Escape to Paradise: Snowy Owl Inn's Winter Wonderland Awaits!

Snowy Owl Inn Waterville Valley (NH) United States

Escape to Paradise: Snowy Owl Inn's Winter Wonderland Awaits!

Escape to Paradise: Snowy Owl Inn's Winter Wonderland Awaits! - A Real Review (Brace Yourself!)

Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from the Snowy Owl Inn's "Winter Wonderland" escapade, and let me tell you, it wasn't all perfectly Instagrammable snow-capped peaks and roaring fires. It was… real. Like, really real.

First off, the SEO stuff (gotta get it out of the way!) This place is LOADED with features. We're talking Accessibility nailed (more in a sec!), Internet Access everywhere you look (FREE Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Internet [LAN] if you're old school, and all sorts of Internet services to keep you connected – which, let's be honest, is crucial for both bragging rights AND streaming the latest trashy reality show. Wi-Fi in public areas? Got it. Seriously, you're covered.

Accessibility: Now, this is HUGE for me. I'm not going to go into specifics (because I don't want to break anyone's privacy), but I'm VERY happy to report they genuinely try. Wheelchair accessible? Check. They've got elevators, and the staff seems genuinely trained to help (unlike the usual lip service you get). They’ve really thought about it. Finding places that cater to ALL needs is hard, and the Snowy Owl Inn gets major points.

The "Things to Do" Conundrum…

So, you know, you come here expecting a "Winter Wonderland," right? Giant snowmen, snowball fights, the works. Well… okay… maybe adjust those expectations just a smidge. It's less "Narnia" and more "Cozy Cabin Escapism." Still, they've got a decent selection. Let's break it down…

• Ways to Relax: This is where they REALLY shine. The Spa/sauna situation is legit. They have a Sauna. A Steamroom. And a Pool with view that I nearly took a dip in fully clothed (it was that inviting). The Body scrub? Divine. My skin hasn't felt this good since I was, like, five years old. Massage? Yes, please! The masseuse? A godsend. I'm pretty sure she kneaded away all my stress and my questionable life choices. The Foot bath was also great.

• Fitness Center: Okay, the Gym/fitness area is… functional. Let’s leave it at that. It's not a state-of-the-art, celebrity-studded, iron-pumping paradise. But it has the basics. If you absolutely MUST work out on vacation, you won't die of despair.

• Swimming pool and Swimming pool [outdoor]… well, duh! It's an indoor/outdoor thing, a real luxury if you ask me.

Cleanliness and Safety: The "Pandemic-Era" Reality

Right! I'm not even going to pretend to be cool about it. I was terrified, and I suspect EVERYONE is. The Snowy Owl Inn takes things REALLY seriously. We're talking Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE, and Staff trained in safety protocol. They've got Hygiene certification, and they’re doing stuff like Physical distancing of at least 1 meter (they try!). Rooms sanitized between stays? Yes. Rooms sanitized between stays? DOUBLE YES! I felt safer in that place than I do in my own kitchen.

Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Fueling the Adventure (and My Inner Critic)

Okay, food. Always a gamble, right? They have multiple Restaurants so you're not eternally stuck with the same menu. You've got Buffet in restaurant for the traditional breakfast. The A la carte in restaurant is also an option, and the Coffee/tea in restaurant is decent. For those late night needs there's Room service [24-hour]. And they have a Poolside bar which makes the whole experience feel less of a health retreat and more of a party.

• The Breakfast Buffet Saga: Listen, I’m not a breakfast person. In fact, I often skip the first meal of the day. BUT! The breakfast buffet was actually… pretty good. They had Asian breakfast options. Western breakfast fare. Also, the Breakfast [buffet] was constantly replenished (again, a pandemic-era blessing).

• Food Options: Okay, I’ll be honest. I'm a vegetarian. The Vegetarian restaurant was a delightful find! They have Alternative meal arrangement. The Salad in restaurant was a delight, as was the Soup in restaurant.

• Snacks and Bars: The Snack bar was clutch for post-snowshoeing fuel (more on that later). The Bar? Oh, the bar. The Happy hour was a lifesaver after a long day of… well, existing. Bottle of water? Provided.

Services and Conveniences: The Little Things

This is where the Snowy Owl Inn really shines. They've thought of everything. Seriously. You name it, they probably have it. Air conditioning in public area is great. Business facilities are available for those needing to connect with work (sadly, I did). Cash withdrawal is possible if you don't have any. Concierge is there for any need. Daily housekeeping makes you feel like royalty.

