Two weekends ago, we packed our bags, packed our car and headed up north to Mountain View Grand Resort located in the heart of New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
We stayed two nights, and never left the resort because there was so much to do. I actually wish we had an extra night/day to enjoy more of the resort and the property, but we will definitely be back, and next time I’m booking a longer stay. I wanted to write this post to share all that you can do at MVG and how amazingly family and kid friendly it is.
Accommodations
We were upgraded to the Summit Suite with a connecting Grand View Room. The space was unbelievable. To be honest, we could’ve spent the majority of our time in the room alone. The bedrooms and living room were spacious, tastefully decorated, and had the most amazing balcony overlooking the mountains. We also had two full baths, and plenty of space to move around, relax, and unwind.
The Farm
Right behind the MVG, about a 5 minute walk, was the Mountain View Farm. This farm houses lots of animals, and while you are always welcome to stop in, if you come by between 8-9 a.m., the staff there will not only educate you on farm life and the animals, but they let you inside the stalls to pet the sheep and goats. The chickens and ducks roam free, and the alpacas and llamas can be seen chomping away on hay. We visited the farm twice, and it was one of my most favorite experiences, and Elle’s too!
S’mores & the Fire Pit
We took full advantage of the complimentary s’mores by the fire both nights we were there. They provide all the fixings, so all you do, is come and enjoy your s’mores creations. We also got lucky and almost had the whole fire pit to ourselves the first night, and got an amazing sunset to go with our pre-dinner treat.
Tower Spa
On Saturday, my mom and I headed to the Tower Spa for some much needed girl time and relaxation. We booked our treatments a few weeks in advance, which I would recommend doing, since they likely book up. My mom decided on a Seaweed Gel Body Wrap, while I went with a Deep Tissue Massage. Our treatments were incredible, and super relaxing. But the best part was being treated to the Grand Tower Experience. After our massages, we retreated to the Grand Tower, situated six stories high, with panoramic views of 57 mountain peaks. The tranquility of the private lounge felt truly like a dream. We enjoyed some mimosas, took in the views, and were relaxed like never before. I would highly recommend getting a treatment at the Tower Spa, and while you’re at it, splurge on the Grand Tower Experience. You will not regret it.
Ice Skating & Tubing
If you asked Elle what her favorite part about our weekend was, she would without a doubt tell you that it was tubing. First we decided to give ice skating a whirl. I haven’t been on skates in ages, my mom too, and Elle has never been. My dad is good at anything he does, plus he used to play hockey. We rented skates right from the Activities Center, which was really convenient. Once on the ice, we had some laughs (mainly at Elle whose feet moved like a baby deer’s for the first time- hah!), but we enjoyed gliding around, and the surrounding mountain views, made for one spectacular backdrop.
After ice skating, we grabbed some tubes at the Club House, and headed off to the tubing hill. I can’t tell you just how much we laughed and screamed (screams of joy) while tubing. Elle took turns going down with me and my dad, and my mom just ran up and down the hill. Snow much fun!
Dining
As I mentioned previously, we never left the hotel property, and that’s because we had everything we needed there, including restaurants. There are two on the property-that are open year round, the Harvest Tavern, and 1865 Wine Cellar. We had breakfast and dinner both days at Harvest Tavern. The 1865 Wine Cellar restaurant is for children 15+ (although we could’ve sent Elle to Camp Llama, but we chose to be all together). In the mornings, we all did the breakfast buffet, which was excellent and had plenty of choices. You could also order off the menu. During the day, we had snacks in our room, and enjoyed complimentary treats (cookies & hot apple cider) from the Harvest Tavern. And for dinner, we usually grabbed a drink from the bar, relaxed in the spacious lobby to live piano, then proceeded to dinner.
Pool
To be 100% honest, I am not a huge indoor pool person, but my child is. When I look for a winter getaway hotel, I always look to see if they have an indoor pool, because to my daughter, it is the greatest thing ever. So, good news. MVG has an indoor pool, and a hot tub! They also have a fitness center, and classes, but we didn’t partake in that.
MVG Property
Besides all the fun and amenities this resort has to offer, the property itself is worthy of a trip. From mountain views, to the grand porch out front, and vast snow covered landscapes, I cannot say enough good things about MVG. The staff here was also fantastic, and made all of us, especially Elle feel so welcomed.
Hope you guys found this post helpful in planning your next family vacation. Let me know if you have any questions about the resort or the activities that we did!
xo, Anastasia
