Omni Mount Washington Resort

By Michele McIntyre –

On a recent trip my family stayed for two nights at the majestic grand hotel, the Omni Mount Washington Resort. Wow! Huge doesn’t begin to describe the magnitude of this historical resort, made seemingly larger by the Presidential Range literally in the properties backyard. Opened in 1902 originally as a summer retreat for presidents, poets and celebrities, the resort is now a four-season getaway that is a National Historic Landmark.

I feel like I have stepped back in time to a bygone era. Children roam freely and safely while their parents sit nearby, sipping traditional cocktails on the veranda. Families enjoy a game of chess or cards while taking in the jaw dropping views of Mt. Washington. The Great Hall – a fitting name for the lobby and common area that seems to stretch on forever – is a gathering place, social space or quiet retreat, depending on the time of day. Traditional afternoon tea is served daily in the Princess Room. The slow and unhurried pace is contagious and it doesn’t take long to fit right into the groove.

We are staying in room 320, a deluxe room (starting at 300 square feet) with two queen beds, a private bath, flat-screen TV, upholstered chair, desk, iron/ironing board and hair dryer. The accommodations are decorated in traditional styling of bold florals, plaids and prints. The room is spacious enough for the three of us, but the large walk-in closet is an unexpectedly welcome place to store all of our belongings out of sight, making the room seem even larger.

I was only half surprised to find that the main elevator was manually driven by a well-dressed gentleman at the controls. My son loved the experience, but we hiked the three flights to our room most of the time and left the elevator for the guests toting luggage. We later learned that there is a “secret elevator”, as we took to calling it, around the corner that operates without the aid of a driver.

On the morning of my much awaited spa visit, I ascend the long spiral staircase to the lower level of the building that houses the 25,000 square foot spa. The Image Center offers hair styling, manicures, and pedicures in regal-looking pedicure stations. The fun and social atmosphere begs for a group of friends celebrating a special occasion or a bridal party to enjoy it.

The co-ed relaxation room is one of the most visually interesting I’ve ever seen, filled with rich textured fabrics and wall coverings. It gets design props for elements like baskets of soft blankets, crushed velvet pillows and glass tiled columns. Earthy shades of blue, green and brown and botanical prints brings nature indoors, while a wall of windows fills the space with sunlight and faces the central outdoor courtyard. The outdoor garden lounge is where you’ll find the co-ed whirlpool surrounded by lushly landscaped grounds and sweeping views of the Presidential Range. Soft classical music plays softly in the background.

By contrast, the ladies relaxation lounge glows with warm candlelight, creamy chaise lounges and billowy privacy curtains. The wall coverings, artwork and overhead lighting are inspired by nature, reflecting the indigenous area surroundings. Self-service refreshment centers throughout the spa offer dried fruit, nuts, Mount Washington filtered water and brewed hot tea.

I am hoping for a cure, no a respite, for the usually busy home and work life that plagues me most weeks of the year. The setting in the women’s relaxation lounge is capable of delivering just that and induces a calming effect. I’m so relaxed as I wait for my treatment that I drift off to sleep, only to be woken when the cup of herbal tea that I’d been holding in my lap spilled all over the front of my robe. Just to be clear: I can’t think of another time I’ve ever fallen asleep in a spa. This may sound counterintuitive, but sleep doesn’t come easy to this insomniac!

Most treatment rooms have killer views of Mount Washington. My treatment, the Alpine Body Glow (50 minutes, $115), uses the spas exclusive line of Mountain Mist products. First, an exfoliant is used while under the relaxing rhythm of a Vichy shower. I step into the pre-warmed luxury shower with 13 showerheads to wash off the scrub. When I emerge from the shower, I find my robe hanging on the towel warmer. The final step is an application of richly hydrating lotion. At the end of treatment, warm booties on my feet remove the lotion so I don’t slip and slide. There are many points of distinction throughout the treatment.

There is no doubt the surroundings at The Spa at Mount Washington are beautiful, but a therapist and the spa staff can make or break your spa experience. I was blessed to work with a fabulous esthetician, Maria, who had a gentle demeanor and a passion for her work as she described the family of employees she has the pleasure of working with every day and the “magical” spa director who keeps everything in motion.

Breakfast in the main dining room was buffet-style. I found the variety to be impressive and a little more creative than your standard-issue buffet. Blueberry sausage, omelet and Belgian Waffle stations, gluten-free selections and house-made granola are just some of the popular offerings. The tables are dressed in white linens and stemware, even at breakfast. In the evenings, gentlemen wear jackets to dinner and women and children dress appropriately.

Looking for a more casual dining experience, we take the convenient resort shuttle (included in the $20 nightly resort fee) to Fabyans Station, a former train station, for dinner on our first night. I’m so thrilled we don’t have to drive so we can enjoy an adult beverage or two. The atmosphere is very family friendly and because it’s part of the Omni Mount Washington Resort, we can charge our meal right to our room. But be prepared to wait to be seated when the resort is crowded with kids and families – it is one of the only casual dining options in town. When we’re ready to return to our hotel, we simply let our server know and she calls the shuttle back for us and several other families with the same idea. After making a quick stop at one of the other Mount Washington Resort properties, the shuttle drops us off right at the front door.

You can do almost anything here. When my husband notices that snowmobiling and dog sledding are part of the winter activity offerings, he’s tempted to ask about it at guest services despite the fact that the snow is not falling as yet. It’s not too far out of the realm of possibilities:  you can ice skate year-round on the all-weather ice rink on Jewel Terrace. Bring your own skates and skate for free or rent skates from the resort.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Omni Mount Washington Resort. It was so much fun being part of all that history.

Omni Mount Washington Resort
310 Mt Washington Hotel Rd
Bretton Woods, New Hampshire 03575
Phone: 603-278-1000
http://brettonwoods.com/

Michele McIntyre is a freelance spa, travel & wellness writer who is happiest when lying face up on a treatment table or writing about her spa and travel experiences. She lives near Syracuse, NY with her husband and son. She is a regular contributor to Todays Central New York Woman Magazine and is a National Spa Examiner for http://www.examiner.com/. Michele’s adventures have been featured on a variety of websites including a stint as a guest spa blogger on Tripology and as a storyteller on TripAtlas.