A couple of southerners who don't see much snow (my wife and I) are thinking about taking a long weekend in New England in January. We are not skiers. What we have in mind is the traditional "Christmas Card" images of quaint snow covered villages with covered bridges and sleigh rides. We are thinking of a bed and breakfast in Vermont or New Hampshire but are open to suggestions. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Based on your criteria, I'd say you'd be happy with any of these:
Stowe, VT
North Conway, NH
Manchester, VT
Lenox, MA

Don't forget Woodstock, VT! Can't get much more picturesque than that!

Nestlenook Farm in Jackson, NH (they have a website with photos) is Currier and Ives to the max! But, there are lots of similar places throughout New England. Excellent resources include "Recommended Country Inns" and "Inn Spots and Special Places in New England".

Here's another recommendation for Stowe, Vt or Lenox, MA.

Have a look here.
http://www.yankeemagazine.com/travel/index.php

It will make a difference whether you have a car. Some of these places are not easily reached by public transit.

Look here too

http://weathervaneinn.com/

Woodstock, VT was "adopted" by the Rockefellers so its quaintness could be preserved; I've heard that they even paid to have the electric lines buried so the ambience wouldn't be marred by telephone poles.

The farther north you go, the more likely that you'll actually find snow on teh ground.

Manchester,Vt is outlet heaven, perfect if you live to shop,but NOT the perfect NE village though IMHO! Woodstock gets my vote in Vt.

There's also an outlet heaven in Tilton, NH - with no sales tax.

Another vote for Woodstock, VT., the quintessential New England village. No matter what the season, it is charming. If you have time, a drive north on Route 100 is delightful and replete with other charming locales. Stowe is a distance away, but a wonderful spot to visit with Mount Mansfield in the background and good shoppes and restaurants. I would drive up to the Trapp Family Lodge, of the Sound of Music fame, which is high up, with gorgeous views, etc.
Go into the lobby and the sun room, which is filled with flowers. We were there once in April when the snow was lightly falling and it was surreal. Lenox is nice, but there is not that much to do in the winter. The village of Jackson, N.H. is also wonderful and story-book like, but very small. You have been given some great choices by all the responders. It is so hard to choose.

Another vote for Woodstock, VT!

Because you are southerners who don't ski and who, I am guessing, have not driven in snow very often if at all, and because you are coming in January for only a weekend, I would recommend that you fly into Manchester, NH, then, depending on the weather and how much time you have, you could spend your first night at the Bedford Village Inn in Bedford, NH. Then the next morning head for the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire. Stay at the Hancock Inn in Hancock, NH; or the Inn at Jaffrey Center in Jaffrey, which has recently been renovated. Both are truly perfect New England villages. You could have a sleigh ride at Silver Ranch in Jaffrey, not far away; you could see more perfect New England villages in Peterborough, Dublin, Francestown. There are great restaurants in Jaffrey and Peterborough as well as galleries and shopping. Then if the weather goes bad, you are a fairly easy and short trip back to the airport. I would save points north for a longer visit.

There are many small villages in New England that could fill the bill. Here are a few more to consider: Grafton Vt., Litchfield Ct., Lyme NH. Grafton is somewhat isolated, and almost 'Twilight Zone' perfect. Litchfield is upscale, pricey and very pretty. Lyme is quiet,rural, and close to Dartmouth College.

Just read BuzzyJ's posting. I forgot about the Monadnock region. Bedford N. H. etcc
are also good options. Jaffrey area is well worth considering. A good suggestion. However, still think Woodstock is a wonderful choice.

There are some very nice towns in New Hampshire, however I wouldn't consider Bedford a 'Christmas Card' village, being surrounded by shopping malls, busy highways, and suburban sprawl. Bedford is an upscale suburb of Manchester NH.

Woodstock is fabulous...we also enjoyed Stockbridge MA.
if you decided on Woodstock, go to the Shaker Hancock Museum in Pittsfield. We visited expecting to spend a few hours and were there all day. It's facinating.

Woodstock, VT. Instead of Stowe, I'd suggest Waitsfield or Warren VT, fewer T-Shirt shops. Stockbridge, MA. Believe it or not, the center of Grafton, MA is picture perfect.

North Conway is about as unperfect as it gets...it's a big shopping mall with snow in January...I'd definitely throw my hat in for Jackson.

Please let me clarify my post: I was not suggesting the town of Bedford as a picture perfect NE village; I was suggesting the Bedford Village Inn as a jumping off place as it is close to the airport...

How about Stockbridge. Can't get any more New England than the town Norman Rockwell made famous in all his paintings.

Also agree with GBelle and others...Stockbridge is a beautiful town, and you must not miss the Norman Rockwell Museum.

I'll vote for Buzzy's sensible suggestion of spending the first night close to the airport and then spending the rest of the weekend in the Peterborough area. Although Woodstock is beautiful, I think Peterborough rates right up there plus Peterborough has the Sharon Arts Gallery and the terrific Toad Stool book store. Considering the winter of 2002/2003 we had snow starting in October that never melted. A very unusual winter since most years we don't have snow until January.