The Inn at Thorn Hill: A New England Bed & Breakfast Review

One of the United States' best places to stay is the bed and breakfast The Inn at Thorn Hill in Jackson, New Hampshire. Condé Nast and Travel & Leisure have repeatedly ranked it quite high in lists such as the Top 15 $250 or less, the Top 100 Continental U.S., the Top 100 World's Best, and the World's Best Places to Stay Gold List.

Mind you, on most of the lists the Inn at Thorn Hill is compared to hotels and resorts as well as other B&B's. In addition, some of these lists cover the world, not just the United States. The Inn at Thorn Hill consistently ranks high on all of these lists.

That's quite a lot to claim about one inn. The question is, does the Inn at Thorn Hill really deserve these rankings? We stayed at the Inn for a couple of nights in the fall, and this is what we found.

The entrance to the Inn was decorated with pumpkins and fall décor, putting us in the mood to truly enjoy the bright blue sky and crisp autumn air. We were warmly greeted by the Inn owners and from the beginning felt like we belonged to the Inn family. The staff is very helpful, friendly, and enhances your stay by creating a warm ambience.

Location

Driving through a picture perfect covered bridge, you go up a slight hill to the Inn at Thorn Hill. Sitting on a hill gives the Inn great views of the rolling hills and the nearby small town of Jackson.

There are Adirondack chairs out on the sprawling lawn, where you can sit and enjoy the view. We went in the fall, when shimmering colors of red, orange and gold leaves paint the hills. Sitting in one of the Adirondack chairs and enjoying this amazing view really relaxed me on a deep level.

In the heart of New Hampshire's White Mountains, the little town of Jackson lies near the Inn at Thorn Hill. Covered bridges, white-steepled churches, rolling farmland, and high mountains give the area a classic New Hampshire look. Be sure to bring your camera!

Lodging

We stayed in the Notch View cottage and couldn't have been happier. The bedroom, bathroom (with Jacuzzi), and sitting area are all decorated with antiques, with an eye on comfort. The bed is very comfortable and comes with fine sheets and a down quilt.

The cottage also has a wet bar in the hall and a great screened-in front porch where you can sit and enjoy the peace and quiet. I can't say enough about this cottage - suffice it to say that I highly recommend it.

There are two other cottages, Trailside and Forest View. Trailside is a cozy one-room cottage that honeymooners love. Forest View is the largest cottage and has two stories.

The Carriage House has 6 rooms and is an ideal place to stay if you have a lot of family or friends with you. The Inn at Thorn Hill hosts a number of weddings, and the Carriage House is the perfect place to put up your families and guests.

In the Main Inn there are 16 rooms, each with a private bath, two-person Jacuzzi, and fireplace. We sneaked a peek at a number of rooms and found them all to be nicely and uniquely decorated. I can see why people come back here year after year.

Food

In the Main Inn are a lounge / living room and the dining area. There's a baby grand piano in the lounge. This is a great place to relax around the fire in comfy chairs, read a book, or just enjoy the wonderful view of the mountains. A la carte food, wine, microbrews, and single malt scotch are served in the lounge.

The dining area has an elegant, formal feel with white tablecloths and beautiful place settings, but you need not feel you have to dress to the nines just to eat. Nice casual is just fine. The views are great, and when we were there they softly piped in outstanding mood music by Andrea Bocelli.

Breakfast is a great way to greet the day and comes complete with homemade baked goods. You can choose between the lighter buffet or a choice of menu items such as Eggs Florentine, an omelet, or pancakes. The Granola Waffles come with fresh berries. We tried the Eggs Florentine and a cheese omelet and found them both delectable.

Where the Inn at Thorn Hill really shines is at the evening meal. Three-course meals and an award-winning wine menu have earned the Inn a AAA four-star diamond award.

We started with the Organic Greens salad with French blue cheese, spiced pecans, and maple balsamic vinaigrette. We were quite happy with our choice but noticed that there are four other starters from which to choose.

For the main course, you have a choice between seafood, steak, duck, or a vegetarian dish. I chose the beef tenderloin (cooked to perfection), which came with cheesy potatoes and creamed spinach. My taste buds were in heaven!

Dessert introduced me to their Dark Chocolate Trifle, and I got a rush of pure ecstasy. I'm a big dark chocolate lover, and this dessert completely satisfied my cravings. There are four other desserts on the menu.

Consider that a Condé Nast reader poll in 2003 ranked The Inn at Thorn Hill as #1 in the World for Food and you'll get an idea of how outstanding the food is here. I would go back just for the food.

Things to Do

The area is full of antique stores and locally owned shops, perfect for exploring on foot. Additionally, the town of Jackson usually has some sort of festival or event going on.

In the winter there are excellent nearby ski resorts such as Black Mountain, Wildcat Mountain, and Attitash. Cross-country ski trails are right outside the Inn's front door. In the summer a number of the ski resorts offer activities such as sky or aerial tramway rides, alpine or water slides, mountain biking, and more.

If nothing else, take a drive and see the stunning scenery around Jackson. We stopped and got out to walk along the Ellis river. Listening to the river tumbling over rocks was soothing, refreshing, and relaxing.

Summing It Up

There is no question in my mind that the Inn at Thorn Hill fully deserves all the awards it has won. Spending a night or two here will definitely go down into your personal history as one of the best places you've ever stayed.

For reservations and more information, check out their website at http://www.innatthornhill.com/ or call them at 800-289-8990. You'll be glad you did.