Snowshoeing and Exploring from The Buttonwood Inn

Today's guests discovered another marked trail connected to the Mt. Surprise Trail. It heads in an Easterly direction at the base of Bartlett Mountain (the mountain which is behind the Inn) and eventually joins with the Buttonwood Trail. At that point there are two choices: 1) follow the Buttonwood Trail back to the Inn or;  2) follow the Buttonwood trail until it reaches Hurricane Mountain Road. You can cross Hurricane Mountain Road and reconnect with the Buttonwood Trail which crosses Abbott Brook stream. You can continue and exit at the back of the Cranmore Mountain Lodge, or continue down to the Easternmost connection with Whittaker Woods where the Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring Association trails are located. From there you are now on a totally groomed trail system for both cross-country and snowshoeing.

Valentine's Packages Make the Rounds

Five Valentine's Day deals in New England


by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) on Jan 20th 2010 at 8:00AM

Nothing says "romance" like a roaring fire on a chilly evening on Valentine's Day. Through the windows, you can see snow-laden trees and pure white landscapes. From the warmth of your room, you can enjoy the winter wonderland outside, as you settle down for the perfect evening with the perfect person in your life. If this is how you envision your Valentine's Day this year, turn your thoughts to New England this year. There are plenty of deals at your disposal through the New England Inns and Resorts Association, and a tough travel market is leading many properties to put together some amazing deals. Here are some to get you started.

NECN's Tim Kelly comments on his stay at the Buttonwood Inn

I mentioned the other day that Tim Kelly (weatherman on NECN) and his wife Janet stayed with us this passed weekend and skiied Wildcat Mountain just up the road from us. Tim posted the following on his weather blog along with a video of the skiing..In his words, "This is the finest combination of comfortable temperatures, abundant Sunshine, and Snowfall, that we ever see in January. Bill and Paula Petrone cook up a Savory and/or Sweet Breakfast every day at their Buttonwood Inn on the Side of Mount Surprise in The Mount Washington Valley New Hampshire.

The Nordic Ski Trails passright out back, and you are minutes from Wildcat, Attitash, Black, and Cranmore. This video shows the weekend sunshine and weekday Powder. Thomas Prindle of Wilcdcat Mountain rips it up. More sunshine is in the forecast for this weekend, January 22-24, 2010."

Valentine's / President's Day Weekend Package Special

VALENTINE'S WEEKEND LOVERS PACKAGE

February 12 - 15, 2010

If you're looking for romance on Valentine's Weekend in an idyllic woodland setting, yet close to North Conway specialty shops and restaurants, come join us at The Buttonwood Inn and we'll make your weekend special.

Valentine's Day falls on President's Day Weekend this year.

Our Three Night Package Includes:

Full gourmet breakfast daily

Enjoy Paula's late afternoon tea/hot chocolate service with baked treats

Use of our hot tub "under the stars"

Rates starting at $125 per night plus tax

Add the following to enhance the experience:

Dinner for two one evening at a romantic restaurant

Bottle of bubbly or sparkling cider

Box of handmade New Hampshire chocolates

Book a massage either in-room or at the salon -

call 1-800-258-2625 for details and arrangements.

Prices starting

at $125.00 per night

for two

Based on double occupancy; subject to availability;

includes NH rooms and meal taxes;

not to be combined with other packages or discounts.

Click here to view rooms

Click here to check availability - or BOOK ONLINE

SPECIAL SKI AND STAY PACKAGE - LAST MINUTE DEAL

SPECIAL SKI AND STAY PACKAGE - LAST MINUTE DEAL

Not only can you get discounted downhill and cross-country ski tickets
But we'll also discount your room as follows:

2 DAY STAY - take 5% OFF! ! + another 5% if all the days are weekdays
3 DAY STAY - take 10% OFF!! + another 5% if all the days are weekdays
4 Day STAY - take 15% OFF!!! + another 5% if all the days are weekdays

Currently rated as one of the TOP bed and breakfasts in New Hampshire and the #1 Bed & Breakfast in North Conway on TripAdvisor.com Also selected as one of the winners for Best Food based upon the excellent reviews posted by our guests on Bed and Breakfast.Com during the past year.

New... Read the article about Buttonwood Inn on NH Living.com,  New Hampshire's Internet Magazine 

All Packages Include:

Full gourmet breakfast daily

Paula's late afternoon tea with baked treats

Use of our hot tub "under the stars"

Complimentary discount restaurant dining vouchers

Call Toll Free to reserve now! 1-800-258-2625

Based on dbl occupancy/rates vary by room type/taxes & gratuities not included. Subject to availability. Good for advance reservations only and must mention this advertisement. Cannot be combined with any other packages or discounts. Reservation must be made within 48 Hours of arrival date to qualify and does not apply on most Holidays.

