Being a small publisher of tourist maps and guides I am asked weekly by travelers from all over the world for information about New Hampshire’s White Mountains, Mt. Washington Valley, North Conway, or New Hampshire in general. “Where should a family of 12 stay for Christmas?” What’s a great family restaurant near where we are staying?” Do you know of any coupons for Ziplining, horseback riding, sleigh rides?” How far is the “Old Man” from the Kanc?” (Kancamagus Highway). What’s the closest golf course to where we are staying?” Where are the Outlets located?” I love what I do so I am usually thrilled to hear people’s plans for traveling to the areas and regions I promote. In the past year, I have spoken with people from Japan, China, Russia, The Netherlands, Newfoundland, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and hundreds from Canada. All want a locals’ perspective and really want to hear my opinion. I am careful to not steer anyone to any particular place unless they know exactly what they are looking for as did the 12 people coming up for Christmas Eve. That was easy as there were only a few places open to accommodate them for Christmas eve and day dinner.

Let me start with suggestions for your first day or two in the White Mountains. If you are staying in the North Conway area, a morning walk around the North Conway Village is a must. Some of the stores open at 9am. (Zebs General Store) #LargestCandyCounter #AllNewEnglandMade. There are some great family restaurants that welcome kids and serve awesome breakfast. (Peaches). If you come in a little later and just want a cool vibe coffee shop with local art displayed inside, The Met is where it’s at and serving breakfast, salads, and sandwiches into the night. The lil’ neighborhood village library is always a fun stop if you need free Wifi or want to relax with a good book. And their architecture is as iconic as the Conway Scenic Railroad in the center of the village by Schouler Park. For more on reading and relaxation, White Birch Book Store is by far my most favorite bookstore anywhere and for many reasons…..the staff knows what they are talking about and they have the largest selection of cards of any store I have been in. (Yes, people still send cards). Headlines probably has the most eclectic selection of gifts in the Valley. The Shops of the Eastern Slope Inn is a grouping of tenant shops located in ESI related properties throughout the Village.

After an authentic, old school, train ride up to Bartlett and back, check out the unique shops of the Village. April Cornell, Beggars Pouch, the League of NH Craftsman and Assets Jean Co. are all high end but have affordable quality products, some made right here in the Valley. If you’ve worked up an appetite for lunch, there are so many unique places to go, from the best burgers at McGrath’s Tavern, or the best Pizza at Elvio’s Pizzeria, to organic and all natural at the Local Grocer cafe, deli and bakery. Be Well Studios is also known for their awesome Yoga classes #Yoga #Organic. There are also lunches available at The Met, Peaches and at Chef’s Bistro, too. Chef’s Bistro is located in the center of the Village and has the best seats in the Valley to watch what’s happening on Main Street. It’s also a romantic place for an uptown urban feel.

Speaking of romance, The Stonehurst Manor is as renowned for their setting overlooking Mt. Washington as they are their menu and martini lounge, all set in a magnificent manor/castle. For another view of the Valley, head up to The White Mountain Hotel off of West Side Road for breathtaking views of the mountains to the East, Cranmore, Rattlesnake, Mt. Kearsarge. All while nestled into the backdrop of the awesome Moat Mountain Range, Humphries and Cathedral Ledges. #EchoLake – The White Mountain Hotel has fabulous lodging and is located on the Hales Location Golf Course  – GolfintheWhiteMountains.Com

For more lodging choices there’s the Eastern Slope Inn in North Conway Village, The Colonial Motel on the southern end of Main Street and the Eastern Inns on the northern end of Main Street. For a B&B experience, I’d suggest the Red Elephant Inn, Cranmore Inn, or the Stonehurst Manor. For the animal lover or pet owner, Karla’s Pet Rendezvous has daycare/playcare daily for your pet or you can bring them up to stay for your entire time you are staying in Mt. Washington Valley. For vacation rentals as in renting an entire home or condo, FourSeasonsLodge.Com as well as AttitashRealty.Com, BadgerRealty.Com and PinkhamRealEstate.Com all have a wide range of options.

