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North Conway, NH – Snowfall, sunny skies and Valentine’s Day combined to bring peak winter crowds to Mt. Washington Valley last week. The 10-day period was a rare stretch of seasonally warm and mostly sunny weather. Local businesses gave a thumbs up for the week. The results are based on comments from members of the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce who responded to a survey.

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“All the stars aligned for Mt. Washington Valley last week,” stated Chris Proulx, Executive Director of the Chamber. “Restaurants, lodging, and ski resorts had a genuinely strong week, buoyed by great snow and weather.  Our members for the most part are very happy with the visitation in the region, which validates our claim to being the #1 Ski Town in the U.S.”

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Reported results varied by category.

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Ski Resorts - (Avg. rating - 8.7 on a scale of 1-10) King Pine, Cranmore, and Great Glen Trails all had strong weeks, driven by excellent snow conditions and warm daytime temps. Cranmore's tubing park had a record week with evening slots consistently sold out. Ski lessons and tubing were highlights. Jeremy Hall of King Pine Ski Area shared, “It was really good and consistent. The snowfall on Friday and Saturday certainly helped! It never felt as busy as it has in past years, yet it matched and exceeded expectations.”

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Expectations for the rest of winter are solid (avg: 8.0 on a scale of 1 to 10).

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Restaurants (Avg rating: 8.9 on a scale of 1-10 — highest of any business category) Sap House Meadery reported its third busiest day since its opening, on Valentine's Day. Owner Tad Furtado stated, “Sap House's unique combination of crafting our own meads plus being a full-service restaurant in the heart of North Conway Village is a big draw.”

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Black Cap Grille reported a record-setting Valentine’s Day. The Preserve at Chocorua hosted a Valentine's wedding. Expectations for the rest of the winter are steady (avg: 7.9 on a scale of 1 to 10).

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Lodging (Avg rating: 8.0 on a scale of 1-10) Lodging properties reported a mixed but generally positive picture. Fairfield Inn and Hotel Indigo both gave perfect 10s, citing ski conditions and proximity to Cranmore. Sera Holt from the Fairfield reported, “This was our third February vacation week in operation and we definitely feel it was the best one yet.  The number of repeat guests already planning their trip for next year gives us reason to be excited about continued success.”

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Eagle Mountain House and Residence Inn also had strong weekends. Some smaller inns rated the week a 4, noting unsold midweek rooms — a pattern a couple of properties mentioned (strong weekends, softer midweek). Parking in town was the most common visitor complaint. Expectations for the rest of winter are cautiously optimistic (avg: 7.5 on a scale of 1-10).

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Retail (Avg rating: 8.0 on a scale of 1-10) North Conway Olive Oil noted good sales but less foot traffic. Laura Lemieux, Marketing Director for Settlers Green, stated, “Varies store to store, but overall, traffic was even with the previous year, but many stores reported sales were up, so people were spending more. Our dining tenants reported a very busy week with 1-hour waits for lunch and dinner.”

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Expectations for the rest of the season are more modest (avg: 6.5).

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February Vacation Week 2026 confirmed what locals already know: the Mt. Washington Valley is one of the Northeast's best winter destinations. With great snow, warm hospitality, and no shortage of things to do, the Valley is ready to make the most of the winter season. Plan your visit at www.visitMWV.com.

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