I'm sad that I missed Earth Day yesterday. To make up for it, enjoy this overdue review of one of…read morethe most special places I've ever been to. The Notch hosts one of my fave racial justice orgs - Summits in Solidarity - and that commitment is felt in everything The Notch does. I stayed here in June for their annual Solidarity Night fundraiser and it was magical. I was assigned to one of the bunk rooms on the third floor which contained single beds arranged around a large room with views to the road and lush backyard. There is a large shared kitchen on the middle level, a gorgeous living and dining room, private suites downstairs, and other smaller bunkrooms on the third floor as well. There is also a huge backyard with space for tent camping. Except in private suites, bathrooms are shared. There is also laundry onsite. The Notch is both a backpacker's Eden and an affordable base camp for tourists or day hikers. Read on for what I loved: --AFFIRMING IN ALL THE WAYS. I was just as fat, and Black, and queer as I wanted to be. --Great intro to broader backpacking culture. Yes I backpack with my lil group of queer fat hikers. It was great to get exposure to AT thruhikers and people who set and achieve massive goals. Seriously inspirational! --Super clean and respectful space. I'm always dismayed when travelers of a certain age say they're "too old" to stay at a "rowdy, grungy hostel." Well friends this is anyplace but. The place was spotless from the bathrooms to the kitchen to the bunkrooms. And folks were respectful of quiet hours and day sleepers just catching some Zzzs after a big hike. --Everyone from the staff to guests were super nice. I felt very welcomed and cared for. A woman I was bunking with even asked if I wanted to join her for a trip to Lost River. --Location location location!! Right around the corner about a mile away is North Woodstock, down the highway is Littleton and you are smack dab in the middle of Franconia Notch which AS YOU KNOW is my fave place in NH. I can't think of a better situated place with just the right amount of peace and proximity. I shudder to think of all the summers I spent in the area at AirBnBs, scared to take a chance. So glad I did last June and I hope to join them again for this year's Solidarity Night. Shout to Trish and Serena for making my visit extra special!

Trish was nice and the Vermont soap was a real treat…read more Now for the bad! The Crawford room is more like a little torture chamber... the wood stove smell is intensely acrid, overpowering and just not healthy to be breathing those fumes! There were over 50 ladybugs flying around in my bathroom and in the bed room... also on each window was a clear bug sticky pad... each was completely covered with dead hornets, wasps, gnats etc... like some Natural history insect display. The ceiling in that room is so poor that you can hear every step above you when all the hikers are moving around. It is awful! It's an annoying crunchy sound and it feels like someone is going to fall through the ceiling at any time! I DARE that owner to sleep in that room for an entire week! Also to add insult to injury... 2 new male hiking guests arrived during my stay and they smelled sooo bad that I ran into my room for cover. Their BO, dirty clothing, socks ,shorts, pants, feet etc smelled up the entire kitchen area and the common living room as well. I have been a nurse for over 40 years... this was one of the most disgusting odors that I have smelled in a very long time! They should have paid me to stay there... I was happy to leave. The toilet rocked, the lighting was poor and no cable TV... so much for my $250.00 worth. I would like to suggest that they open a mud room... or perhaps a decontamination area for incoming hikers who need an immediate shower and a laundry area next to that to start on their clothing. Dont expose other paying guests to this filth! These men also put their shoes on the porch with a fan running all night long to dry their smelly foot wear... so much for sitting out on the front porch! Those shoes smelled bad too! I would NEVER return and if you are a retiree who wants a little quiet down time.... do NOT stop here... keep on going.. find a real hotel!

I can NOT begin to tell you how FILTHY THE Maynard House was when my friend and I went there on…read moreJan. 27th. I have pictures. The excuse? They lost their housekeeper??? WHEN, TWO YESRS AGO. To THINK, they knew I was to return there after my surgery and TRUST ME, I could have died from getting an infection from the filth! They knew ahead of time all about my health issues, that I needed a walker and they stuck me and my dear friend in the filthy BASEMENT!!!! I was PROMISED WE WOULD BE ON THE FIRST FLOOR. A BASEMENT IS NOT THE FIRST FLOOR!! I kept jamming my foot on this plastic piece under the leg of the bed. When I asked the manager, Ann? She casually said "oh those are bed bug cups, & she added that's the way of the world!" ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? The heat did not work only partly, and if there had been a fire? I could not of gotten out! I do not believe their very steep stairs are even up to code!!!! AND I CANNOT CLIMB STAIRS!!!! IN front of each bedroom door? They built up wooden blocks so the door might keep a draft out??? IT LOOKED LIKE A THREE YESR OLD TRIED TO BUILD BLOCKS AND DADDY HELPED WITH THE NAILING OF THAT MESS!! YOU COULD NOT KEEP YOUR BELONGINGS SAFE BECAUSE THE DOORS DID NOT LOCK IF YOU LEFT!!!!!I have to continue to heal from my surgery, BUT I AM NOT DONE RINGING THE ALARM. I called the police to ask, were me and my friend in a homeless shelter?? A drug recovery house. We were both afraid to fall asleep. It was simply GROSS! They mislead people. I shall continue on calling and informing not only the correct officials, BUT the public needs to know, just STAY AWAY!! They promised an onsite emergency worker and all you see is a permanent resident roaming around yackkng and yacking to/at the guests. Feel free to email me at Rain2055@gmail.com if you have any questions or IF you have a similar story.Deb