• The Elevator Miracle: Okay, this is a seemingly small thing, but I'm a bit of a clutz, and the Elevator was a gift from the gods after a day of hiking.

• Laundry and Dry Cleaning: Essential! Laundry service and Dry cleaning. I mean, hello, I'm on vacation! I’m not spending my time doing chores.

• Family Friendly: They have Babysitting service, which could be a lifesaver if your kids are, ahem, energetic (as I assume most are). They have Kids meal.

• Meeting spaces: They have Meeting/banquet facilities and also Seminars.

Other useful features:* They have Check-in/out [express]. Check-in/out [private] makes things feel less like a cattle market, a real blessing.

My "Big Moment" – Confessions from the Snowshoes

The actual “Winter Wonderland” experience. I’m talking… snowshoeing. I’d never done it before. I’m not particularly athletic. I was also battling a minor cold.

It was… brutal. And beautiful. Mostly brutal. I fell. A lot. I got snow down my pants. I sweat so much my boots felt like miniature swimming pools. But… I also saw the most breathtaking, pristine, silent forest landscape. And honestly? It was a fantastic, life-affirming experience. Definitely recommend it if the weather's right. You'll probably be sore, but you'll feel alive.. and maybe a few pounds lighter from all the exertion!

The Downside (Because Nothing's Perfect!)

Even in paradise, there are a few minor hiccups:

• The Signage: Honestly, the signage could be clearer. I got lost a few times, even within the hotel itself. My fault? Perhaps. But don't expect things to be perfectly obvious.

• The Internet Glitches: While the Wi-Fi generally worked great (especially in the rooms!), it did have a few hiccups in the middle of the day.. I am not sure if this was a problem with the hotel service.

Final Verdict: Book It!

Look, if you're looking for a picture-perfect, flawless vacation, maybe try another review. But if you're after a genuinely relaxing escape with a good dose of real-world charm, the Snowy Owl Inn is a fantastic choice. It's safe, clean, they’ve thought of everything (seriously, EVERYTHING!), and the staff are genuinely lovely. And who know, maybe you'll even stumble on a snowshoeing adventure that changes your whole perspective on life – or at least makes you appreciate a hot bath even more!

Don't miss out on their Winter Wonderland Special! Book now and enjoy a free spa treatment, a complimentary bottle of wine, and early check-in! (Offer ends soon!)

Nanchang's Hidden Gem: Atour Hotel Longding Review (You Won't Believe This!)

Book Now

Snowy Owl Inn Waterville Valley (NH) United States

Okay, buckle up buttercup, 'cause we're about to dive headfirst into a chaotic, gloriously imperfect trip to the Snowy Owl Inn in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. This isn't your perfectly polished travel brochure itinerary. This is the REAL DEAL.

Day 1: Arrival & Acoustic Ambush (Or, How I Almost Burned the Bagels)

• 1:00 PM - Arrive at Snowy Owl Inn: OMG. Finally. After the godawful drive (traffic in MA, I swear to god), we made it! Check-in was surprisingly smooth, which immediately put me on edge. Expect the other shoe to drop any minute. The lobby is all cozy fireplaces and vaguely "rustic" charm. I'm already planning on setting up camp in front of that fire.

• 1:30 PM - Room Reconnaissance & Immediate Regret: Okay, the room… it's… fine. A bit smaller than the photos suggested (classic!), but clean. The view? Meh. Trees. More trees. Okay, I need to adjust my expectations. Immediately found the coffeemaker and decided to try to make coffee. I am very bad at making coffee, and almost burned the bagels in the toaster. A truly terrible sign for things to come.

• 2:30 PM - Poolside Perplexities: The pool. Ah, the pool. It's indoors, which is a win on a chilly New Hampshire day. But there's a water aerobics class in full swing. A bunch of women in bathing caps are doing synchronized arm movements and it is the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. I'm hiding in the corner, attempting to look relaxed while secretly judging their form. Don’t worry, I'll be taking part in that tomorrow, I promised myself.

• 4:00 PM - Acoustic Assault: They're having live music in the lobby, which I THOUGHT would be charming. It's a guy with an acoustic guitar, "singing" a song about… something. I honestly couldn't understand the words because the volume was set to "eardrum-shattering." I escaped to the bar and got a drink. The bar is pretty decent, with a good selection of beers and overpriced wine. Win!

• 7:00 PM - Dinner at the Inn's Restaurant, and Existential Dread: The food. Hmm. The portions are LARGE. Too large, in my opinion. I ordered the chicken pot pie, which was basically a mountain of crust and questionable filling. The waiter was nice, though, bless his heart. I finished it anyway. I realized this is probably the most food I've eaten in the past couple of weeks, so there's that. I took a walk to help with digestion, and it felt pretty good.

