The truth is, when you’re taking that annual family summer trip and New England is your choice, you want it all — the charm and tradition that makes New England all that it is, with the modern conveniences so your kids aren’t bored when you’re taking the R&R you so rightfully deserve.  Smack in the heart of New Hampshire’s Lakes District is that perfect family stay: Steele Hill Resort.  The resort is set on a hilltop overlooking mountains and lakes, with spectacular views from most of the rooms and fairly lengthy balconies. The property’s rooms are spread out across three buildings and is easily accessible to hiking trails and a fishing pond.

 Above, the view from our balcony…..

The suites and more modern family rooms have plenty of space to move about, with full kitchens so you can either cook on-site, use it for breakfast only or easily heat up left overs. Steele Hill’s bright rooms, suites and townhouses have cable TV and free WiFi, and some rooms have whirlpool tubs as shown above, fireplaces and balconies; others add washer/dryers and pull-out sofas. Ours had it all minus the whirlpool tub.  Each layout is a little different but the most notable constant is their choice of bright and fun colors throughout and modern updated amenities which you won’t find at every property in rural New Hampshire.

The main family perks however are all the options outside the rooms, including four pools, hot tubs and saunas. Plenty for the kids to do, there’s a 9-hole golf course and a gym, plus racquetball, basketball and tennis courts. Other amenities include an X-box Kinect system, a playground and ice skating (seasonal). What’s nice is that while we were there during August, the resort’s indoor pools mean that you can take advantage of indoor pool fun even in the heart of winter.

The resort provides a restaurant, tavern and wedding services as well and it’s easy to see why it would be easy to plan your wedding here, with everything at your finger tips, plus the stunning views.

There’s plenty of land facing those breathtaking views — what an incredible place to do your morning yoga!! (the below shot was taken from our balcony during our stay).

In the inside glass dome pavilion which is situated up on the top of the hill, there’s an indoor pool with a fun water slide for the kids to enjoy. The slide was tempting enough for us to try and was the highlight of our family pool time. It was so addicting that we were on it one evening until final call at 10 pm when all the pools closed for the evening.

The outside lap pool faces the mountains and when the sun is about to set, it boasts glorious 360 views — it’s a great place for that sun downer appetizer and a toasty glass of wine regardless of season. The first shot below is taken from our hotel room at dusk and the sunset shot is of the outside lap pool area with the mountains in the distance.

Set amongst 500 acres of unspoiled fields and hardwood forests, we love it’s idyllic Lakes Region location. The resort is a stone’s throw from Lake Winnipesaukee (which some call Lake Winnie for short), the largest lake in New Hampshire at 21 miles long and the more remote and pristine Lake Squam, which is south of the White Mountains, straddling the borders of Grafton, Carroll, and Belknap counties.  We also love that many of the suite offerings also have a washer and dryer making it a great choice if you need an extended stay.

We dined at their Hilltop Restaurant where you must sit outside on the patio if visiting during warmer months, as it has unparalleled views of  Lake Winnisquam, Lake Winnipesaukee and the Belknap Mountain Range in the distance. Locally, they’re known for their Sunday Family Buffet, which includes pasta, salad, Italian Steak Tips, Baked Haddock, Chicken Cordon Bleu Macaroni and Cheese, Prosciutto with Asparagus and Bleu Chicken, veggies, potatoes and desserts.

Dinner menu options offer a buffet (a great choice for older kids) or off the menu, which includes regional favorites, fresh seafood, aged beef and a selection of chef’s specialties. For lunch, they have homemade soups, burgers, and other lighter fare. Appetizers include spinach artichoke dip, wings, poppers, onion wings, truffle fries, Tuna Tartare, Oysters Rockefeller and Calamari to name a few and mains include Braised Short Ribs, Steele House Tips, Broiled Fish, Bison Burgers, Stuffed Chicken, Seared Scallops, Eggplant Napoleon and more.

Adjacent to the main dining room is their more casual Tova’s Tavern which has a full bar and a selection of flat screen televisions.  Two thumbs up!!

DETAILS:

Steele Hill Resort

516 Steele Hill Road

Sanbornton, NH 03259

855-706-7233 

 

 

We were hosted by the resort but all opinions expressed are entirely our own.

Renee Blodgett

Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.

She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.

Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.

Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.