Friendliness and love of nature are a way of life in Waterville Valley

Waterville Valley is a historic town surrounded by 700,000 acres of national forest. Today, it’s also a full-featured resort with world-class skiing, golf, nationally ranked tennis courts, a skateboard park, a year-round ice arena, hiking, biking, water sports, boating, and cultural activities that range from bluegrass festivals to Shakespeare-under-the-stars. It is an escape from the heat of the cities, traffic, stoplights, and the unremarkable chain stores and fast-food places. Waterville Valley’s emphasis on family and community brings visitors back year after year to enjoy the abundance of natural beauty.

The route to the secluded town winds along the picturesque Mad River, which surges over boulder-strewn rapids on its way to Waterville. Upon arrival, visitors can park their cars and forget about them for the remainder of their stay. The Town Square is a pedestrian-only zone while most of the many activities—the outdoor sports, the theater, the arts programs, for example—are within walking distance or a short ride on the free, open-air trolley that serves the valley.

 Adventure Center

Start your valley exploration at the Adventure Center, located in Town Square. This is headquarters for snowshoeing, Nordic skiing and fat biking in the winter — and the summertime home of Waterville’s most thrilling activities, including biking, hiking, skateboarding, and camping. The staff of the Adventure Center is always available to help with things like choosing the right equipment or getting around.

Freedom Pass

To make it easier for visitors to enjoy the countless activities of this resort, Waterville Valley offers a Freedom Pass package. Guests can pay one price and enjoy everything the valley has to offer: Nine holes of golf a day; unlimited court time at the tennis club; 1 voyage per day on a  canoe, kayak or paddle boat; two hours of bike rental daily; unlimited use of the facilities at the White Mountain Athletic Club; admission to the town recreation department’s programs; and even a ride up on Snow’s Mountain chair lift to view the scenery.

The Freedom Pass also offers discounts with a number of selected partners, including the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, zip lining at Alpine Adventures, and others.

Activities

Take a Hike…or a Bike

There are 100 miles of trails for the brave, the bold, and the beginners at Waterville Valley. Hikers have been exploring Waterville Valley since the 1800s when a group of guests at the popular Greeley’s Hotel here formed the Waterville Athletic and Improvement Association.

Waterville Valley has five 4,000 footers, more than any other town in New England. Popular mountains like Mt. Tecumseh, Mt. Osceola, Mt. Tripyramid, Mt. Welch and Mt. Dickey are all minutes away, and easy hikes like Goodrich Rock and the Scaur are accessible from the Valley floor.

Many visitors also bring their mountain bikes to the valley, to explore the 30 miles of mountain trails where biking is allowed. Some bikers take the chair lift to the top of Snow’s Mountain and ride their bikes down through the National Forest. Everything from meandering dirt fire roads to single-tracks is available.

Mountain bikes can be rented at the Adventure Center in Town Square, where experienced staff can help newbies get started with the proper fit and suggest trails to explore.

 Golf

Golf was a favorite of Waterville Valley’s early guests. Summer visitors built the first, impromptu course in front of Eliot’s Hotel back in 1898, which then evolved into the Waterville Valley Golf Club, where beginners, duffers, and scratch golfers have been playing for over a century. It’s a family friendly scenic 9-hole course surrounded by 360-degree views of Mounts Tecumseh, Osceola, and Sandwich. Par 31 layout with three par 4 holes provides a challenging experience for players of all abilities.

Tennis

Another favorite activity since Waterville Valley’s earliest days is tennis. Back in 1884, the valley had only one court. Today there are 18 red clay courts and they are among the best in the country. Tennis Resorts Online considers the Waterville Valley Tennis Center as one of the top 25 tennis resorts in the World, and two-time Grand Slam champion Rod Laver has enjoyed the red clay courts here. Group and private lessons are offered by USPTA Director/Owner Tom Gross, Jr, and assistant professionals instruct the junior clinics offered every morning.

Vertical Zone

Recently added to the fleet of summer activities available at Waterville Valley, the Vertical Zone offers an outdoor climbing tower and a bungee trampoline that will take adventures in the Town Square to new heights. These activities are not included in the Freedom Pass and tickets are sold at the Adventure Center.

Ice Arena

When it’s too hot for outdoor skating, visitors head over to the Waterville Valley Ice Arena, a great place to cool off on a summer day. Open year-round, the newly renovated arena provides open skating, rentals, and lessons for all ages. Youngsters and adults who dream of Olympic glory can sign up for figure skating, hockey lessons or youth hockey league tournaments.

 Mountain Athletic Club
At the White Mountain Athletic Club, visitors can take a swim in the new indoor and outdoor pools and splash pad, work out in the cardio room, lift some weights or run a few laps on the indoor track. For after-workout relaxation, there’s the hot tub, sauna, and steam room, or a meal at the Coyote Grill restaurant upstairs.

Waterville Valley’s recreation department hosts an active day camp program as well as bingo, ice cream socials, sports of all kinds, yoga, cooking, crafts, and many more activities for children and adults. Special community events are staged throughout the year.

 Lodging

When the outdoor adventures are over, Waterville Valley visitors can relax and unwind in all kinds of lodging options, from a spacious condominium large enough for an entire family, to a cozy country inn that’s a perfect fit for romantic getaways.