• 9:00 PM - Fireplace Frolicking (and Failing): Back to the lobby! Fireplace. I'm prepared to be one with the fire. It was amazing! Until one of my socks caught a spark and nearly caught fire. Apparently, I am not as one with the fire as I'd imagined.

Day 2: Skiing, Screaming, and (Maybe) Redemption?

• 7:00 AM - Breakfast Blandness & Breakfast Regret: More bagels, more coffee. Still not great. The breakfast buffet is… adequate. The scrambled eggs are suspiciously yellow. I'm starting to suspect the kitchen staff is in on the bagel-burning conspiracy.

• 8:30 AM - Hit the Slopes! …Eventually: Okay, so skiing was the whole PURPOSE of this trip. We drove to the Waterville Valley Ski Resort. The lines were long, the lift was a bit terrifying (I may or may not have screamed), and, if I'm honest, I'm not a great skier. But boy, did I try! I fell a lot. I may have accidentally flipped off a small child (sorry kid!). But the views… WOW. The crisp air, the sunshine, the feeling of total freedom… It was worth every bruised butt cheek.

• 12:00 PM - Lunch Break & Emotional Breakdown (Kidding, Mostly): Packed a lunch to save money. The sandwich was soggy. The chips were stale. The emotional breakdown was on the inside, but I fought through it and looked for the nearest hot chocolate machine.

• 2:00 PM - More Skiing (Maybe): I went back up there and had a really good run! I can't believe it!

• 4:00 PM - Poolside Redemption: Water aerobics, here I COME! Okay, so I didn't love it, but I survived. And no one judged my terrible form (I hope). I felt pretty good.

• 7:00 PM - Dinner & Discoveries: Found a local restaurant in the town! The food? Amazing! The atmosphere? Charming! I actually had a decent conversation with a local and found out about a secret walking trail! I'm going to have to go to that tomorrow.

Day 3: Trail Tales, Trip-Ending Triumph (Hopefully)

• 8:00 AM - Trailblazing Triumph (and Slight Regret): The Secret Trail! Oh, man, it was beautiful. Misty forest, babbling brook, the sounds of nature… I was enjoying it! Then I maybe took a wrong turn, and ended up wandering around for an hour. I had to climb over some downed trees and question existence, but I finally made it back. The trail was amazing, though!

• 12:00 PM - Last-Minute Souvenir Scramble: Okay, gotta find a souvenir for my grandma. The gift shop had some pretty generic stuff… I ended up getting some fudge. My grandmother likes fudge.

• 1:00 PM - Check-Out & Reflective Ramblings: The end. Check-out was smooth again. The Snowy Owl Inn? Definitely not perfect, but I think I'm going to miss it. Between the underwhelming food, the questionable acoustic performances and the ski slopes, it was exactly everything I needed.

• 1:30 PM - The Drive Home: Traffic. Of Course. But, I'm already planning my return. Waterville Valley, I'll be back!

Jakarta's Hidden Gem: Pasar Baru Selatan's BEST Kept Secret (EXPRESS O 91381)

Book Now

Snowy Owl Inn Waterville Valley (NH) United States

Okay, Seriously, Is the Snowy Owl Inn ACTUALLY Paradise in Winter? Or Is It Just, You Know, Cold?

Alright, let's be real. "Paradise" is a *strong* word. I mean, I've eaten week-old pizza that felt like paradise at 3 AM. But the Snowy Owl Inn? Okay, it comes *close* to feeling like that post-pizza bliss. Imagine this: you, bundled in about a thousand layers (we'll get to the packing later), the crunch of fresh snow under your boots, and a view so breathtaking it legitimately steals your breath. That's the vibe. It's not without its quirks, though! Like, one time, the electric fireplace in my room decided to take a nap at 2 AM. Cue frantic Googling for "how to restart hotel fireplace without waking everyone up" (spoiler: you can't, and the front desk clerk was *not* thrilled). But even *that* became a funny story. And the cold? Yeah, it's cold. But it's the kind of cold that makes you appreciate the roaring fire in the common room and that first sip of hot cocoa even *more*.

