Best Western in Hampton Convenient and Hospitable

Submitted by Kelly Bryer
Granite State Ambassador, Museum of NH History Class of 2003

I recently visited the Best Western Inn at Hampton with a group of families. We were in town for a school competition and I was charged with locating the ideal hotel. Being a GSA, the first thing I did was call a seacoast GSA for a recommendation. Thank you, Paul L!! The hotel was great and everyone in our group was very pleased (phew). From the first phone call I knew all was going to be perfect. The desk staff were incredibly friendly and helpful.

Once we checked in and dropped our gear in our room the kids changed and we headed off to the pool. The indoor pool went from 3 feet to 9 feet and had plenty of comfortable seats for the parents to unwind while the kids played and wore themselves out.

Even dinner was relaxing. The local Dominoes delivered right to our door. Perfect ending to the long day -- eating pizza (that I didn't have to make), sprawled on a comfy bed, watching HBO… ahhh.

In the morning we were excited to see that the complimentary hot breakfast was filled with yummy choices. They had it all from eggs & sausage to waffles & pastries to yogurt & cereal. The staff was again very accommodating and friendly, especially important since all of the competing teams swamped the dining room when they opened at 6:30am.

The Best Western Inn at Hampton had exceptional hospitality. Our room was clean, elegant, quiet and just the right size. The beds had down comforters and loads of pillows. The TV was big and I especially loved the high, wood ceilings the second floor rooms had. It was appointed with air conditioning, free Wireless Internet, cable television, complimentary HBO, MicroFridge and individual heat control. They have 72 rooms total that included 51 double queen/king rooms, 20 executive suites with efficiency kitchenettes and 1 suite with a large kitchenette. There was even a gym if I thought chasing around a team of kids wasn't enough of a workout.

The Hampton Inn was located right on Route 1 in downtown Hampton. It was easy to find and get to and was near everything. The main beach was just a couple miles up the road. Being early spring, it was empty and had just the right amount of wind for a morning of serious kite flying before heading home again. I can't wait to go back again and visit. When I do, I will definitely be calling the Inn at Hampton!

You Deserve a Treat Like a Stay at the Wild Orchard Guest House

Submitted by Kate Bashline, Granite State Ambassador
Great Bay Class of 2001

You are in for a  treat with a stay at Wild Orchard Guest Farm. You will refresh your spirit and creativity in a location set apart in nature and art. The warm cozy rooms and common areas are appointed with fine art, crafts and antiques.

Give yourself and special people the gift of time and calm renewal.  The farm setting comes with treats of strolling peacocks, mini horses, a labyrinth, and world traveler Molly's hospitality and wonderful  cooking. This location is perfect for workshops, meetings, family reunions, artist workshops, retreats, teas. luncheons and weddings. Give Molly a call. You deserve a treat.

Wild Orchard Guest Farm
67 Candia Road
Deerfield, N H.
603-261-7742
www.wildorchardguestfarm.com

Indian Head Resort Offers Many Perks

Submitted by Virginia Leighton, Granite State Ambassador
St. Mary’s Bank - American Credit Union Museum Class of 2008

Finally I got to break away and use my Indian Head Resort perk from 2010. They were great when I called to make a reservation for nights of November 17 and 18. Rose S (another GSA) joined me for the excursion. 

NHGSA Rose in Lincoln Woods

We left Concord in the morning on Thursday with a stop at the Tanger Outlets in Tilton. Since I like to give back to those who give to us we lunched at 104 Diner (Common Man property). During a stop at the White Mt Visit Center we realized White Mt Mikey was among the missing. 

Cruised Main Street for a bit and checked in at the Resort. We wanted to try the outdoor pool and jacuzzi, yet, did not want them to open for just us, so we opted for the indoor pool and hot tub. Cleaned up for dinner, I had the prime rib and we took desserts of cheesecake with strawberries back to our room for later. After that big dinner we walked around the property.   

Old Man on the Mountain Memorial

Friday morning we had a great breakfast and headed out to the Lincoln Woods Franconia Falls Trail. There had been a dusting of snow during the night and it was crisp and breezy. We were the only car in the parking lot. As we walked the trail the damage from Irene was still obvious, although many trail repairs were already done. The plan was out to the falls and back an approximate 6 mile round trip. When we approached the intersection of the Black Pond Trail Rose said that her husband had seen many moose out by Black Pond. We opted for Black Pond – the trail was good at first and then narrowed out with a steep drop on one side. That was “ok” until we got to a very steep drop off with a brook crossing and no obviously great way to cross. Remember we were heading to the falls and back (easy hike) so we did not bring our hiking poles. We decided not to risk possible injury and falling in the water – so we turned back to the falls trail. We hiked for about 3 hours and encountered two couples on the return trip.