March Maple Madness

MARCH MAPLE MADNESS LODGING PACKAGE call 1-800-258-2625 for details

March 27 & 28, 2010

The Bed & Breakfast Inns Mt. Washington Valley (BBInnsMWV) of New Hampshire will host their annual March Maple Madness event on Saturday and Sunday, March 27 and 28, 2010 between 11 am and 4 pm. A self-guided tour of the participating inns will include the sampling of maple treats, both savory and sweet. Visiting guests can learn about “sugaring” at maple sugar houses and stop in at participating “Maple Country Partners” shops and vendors along the way.

Those participating in the Maple Madness "March" will have the opportunity to gather points toward winning prizes as they travel a specific tour route guided by directions "riddled with clues." Along the way, guests must seek answers to questions, gather objects, and artifacts, as well as visit each participating Inn and Maple Country Partner. The ticket holder who scores the most points will win a $200 certificate good toward a two-night stay at a participating BBInnsMWV Inn, as well as other goodies provided by the Inns and Maple Country Partners.

Package Includes:

Two nights accommodations

Full gourmet breakfast each morning

Afternoon tea and hot chocolate with Paula's baked treats

Dinner for two one evening at The Notchland Inn
featuring cuisine with a maple twist
Two tickets for the Maple Madness "March"
Maple Madness souvenir recipe collection and Inn-to-Inn tour map
Maple Madness "March" clues and directions
(if you choose to participate in the contest for prizes)

http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/AwardsWinners.aspx

Calling All Chocoholics for the Chocolate Festival 2-28-10!

If you like chocolate as much as I do, you'll love cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or driving to various inns and businesses to be rewarded with a myriad of chocolate goodies!  

The Buttonwood Inn already booked guests for this popular annual event on Sunday, February 28, 2010.  You can click on the following link or visit our website under Winter Packages - 20th Annual Chocolate Festival:  http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/chocolate-festival-lodging-package.html 

Christmas

Christmas Day may be behind us but the Inn is as 'Chistmassy' as ever with the smell of Paula's freshly baked scones and her baked cheddar cheese omelette. Our skiers today are headed to Wildcat and Bretton Woods for some downhill and cross-country skiing, respectively. The newest picture album addition on Facebook is chock full of Chritmas shots of the Inn taken yesterday. Hope you like them!!

Paula and I were able to connect with our family's annual Christmas get-together in New Jersey via Webcam and it was so wonderful to be able to participate in the blessing before dinner even if we were not there physically.

Have a Cranapalooza New Year's Holiday

Cranapalooza - It's a Festival!

When the sun goes down in North Conway and the lights illuminate the trails of Cranmore, the festivities begin. Saturday nights from Dec. 26, 2009 to March 13, 2010, guests will enjoy a variety of events throughout the resort in addition to top-to-bottom night skiing and tubing. Returning for its sixth season, Cranapalooza is a festival of music, entertainment and games with North Conway's favorite penguin, C-More. Additional Cranapalooza dates include a special New Year's Eve edition on Thurs., Dec. 31, 2009 and Wed., February 17, 2010. the Buttonwood is right down the street from the Cranmore Ski Resort. Still time to reserve for our extra Special New Year's Eve Package so don't delay.

Cranapalooza kicks off the season on December 26, 2009. As guests finish up a day of skiing and riding or arrive for the nighttime festivities, they can enjoy activities beginning at 2 p.m. Activities change weekly and include fireworks on select dates, games with C-More, magicians and puppets, fireworks, face painting, hypnotists, live entertainment, hot chocolate and s'mores around the fire pit and Après Ski with live music in Zip's Pub.

Another popular activity coming back for this winter is the spectacular fireworks display set off over the slopes. Fireworks will light the skies at 7:30pm on the following dates: Dec. 31, Jan. 16, Jan. 30, Feb. 13, Feb. 20, and Mar. 6th. Our guests can even view them from our front porch or out our dining room window along with the lights on the Cranmore Ski slopes.

Cranapalooza lift tickets are just $29 and are valid for night skiing for all ages from 2 - 8p.m. Night skiing is offered on 11 trails and 3 lifts for all ability levels, including the Darkside and Other Side Terrain Parks, Beginner Basin, South Slope, North Slope, Hurricane and more. Cranmore's top rated Arctic Blast Tubing Park is also open Saturday and holiday evenings until 9pm. The Buttonwood has discounted tubing tickets for our guests too!

