Not all vacations require sand, beaches an all-inclusive amenities. The best vacations can be within driving distance of your home eliminating the hassle of traveling to and from an airport. Nestled in the White Mountains surrounded by fresh air, tasty vegetation and amazing outdoor excursions is the Riverwalk at Loon Mountain. Loon Mountain built in 2017 is only a few hours’ drive from New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont but is frequented by southerners who live in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. If you live in the Northeast United States, consider a family weekend in New Hampshire to shrug off the stress of everyday life.
Day 1: We left at 7am with the hopes of arriving at the Riverwalk at Loon Mountain by 2pm. I built in bathroom stops along the way to accommodate my wife and two year old son. My son and pregnant wife were not built for long car rides without bathroom breaks. Beyond New York and Connecticut and right outside of Massachusetts the New Hampshire view came upon us. The open wilderness on both sides of the road seemed endless while mountains in the distance were becoming more and more approachable. We were uncertain of the vacation ahead but optimistic for rest, relaxation and family bonding. As we pulled into the parking lot my son said “Dad look! I see a castle” which made my wife laugh and made me smile and do a little fist pump in the air. The ultra-pure white façade was topped off with red roofs all around the exterior. Our room was not ready so we popped into the Purple Tomato for lunch and an opportunity to stretch our car legs. The little shop boasted their local vegetable selection, fresh baked pies and generous lobster rolls.
Our lunch encouraged us to head back to the hotel to dive into their massive swimming pool located in the back of the property. In the winter the pool transforms into an ice skating rink with a winter wonderland theme. The rink is surrounded by fire pits so even non skaters can enjoy s’mores, cigars and alcoholic beverages near the rink with the slopes in the distance.
Once our room was ready we made ourselves at home rather quickly. We dropped our bags, installed our Amazon fire stick in the TV above the fire place and put all our treats on the counter and in the refrigerator. Our suite had a full kitchen, bathroom, and living room area fit for a king. Stainless steel appliances, soaking tub, balcony and fireplace were a few of the amenities that reminded us we were on vacation and not in the confines of our home. After a six hour commute, walk around town and some pool action it felt great to sit down with the family and appreciate the journey we had taken to this point.
Day 2: The fresh mountain air did wonders for my soul early in the morning. The air was crisp, cold and clean. The nontangible commodity was gold to us city dwellers and a novelty to the locals which were not taking it for granted. We headed East through the White Mountain National Forrest to Storyland. The ride was an hour but the views of the forest and train lines made the ride seem shorter. Storyland is a small amusement park based on story book characters for kids between the ages of two and twelve. Cinderella, Humpty Dumpty and the Three Little Pigs headline the cast of characters you are able to meet and greet in this enchanted land. Tickets were thirty-five dollars each for adults and kids under the age of three were allowed entry for free. Carousels, little roller coasters and a log fume ride peaked the interest of our threesome. However with over fifteen rides, multiple playgrounds and various games there were enough activities to keep us occupied for hours. After four hours it was time for Mommy and Daddy to write a story of our own. Down the road, through a small town, we decided to go to the Muddy Moose for lunch. Lucky for us our son fell asleep so we enjoyed local beers and handcrafted burgers in a fun-family atmosphere. Everything inside the restaurant was made of light colored wood and presented a ski chalet ambiance. The restaurant was surprisingly busy for a Friday afternoon in August but the service was top notch. I had the muddy mex burger while Jenn enjoyed the famous muddy moose burger with no bun of course. The muddy mex burger had jalapenos, Mexican spices and black olives while the famous muddy moose burger had mushrooms, onions and cheddar cheese. All burgers are eight ounces and deliciously made to order. After lunch Jenn and I were the ones ready for a nap while our son was ready for our adventure back to the hotel.
Day 3: We started our day at the Woodstock Inn Brewery for breakfast which toted the best breakfast options on the planet earth. This brewery/hotel/holy breakfast palace was jammed back with local and visitors from neighboring states. Everyone starts off with homemade sticky buns, refreshing juice and fresh ground coffee. Jenn and I were feeling adventurous so she ordered a German omelet which consisted of potatoes, peppers, onions, cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes and sausage. I dared to be bold and ordered the Camden omelet which entailed chunks of lobster meat, mushrooms, and parmesan cheese. If omelets are of no interest to you the inn also has pancakes, waffles and eggs benedict to tickle your fancy. After stuffing our faces we headed over to Clarkes Trading Post. For over ninety years Clarkes has captivated audiences with their circus acts and live black bear shows. We timed our arrival beautifully so when we arrived we took a ride on the steam train into the White Mountains. Once back we sat for the live bear show which was safe and mildly entertaining. Lastly we finished the day with watching a forty-five minute circus and balancing act. This was a simple and effective way to take in everything Lincoln, New Hampshire had to offer.
The Riverwalk at Loon Mountain was a great way for my family to enjoy our last trip as a team of three. I look forward to returning to Loon Mountain to take advantage of their wine tasting, spa services, ice rink and snow tubing services. Lincoln, New Hampshire is a fun place to have exciting down time with your family.