12 Best Hotels in The Monadnocks and Merrimack Valley, New Hampshire

Each of the five rooms in this striking sage-green 1885 B&B near the Currier Museum of Art and a few blocks from Elm Street dining is painted a different color, and all have soft bathrobes, flat-screen satellite TVs, and beds topped with Egyptian cotton linens. There's decanted brandy in the sitting room, whose stained glass is original, and in summer, the wraparound porch is a nice place to sit and enjoy a cooked-to-order breakfast, which is served on a flexible schedule.

A few miles southwest of Manchester, this upscale complex consisting of an 1810 Federal inn and a bigger, contemporary boutique hotel is all about luxury and pampering, with Italian marble bathrooms, whirlpool tubs, sumptuous linens, four-poster beds, and Molton Brown bath products in the rooms. There's also a swanky full-service spa, and meals and drinks offered in four elegant venues.

Fine antiques and Colonial-style fabrics adorn the spacious guest quarters in this opulent yet unpretentious country inn nestled on a 10-acre farmstead a couple of miles from the Connecticut River. The on-site restaurant offers exceptional dining with a focus on seasonal American fare in a romantic restaurant. Most rooms have fireplaces, and several have private decks or terraces facing the stunning perennial gardens. It's a good base for both the Monadnocks and Brattleboro and southeastern Vermont.

This sleek, stunning contemporary boutique hotel lies within a short stroll of the city's top arts venues and eateries; the airy and light-filled rooms, many with balconies, have hardwood floors, distinctive artwork, big windows, and are outfitted with Amazon Echo devices, huge HD TVs, and spacious marble baths. There's a popular steak and seafood restaurant just off the lobby as well as a 24-hour gym, and the Red River Theatres indie cinema is next door, along with a garage.

Once a stagecoach stop, the 1786 Fitzwilliam Inn sits on the town green next to the Fitzwilliam Historical Society's Amos Blake House and is a short walk from several antiques dealers. Although it retains its Colonial charm, the inn has been carefully updated with tile bathrooms and fine bedding, and rooms that range from cozy and economical to rangy and a bit more upscale; many have fireplaces. The pub serves burgers and salads, and the restaurant serves steaks, seafood, and seasonal entrées.

Thanks to the dairy farm surrounding this 1853 Colonial house—with its stenciling and wide pine floors—you'll feel as though you're miles out in the country rather than just 10 minutes from Peterborough and even closer to the cute downtown of Jaffrey. Rooms are warmly appointed with soft bedding and country quilts, and a hearty country-style full breakfast is included.

Overlooking the village green of tiny, quiet Temple, this affordable and friendly B&B built in 1775 once hosted Henry David Thoreau. The three guest rooms are done with an English-style mixture of modern and antique furnishings, and the on-site tavern serves eclectic comfort fare, from flat-bread pizzas to steak and fish-and-chips, along with a popular Sunday brunch. A 10-minute drive southeast of Peterborough, the inn is also convenient to the attractions in and around Milford, to the east.

It's unusual to find a midrange chain property set in a historic building on a picturesque downtown Main Street, but this well-kept hotel—inside the restored early 1900s Goodnow department store—is a rarity with its reasonably priced rooms, exposed-brick walls, 12-foot ceilings, and modern furnishings. Some suites have stairs that lead to an upper level and come with two bathrooms. There's a fitness room, and you can get food delivered from the restaurant next door.

Part of the trendy, burgeoning Getaway brand of tiny house glamping resorts, this nearly 50-acre spread in a densely wooded community just 15 miles east of Concord provides a relaxing base, whether you're looking to read and relax around your own firepit or to explore Portsmouth or Lake Winnipesaukee, which are both within a 45-minute drive. Each of these sleek, angular units has a small kitchen with pots, pans, and utensils; a private bathroom with a hot shower; and a spacious picnic area. Two popular craft breweries, Blasty Bough and Northwood Brewing, are nearby.

For those with kids who like animals, East Hill Farm is heaven: a family resort with daylong children's programs on a 160-acre farm overlooking Mt. Monadnock that include milking cows; collecting eggs; feeding the sheep, donkeys, cows, rabbits, horses, chickens, goats, and ducks; horseback and pony rides; hiking and hay rides in summer; and sledding and sleigh rides in winter. Rates include most activities and three meals in a camplike dining hall, and rooms are comfortable, but not fancy, and some have fireplaces. Because all meals are included, rates are per person; the cost for children is less, and those under age two stay free.

This clean, bright, and handsomely decorated 17-room motor inn just a half-mile north of downtown Peterborough is a terrific find with large, affordable rooms furnished with tasteful modern pieces and high-tech conveniences like Keurig coffeemakers, smart TVs, and Alexa devices. Those on the second floor overlooking the Contoocook River are the quietest. The management also rents out a couple of nearby guesthouses. 

With a boat dock and dazzling views of the Connecticut River, this simple but nicely kept three-story hotel is perfect for price-conscious travelers exploring the southwestern Monadnocks as well as nearby Brattleboro, Vermont. Rooms are simple but comfortable, some with balconies with water views as well as kitchenettes. West Chesterfield's scenic hiking trails are within a short drive.