• Captain’s House Inn (Chatham, Cape Cod, MA): An elegant country inn dripping with good taste, this is among the best small inns on the Cape. Sumptuous yet cozy rooms all have fireplaces, antique furnishings, and distinctive touches. Afternoon teas are a cherished tradition, particularly during the holiday season. This could be the ultimate spot to enjoy Chatham’s Christmas Stroll festivities.

  • Charlotte Inn (Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, MA): Edgartown tends to be the most formal enclave on Martha’s Vineyard, and this compound of exquisite buildings is by far the fanciest address in town. The rooms are distinctively decorated: One boasts a baby grand piano, some have fireplaces. The restaurant, The Terrace, is also top-notch.

  • Griswold Inn (Essex, CT): “The Gris” has been accommodating sailors and travelers as long as any inn in the country, give or take a decade. In all that time, it has been a part of life and commerce in the lower Connecticut River Valley, always ready with a mug of suds, a haunch of beef, and a roaring fire. Tap Room walls are layered with nautical paintings and memorabilia, and they’ve even added a wine bar to the mix.

  • Hawthorne Inn (Concord, MA): Everything here—the 1860s building, the garden setting a stone’s throw from historic attractions, the vibrant decor, the homemade granola, the accommodating innkeepers—is top of the line.

  • The Inn at Thorn Hill (Jackson, NH): Spacious and gracious, this White Mountains inn has it all—fireplaces, scenic nooks, and a wide wrap-around porch for enjoying those mountain views. Add to that a full-service spa and top-notch restaurant and you’ve got a winning formula for a romantic getaway.

  • Land’s End Inn (Provincetown, Cape Cod, MA): Arguably one of the most unique properties in the region, this house high up on Gull Hill in the far west end of town has a panoramic view of the Cape’s tip, as the Atlantic Ocean carves away at the peninsula’s furthest shores. The rooms, including three tower rooms, are decorated with elegance and a sense of humor.

  • Mayflower Inn & Spa (Washington, CT): Not a tough call at all: Immaculate in taste and execution, the Mayflower is as close to perfection as any such enterprise is likely to be, particularly if you are a spa addict.

  • The Pitcher Inn (Warren, VT): Even though this place was rebuilt in 1997, it’s possessed of the graciousness of a longtime, well-worn inn. It combines traditional New England form and scale with modern and luxe touches, plus a good dollop of whimsy.

  • The Porches (North Adams, MA): The Porches may not be a “country inn” exactly, but it is too much fun to ignore. Constructed from six 19th-century workmen’s houses, it sits across from MASS MoCA (the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art). The designers’ wit is evident in kitschy art and accessories, while Apple TVs, a hot tub, and free Wi-Fi ensure no 21st-century deprivation.

  • White Barn Inn & Spa (Kennebunk, ME): Guests are treated with a graciousness that’s hard to match anywhere else in New England. The setting is lovely, too. Rooms, suites, and cottages here are soothing and refined, and the multi-course meals (served in the barn) are among the best in the Northeast.

  • Windham Hill Inn (West Townshend, VT): This 1823 farmstead sits at the end of a remote dirt road in a high upland valley, and guests are welcome to explore 160 private acres on a network of walking trails. Farm-to-table menus feature ingredients from local growers and the inn’s own garden.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.