When my husband and I plan a trip, we evaluate three key variables; location, quality and amenities, and value. We recently visited Storyland and North Colony Motel passed with flying colors on all three criteria. We visited with our two grandchildren, ages 3 and 5, and here is our scorecard:
LOCATION:
- 4 miles to Storyland
- Really close to great kids' restaurants (Joseph’s Spaghetti Shed and Margarita’s
Grill)

QUALITY AND AMENITIES:
- Clean, air-conditioned room
- Flat panel TV with loads of kids’ channels
- DVD . . . . didn’t use it
- Great playground for grandkids . . . they loved it!
- Nice pool with slide and diving board (incredible)
- Picnic tables that we used for our breakfast meals
- Microwave and good sized refrig. with freezer
- Fresh brewed coffee in morning
- Discounted tickets for both Storyland and Clark’s Trading Post that we visited
- Parking right next to our room
- The owners, Joe and Nancy, went out of their way to help and assist us with
directions, recommendations and discounted tickets

VALUE:
- When we did our research, North Colony was VERY competitive on price

THE BOTTOMLINE:
- When we visited, it was one of the few motels that had a NO VACANCY sign.
“The proof is in the pudding” and we really enjoyed it!

Just returned from the obligatory family trip to Story Land (a great New England tradition) and had the pleasure of staying at this establishment. What a little gem of a motel. The room we had was clean and comfortable, the establishment was family-friendly, and it was about as relaxing a place to stay that I have frequented in a long time. Amazingly, despite all the kids I saw in the motel's pool and playground area it was very quiet each night I was there.

Speaking of the pool, this motel has a wonderful pool and pool area which served as a great respite from the oppressive heat and humidity that took hold of the White Mountains while we were visiting. As for its location it could not be better. It is close to every White Mountains attraction you could want and yet far enough away from the hustle and bustle of North Conway and its outlets. Laslty, the price was very reasonable and our hotel rate included our entry fee to Story Land! I would not hesitate to stay here again in the future.

...and one last note. I cannot help but respond to the individual who complained that the pool was not heated and that the water was warm only as a result of the surrounding high temperature. Please, buy a clue. Who heats a pool in the middle of summer when the temperatures are in the 80's and 90's?

we went for two nights this past week. I feel it was overpriced. The playground area was not fenced in. I felt it was not too safe for little ones because it was close to road. It says pool heated but it seemed like a regular pool and just warm because of weather. The rooms were very small. The air conditioner smelled bad. I probably would not go back again.,

Speaking for many of the other reviewers, I cannot express how pleased we were at this "diamond in the rough" in the White Mountain region.

We made our first trip up to North Colony last summer to visit Storyland and not only was my wife and I impressed, my son and daughter were as well with the spacious play area and swimming pool.

Place is so quiet you could hear a pin drop and the cottage we stayed in was equipped like a modern 4 star hotel with wi-fi, cable tv, ipod hook-up, a well stocked bathroom with plenty of tolietries.

Beds were comfortable and the room was cleaner than our own home! :)

What really sets this place apart is the fact that when I made a reservation for our return trip later this summer, Nancy, one of the owners, remembered us from our previous visit.

How many other places do that unless you're someone famous?