View from Sugar Hill Sampler

Since the day was far from over we lunched at a sports bar in downtown Franconia, visited Garnet Hill Outlet, went to the Old Man Memorial, Harman’s Cheese, tried some letterboxing near Polly’s Pancake House and checked out the Sugar Hill Sampler (great views from there).  After all that we got back to the Resort and to our delight found the outdoor pool and hot tub opened for some other guests.  It was great until you got out. Dinner was great – I had baked stuffed shrimp. During dinner I looked around the dining room and spotted NHGSA Paul and a friend who had arrived on Friday for his two day stay.

NHGSA Rose on Roaring River Trail

Saturday morning we had breakfast, a stroll around the resort’s pond, a short letterboxing hike on the Roaring River Trail near the Flume and headed home.  We stopped some more at a shop in Tilton owned by my neighbor’s daughter and a stop at Rose’s father’s grave site in the NH Veterans Cemetery.  We also walked the area that has memorials for each branch of the service.  I was quite impressed- it is a great place to visit.

What a great early weekend packed with lots of activities.

Inn at Pleasant Lake Treats You Like Royalty

Submitted by Bernie Dann, Granite State Ambassador

We arrived at the Inn at Pleasant Lake on a perfectly early summer day. It was only a short distance out of New London, NH, 1.5 miles down a quite paved road. As we arrived the owner and his crew were just finishing the final touches to a beautiful rock wall with a patio and sidewalk to the entry. I couldn't stop myself from walking over and complementing them on their artistic work.

Then into the lobby. We were shown the downstairs where there was a living room, another room with computer with Internet access and TV, the dining room, and indoor patio. We were told dinner would be served at 6:30, but tea was going on now. We then went upstairs to our rooms. I felt like I was queen for a day, the room was picture perfect! As I entered the suite with a couch and chair in the living area, then onto the bedroom. The bed was beautifully made with white linens, so puffy and just waiting for me later that evening. The bathroom was sparkling and roomy with all the goodies to make you feel special.

I next met with my group at the indoor patio for tea. The table was set with a gorgeous big bouquet and linens, special tea, nuts, cheese, crackers and homemade cookies. All delicious! As we had our tea we overlooked Pleasant Lake with Mt. Kearsage in the backround. The sandy beach was private, with chairs, and kayaks and canoes on the side just waiting to be used.

The Inn is a perfect place to relax and unwind, forget the hustle and bussle of our busy lives. Later when dinner was about to be served we were greeted by Brian and Linda the owners, who told us about the area, the history of the Inn, and then Brian, the chef, explained our full five course dinner. The dinner was delicoius with flavors that melted in your mouth, and presented beautifully. Service was excellent and the best treat of all was Brian coming out later and talking to all diners.

After watching the Bruins win the Stanley Cup I went to bed. I got up early the next morning to explore the trails around the area. I was given a trail map and followed the easily marked trails for my early morning hike. When I got back a continental breakfast awaited me with a wonderful selection of fresh fruit, cereal, yogurt, great coffee and I'm sure I'm forgetting what else. Then the waitress came and explained the full breakfast. Yummy! Like I said, if you want to be queen for a day just go to the Inn on Pleasant Lake, a great place!!!!!

Dexter's Inn Offers Plenty of Indoor and Outdoor Activities

Recommendation Submitted by Jean McGiffin and Pictures Submitted by Lorry Young, Granite State Ambassadors
Radisson Hotel Class of 2006

The Sunapee area revels in their quiet, unhurried, hassle free environment and rightly so. A consummate example is Dexter's Inn, a special country resort-inn blessed with an idyllic setting on a 20 acre estate. With three tennis courts, an outdoor pool and many other sporting activities, relaxation isn't all that the Inn is about.  Other, more involved sports, are just minutes away.

What immediately strikes you is the tree lined approach and the magnificent, manicured lawns, which are all maintained by a minimal number (but very talented) of staff. The view from the parking lot is amazing...panoramic views of Mount Kearsarge, Mount Sunapee and the surrounding countryside....and yes, even some very comfortable chairs await you to relax and take in the view even before you unpack.

My favorite indoor sport, reading, is well handled by a living room featuring a fireplace and an entire library of books...and you can even enjoy your favorite (well mannered, of course) pet by your side while you read.  Probably unheard of in inn keeping is a "BYOB" policy and they will provide the glasses, ice and openers. A book, a purring cat and a glass of wine....what a life!!

Probably the nicest part is the Innkeeper, John Augustine. He is what the quintessential NE Innkeeper should be....warm, welcoming and accommodating and he even wears a green (GSA colored) shirt!! We all agreed that this would be a wonderful experience for our NH visitors!!

