February is for lovers and winter getaways at Distinctive Inns of New England

Dessert buffet at Harbor Light Inn.We all know that February is for lovers and Valentine’s, but don’t lose track of the winter beauty that New England offers too.  The ten Distinctive Inns of New England (DINE) offer the ideal location for lovers to celebrate Valentine’s Day throughout the month of February.  Look forward to flickering fires, a little bubbly, roses and chocolates to create the perfect romantic getaway to DINE country.  While many think of summer and fall as the most beautiful months of the year, don’t discount the beauty that winter offers to DINE travelers too.  Whether it’s a culinary escape or ski, snowshoe or winter hiking getaway, you’ll find beauty throughout DINE’s New England locations both inside and out.

Let the photos tell the story.  DINE’s ten inns offer the ideal refuge for both indoor romance and outdoor recreation.  Let’s start in Vermont at the Grafton Inn where Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center offers up trails for XC skiing and snowshoeing, tubing hills, sleighrides and more.

Tubing at Grafton Ponds, Grafton, VT

Tubing at Grafton Ponds included in a stay at The Grafton Inn.

Sleigh rides at Grafton Ponds are fun for the whole family.

Head over to Rabbit Hill Inn and consider a skiing getaway at Bretton Woods, just about 45 minutes from the inn.  Some guests, however, prefer to stay a little closer to town, opting for a winter walk near the river.  Others grab sleds and take to the hills near the inn.  Everyone always returns, however, to warm up with a drink in the Snooty Fox Pub and a candlelit dinner to top off the day.

Love at Rabbit Hill Inn

Love on a sled at Rabbit Hill Inn.

Snooty Fox Pub at Rabbit Hill Inn

Guests gather to enjoy drinks with innkeepers at the Rabbit Hill Inn’s Snooty Fox Pub.

Let’s head south to Connecticut.  The winter views from the rooms at the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina offer a sense of solace.  Take a walk hand in hand on the boardwalk, then perhaps meander through the stores in Niantic – all walking distance from the inn.

winter view of Inn at Harbor Hill Marina

A winter view of the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina.

Winter view of Niantic, CT

A winter view of Main Street, Niantic, CT

Moving over to Massachusetts, there are a number of options for romantic winter getaways at DINE inns.  On weekends and on Valentine’s Day, enjoy dinner and entertainment at the Gateways Inn and Restaurant.

Gateways Inn Piano Bar

Entertainment at the Gateways Inn Piano Bar on weekends and plan on a great show for Valentine’s Day too.

An aeirial view of Gateways Inn in winter

A bird’s eye winter view of Gateways Inn & Restaurant.

There’s so much to explore North of Boston, and Harbor Light Inn offers the ideal home base for exploring the museums, shops and restaurants in Marblehead and Salem.  Then return to the inn after a day of discovery for a drink and a bite to eat in the inn’s tavern.

A view of the tavern at the Harbor Light Inn in winter.

Harbor Light Inn’s cozy tavern and a fine red offer a warm-up after a day in Marblehead.

In New Hampshire, the Manor on Golden Pond offers a wide variety of rooms with whirlpool and soaking tubs, plus wood burning fireplaces in nearly every room and throughout the parlors, lobby, dining room and library.  Explore New Hampshire’s Lakes Region by day then return to a flickering fire and a fine dinner in the Van Horn dining room that evening. A couples massage at the inn’s spa is the perfect way to top off the ideal romantic winter getaway.

Fireside dining at Manor on Golden Pond

Dining fireside in the Van Horn Dining Room at the Manor on Golden Pond.

Spa treatments at Manor On Golden Pond

A couples massage in the spa at Manor on Golden Pond is the ideal way to celebrate romance.

And what could be prettier than an inn in Maine surrounded by beautiful pristine snow?  The Camden Maine Stay Inn is walking distance to downtown Camden’s Winterfest events coming up during the first nine days in February.

Camden Maine Stay Inn, Camden, ME

A snow covered Camden Maine Stay Inn.

Whether it’s a New Hampshire inn, a Maine B&B, a Vermont country inn, a Massachusetts B&B or inn, or a Connecticut boutique inn, you’ll find plenty of “inndoor” and outdoor beauty and recreation during your February romantic getaway to DINE country.

Don’t forget, when you make your reservations, book direct for the best price.

In Connecticut: Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic (complimentary breakfast shown in top photo here).

In Maine:  Camden Maine Stay Inn in Camden.

In Vermont:  Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford & Grafton Inn in Grafton

In New Hampshire:  Manor on Golden Pond in Holderness & Chesterfield Inn in West Chesterfield

In Massachusetts:  Harbor Light Inn in Marblehead, Gateways Inn & Restaurant in Lenox, Deerfield Inn in Historic Deerfield and Captain’s House Inn in Chatham on Cape Cod.