SUNAPEE REGION

Enfield, Feb 26, 2009

 

Few rooms have seemed as welcoming as this corner bedroom at Shaker Hill Inn: extraordinarily wide pumpkin pine floorboards,  a graceful birdseye dresser in the corner, an antique Shaker-style rocker and a nice armchair, a desk with a blue pottery lamp, lovely warm colored and patterned coverlet and a patchwork quilt, and a country-style armoire. The ornamental strip above the wainscoting shows some vaguely institutional, possibly Shaker scene and the bath is steps from the bed but around the corner, out of sight. There are shades on the windows and a lovely view outside beyond blue plaid homespun-style curtains—I’m all tucked in!

 

Two mid-day runs at Mt. Sunapee wiped me out! The idea was to ski first thing in the morning but it was snowing so I toured Sunapee Harbor Cottages, Twin Doors and the 1806 House—by which time everyone was indoors eating lunch and the sky was clearing! The rental crew were lovely and the snow was perfect. Double Diomand Café a mile west of  Sunapee’s entrance looked like a great little breakfast place but I pressed on, starved—through the Mt. Edge Resort tour to Newbury News, a great sandwich spot which – it turns out—is closing forever this weekend. Bubba’s next door looks fine, with a view of the  Newbury “harbor”. West on Rt. 103 to Bradford and off into the boonies to find the Rosewood Inn, the nicest of all I’ve seen in the Sunapee area. I should have gone with it for Yankee—oh dear! Guilt! At least now I know.

The Candle Light B&B in Bradford is homey and rather cluttered, nie but seemingly expensive for what it is. 

On up Rt. 114 through Sutton—a classic meetinghouse, former tavern and gathering around the common—to North Sutton and Kezar Lake. The Folansbee Inn is okay, with guestrooms each nicely decorated and lovely new suites on the third floor but the first floor spaces have lost their charm.

The Dragonfly, a contemporary home on the site of the original Folansbee Inn (the current inn was its annex) is a gem of a B&B with lovely lake views—Brits Christie and Ian welcomed me with tea and chocolate—reviving but just barely and there was no time left to revisit New London so

I headed up I-89 to Enfield and found Shaker Hill Road in the fading light—but the inn was dark, the sign down. Turns out I was expected next Thursday. Next morning I toured The Shaker Museum, newly open in winter and more interesting than in its previous incarnation, thanks to my guide.