Want the best value for night time activities? Buy the new Super Slider ticket. This all-inclusive ticket covers night skiing (2-8pm), two hours of snow tubing (anytime between 2-9pm), and two hours of Fun Zone admission (between 3-8pm). Tickets are valid for all ages and must be used by one individual on one date. The Super Slider ticket is only for sale on Cranapalooza dates.

Want to know what's going on at the next Cranapalooza? It's all listed here on their events calendar.

Santa's Village north of the Buttonwood

There's is a lot going on in the Valley and here abouts over the Christmas and New Year's Holidays. Besides the obvious skiing you can visit Santa's reindeer at Santa's Village north of the Buttonwood and have a holly Jolly old time with the big bearded guy in the red suit!

Just an hour from North Conway you can experience a day filled with wonderfully themed rides, great shows, Santa and his reindeer. Oh What Fun!
One low admission includes unlimited use of all the rides and shows for the entire day and if you come in within 3 hours of closing and you can return another day free of charge.
With all there is to see and do at Santa's Village, who wouldn't go!
Santa's Village is open from Memorial Day weekend through the summer and over the fall and holidays too!

Starry Starry Night at the Buttonwood

Beautiful night with a crescent moon and the constellation Orion is lookiing crisp in the southeastern sky. The telescope is set up on the back porch pointing towards the big dipper. Cold as it is outside there is something about trying to find a heavenly object that we haven't seen before that just seems to negate the cold. Of course this picture of us with the telescope was taken in the spring but it's the same scope that we use to peruse the heavens.

Christmas and New Years Specials at The Buttonwood Inn

Prepping for the Christmas and New Year's Eve visitors now that Polar Express is over. Our guests are going to have a great time with special treats and offerings here and in the Mount Washington Valley. There are still fireplace rooms and a double jacuzzi room available for the Christmas weekend and http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/New-Years-Eve-Lodging-Package.html. We are ...even running a special discount on the Chamber of Commerce's website so there are many reasonable options for those who haven't firmed up their plans yet. Take a look at our New Year's Eve package. It's sure to please!

Chocolate Chip Pancake Time!

Paula's special chocolate chip pancakes had the kids beaming this morning and the parents loved their corn meal pancakes all with sausages and hot maple syrup and a freshly cut fruit salad starter. During December we also add our Polar Express juice special, a mix of pomegranate and cranberry to the menu along with our... Mt. Surprise Sunrises (OJ & Pom) and Sunsets (OJ & Cran). The kids and parents are headed to the Cranmore snowtubing park today and to the free Mt. Washington Observatory museum and shoppes in North Conway. 

Visitor's to the Buttonwood Inn

Little Lia (4) just arrived with her parents. They will be taking the Polar Express train this evening from the North Conway railway station and is she excited! During the tour of the Inn I showed them the Mt. Surprise room. We have the movie "Polar Express" playing on the 50 inch plasma and Lia's little eyes were wide... as they could be when she saw it. Lia and her mom also liked the New England Village ceramic houses in the Mt. Surprise room, all lit up with a snowy background. Guess what---our family of 6 just arrived. Alexander, Olivia, Jarred, and Aidan have been here before with their parents. They are like part of the family having first visited us back in 2007. They will be taking the Polar Express train ride tomorrow. By the way the Polar Express movie is based on the 1985 book written by Chris Van Allsburg.

The Buttonwood Inn - Special Holiday Gift Offer

Happy Holidays from The Buttonwood Inn!

Paula and I would like to extend to you this special offer.

Show Someone How Much You Care!

Special Holiday Gift Offer!

A memorable gift for that someone special. Give them the pleasure of a stay in a "magical place"! Enjoy blissfully old fashioned hospitality, cozy fireplaces, and gourmet breakfasts.

The Buttonwood Inn

For every $100 spent in gift certificates, we will give you $20 toward your next stay in 2010!

Our gift certificates can be used at any time for Holiday and winter weekends or for special packages such as: (Click on any of the following links for some examples)


New Year's Eve 2009 Package
Harvest to Holiday Shop 'til You Drop Package
"Ski It Your Way" Ski Tickets, Dinner and More
Ski & Stay Mid-Week Special

Or for one of our special theme weekends like:


Romance Package
March Maple Madness
Ghosts and Goblin Trail Package


Contact us toll free at 1-800-258-2625 by December 18, 2009
to ensure the mailing reaches you or the person receiving the gift certificate before the 25th.

The Mt Washington Valley Arts Association (MWVAA)

NORTH CONWAY 12/7/09: The Mt Washington Valley Arts Association (MWVAA) is featuring a special Bob DeIulio Exhibit and Molly Doe Wensberg Raffle during its "Affordable Art Show and Sale" through December 20, at the MWV Visual Arts Center, 16 Norcross Place.

