f you're looking for the quintessential lodging experience here in Southwest New Hampshire, you might want to consider staying at a New England-style resort. This is the kind of place where you park your car, unpack your bags and forget about the rest of the world.
    We're fortunate to have several such resorts here in the Region. This article focuses on two: the Woodbound Inn and the Inn at East Hill Farm. Although they take different approaches to entertaining guests, they've both been pleasing visitors for generations!
    The Woodbound Inn (Rindge, NH) offers guests the kind of hospitality you'd expect from a country-style inn. It's a place Bob Newhart would be proud of.
    Originally built in 1819 as a farmhouse by James Philbrick for his wife and eighteen children, the Woodbound has been a vacation resort since 1892. The Inn's present owners, Rick & Janet Kohlmorgen, have worked hard to keep the friendly hospitality and rich history present, while offering the modern conveniences you'd expect from a quality resort.
    The Woodbound Inn is situated on 165 acres of pristine woodland, and includes a sandy beach for sunning and swimming, miles of beautiful hiking trails, and even a 9-hole, par three golf course. They have a full service dining room offering a menu of New England fare, including fresh baked muffins, homemade soups and chowders and slow roasting ribs of beef.
    For those interested in planning a business meeting, family retreat or a wedding, the Woodbound offers a choice of five function rooms with banquet seating for up to 200. Your guests can stay right at the Inn, play golf, relax AND attend your event.
    The Inn has been featured in Country Inns and Back Roads and nominated by Better Homes and Gardens and Yankee Magazine as one of America's best family resorts.
The Inn at East Hill Farm (Troy, NH) is a combination working farm and family resort. Here you'll find the cows ready to be milked, the chickens laying eggs and the daily chores "needing to be done." Guests are welcome (but certainly not required) to help.
    There have been farmers at East Hill for nearly 240 years. The first, Silas Fife, arrived from Bolton, Mass in 1765. He cleared the land and built a cabin, which in time housed his 10 children. The land changed hands only a few times over the next 150 years, and always to another farm family with a great many children.
    Overnight guests started arriving in 1920. These were boarders and "summer people." Families followed, and accommodations were made. By the time Dave Adams arrived in 1961, the place had evolved into a family resort. He and his children continually added and improved the farm to make it a country retreat, while retaining the farm atmosphere.
    Today, East Hill Farm is a family-oriented resort. Meals are served "family-style," and children are encouraged to roam the farm's 150-acres. The Inn has 65 rooms, which means at any given time it can accommodate about 130 people. They have a small indoor pool, a much larger outdoor pool overlooking nearby Mt. Monadnock, and offer a wide variety of activities such as sleigh and hay rides, horseback riding, tennis, fishing, paddle boats and much more.
    Despite all these activities, you won't forget that this tranquil oasis in the shadow of Mt. Monadnock remains an operational farm. Chickens, pigs, rabbits, horses, sheep and other full time residents constantly bleat and snort as children and parents visit their pens. Evening entertainment is provided most nights and the staff strives to cater to any special needs of their guests.
    Whether you're looking for a weekend getaway or a place to bring the family for a week, both the Woodbound Inn and the Inn at East Hill Farm will make a great retreat!