Was ok, nice location, nice neighborhood, a Catholic Church next door, a library, a very expensive…read morerestaurant nearby and a pizza shop

Found The Little House last minute when trying to head up to the White Mountains. Kind of wish we…read moregot there a day or two sooner to go across the street for live music(Common Ground....also a good coffee shop). The owner messaged me right back through AirBnB and Peter(owner) met us upon our arrival. Having stayed at many Hostels in the past, this was a good mix of Hostel and Inn. When we asked about place to buy beer nearby he said Hannaford's was 8 miles away, but it was 8PM on a Sunday night. Without us asking, he brought came back and brought us over a few beers he had laying around. There were three different rooms to hang out downstairs and one with a gas fire place. I believe they have seven rooms and can sleep up to 16 people. We stayed in one room with two twins. The backyard was snowed in, but has a fireplace for warmer months. He mentioned they've hosted Family Reunions, Weddings and other parties since buying the property a few years back(they live across the street). Overall great experience and hope to make my way back up there.

A lovely local spot. It is comfortable, clean, good location (a local hangout spot/cafe/bar/pizza…read moreplace across the street) with charming old-fashioned decor. Rooms are wonderful and I was excited that our room was also warm (I've had a several issues with heat in B&Bs in NH, MA. They seem to always keep rooms too cold for my taste). Bathrooms are shared, so if you are a bit hesitant about sharing bathrooms with strangers consider other place. Bathrooms, however, are squeaky clean, and one of them have a sauna. Common use areas look cozy as well. There is a kitchen stocked for cooking breakfast and to have some snacks, tea, coffee. Hosts are very nice people. Even though, I stayed only a night, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I bet it is even nicer in a summer.

Spent less than 24 hours here. It seems like it has been slow because I was surprised I was…read moreinitially the only one there for the night. Coming from 2 hostels on this side of the US with more influx of guests, I was confused by why there were no signs on how to enter for check-in or a reminder of lobby hours. There was nothing in front saying guests should go to the back to enter but yet there are steps leading to a front door that I later found out is always locked. No instructions on how to locate the lobby in the email either. I stayed in a 8-bed dorm room above the restaurant and check-in office. The room faces the road so you'll hear road noise since the one window is left open for the portable air conditioner. There was another dorm room right behind. Light sleepers will need an earplug. The bathroom was very clean, colorful, and had modern, cute features. Other things to note: - Not sure there is a shuttle (common with other hostels in the region) - Not sure there are lockers - There are bedside lights by every bed and power outlets are on the bottom bunks only. - The dorm room had a ceiling fan and portable air conditioner - There was Body wash in the shower but no shampoo or conditioner. - There are 2 or 3 toilets and 1 shower upstairs in that building. - The kitchen fridge is cute but small in size for the number of beds. - There are 2 living/sitting rooms - There are some board games available - There is a restaurant on-site. - A brew of coffee is made every morning. - There was no stove to cook

i got takeout so bear in mind this review only has to do w/ food rather than the other parts of the…read moredining experience. i got the chicken and waffles. the chicken was well seasoned but pretty dry and the waffle was savory, so the maple syrup balanced it out well. as a born and raised vermonter, i definitely needed more maple syrup than they gave me (i'm sure if you were dining in you could definitely get extra though). good quality syrup. i needed about double the amount of syrup and the chicken was still dry. it tasted pretty good though. i have been here previously and got the grilled chicken sandwich (takeout as well) which i thought was VERY good, so i think it really varies by menu item.

adorable and so well done. big wave dave was the best, great communication and very kind. we loved…read morethe atmosphere, cute quirky new hampshire vibey decor, and cleanliness. we got discounted tenney mountain skiing tickets from dave too! would ABSOLUTELY go back!

