We’d just settled into our room at the Omni Mount Washington Resort  and were meandering through the palatial lobby when my daughter pointed up at a large portrait of a woman in Victorian dress and squealed, “It’s Princess Bonnie! She’s still here!”

It was a memory from her childhood, when our family visits to the historic Bretton Woods, NH hotel would send my then-small girls into immediate royal mode. Back then, they thought one of the hotel staff, Bonnie, was the “princess” in the portrait.

After all, The Omni Mount Washington Resort (omnihotels.com/hotels/bretton-woods-mount-washington) really is – in the eyes of a child – someplace out of a fairy tale. Now here she was, 32 years old and with me for a mother/daughter workcation escape, just as wowed as that little girl had been.

That’s the magic of the place. No matter your age, lifestyle, reason for visiting or time of year there, the hotel promises– and delivers – a perfect tapestry of luxury, history, fun and a whole lot of cozy.

We arrived on a Sunday evening, taking the easy straight shot north on Route 93 through a snowstorm – good news since I’d be skiing in the morning. The classic hotel topped with a cherry-red roof was designed as Spanish Revival back in 1902 and has maintained that look;  through renovations (including a massive one in 2006 adding rooms, business settings and a full square mile-sized spa building) and new ownership (The Omni brand took it over in 2015).

We’d visited many times– summer and winter – in my daughter’s childhood, but it had been more than a decade since we’d been back.

Our plan was simple: She’d work, I’d ski, we’d meet up on breaks,  and we’d give a full day to spa time.  All kinds of delicious food and drink, as well as moments chilling in their lobby by a crackling fire and sitting in one of the countless windowed spots gazing out at the beautiful landscape would fill in the gaps. Oh, it was going to be great.

We opted for one of their updated corner rooms, a higher priced and totally worth-it option. At once in that space, we felt settled. Two queen beds face a sitting area big enough for a couch, two wing chairs and a television set up. The chef’s kiss is the working gas fireplace, easy to operate and the perfect backdrop for us, day or night.

We headed down to Stickneys, one of the hotel’s handful of dining options, and despite the many tables, opted to sit at the bar to cheer on Travis and Taylor (and then the Lions) as we dined.

All our meals were sublime; from the rack of lamb to the swordfish, to the craft cocktails like the Presidential Espresso Martini and their house Old Fashioned.

We were there midweek, so other than a large conference that tended to use their own space, we were among a smaller group of guests. By day two, most of the staff not only greeted us by name, we knew their backstory and they ours. Sure, that might mean waiting a bit at dinner when that same staffer is chatting with another guest, but who cares? Worth it for the personal connection. Those touches matter.

There’s so much to do. Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, spa treatments, historic tours (a must for any first time guest), and of course, Bretton Woods Ski Area, their alpine destination across the street.

A shuttle whisks you back and forth, and a concierge totes your gear from the ski room to the shuttle. Up on the mountain, I was happy when, the clouds parted for a bit and gave us that one of a kind view of the hotel and its red roof tucked into the lap of majestic Mount Washington.

Our spa day was pure bliss. We spent time side by side in a quiet relaxation room, reading the same book so we could later discuss. She zipped off for a facial and I for their Northern Lights Treatment, a kind of charcuterie board of spa treatments; a foot scrub, hand softening, massage and scalp treatment all in one.

There was time, too, for the private outdoor hot tub, steam and sauna rooms and sipping hibiscus tea. Perfect mom/daughter time.

My daughter’s a grown up now, but like me – and all visitors, I believe – she’s still charmed by the beauty of the setting that is The Omni Mount Washington Resort. I have two granddaughters now (so far). I think it’s time for them to meet their own “princesses.”

The Omni Mount Washington Resort stands out against the horizon – no matter the season. (Photo Philbrick Photography)

Treatments at the resort spa feature local botanicals. (Photo courtesy Omni Mount Washington Resort)