Cabins & cottages provide a cozy vacation spot in the White Mountains

“Roughing it” is kept to a minimum when you plan to spend your much-needed winter getaway in one of the cabins at Huttopia White Mountains. The 10 hardwood cabins (made of untreated wood to aid the environment and blend in with the natural surroundings) have all the comforts of home: beds; bathroom; a kitchen with a gas stove, fridge, microwave and dishwasher; and, best of all, a wood stove and electrical heating. The cabins are nestled in the woods, a few hundred yards from lovely Iona Lake. And they’re close to all that winter vacationers love about the White Mountains region: resorts with downhill skiing, tubing, snowboarding, ice skating and zip-lining; scenic trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing; and great shops and restaurants.

There’s nothing like a vacation by the lake in summer, by a ski area in winter. At the Purity Spring Resort, activities range from paddle boarding and tennis in the summer to skiing and tubing at King Pine Ski Area in the winter. After a full day of fun, you can come back to your cottage for all the comforts of home, like full kitchens. Other amenities include fireplaces, screened porches or grassy seating areas overlooking the lake. You’ll enjoy resort amenities including an indoor pool and hot tub, playgrounds, lawn games and dining on Italian classics at Traditions Restaurant or, in the summer, at the resort’s fabulous cookouts. Or, get a Grillin’ Kit or Family Meal Package to prepare in the comfort of your home away from home.

Perhaps the only thing better than staying at a picturesque White Mountains inn is staying in a cottage at that inn. At the Franconia Inn, nestled into 65 scenic acres in the mountains, you can enjoy classic New England comfort in your own cottage while enjoying all the amenities of a full-service resort. Each floor of the cottage can accommodate six to eight people; each has a kitchenette, with designer bedding. The cottage loft has spectacular mountain views. The Inn features a large, heated pool, an outdoor hot tub, a game room, an elegant restaurant and a cozy pub. A wealth of activities await you, from clay tennis courts and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails to horseback riding and, in the winter, horse-drawn sleigh rides.