of their choice. The in-house movie theater is really nice and feels like you are at an actual movie theater (only smaller). Complementary popcorn is also offered. Our next favorite thing to do is to find a cozy spot in the lobby and listen the live pianists and sip on a glass of wine. We always try to get the area in front of the fireplace for the best ambiance.
I begin my Saturday with a morning workout followed by a swim in the indoor pool. Both families meet for a late morning breakfast in the Harvest Tavern. The food there is very good. I typically schedule a spa service for after breakfast in the Tower Spa. It’s a great way to indulge on my birthday getaway. After an hour or so of relaxation, I’m always ready for some fun activities with the family. It may involve afternoon snow tubing, candy bar bingo, board games in the parlor, history tour, ice skating, or our favorite – chicken bowling! Chicken bowling is an outdoor game of bowling that takes place on the ice rink using a frozen chicken. Typically, we’ll hit the indoor hot tub to warm up before going back to our room to get ready for dinner. We’ll have dinner at either the 1865 Wine Cellar or the Harvest Tavern and follow up the evening in the lobby again relaxing next to the fire and enjoying the pianist.
Sunday morning, we wake up and get dressed warmly to make it to “meet the farmer”. This is an activity that involves walking to the onsite farm house to meet the farmer and visit with the animals. The kids love this! Next, we head over to the last activity of the weekend – Adult Axe Throwing! This is a fun competition, where you throw an axe at a designated target from 20 feet away. The staff at the resort keep score and the winner is declared at the end. It’s really fun to participate or watch. By now, it’s time to pack up and check out. We hit our favorite burger joint on the way home https://www.blackmtnburger.com/.
The winter is when we have always gone, but we would like to try a getaway here in the warmer weather as well sometime. It’s a beautiful area to visit. If you want to go for longer than a weekend there is more than enough to do in the area (https://www.visitwhitemountains.com/ ). You could easily spend a week or more and not do it all. There are still activities at the resort that we have not tried yet such as booking a dog sled adventure, camp yellow llama, snow shoeing, winter hiking, and campfires with s’mores. The feel of this historic grand resort is unique and inviting. Our family has many great memories from our stays here and recommend to anyone looking for a traditional New England getaway to consider a stay at Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa .
