Birthday & Hearts Day

Last week we combined a belated birthday celebration (mine) with an early Hearts Day celebration and took a road trip. Our destination was a 2-1/2 drive to the 1785 Inn, a B&B in North Conway that we had read about in Yankee Magazine.

It was a wonderfully destination — even more so because we were the sole inn guests for our entire 4-day stay.

No, we didn't reserve the entire inn for this getaway. We arrived Monday and left Friday, just before (many) weekend guests would be arriving. In addition to Valentine's Day this past Sunday, it was President's Day on Monday and so a long weekend for many families. We were told the Inn would be filled by Sat and Sun, so our timing was really perfect. 

The 1785 Inn is a classic New England country inn in the White Mountains of NH. It is known for spectacular views of Mount Washington and the Presidential Range — and it did not disappoint us.

The Inn's "Scenic Vista" is one of the most photographed and painted scenes in America and a long-time favorite for artists and photographers; a historical marker notes that it was a favorite spot for paintings from the White Mountain School of Art. 

These are some views we enjoyed each morning during breakfast.

The Inn is located on 5+ acres and is one of the oldest buildings in the Mount Washington Valley. Owners Charlie and Becky have been providing comfortable lodging and friendly service for nearly 30 years. There are 17 guest rooms, all uniquely different and comfortable, although we only stayed in one of these it was fun to look in on all the other unoccupied bedrooms; most include a private bath. 

The main dining room is used for breakfast and features the original center chimney with three fireplaces, and a brick oven that's no longer in use. In recent years, the 1785 Inn was  recognized for fine dining in this room; but dinners are no longer being served. Becky served up delicious omelettes and pancakes for breakfast during our stay. Grenville caught up on the local happenings each morning. 

There are fireplaces in two guest lounges which Charlie will light on request. 

Hand-hewn beams can be seen throughout the Inn and highlight its original colonial construction. The seasonal decorations are left up through mid-March.

There's also a cozy Victorian-styled lounge and bar which was a great place to relax.

We enjoyed our stay and are already planning on a return trip before the busy summer  season in this popular White Mountains area of New Hampshire.

Although there has not been a lot of snow in this area, we were able to get out and  use our snowshoes 3 days during our stay. (More about those adventures in a future post.)

We hope that your Valentine's Day was spent with those you love.