The Mount Washington Hotel has plenty of non-skiing activities including horse-drawn sleigh rides, dog sledding, a skating rink and an indoor pool and outdoor heated pool (it’s a cold walk from one to the other!).

Massage is available at the hotel, and don’t miss the historic hotel tour offered daily. The resort also has a snow tubing area, ice climbing and a separate sports center with indoor pool, racquetball courts, exercise and weight rooms, massage, hot tubs and sauna.

Then there's the "don't miss" activity that you won't find anywhere else in ski country: The historic Cog Railway takes skiers and riders one mile up (1,100 vertical feet) the flanks of Mt. Washing-ton, New England’s highest peak. It may sound intimidating, but it’s not. From the drop-off station above the Waumbek water tank, an intermediate groomed trail adjacent to the tracks takes you back to the base. Wear an old jacket though. Soot from the coal-fired engine can be nasty. It’s worth the trip, if for no other reason than to ride the historic Cog and take in the views.

Nearby Cannon is home to the New England Ski Museum, a collection of ski memorabilia well worth a brief visit. Cannon’s tram is open for non-skiing sightseers too.

The Rocks Estate in Bethlehem (800-639-5373) has sleigh rides and offers some forestry-related activities, as it’s owned by the Society For The Protection of New Hampshire Forests.

Nearby Twin Mountain is one of New England’s top snowmobiling areas. The Mt. Washington Hotel has its own snowmobiling program.

The AMC’s Highland Center (466-2727) offers a full-range of outdoor and educational programs, including rock climbing, snowshoeing, slide shows and natural history programs. Oh, and don’t miss a winter ride on that Cog Railway.

For a shopping spree, the factory outlet bonanza of North Conway is 30 miles southeast of Bretton Woods. No sales tax makes buying all the sweeter.