Omni Mount Washington Resort

The two most memorable sights in the White Mountains would have to be Mt. Washington and the Omni Mount Washington Hotel. Its grand scale and remarkable setting graced by the view of the Presidentials is astonishing. This 1902 resort has a 900-foot veranda and stately public rooms and glimmers with an early-20th-century ambience. It would take a full week to exhaust the recreational activities here: in winter try out the tubing, ice-skating, a great cross-country facility, a terrific downhill skiing complex, and dogsled and sleigh rides; in summer, you can enjoy horseback riding, carriage rides, fly-fishing, golf, and mountain biking.

This 100-year-old, red-roofed hilltop hotel has 200 high-ceilinged rooms and ornate common areas. It’s got that vintage-resort grandeur without the middle-of-nowhere feel of the Balsams.

Like many of the hotels on this list, the Omni is a grand space with a history stretching back to 1902. What sets it apart is its famous clientele—noteworthy guests include Thomas Edison and three U.S. presidents. A stroll down the magnificent porch offers views of the woodlands of White Mountain National Forest, including an excellent perch to see fall foliage changing colors. (The trees in the surrounding mountains sometimes turn as red as the hotel’s roof.)

Built in 1902 and on the National Registry of Historic Places, this property is on expansive, manicured grounds and offers breathtaking mountain views. You'll feel pampered while staying here. With its upscale services and amenities, you may feel as if you've stepped back to the grandeur of a bygone era. The grand resort is surrounded by gardens, tennis courts, golf courses and fields of grazing horses.

Open since 1902, this grand hotel maintains a sense of fun – note the moose's head overlooking the lobby and the framed local wildflowers in many of the guest rooms. Also offers 27 holes of golf, red-clay tennis courts, an equestrian center and a spa. There's a $25 daily resort fee.