Rosewood Inn Celebrates Unique NH In Unexpected Ways

Norma A. and Anita M "Love It Here!"

Submitted by: Norma A., Granite State Ambassador

"Winta" Class of 2001

During our Granite State Ambassador Educational Tour of the Sunapee Region, I was fortunate to have my name chosen in the lottery for The Rosewood Country Inn in Bradford, NH.

Although the Inn is 8 minutes off the main track in Bradford, and was a half hour drive from our meeting place in New London, we found ourselves to have been blessed with a wonderful overnight diamond. As we approached along the quaint and scenic Pleasant View Road we couldn't help but wonder what kind of place we must be headed for, but soon we found this was definitely a delightful place where one would definitely go for a relaxing time away from the world.  The acres of manicured, sculpted, picturesque land dressed in flowers was breathtaking. And sitting in it's midst, lying so quiet and lovely was a gorgeous three storied Victorian home with several gables and surrounding Farmers porch with wicker furniture, an artist's painting to behold with a subtle green wooden siding and rose-colored shutters beside all it's many windows.

We immediately felt welcomed as "Dick" met us at the paved drive with his feline friend (who was NOT allowed into the guest area doors) and helped us with our luggage. Inside, we saw the charming guest Living Room and Game/reading room so tasteful and immaculate in Victorian charm with a wide staircase going to the second floor of beauty. There we met "Leslie" and our host owners explained how they had moved from the big city and purchased this "run-down farmhouse and land" about 20 years ago and had done all the renovations and additions slowly over the years, Dick doing the landscaping and helping with the guests, and Leslie doing the Interior Decorating, cooking and collaborating with the architectural designing. She related that she had purchased all hand-made laces and other linens.

And what a fine job they did! Each of the twelve guest rooms are luxuriously decorated and uniquely and aptly named for an American Statesman, an honored woman, or a historical theme. (Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Whispering Pines, Nathanial Hawthorne, Williamsburg, Sturbridge, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Moondance, Dreamcatcher)

We were speechless as we viewed our guest rooms. Mine was romantically adorned with Rose covered vintage style wallpaper and matching quilted chintz window coverings and contrasting pillows on a high posted, queen-sized, hand laced canopied bed with special touches that would have suited Nathanial Hawthorne himself. And the large, full bath facility with all of one's needs was entered via a smaller room containing a corner Jacuzzi decorated with rubber duckies. One could not want for anything, and could feel welcomed and comfortable with a room like this - TV, gas fireplace, electric clock radio, extra bed pillows in a separate closet,  (no wi-fi!), windows that opened to the fresh air,  a perfectly wonderful mattress, and all the little touches like an ongoing journal for the guests found on the side table and a copy of a self-made book called "Return to Rosewood" by a local NH author.

I slept beautifully and awoke to the sound of the birds through my window ajar as they sang from the surrounding greenery, so beautiful with the upcoming sun.

Our morning breakfast was called and we entered a beautiful large dining room clothed for a gourmet banquet in white clothes and rose-colors napkins, candlelight and crystal, silver settings in front of a fully glassed window overlooking a small pond. We certainly were made to feel extra special as Dick served us graciously with a delightful menu of fruit, muffins, juice, coffee and quiche. Breakfast will never be the same again!

This was a perfect spot for a getaway, and we sincerely thanked our owner hosts for their generous hospitality and offering. I wished we could have stayed longer but our Ambassadors were awaiting us for another day's adventure.

Dick and Leslie can rest assured that I will definitely recommend their lovely Inn and hospitality to our NH visitors that wish to visit their area or even a NH resident that wishes to get away from it all for awhile.

I have no doubt that they will once again "Return to Rosewood".

Highlander Inn Offers History, Conference Space, Parking and Much More!

By: Richard Russell, Granite State Ambassador
Concentra Urgent Care Class of 2009

As a Granite State Ambassador, I recently was able to tour the Highlander Inn and Conference Center in Manchester, NH. The Highlander is the only hotel and conference center at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. You may be at the airport but you are on nestled on 33 tree filled acres. And the Highlander Inn has been in the hospitality business for over 100 years

The Highlander Inn offers 65 guest rooms and the Coldwell House has an additional 21 New England Country Style guest rooms. This makes the Highlander an ideal location for your business meeting or conference, wedding, anniversary party, or the party of your choice with up to 150 guests. The conference center is fully equipped to provide you with all of your culinary delights whether it be breakfast, lunch, dinner or just party snacks.

The Highlander Inn is also a great way to get a good nights rest before your early morning flight without the early morning hassles of driving to the airport by providing a stay and park rate. The Highlander provides you with free shuttle service to and from the airport which is only one half mile away. 

