$100–150

Grab a great night’s sleep and peace and quiet to boot at Blue Acorn Inn (21 Sleeper Rd., Sunapee, 603/863-1144, www.blueacorninn.com, $100–140). The bed-and-breakfast, open year-round, sits on 22 acres of meadows and hills, and offers guests plenty of room to spread out—in its enormous great room (complete with roaring fireplace), the wide backyard and patio, or in any of the six carefully decorated guest rooms with poster beds and both private and shared bathrooms.

With a back yard overlooking the Connecticut River, the natural setting of Chieftain Motor Inn (84 Lyme Rd., Hanover, 603/643-2550, www.chieftaininn.com, $120–175) is tough to beat. Guest rooms are paneled in shining pine, are humbly but neatly decorated, and the property offers an outdoor pool, a sitting room full of games and movies, and a continental breakfast.

The beautiful, sumptuously decorated rooms at
Inn on Newfound Lake (1030 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater, 603/744-9111, www.newfoundlake.com, $135–165) pair intricate wallpapers and plush fabrics with four-poster beds, antiques, and oil paintings. The lakefront inn is open year-round, and houses a good restaurant and tavern for enjoying a pre- or post-dinner drink.

Ten distinctive, pretty, guest rooms sit in the main house of Dexter’s Inn (258 Stagecoach Rd., Sunapee, 603/763-5572, www.dextersnh.com, $110–185), while seven additional chambers are in the inn’s Annex. Outside your room are activities galore—three tennis courts, an in-ground pool, a kids’ play room, and an adult game room for playing pool, table tennis, foosball, and darts.

$150–250

Reminiscent of a Provençal estate, Home Hill Inn (703 River Rd., Plainfield, 603/675-6151, www.homehillinn.com, $160–200) is an exquisite and romantic escape with only twelve guest rooms. Each is outfitted with tile or marble washrooms, crisp Frette linens, and many have fireplaces and private terraces. Dining in the butter-yellow dining room is a luxury indeed—dishes can be perfectly prepared organic roasted chicken, lamb loin with ratatouille, and beautiful plates of rare French cheeses.

$250 and Up

Overlooking the Dartmouth College green, The Hanover Inn (Main St., Hanover, 603/643-4300, $225–275) is a study in country elegance: Guest rooms are furnished with handmade quilts and wingback chairs, the common areas are recently renovated, and there are two acclaimed restaurants, the Daniel Webster Room (a crystal-laden, fine dining room) and Zins (a warmly appointed, bustling wine bistro).

© Michael Blanding and Alexandra Hall from Moon New England, 2nd Edition