‘Tis the season for a pre-holiday Mt. Washington Valley escape - Boston Herald

My friend Dina digs into her holiday decorating in early October. She loves to spread out the holiday vibe for as long as and as much as she can.

I’m from the other camp. I want to hold onto summer, savor fall and not rush (as much as I love the ski season!) winter along by starting the holidays too soon.

That said, when I want to get into the spirit of next season: I want it and I want it NOW!

Luckily, there’s a way to dive head first into the holidays even minutes after the last piece of turkey is carved.

A weekend trip to Mount Washington Valley (https://ift.tt/sqG8EKt) post Thanksgiving dinner (or pre) is an easy pass to all the holiday cheer you crave.

Scenery, décor, amazing shopping, special meals and yes, even some snow-covered peaks are all there for the taking.

Mount Washington Valley is an easy shot from Boston up 93 and the Spaulding Turnpike. You know you’ve arrived when the decorations begin: the sight of crossed skis with wreathes on telephone poles has long brought me my first twinge of holiday cheer. The lights are aglow and trees decorated by the time Thanksgiving rolls around. And even when the ski areas are yet to open (the first week of December is the hopeful date for most up there), stately Mount Washington and the rest of the Presidential Range usually have some snow to show by then.

There’s everything holiday to do while there.

Let’s talk shopping first. An outlet store hub, the Valley always has deals. From Black Friday on, they get even better. You can meander the many shops of Settler’s Green (https://ift.tt/5eFQN7C) and the many other outlets along the main drag of North Conway. You can find unique treasures at classic spots like Zeb’s (https://www.zebs.com), which is worth the wait you may have outside, or Flossie’s General Store (https://ift.tt/XSfEzCa) up in Jackson. There are art galleries, clothing shops and of course, snow sport shops. You could easily cross off everything on your list.

There’s food, too. Restaurants and hotels rev it up for the holiday season with special dishes and special events.

Consider the Christmas Farm Inn (https://ift.tt/NG2thLT) in Jackson, where they take their name to heart. You can book a special family weekend with Mrs. Claus. The two night package includes dinner with Mrs. Claus and a reading and book signing with her, along with meals.

Grown ups who love the holidays can visit Dec. 10 when they host a wine dinner with Mrs. Claus herself.

You can get your tree fix too. And while they may not have as many decorated trees as my friend Dina, they have a massive and beautiful tree festival (https://ift.tt/f0JT2zH) peppered with cocktail hours and live entertainment. It’s like a big, beautiful holiday party in a storybook setting.

To really win praise from the family, there’s a way to head out of Mount Washington Valley and directly to the North Pole. The Conway Scenic Railway hosts their annual Journey to the North Pole  (https://ift.tt/mYi4OPW). In just two hours, you are transported to the North Pole where you visit the workrooms, elves and Santa himself, and then brought back to the Valley.

Where to stay is never an issue in the Valley. There’s every type of lodging, from upscale swank to intown ease to cozy cottage types. For a classic New England feel (with incredible decorations) that’s tucked in the woods but just a quick jaunt to the center of North Conway, consider the White Mountain Hotel (https://ift.tt/Ya1q6ue).

For lovely rooms and breathtaking views of Mount Washington, consider the Glen House (https://ift.tt/K3Nj9CV) where you can enjoy firepit ‘smores and an indoor pool.

Most all, though, is the thing no other town can recreate: the setting. Tucked into the base of majestic Mount Washington and surrounded by the Presidentials, The Valley mixes modern and classic; fun and formal. It just feels like the holidays there.

To all those who want a holiday vibe ASAP,  Mount Washington Valley awaits.

Mt. Washington looms in the distance over scenic North Conway, N.H., where most small shops and churches remain closed during the coronavirus pandemic, Sunday, April 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Mt. Washington looms in the distance over scenic North Conway, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Shopping for holiday gifts just got a lot more fun at Zeb's general store in North Conway. (Photo Moira McCarthy)
Shopping for holiday gifts just got a lot more fun at Zeb’s general store in North Conway. (Photo Moira McCarthy)

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