Synonymous with opulent, turn-of-the-century New England luxury, the Omni Mount Washington is perhaps the grandest in the era of grand hotels. With its distinctive red roof that peeks above the tree lines, the sprawling and imposing hotel commands majestic views of Mount Washington, named for our first President.

Poets the likes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne, celebrities, royalty and U.S. presidents have relished their stays here. If only these walls could speak…

Built in 1902 by New Hampshire native and Pennsylvania Railroad tycoon Joseph Stickney, the hotel is designated as a National Historic Landmark. At a time when railroads were in their heyday, and the main mode of transportation, there were 50 train stops a day to this storied resort.

Sadly, Stickney died the year after he opened the hotel, leaving it to his widow Carolyn Foster Stickney, who eventually married a French prince. Today, you can get a feel for how she would’ve experienced the dreamy resort by staying in what were her private quarters, the Princess Carolyn suite, Room 314.

In addition to the famous devotees of the resort, it also holds a significant place in history, being chosen by the U.S. government in 1944 to host the International Monetary Conference, a gathering of the world’s top financiers who chose the American dollar as the standard of international exchange.

For a heightened level of luxury, experience what our past leaders loved by booking a room in the Presidential Wing, which features private balconies, dedicated concierges, and its own private Presidential Club Lounge.

Revitalizing Spa and Outdoor Pursuits

Enjoy the autumn panorama, with 800,000 surrounding acres of reds, oranges and golds blanketing the valley, from a scenic Gondola ride or zip through the trees on the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour. Miles of hiking and biking trails await exploration, and the resort’s signature veranda is the perfect spot to just take it all in with a glass of wine or gather around the s’mores-worthy firepits, which are lit nightly.

At the stables, pony rides and carriage rides take guests back in time. The adjacent Bretton Woods Ski Area and two award-winning golf courses and surrounding high-altitude trails are tailor-made for both hikers and Nordic skiers. 

But you never have to leave the resort to partake in a soothing respite any time of year in the heated indoor and outdoor pools and hot tub.

The 25,000-square-foot spa succeeds at bringing the outdoors in, with signature treatments that include the nourishinglocal botanical line, Mountain Mist.

Soothe your soul with the Mount Washington Signature Body Ritual, which begins with a seven-jetted Vichy shower to conjure a waterfall, followed by exfoliation to refresh skin and boost circulation, a hot oil scalp massage, and finally a divine dousing in the Swiss shower. omnihotels.com