5 Best Hotels in The White Mountains, New Hampshire

The latest of four Glen House hotels that have stood on this site at the base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road since 1852, this upscale three-story retreat opened in 2018 in a Shaker-inspired building whose soaring windows, a yellow clapboard exterior, and simple lines hark back to its predecessors. Designed with state-of-the-art eco-friendly engineering, it's also very much a contemporary take on classic New England hotels, with spacious rooms, some with balconies that afford sweeping views of the towering mountain beside it. Amenities include a pool and outdoor patio and firepit, and the bar and restaurant serve well-prepared modern American fare.

Waterville Valley's premier condominium resort, its steep roof punctuated by dozens of gabled dormers, recalls the grand hotels of an earlier era. Rooms are outfitted with upscale light-wood furniture and have full kitchens; many units have views of the surrounding peaks.

It's all about the view at this striking Victorian inn set high on a ridge in tiny Sugar Hill, its 70 acres holding lovely gardens, a seasonal outdoor pool, and a great little golf course. Having been updated with modern amenities and contemporary room decor, the inn offers a wide range of room types, from spacious suites with expansive decks, whirlpool tubs, and fireplaces, to smaller, simple rooms with wallet-friendly rates. The casual restaurant serves creative burgers and comfort fare, and there's seating on a deck overlooking the mountains or in a bar that looks west over the golf course and offers dazzling sunsets.

This former grande dame with a distinguished roster of past guests—including Ulysses S. Grant, Henry Ford, and P.T. Barnum—offers quirky and fun budget accommodations and a great location in one of the liveliest little downtowns in the White Mountains. In the lobby and lining the hall are photos and memorabilia from movie star Bette Davis's huge birthday bash and artifacts of other illustrious guests. Two rooms are open to the public as exhibits: one set up as a guest room from the 1840s, and the other a scene from Pollyanna, written by Littleton native Eleanor Hodgman Porter (born 1868).

This intimate Nordic-inspired boutique hotel focused on wellness and relaxation contains 11 impeccably designed suites decorated with natural woods, fluffy sheepskin throws, and big windows, along with private balconies. With its uncluttered, tranquil ambience, it's a perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle, and you can further enhance your mood by partaking of the myriad treatments offered in the stylish spa, including massages, facials, and sessions in a Himalayan salt lounge—a variety of well-being packages are offered, too.