Where to eat, play, and stay in Lincoln, New Hampshire
Plot your next winter adventure to the White Mountains.
The town of Lincoln, in New Hampshire’s picturesque White Mountains, is a popular cold-weather destination. The area, including the nearby town of Woodstock, sees 10,000 to 12,000 visitors per weekend during a successful winter season, according to the White Mountains Attractions Association. During long weekends and school breaks, that number can swell to 15,000.
It’s just about a two-hour drive from Boston to Lincoln, where the mountains are full of adventurers who tackle the terrain on skis, snowmobiles, and snowshoes. Some even take to the air, ziplining high above the snowy trees.
“This is your base camp for winter activities,” said Kim Pickering, executive director of the Western White Mountains Chamber of Commerce. “There’s something for everyone.”
Whether you’re spending a day or a weekend, Pickering shared her picks for what to do, where to eat, and where to stay this winter.
Eat
The bar at the Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery.
Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery
This hot spot in nearby Woodstock, New Hampshire, is a brewery, restaurant, and hotel in one. “You can take a tour of the brewery in the afternoon, have dinner, and then stay in one of their rooms,” Pickering said. Brewery tours take place daily at noon. Woodstock Station Restaurant, housed in an original train depot, serves everything from barbecue to shrimp and scallop scampi to pizza. Pickering said you can check out the live entertainment on weekend nights, but she prefers to begin her day there. “They do a fantastic breakfast,” she said. “The sticky buns are to die for.” (135 Main St., North Woodstock)
After a long day on the mountain, the fireplace at this restaurant is an ideal spot for warming up and relaxing, Pickering said. “In their bar area, in the pub in the back, is this giant stone fireplace that always has a roaring fire,” Pickering said. “It’s great to get an appetizer and sit in front of the fire after a day on the slopes.” The Common Man serves steak, seafood, and burgers, and has an extensive wine list, as well as a gluten-friendly menu. (10 Pollard Rd.)
The family-owned and -operated Gordi’s Fish & Steak House serves a whole lot of ski culture with its food. Co-owners Gordi and Karen Eaton, both former Olympic ski racers, have plastered the walls with their old ski bibs, as well as decades of race photos. Gordi competed for the U.S. in the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics and coached the 1968 U.S. Olympic ski team. Karen was on the 1968 and 1972 U.S. Olympic ski teams. “There’s lots of cool things to see, especially if you’re a skier,” Pickering said. The restaurant offers fish and steak, of course, as well as pasta, chicken, burgers, sandwiches, and gluten-free options. (260 Main St.)
Play
The glowing Ice Castles in Lincoln, New Hampshire.
For the third winter in a row, artists have constructed enormous, hand-carved Ice Castles in Lincoln. The 25 million-pound structures, open through March, are fitted with LED lights that twinkle to music and feature frozen thrones, towers, slides, and fountains. “It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” Pickering said. “It’s not something you see every day, and we’re lucky enough to have it right here in town.” Lincoln is one of just five ice castle locations across North America this winter. The other castles are in Midway, Utah; Stillwater, Minnesota; Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; and Edmonton, Alberta. (64 Railroad St.)
Skiers and snowboarders are drawn to Loon Mountain, with its 61 trails, 11 chairlifts, and gondola. “There’s trails for all abilities at Loon Mountain,” Pickering said. If you don’t ski, there are plenty of other winter activities at Loon, such as snow tubing, ice skating, and a two-hour guided snowshoe tour, complete with a gondola ride to the summit. When you’re ready to head indoors, challenge yourself in the rock climbing area. (60 Loon Mountain Rd.)
Make like a bird and zip line over the mountains. Alpine Adventures offers several zip line courses over 300 acres of White Mountain forest. The popular Treetop Canopy Tour is a fit for beginners and children. Thrill seekers, on the other hand, can choose an 80-foot “white knuckle drop” on the Skyrider course. The company’s Thrillsville Aerial Park includes rope ladders, zip lines, and a treehouse. If you’d rather keep your feet firmly on the ground, go for the company’s snowshoe tour instead. “It’s a great way to get out and explore the beauty of the woods in the wintertime,” Pickering said. Or hop into a 6-wheel-drive military vehicle that seats 12 and go off-roading for panoramic views of the mountains. (41 Main St.)
Stay
The view of Loon Mountain at Kancamagus Lodge.
This lodge on Route 112 is a great choice for families on a budget, Pickering said. It has two restaurants: Brittany’s Mountainside Food & Spirits, where diners overlook the lodge’s indoor pool, and CJ’s Penalty Box, a sports bar. Shopping outlets are within walking distance, and a shuttle bus takes skiers to the mountains. “You can get all these amenities and not feel like you’re breaking the bank on a family vacation,” Pickering said. (11 Pollard Rd.)
RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain
Those looking for an upscale stay and serious amenities should book a room or suite at the brand new RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain. The resort boasts breathtaking mountain views and offers an on-site winery, Italian-style restaurant, spa, hot tub, pool (that converts into an ice skating rink in the winter), and adventure concierge who will plan all of your excursions (snowmobile tour, anyone?). “It is totally family-friendly, but has more of that upscale resort-feeling to the property,” Pickering said. (22 South Mountain Dr.)
The Wilderness Inn Bed & Breakfast
If you prefer more personal accommodations, the Wilderness Inn Bed & Breakfast in nearby Woodstock, New Hampshire, is your best bet, Pickering said. “Some guests enjoy a quaint and quiet inn where you feel like you’re staying at home,” Pickering said. Built in 1912, the property is the former home of a lumber mill owner, and many of its craftsman-style rooms are named after New England states. The inn’s owners serve breakfast items like omelets, crepes, French toast, and pancakes made from a family recipe, served with homemade apple and cranberry syrups. (57 Main St., Woodstock)
