irishswampyankee

The big, old but renovated, New England hotels come to mind like The Balsams, Mt. Washington, Wentworth-by-the-Sea, Mountain View Grand, the Equinox, the Bar Harbor Inn, Chatham Bars Inn, Shelburne Inn to name a few. None are really "lodges" or inexpensive. I'm not sure what you're looking for exists in the area at the price you want to pay. You may be happier with a nice B&B. Am an old New Englander and can't really come up with any western type lodges here. The Lopstick Cabins group in Pittsburg, NH might appeal although accommodations are individual but you should hear loons and see moose and all under $200/nt but you're on your own for meals. The Glen up there does offer an American Plan. Let us know where you wind up.

Bowsprit

This is what I was thinking about:

http://www.stowemountainlodge.com/ab...ont-resort.php

They have queen rooms on their website for this August @ $199.00 a night. Not a bad rate and the scenery's stunning.

I'm thinking of booking a weekend here myself!

dfrostnh

Interesting question. I've only heard about this place. Squam Lake in NH isn't far from the very popular Lake Winnipesaukee but there isn't any public beach and very little commercial development. It's almost a secret from the rest of the world. Note that the room rates are full American plan. It appears to be like summer camp for adults and families. Very rustic but a lake with loons and not a lot of boating traffic.
http://www.rdcsquam.com/lodging/rates.html

Ackislander

I have lived in NE since 1979 and have traveled extensively and intensively in most parts of it for fun and in my job .

What you want does not exist at the price point you give. There is no equivalent of, say, the Izaak Walton Inn.

What is closest perhaps are old-fashioned hotels like Irishswampyankee lists, but they will be beyond your price. Next would be old fashioned cottage hotels which are like the 1930's to 1950's. I am thinking of the Ocean Point Inn outside Boothbay Harbor last time I was there, though it may have been gentrified out of existence by now.

There is no danger of twee, like many B&B's or "Inns" but there is no luxury either. Just reasonably comfortable accomodation in a beautiful, relaxd setting. Do not expect fabulous food or "lots of things to do."

Look at Down East Magazine or Yankee Magazine for leads.

Juldie

irishswampyankee; thank you for the suggestion of the Lopstick cabins. I checked into them but for the dates I need they just had a a couple left that are by the office. The spot looks lovely and many of the cabins are wonderful. I am going to check with The Glen.

dfrostnh; the Squam Lake cabins look to be very family oriented by the website. If you have been there, was that your experience? It will be my husband and myself and don't want to be where the place is geared to be a summer camp for families; a summer camp for adults is good though since we are looking for quiet and restful.

Bowspirit; I looked into Stowe Mountain Lodge but I read some reviews on it and it looks like you have to valet your car and there was hassle involved every time you want to get to your car. I hate to be picky, but don't want that kind of hassle when we are away to "chill."

I appreciate everyone's suggestions thus far; I will continue to see what I can come up with.

PeaceOut

You can Google for "guest ranches" and "lodges" in each of the states you are interested in. I tried it and several came up.

Vttraveler

I live in a rural area in north central Vermont so am not inclined to visit similar places on vacation. One place you might want to check out is the Highland Lodge on Lake Caspian in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont

Juldie

Hi Vttraveler; I have stayed at the Highland Lodge a number of years ago actually, thanks. I got a Groupon today for Newagen Seaside Inn in the Boothbay, ME area which looks interesting which I think I will check out.

jubilada

Cranwell is not lodgy at all; it is pretentious in my view and formal in a weird way. And mucho $$.
The lodge idiom is not really New England. I would go for one of the seaside hotels mentioned above.

kenav

Here's a link to lodges (and more) in the Adirondacks region in New York.

http://www.adirondack.net/business/big-moose-inn-2614/

Bowsprit

Perhaps the Trapp Family Lodge?

http://www.trappfamily.com/

NeoPatrick

Since the OP specifically mentioned Banff and Jasper for "great lodges" I'm pretty sure the OP would then also consider Chateau Frontenac to be one -- unless "lodge" simply means it can't be within a city -- since it is almost identical to the great lodge at Banff. In fact the Banff one was built just a couple years earlier and I believe had the same architect and certainly the same style as the Chateau Frontenac. You could call all those Canadian Pacific hotels "lodges" if you wanted to. There are MANY similarities.