A Family Friendly Weekend At The Rocks
By Lindsey Lapointe
The White Mountains of New Hampshire is the best destination for kids and families. As a self-described “weekend warrior”, my family spends at least one weekend a month in the Whites. These visits are usually day trips. However, the long drive makes getting to some attractions that require an early start is tough. For this reason, we packed our bags and enthusiastically set out to experience a memorable family-friendly weekend at The Rocks in Bethlehem, New Hampshire with Bretton Woods Vacations.
The Property
Staying on The Rocks property is truly a unique experience. While the estate is open to the public during the day, the only place to stay the night is the single rental house – the Gardener’s Cottage. From the moment we arrived, it was love at first sight. The 1400-acre preserve is owned and managed by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (also known as The Forest Society). It is open to the public from dawn to dusk and dogs are welcome too.
On arrival, we were immediately rewarded with views of rolling hills punctuated with rows of Christmas trees. The old stone walls are hugged by towering maple and oak trees that lead to a large historic visitor center. The rental cottage is tucked away from the public but with easy access to the heart of the property. On either side of the house are gardens and in front is a grass and stone amphitheater with sweeping views of the northern White Mountains. The overwhelming beauty of the “front yard” view was only amplified by the quaint charm of the Gardener’s Cottage.
The Gardener’s Cottage
While the outside of the cottage reflects the historic nature of the property – the inside of the house has been renovated to embrace modern convenience and style. We had plenty of room for our family of four with the three spacious bedrooms. The living room, with the large couch, was cozy for our movie night, and the modern kitchen was ideal for the multiple meals we enjoyed on the property. We also took advantage of having Roku and board games.
While the inside of the cottage was comfortable and clean – the outside was unforgettable. My daughter frolicked in the garden, sampled fresh strawberries, and admired the growing pumpkins. There is a new, large patio deck – perfect for a family meal. Best of all – it had the most amazing sunrises. I spent both mornings sipping my mug of coffee on an Adirondack chair and watching shades of pink color the panoramic landscape of the Whites.
Excursions
While I often visit the White Mountains – the Bethlehem area is on the northern rim of the Whites, which often seems too long for a day trip. Staying overnight allowed me to plan some family-friendly North Country excursions:
The Rocks Trails
From our doorstep, we walked the 1.8-mile loop on The Rocks property. This hike is a fairly easy path through mixed forest. While the scenery was beautiful – perhaps even more special, were the historical gems along the way. We walked past the School House, Woodshed, and Maple Sugaring Museum. We also popped into the Carriage Barn Program Center where we got to try their local maple syrup and explore the Frances Glessner Lee Gallery – an influential forensic scientist.
The Mount Washington Cog Railway
Thirty minutes up the road from The Rocks is the base of Mount Washington and the opportunity to ride up the historic Cog Railway. Bretton Woods Vacations offers discounted tickets for visitors to their properties. Therefore, it’s the perfect opportunity to summit New England’s highest peak. This was another quintessential family-friendly experience in the White Mountains. The kids loved the 45-minute train ride to the top. It also included an hour to explore the summit, visit the museum, and buy a cup of hot chocolate. Remember to pack extra warm layers since the summit is often 10-20℉ colder than the valley below. It was an unforgettable experience for all!
Lost River Gorge & Caves
Owned by The Forest Society, Lost River Gorge and Caves is a thirty-minute drive from The Rocks. For a fee, visitors can hike the one-mile boardwalk look trail and explore the eleven caves. While the caves were the kids’ highlight, I marveled at the waterfalls, boulder-filled valleys, and views of the surrounding mountains. This scenic piece of property has been protected by The Forest Society since 1912 and has become a local treasure.
Stationing ourselves at The Rocks in Bethlehem gave us the ability to visit these destinations that are just too far to do as a day trip from our home. If we had stayed longer, it would have been fun to take advantage of the many kid-friendly White Mountain hikes. As it was, we felt we got the perfect amount of action and leisure.
Food
One convenience of the cottage was having our own kitchen. While most of the meals we ate in, we did enjoy a few meals out. We ate dinner Friday night at the Pemi Public House in Woodstock, had snacks on the summit of Mt. Washington, and enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Polly’s Pancake Parlor.
The Perfect White Mountain Family Destination
Many aspects of The Rocks make it the perfect White Mountain destination for a family. We fell in love with the comfortable house, appreciated the endless land for kids to play, and utilized the proximity to New Hampshire’s best scenic destinations. In addition to the beauty, I was grateful to spend time in such a culturally significant place. My bags from the trip are now unpacked, but the memories of our time staying at The Rocks are tucked away forever.
