Take a Multigen Vacation in New Hampshire’s White Mountains

Three generations of our family just traveled to New Hampshire’s White Mountains for a long weekend getaway and, instead of a hotel or resort, we chose to rent an entire home. Not just any house, but an expansive one poised on a mountainside overlooking majestic Mount Washington, tallest of the White Mountains at just more than a mile high.

We chose a home from Bretton Woods Vacations not just for the view, but also for the location, close to some of the region’s top attractions. Within a short drive we could ride Mount Washington Cog Railway or Aerial Tramway in Franconia Notch, hike to waterfalls, and browse the shops along Littleton’s Great American Main Street.

As each family group arrived (getting there was easy, as Interstate 93 leads from southern New England directly into the heart of the White Mountains) the reaction was “wow” when they toured the house. Five attractive bedrooms were spread over three floors and around a spacious lounge area with a cathedral ceiling and an entire wall of windows overlooking the mountains. One evening those windows gave us a gallery view of nature’s pyrotechnics as a thunderstorm swept across the mountains.

On the lower floor, another large family room gave us more space for games, conversations or reading a book. The house offered plenty of space for togetherness, but also room for quiet moments. An entire bookcase full of games, puzzles and activities waited in case we ran out of things to do.

The full kitchen was well supplied with dishes and implements, so all we needed to do was unpack our coolers and we were ready to cook breakfast each morning. With the towns of Littleton and Bethlehem close by, we had lots of choices for lunches and dinners.

We almost hated to leave this mountainside lair, but so many options temped us outside. First was a ride up Mount Washington on The Cog Railroad. For more than a century, this vintage train has chugged its way up the side of the mountain, past a forest of trees that grow shorter and shorter as the train climbs to the rocky barren summit. Views at the summit encompass the entire of the White Mountains and beyond.

After enjoying the view from the mountain, we rode Bretton Woods Gondola to get panoramic views of Mount Washington and the surrounding peaks. Mountain rides, a couple of short hikes to waterfalls and shopping in Littleton filled our weekend with activities all our generations could enjoy.