Do you love buses? Do you love friendly cats and dogs? Do you love climbing? Do you love clean,…read morechill, cozy places with kind and welcoming people? If so, Barn Door is the place for you! And honestly, even if you like none of those things you should check this hostel out because it is affordable and extremely pleasant as a place to lay your head when you're exploring the White Mountains National Forest. That said, Rumney is the spot for outdoor rock climbing and Dave, Liam, Allison and the rest of the staff at Barn Door live the life. They have tons of info from the extensive library and maps, to rental gear and tips for good places in the area. As far as lodging, there's outdoor camping with a solar electricity charge port and water refill station, as well as an outdoor shower. You can take a bed or private room with up to 4 beds in the hostel itself. Or, do the bus! The bus is basically car camping with a massive upgrade. From the parking area you follow a winding path up to the clearing with an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, picnic table, compost toilet, and, voila, a bus with 2 cozy beds, an upper deck, a sink with potable water, and a stove to keep you warm. There was also a coffee pot and lovely local coffee in locally made mugs. The bus has plenty of ventilation but also closes up tight so we never felt too hot or cold. There was plenty of room for all our stuff and we slept very well on the beds. The upper level bed had pillows, sheets and a duvet. Lower level was a bed created from two bus benches and we probably would have been able to make up a bed but just used sleeping bags. You access the upper level via ladder and unless you're tall and limber, it's a bit athletic going up and down. But it's sure as hell really fun! In the evening, there are lights along the path to the bus and it is honestly just magical walking through the woods and over the bridge. We loved our stay and look forward to returning. The staff were so nice and we loved chatting with them and hanging out with their friendly pets. The inside of the hostel was immaculate, including the bright, clean, well ventilated showers and toilets. Thank you for a great climbing vacation!

STUNNING hike. It's not too difficult, it is essentially an entire loop and when you get to the…read morebottom you see this amazing body of water (I wish I came during Fall honestly (I came late November) to see all the colors and all) but it's sooo refreshing. The air quality is amazing once you get to the bottom and it feels literally like a breath of fresh air. Would recommend!

Was here for less than 24 hours but it was a pleasant stay. It's tucked away from the nearest town…read more Not walkable to any nearby restaurant or grocery store. Overall clean, neat, and looks brand new. Love the rustic design everywhere. The dorm room, which is where I slept, is on the second floor and quite spacious and it's nice they didn't cram more bunk beds. It sleeps 8 but it was just me and another person. It comes with a balcony with a view of the pond and forest, a dining table, a ceiling fan, split hvac system, and sitting area with chairs. Within the same building, downstairs is a mini-kitchen (no stove), 2 separate showers, the check-in office, and a private bedroom. The co-owner/wife is really sweet, friendly, and warm. Too bad I didn't have time to interact more. The Lodge (the common area) is a brief walk outside to get to it. It also has a rustic look. Clean and pretty cool. There's a laundry room, small full kitchen, 2 mini fridges, a full bathroom, a dining table, 2 sitting areas, books, board games, a guest photo album (love the idea), and a guest art book. Breakfast comes with your stay but it's not available till 8 am and I had to leave before then. There's also coffee and tea. Quiet hours begin at 9 pm and end at 6 am. I was surprised by 9 pm because that's too early but that's just me. The last 2 hostels I came from start quiet hours at 10 pm. The only complaint I have is the blanket given for the dorm beds is not sufficient for Vermont's cold temperatures during the night. A duvet will likely be a better option since it's easier to wash. And it didn't help that the other person I was sharing the room with likes to sleep cold (I say that because I saw that 1 window was slightly open and the ceiling fan was running). In short, just book a stay here! I doubt you'll have any regrets.

I had such a wonderful stay! Comfortable room, thoughtful amenities (the sound machines were an…read moreawesome touch), a great collection of dvds & an easy-to-understand projector set up, and a relaxing yoga class! I really enjoyed being able to visit with the goats and explore the property at my leisure. We got 16 inches of snow during our stay, and the only thing that I would say is keep an eye on the weather and make sure your car is equipped to traverse some rough/slippery terrain. Additionally, bring boots!

I'm writing this review from my bed early before a day of biking with my son at KFL. What can I say…read more- this place is great. And we found it by accident! My wife found it online the day before we came up on a busy June weekend. The quick rundown is there's a big converted barn where we stayed. The rooms are clean, rustic and charming. The barn lodge was quiet each night while it was clearly a busy weekend. There's also camping allowed on the site, but the vibe is mature and family friendly. Everyone we met was kind and polite to me and my 9 y/o son. There is a separate shared bathroom and shower facility about 30 feet from the barn. While this may not be everyone's thing, the indoor and outdoor showers are all clean, strong and felt wonderful after a day out on the trails. There is a large shared common area with a tv and nice space to read, which doubles as bike storage if you're rolling around on a $10,000 sled. There's also a shared fridge and coffee there in the am. If you're coming up to bike the KTA trails or just enjoy the beauty of the region I can't recommend the farm enough. It may be my regular place to stay for future weekend trips.

Amazing! One of the best places I have ever stayed!!!! Gorgeous location and beautifully kept!…read moreGreat for mountain biking season, kitchen and bagels in the morning in a great town! Picturesque and perfect!