Now for the really important info…..spas and chocolate!  There is a spa services banner at NorthConwayVillage.Net. Click on that for spa services info and for the best chocolate and cupcakes in the world, stop by the Bavarian Chocolate Haus, or Cupcake Winners White Mountain Cupcakery both on Main Street. SOOOOooooo Good! If you want to know more about local brewed beers, go to AleTrail.net – For the best local art in notecards, limited edition and open edition prints, paintings, and photographs go to WhiteMountainArt.Net. Or by appointment at 603-387-0886.The HandCrafters Barn also carries this artwork.

There are awesome coupons for many of these businesses at NorthConwayCoupons.Com  Check out all of our tourist maps at HospitalityMaps.com or NorthConwayVillage.Com  We update those other sites each June with new stories and coupon offers. Wishing you all safe and fun travels to and from North Conway, New Hampshire

March 10, 2015
North Conway Village, NH: We had one of the best snow-seasons here in the mountain towns of Mt. Washington Valley! North Conway Village has been packed with shoppers, diners, and families riding the Journey to the North Pole or Santa trains…and soon the Easter Bunny Express of the Conway Scenic Railroad.  Conway Village just announced the sale of the famous Theater Building as you enter town. It will now be the new home of the Mountaintop Music Center….and Jackson, Bartlett, and Glen businesses saw one of their busiest seasons. This time of year means many things to many people; but to me it means let the Spring-time games begin! It’s time to have some new seasonal fun! While we are still skiing on some of the best snow I have seen or experienced in decades, I am also starting to pull out my golf clubs and road bikes. But, I quickly realized….. I’m kind of sick of last year’s fashion. My solution…… It’s time to SHOP! Just writing this phrase excites me. I used to hate buying new clothes until I moved to the shopping mecca of the universe; North Conway, NH and Mt. Washington Valley. With more than two hundred and fifty factory outlets and specialty shops in and around the Valley, there are literally stores or outlets for EVERYONE!  Lucky for me I have my handy Shopping in Mount Washington Valley Map and Guide and the North Conway Village Map. You can pick up your own copy at more than 500 locations worldwide or by going to: shopmtwashingtonvalley.com, hospitalitymaps.com, NorthConwayVillage.com, or NorthConwayCoupons.com . And if you need a great hotel or B&B, be sure to check out the lodging options on all of these websites’ homepages.

If you’re not a shopper… let me give you a few words of advice. “It’s all about the strategy!” Check out my shopping tips in the news section of this website. I’m amazed at how many people actually click on the link to this page. I’m psyched people read it but surprised that my Shopping Tips are so popular. So, my plan of attack is to start at one end of the strip and work my way to the other. My first stop is always Bob & Terry’s Sports Outlet to pick up some new Smith shades, (maybe one of their flashy new colors), and also check out their huge selection of road and mountain bikes. I could also use new bike shoes and some fresh base layers; Gore-Tex IS a girl’s best friend you know?  Next, I’ll head over to International Mountain Equipment and Climbing School (IME) with my old gear to drop it off in their consignment shop. (The owners of this store are world famous for having summitted Mt. Everest multiple times!) Their consignment section is a great way to earn a little money to purchase my new gear. They have all the best in high tech clothing like Marmot, Patagonia and Mountain Hardwear!  Just up the road is the headquarters for The Mt. Washington Valley Cross Country and Snowshoe Center. I ski daily in Whitaker Woods with my dog in winter and 8 months of the year we mountain bike in there, so base layers are truly my best friend as the Spring temps are rising and falling with the sun. Regardless of whether I’m shopping or not, I can’t walk past the Mount Washington Observatory without stopping in to check out the Weather Discovery Center. This place is great for kids and weather geeks like me. And admission is FREE !!! If this isn’t enough White Mountain fun for you, there are amazing photos of the White Mountains at the White Mountain Photography Studio in Jackson.

Since I know I’ll need a boost of energy after all this shopping, my next stop will be to Zeb’s General Store. They have a 67-foot long candy counter! In fact, everything in there is Made in New England and there are thousands of items to choose from. The best part is they do free food tastings almost daily. I also strongly suggest the tastings at Stonewall Kitchen in Settlers’ Green. EVERY TIME, I go there and taste something, I end up walking out with a jar or box of some delicious edible. And at Lindt Chocolate, they give you a FREE sample the second you walk in!!!  Yum.