As part of the MWVAA "Affordable Art Show and Sale," there is a tribute exhibit of deceased member Bob DeIulio's work. DeIulio's work features the vitreous flux medium. Vitreous flux is a watercolor medium where water is first loaded onto an impervious surface with pigment then being added. The pigment is then manipulated using a variety of tools to create expressionistic images. DeIulio was a student of David Baker, the originator of this unique watercolor method. The exhibit includes original framed worked and matted prints.

Member Molly Doe Wensberg, an award-winning oil painter donated an oil painting, "A View Toward Jackson" with a retail value of $2500 to the MWVAA to raffle off as a fundraiser. Raffle tickets are available at the MWV Visual Arts Center in Norcross Place during the "Affordable Art Show and Sale." Tickets are $5 each or three for $10. The winning raffle ticket will be drawn on Sunday, November 20at 4PM.

The "Affordable Art Show and Sale" runs Friday through Sunday through December 20, from 10AM to 5PM (4PM on December 20) at the MWV Visual Arts Center, 16 Norcross Place. The show and sale features the work of many local two and three dimensional fine artists, artisans and craftspeople with all work priced from $10 to $250.

For complete information on all events at the MWV Visual Arts Center visit the center online at mwvarts.org or call 603-356-ARTS (2787). The MWV Visual Arts Center is the place to see, learn and connect with the visual arts.

Two Great New Cookbooks

While on vacation recently, I read two new cookbooks in my daughter's New York apartment.  This past Fall, I watched the series on PBS with Mario Batali, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Mark Bittman traveling through Spain enlightening us about its culture, history, and cuisine.  Since I missed an episode or two, the book closely follows the series and also includes the recipes, many that are easy to prepare based on Mario's detailed explanations.  As in Batali's previous cookbook, "Molto Mario," the recipes are easy and fool-proof in producing authentic Italian dishes.

If you're planning a cocktail party or just want to create a special drink or appetizer, Kelly Casey, matches up the apps to the sips (cocktails).  There are trendy drink recipes and different variations on the classic drink recipes.  She also makes recommendations on glassware and barware.

I typically purchase used, like new or new, books online either from Amazon or Barnes & Noble often at half to two-thirds of the cost of a new cookbook.

Happy Cooking!

Ghost & Goblins Inn-to-Inn Halloween Tour - October 2009

This year, our 2009 Ghost & Goblins Traill Inn-to-Inn Tour brought the most costumed guests to many of our inns in the Mt. Washington Valley on Halloween.  Participants were serious about winning the game for first prize of a two-night stay at any one of our Bed & Breakfast Inns Mt. Washington Valley, including several other gifts donated by the inns.  They also had the opportunity to sample various sweet and savory treats and view the interiors of each inn.  To view more information about this event, please click on the above links and contact us to book your 2010 Ghost & Goblins Trail package now.

Mountain Garden Club's Annual Holiday Boutique "Winter Wonderland"

The Mountain Garden Club's Annual Holiday Boutique "Winter Wonderland" is on Saturday, December 12th at the North Conway Community Center next to Schouler Park in North Conway Village. The doors open at 9:30 AM and the boutique lasts until everything is gone. It usually sells out by 11:30 AM, so come early! As always..., there will be a wonderful selection of seasonal decorations, ornaments and holiday gifts, all made by the Mountain Garden Club members, as well as the ever-popular Shabby Chic table with slightly used "treasures." The Children’s Table will feature holiday presents, such as jewelry, scarves, candles, knick knacks, non-breakable ornaments, etc., for Mom, Dad, siblings, relatives, teachers, etc. All these items can be purchased for just 25 or 50 cents. There will also be outdoor seasonal hanging baskets that can be reused in the spring, indoor holiday greens baskets and centerpieces, boxwood trees, candles with decorated boxwood bobeches, hydrangea wreaths, fragrant paperwhite narcissus and dramatic amaryllis. The proceeds from the Holiday Boutique benefit the Mountain Garden Club's Valley-wide beautification projects, the MGC Alice T. Madden Scholarship Fund and Jen’s Friends.cost:free

The Buttonwood Inn Eco-Friendly Measures

In 2008, The Buttonwood Inn became certified by the New Hampshire Sustainable Lodging & Restaurant Program. Our goal is to provide you, our customer, with the best service, hospitality, and attention to detail possible, while preserving the natural beauty and healthy environment of the White Mountains of New Hampshire by continuing our efforts to be "green". We hope that you will also join us for your benefit and that of future generations. Note that as we continue to add more eco-friendly measures reducing our carbon footprint on the Earth, these are some of the initiatives we’ve implemented so far:

Learn more at Buttonwood Inn Initiatives