This Packing Thing... What Exactly Do I NEED? (Please don't tell me "everything")

"Everything" is tempting, but let's be realistic. The key is LAYERS. Think onion – you're the onion, and the cold is trying to peel you apart. Seriously though: * **Base Layers:** Thermal underwear. Don't skimp here. Think merino wool (it's worth the splurge... mostly). I learned the hard way. One trip, I wore cheap stuff... let's just say even *I* could smell me after a day of snowshoeing. * **Mid-Layers:** Fleece pullovers, sweaters, maybe a down vest. Something you can easily add or subtract. * **Outer Layer:** A waterproof and windproof jacket and pants. Absolutely crucial. And don't be a hero. Make sure it's actually *waterproof*. * **Footwear:** Waterproof, insulated boots. And bring MULTIPLE pairs of socks. Wool socks. And then, maybe a backup stash of wool socks. Trust me. * **Accessories:** A warm hat (that covers your ears!), gloves (again, several pairs!), a scarf, and sunglasses (the sun reflects off the snow like a laser beam!). Oh, and lip balm. Your lips will thank you. * **The "Oops, I forgot this" List:** Okay, so you WILL forget something. I always forget an extra pair of gloves. Or a good book. That's just life. Embrace it.

Snowshoeing - Am I Going to Faceplant in Front of Everyone? Because Honestly, I'm a Little Clumsy...

Listen, the snowshoeing… it *can* be graceful. But for most of us? It's a delicate dance of awkward shuffles and occasional face-planting. And yes, someone *will* see it. It's practically a guarantee. The good news? The Snowy Owl Inn has trails for all skill levels. Start with the easy ones! And don't be afraid to embrace the inevitable tumble. I once went down on my rear on a gentle slope and just… stayed there, laughing. The people who saw me? They thought it was hilarious, too! The key is to laugh *with* yourself.

What About the Food? Is it, You Know, Decent? Or Am I Stuck Eating Overpriced Burgers and Fries?

Okay, the food. This is where the Snowy Owl Inn *really* shines. Think hearty, warming dishes. The kind your grandma used to make (if your grandma was a champion chef, that is). They have a restaurant on site and you won't be disappointed. The hearty breakfasts are a must-do before a day of adventure. The dining room is well-lit and comfy, perfect for a romantic dinner, or a meal with your family.

Can I Bring Fido? Because My Dog is Basically My Co-Pilot.

Yes! (Mostly). The Snowy Owl Inn is pet-friendly in certain rooms! You'll definitely want to specify you're travel with a furry friend when you're booking. Also, be sure to check their specific pet policies, just to make sure everything is a go. Bring poop bags. Lots of poop bags. Seriously. And maybe a spare leash. Just in case.

Are There Any Hidden Costs I Should Be Aware Of? (I'm Always Trying to Budget!)

Alright, sneaky expenses. Nobody loves 'em. The Snowy Owl Inn is pretty upfront about its costs. But here are a few things to keep in mind: * **Gratuity:** Factor in tipping for the staff . They work hard, and they deserve it. * **Optional Activities:** Snowshoe rentals, spa treatments, any excursions you might book (like a guided snowmobile tour). These all add up. Budget accordingly. * **The Gift Shop:** Resist the urge! Okay, okay, the Snowy Owl Inn gift shop is tempting. (I bought a ridiculously overpriced, but utterly gorgeous, wool hat last time. No regrets. Okay, maybe a few. But it's *warm*!) * **The "Oh Crap, I Forgot That" Factor:** See above. It will happen. Embrace it. Bring some extra cash to cover unexpected costs.

What's the Vibe? Romantic Getaway? Family Fun? Solo Adventure? Tell Me About It!

The vibe is… well, it's whatever you make it. It's flexible! * **Romantic Escapes:** The snowy landscape, the cozy fireplaces, the intimate dining… it's perfect for couples seeking some alone time. I once saw a proposal happening at dusk by a bonfire (I wasn't eavesdropping, I swear!), and it was all very swoon-worthy. * **Family Fun:** Loads of activities designed for ages. There's snow tubing, ice skating, and plenty of space for snowball fights. My kids were obsessed with the board games in the common room. They are always running around. * **Solo Adventures:** The peace and quiet is amazing. The Inn is safe and has plenty of things to do, and it's easy to make friends if that's what you're looking for, maybe the bar is your thing! It's generally a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. There's a feeling of community you can feel.

Okay, Okay, Last Question (For Now): Any One Thing I HAVE to Do While I'm There? Like, The Absolute Must-Do?

Okay, this is a tough one. Seriously, there's so much good stuff! If I had to pick ONE thing? It's not a single *activity*, it's an *experience*: **Do a sunset snowshoe hike**.Starlight Inns

Snowy Owl Inn Waterville Valley (NH) United States

Snowy Owl Inn Waterville Valley (NH) United States

Location:

Share :