So far, I’ve picked up some new outdoor gear and clothing (Be sure to check out Ski and Snowboard Liquidators for their amazing deals, too), so now it’s time to take care of my feet. I love to shop at Beggar’s Pouch and Spruce Hurricane in North Conway Village. Not only can I find great leather shoes from brands like: Dansko and Ugg and Dingo, I can also pick up some beautiful accessories like handmade belts, pocketbooks and vests. Does the name Brighton ring a bell? Regardless of what I’m looking for, I can count on finding something unique and one of a kind; especially leather and suede outerwear at both of these boutiques.

As I move down Main Street in the village, I pop into the Bavarian Chocolate Haus. While here I can save $1 if I spend $10 or more, using a coupon from  northconwaycoupons.com. What a deal! It’s even better because all their chocolates and fudge are handmade! My fav is their ginormous peanut butter puck. I just got one with a Bruin’s logo on it; it was love at first bite! My second favorite is their dark chocolate dipped apricot! OMG…..soooo good. White Mountain Cupcakery in North Conway Village has an awesome cupcake deal – $1.00 for 4 with their coupon in this map.

OK…I am done with munching, so now it’s time to feed my brain. White Birch Book Store is, by far, one of the best book stores I have ever been in! They not only feature the latest in bestsellers, I can get a 10% discount on them with their coupon at northconwaycoupons.com. They review nearly every book in their store and even have monthly book readings, some with famous authors who actually come in for this! Now it’s time to add a little flash to the brainpower. I am heading next door to Assets Jean Company. They have one of the largest selections of jeans north of Boston, the cutest tops, and functional outerwear. The best part is their knowledgeable staff will help me pick out the perfect jeans that are meant for “my”  body. The the really good best part is they have a $10.00 OFF coupon in NorthConwayCoupons.com! Speaking of coupons….all of the maps at HospitalityMaps.com or NorthConwayVillage.Com have a coupons page. From 10% off at McGraths Tavern, and two new eateries Abenaki Restaurant and Pub, and Chef’s Market Bistro. Even Headlines has a coupon! Gosh, there are nearly 100 coupons in all of the maps! Share the savings and tell a friend!

Whew, all this shopping has made me hungry. This is where my decisions get really tough! There are so many delicious places to eat in the Mt. Washington Valley! (Check out foodinthemountains.com to see many of the best choices!) I originally thought I was in the mood for a burrito. I LOVE the chicken burritos at Cafe Noche but my stomach is telling me to go to Stonehurst Manor tonight for one of their famous handmade wood fired pizzas.  Another option for an awesome meal is Tuckerman’s Tavern. All of their food is delicious and they have 20 beers on tap PLUS a coupon for a FREE appetizer. On second thought, I’m thinking I really want a lobster roll. Merlino’s has THE BEST one I have EVER eaten in my life. Clearly, you can tell I love to eat!  After all this, I will definitely need some SPA work at one of the five body services businesses listed in the SPA section of this site. I have used them all and can attest to their awesomeness.

Moving on to my four footed friends, I need to head to Four Your Paw’s Only to pick up Keeper’s dog food and treats. Did you know they have a huge pet BAKERY? It’s the biggest pet bakery I have ever seen! Boy, are there going to be some pretty excited pets when I get home! I am happy too, because with my ad from  shopmtwashingtonvalley.com I save 15% on Frontline & other flea/tick treatments, pet treats, and toys. This is a big savings for our furry friends. And BTW, you can bring your pets with you next time because Karla’s Pet Rendezvous in Conway is a daycare/playcare facility and even cares for birds! They are amazing and even have a Vet on the premises.

My last stop of the day will be to pick up a few birthday gifts. The Local Grocer has green earth friendly gifts. One shop I also HAVE to get to today is the League of NH Craftsmen for fine quality made clothing, jewelry and crafts. For that one• of • a • kind friend….this is the place to look for a special gift.

Phew, I’m exhausted! My final stops will be my “reward” stops.  First, I’m going to quench my thirst with a specialty martini at The Stonehurst Manor,  or maybe at Vito Marcello’s Italian Bistro…… and then I will head to the Chef’s Market Bistro for one of their nightly specials. I had the Haddock last week and it was perfectly cooked and fresh not frozen. I’ll be writing more soon in the FoodintheMountains.com website about all the amazing foody finds to be had in the Valley. Be sure to check that out, too.

There are so many choices to make when you visit North Conway and its quaint Village. Today’s stops are just the TIP of the New England iceberg also known as Mt. Washington Valley. Safe travels to you and yours!