We’ve been covering the top five ideas for enjoying a New England winter at Distinctive Inns of New England (DINE) on the DINE blog. Last week we covered all the fun to be enjoyed indoors and out at Harbor Light Inn. In earlier blogs, we wrote about all the great events and winter adventure at Inn at English Meadows and Chesterfield Inn. Who says that getaways have to be reserved for summer only? There is so much to do in the mountains of Vermont, today we’re taking you to the Rabbit Hill Inn to find out about all the winter ideas for your perfect vacation.
Five great ideas for winter fun at Rabbit Hill Inn
Poised within a few miles of the New Hampshire and Vermont border near Littleton, NH and in the quaint borough of Lower Waterford, VT, the Rabbit Hill Inn offers the best of both states with easy access to the White Mountains of New Hampshire and all the beauty of Vermont. With beautiful guest rooms and an award-winning restaurant, not to mention the unmatched hospitality here, it’s no wonder that Travel + Leisure has named this inn among the top 500 hotels in the world year after year, and Conde Nast has named it among the top 30 hotels in the Northeast.
While the list is long, here are the top five ideas for winter fun among Rabbit Hill Inn guests, according to Leslie Mulcahy, co-innkeeper at the Rabbit Hill Inn.
Cross Country Skiing or Snowshoeing
While the inn is poised within a 45 minute drive of several of New Hampshire’s, great ski resorts, many of the inn’s guests prefer the exhilaration of cross country skiing or snowshoeing on trails nearby. “We’ll share some local secret trails that offer truly peaceful snow play. Some of those trails are right from our front door,” says Leslie, who has created a number of activity itineraries for everything from maple sugaring to shopping to XC skiing and snowshoeing for inn guests.
Kick up the romance with a private sleigh ride
Romance abounds at the Rabbit Hill Inn. Enjoy a private sleigh ride and you’ll kick the romance level up another notch. Bundle up and get ready to snuggle. Private horse drawn sleigh rides are available in nearby villages and the glorious White Mountains. There are three options available throughout Franconia Notch, and Bretton Woods. Click here for links and more information.
Dog Sledding with the awesome folks at Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel
If you’re looking for something a little more fast paced, consider a day of dogsledding with the folks at Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel in nearby Jefferson, NH. Their dog sledding experiences are more than “just a ride” and are hands-on to the comfort level of the guest. These winter adventures are scheduled to take place on most Wednesdays through Sundays until Sunday, March 12th 2023 (trail and weather conditions permitting). Note however that reservations are required and walk-ins can not be accommodated, so be sure to plan in advance for this fun adventure. Rabbit Hill Inn innkeepers can help make your reservations.
Guided Snowmobile Tours with NEK Adventures
Enjoy a 2+ hour snowmobiling experience through stunning Vermont trails with NEK Adventures and Rabbit Hill Inn. The snowmobile tours begin about 20 minutes from the inn at NEK’s St. Johnsbury, VT location. Head out on the trail with a stop at a look-out for a hot cocoa warm-up before heading back to base camp. NEK Adventures even has a couple of sets of snow suits for your use, but it’s best to bring your own boots, ski jackets, snow pants, and warm gloves. Helmets will be provided.
Book the Rabbit Hill Inn’s Snowmobile Package and you’ll have everything you need for the perfect winter snowmobiling getaway. The two night add-on package includes your reservation and guided snowmobile tour with NEK Adventure with your choice of each on your own sled or two people sharing one machine, an intimate three course dinner for two on one evening of your stay, plus gratuities for all staff. Taxes are additional. Add this package to the cost of your room for two nights and it’s $460 for two sleds or $410 for one sled. One small caveat…there must be adequate snow cover in order to run the snowmobile tours.
Stave Puzzles and games at Snooty Fox Pub
Of course, if the weather outside is frightful, a Rabbit Hill Inn guest favorite activity is to snag one of the puzzles from the inn’s special Stave collection and spend the day in the living room puzzling. Stave Puzzles are considered the “Rolls Royce” of wooden puzzles, and guests simply love the interesting pieces and designs. To make puzzling even better, a number of puzzle tables fill the fireside living room at the Rabbit Hill Inn and once you claim a puzzle and table, it’s yours to come and go from until you finish the puzzle. If puzzles aren’t your thing, a number of board games can be found in the Snooty Fox Pub and can be enjoyed there or fireside in any of the inn’s parlors over a cup of tea or your choice of spirits during open pub hours.
The Rabbit Hill Inn offers a wide variety of lodging packages combining everything from outdoor adventures to romantic add-ons. Simply click here for additional package descriptions.
As you are learning from our winter fun blog series, this is the perfect time to visit any of the nine DINE inns. Be sure to visit your favorite DINE inn’s website for a full description of winter adventures and packages. And don’t forget to book directly with the inn when you make your reservation.
In Massachusetts: Harbor Light Inn in Marblehead, Deerfield Inn in Historic Deerfield and Captain’s House Inn in Chatham on Cape Cod
In Maine: Inn at English Meadows in Kennebunkport.
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 Connecticut: Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic
Photos provided by: Wiseguy Creative Photography/Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce, Pexels.com, Pixabay.com, Jumping Rocks Photography, and Rabbit Hill Inn.