 Black Bear Lodge

The Black Bear is an all-suite lodge located in the heart of the village. Each 1-bedroom suite sleeps up to six comfortably. Every suite features a fully equipped kitchen, a living room with a pull-down Murphy bed, a dining room, and a bedroom with queen and trundle beds. On-site amenities include an indoor/outdoor pool, sauna, steam room, whirlpool, children’s cinema, game room, exercise room, two conference rooms and an inviting common area with a grand fieldstone fireplace.

(800) 349-2327

black-bear-lodge.com

Silver Fox Inn

This bed & breakfast style inn offers renovated 32 rooms featuring 2 double beds or 1 king-sized bed. The Silver Fox offers cable TV, Wi-Fi, work desk, and coffee making facilities. Admire mountain views from every brightly decorated room and enjoy the free cheese and wine social every evening in the Lobby. The Silver Fox Inn provides shuttle services and bicycles for easy transportation. On-site laundry and meeting facilities are also available for guests’ convenience.

(603) 236-3699

Golden Eagle Lodge

Located in the heart of Waterville Valley, the Golden Eagle Lodge offers 139 family-friendly  suites of exceptional quality, with a fully equipped kitchen, separate living area, and one or more bedrooms. The Golden Eagle’s central location affords guests easy access to shops, restaurants, and recreational activities. The property’s amenities include an indoor pool, Jacuzzis, saunas, video game room, guest laundry, bike storage, and complimentary morning coffee.

(888) 703-2453

goldeneaglelodge.com

Town Square Condominiums

Town Square Condominiums offers comfortable condominium-style lodging in the center of our self-contained mountain village. Town Square’s shops, dining, and entertainment are just footsteps away. Each spacious 3-bedroom unit features two full baths, fully equipped kitchen, cable TV and DVD player.

(888) 462-9887

hwaterville.com/info/winter/townsquare.asp

Village Condominium

These are privately owned 2 to 5-bedroom condominiums, each with fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, cable TV, fireplace with wood, private phone, and entrance. The on-site clubhouse building features a heated outdoor pool, saunas, and showers, a large recreation room with ping pong, a projection TV with a 9-foot screen, equipped with DVD and kitchen and access to the pool.

(800) 532-6630

villagecondo.com

 Waterville Valley is the perfect location for events and gatherings

From weddings to conferences, to family reunions and other celebrations, Waterville Valley offers several options to help you organize picture-perfect events with the White Mountains as their backdrop.

Weddings

Voted “Couples Choice” for four consecutive years, the Waterville Valley has it all: from an intimate, low-key gathering to the full-blown celebration, complete with outdoor dining, dancing under the stars and fireworks. Choose from many picturesque locations such as gazebos, outdoor tents, function rooms or ballrooms and make your special day an unforgettable one.

Conference Center

Whether it is a company outing or a business retreat, Waterville Valley has small to conference-sized rooms that can be used to host anything from meetings to cocktail receptions. And the many thrilling group activities offered here can be your next corporate team building event.

Waterville Valley Offers a Variety of Flavorful Dining Options

For a town of its size, Waterville Valley packs a lot of variety – and flavor – into its restaurant offerings. From casual eateries to more formal sit down restaurants, there are many choices when it comes to where to go when you’re hungry.

Coyote Grill: A Tasteful Reputation

The Coyote Grill menu features a mix of steaks, seafood, pasta and other entrées prepared with culinary flair and local products. The restaurant is known for its shrimp and risotto, haddock and calamari, among many other items. The bar menu also includes New England draft beers and New Hampshire made liquors.

Coyote Grill chef and owner Sean Stout has made quite a name for himself in Waterville Valley and beyond, after running the restaurant for more than 20 years. Customers praise his menu’s creativity, consistently good food, and the welcoming atmosphere.

Legends 1291 Sports Grille: A Waterville Valley ‘Legend’
Legends 1291 Sports Grille is Waterville Valley’s longest established restaurant, having opened in February 1989. Originally only offering live music and drinks, food was added to the menu in 1997, making it the go-to place for burgers, pasta, chicken tenders and of course, ribs. Today, the pub is a Town Square icon and not only a late night favorite, but also a regular stop for families and visitors looking for a more casual atmosphere.

Mulligans:  New Eatery with Breakfast, Lunch or Après Fare

Mulligans opened in November 2015 on Corcoran Pond and offers Waterville Valley visitors a comfortable family atmosphere to enjoy breakfast, lunch or an après meal or beverage. The menu contains grab and go breakfast items as well as a variety of appetizers, soups, salads, build your own wraps, hot and cold sandwiches, entrées and Panini. Take out is available too. The restaurant is open until 6 p.m. daily and offers live entertainment on occasion.

Other options

Waterville Valley has a few other options if you are limited on time or not in the mood for a big, sit down meal. Many of these locations have dined in or taken out options.

Everyone loves pizza and the Olde Waterville Pizza Company serves up a variety of pies for lunch and dinner, in addition to burgers, salads and more.

For authentic Mexican try the Hacienda Mexicana, or the Town Square café and eatery La Tasse.

Waterville Valley was designed and planned specifically as a self-contained, four seasons resort. Today in addition to its world-class ski area, Waterville Valley Resort has award-winning tennis courts, golf, hiking, biking, lodging, cultural activities and summer theater, an indoor ice rink, boating, a skate park, and a host of outdoor activities. Dining options include traditional favorites and elegant dining. For more information, call 1-800-GO-VALLEY or visit www.visitwatervillevalley.com.

New York Jewish Travel Guide