The Highlander also offers the Highlander Airport Parking and Shuttle Service - the only parking facility at the airport that offers reservations for parking while you are traveling. The parking services are first class and at discounted prices in parking lots that are safe and secure. They also provide luggage assistance and 24-hour shuttle service. 

If you live in the Manchester area, take advantage of your opportunity to rekindle your prior experiences with the Highlander by spending the night.  The lobby of the Highlander has some great historical photo’s of the property on display.

REMEMBER that the Highlander Inn and Conference Center will be closing on December 31, 2011.  BUT until then it is business as usual, and they will continue to provide the excellent guest customer service that they are well noted for.

Snug in Your Bed at the Historic Colonel Spencer Inn

Submitted by: Tony Fitzherbert (with help from Ann Verow) both graduated of the Common Man and Spa Class 2010

While I am a formal writer, and my "OMG" experiences are reserved for waterfalls, mountaintops, spectacular views from NH trails, exquisitely brewed, delightfully chilled beers at brewpubs, meals at the Mad River Tavern or Foster's Boiler Room, and other NH natural or positive sensory experiences (of which there are many), I offer my take on the Colonel Spencer Inn owned by, friends and fellow Granite State Ambassadors of mine, Mary Jo and Scott Stephens.

Located on a grassy knoll on Route 3, a country byway just south of the village of Campton NH, is the historic Colonel Spencer Inn, an unusually cozy, friendly bed and breakfast. Built in 1764, the Colonel Spencer mixes the charm and hospitality of a country inn with the modern comforts and amenities of today's living.  The Inn is conveniently located moments away from the vibrant, bustling New England town of Plymouth, home of Plymouth State University and the myriad year round activities and sporting events associated with the school. If relaxation or sightseeing is your preference, the Flume, Cannon Mountain Tramway, The Basin, Kancamagus Highway, and numerous mountains are a quick drive just up nearby I-93. The Colonel Spencer Inn is in many ways a typical yet unique New Hampshire hostelry, where a stay would be a memorable highlight of any visit to the White Mountains.

The Colonel Spencer experience begins with a cordial welcome from your hosts, innkeepers Mary Jo and Scott Stephens, and their friendly chocolate lab, Guinness. You will be shown to your spacious comfortable room where you may settle in and relax. When you are ready to explore the area, Mary Jo and Scott will be delighted to direct you to the attractions for which the region is renowned, or guide you to one of the many different outstanding restaurants in the immediate area for an enjoyable supper. In season, a number of nearby summer theater performances, concerts, plays, and other cultural activities can round out a pleasant evening.  Should you wish to spend the evening reading a good book or playing board games, you can do so by the warm glowing wood fire in the inn's large fireplaces in the living and dining areas.

In your snug bed, you will be lulled to slumber by the chirping crickets and other nocturnal sounds of the woods. When morning arrives, you start your day with a sumptuous farm fresh breakfast in the Inn's bright sunny dining area freshly prepared by Mary Jo and Scott.

The Inn is a mere half hour from world class skiing at Loon Mountain, Cannon Mountain, and Waterville Valley, while Bretton Woods, and Wildcat are not much further away. When the warmth of Spring and Summer spreads through the mountains, and the woods come to life, easy hiking trails along rushing brooks and through dark evergreen groves, or strenuous ones up rugged mountains to overlooks from which you can see for miles. These adventures await outdoors enthusiasts. Or you can fish, canoe or kayak on the countless ponds and lakes in the area, or golf on one of the many beautiful courses in the region.  In the crisp air of fall, some of the most beautiful foliage anywhere is just outside the Inn's doors! The cove pocketed wooded shore of Squam Lake, the setting for the 1981 film version of the Ernest Thompson play "On Golden Pond", which starred Katherine Hepburn, is only a few minutes away. Exploring in the other direction may take you to Newfound Lake, the second largest body of water - and deepest glacial lake -  within the New Hampshire borders. On its shore is found Wentworth State Park featuring gentle forested hiking trails, a boat launching area and a wide sandy beach which will please the entire family. Hebron, a quintessential New England village at the North end of Newfound Lake, features a typical general store, a white spired wooden church, and 18th century vintage colonial homes surrounding a shaded, gazebo - adorned town green . What a perfect place to step back in time and perhaps take some pictures. Something to please everyone awaits you here!

Regardless of the season, the Colonel Spencer Inn is an outstanding headquarters for any northern New Hampshire stay. Its welcoming homelike atmosphere, delicious breakfasts, and comfortable rooms will be a highlight in an experience which you will delight in sharing with your friends and relatives when you return home from a trip to the Granite State. The Inn's slogan truly reflects the spirit of the area where you "Arrive as a guest, leave as a friend!". And your first visit to our region will not be your last - "You will love it here".