Fun Travels Across the United States
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEWS (Cities & Towns Follow the News
New Hampshire Goes "Green" with Gas and Money Saving Deals
New Hampshire is definitely the place to "go green." Especially for those planning to vacation in their New England "backyard." Known for its New England thrift, authentic hospitality and pristine natural environment, it makes sense that New Hampshire lodgings, restaurants and attractions should come up with creative ways to stretch visitors' dollars - and gas. Starting with year-round tax-free shopping and a compact geography that brings mountains and seashore within range of one tank full of gas, these added offers make New Hampshire the perfect choice for a classic summer vacation, or a weekend getaway. New Hampshire hotels are primed to ease the pain at the pump.
With gasoline generally priced at or below the national average reported by AAA, motorists find fuel readily available and, even better, many highly-walkable towns where they can park their cars and enjoy the New Hampshire environment on foot. On the Seacoast, Portsmouth was just named the state's most walkable city by Prevention Magazine. A 2008 National Trust for Historic Preservation "Distinctive Destination," it's the perfect place to wander historic streets, take a self-guided tour of the Black Heritage, Portsmouth Peace Treaty or Harbour Trail, browse in individualistic boutiques and soak up sunshine in a sidewalk café. Berlin, in the Great North Woods end of the state, was just named to Outdoor Life's list of top towns for outdoorsmen. Here, visitors replace their cars with kayaks, canoes and hiking boots to appreciate the pristine wilderness. For the many campers who enjoy the state's rivers, lakes and trails, the New Hampshire Campground Owners' Association lists sites where RV owners can park their trailers for a week, or a season, instead of towing them back and forth in between.
The official New Hampshire Travel & Tourism Development web site, www.VisitNH.gov notes some special gas- and money-saving deals and is updated continuously with more.
New Hampshire's Gas Deals and Green Vacations
BRADFORD -
The Candlelite Inn's special midweek package --
pays for the gas. On two-night stays, Sunday through Thursday the discount is $25 off the bill; for more than two nights' stay, the discount is $10 per night. 888-812-5571, www.candleliteinn.com
BETHLEHEM -
The Highlands Inn Gas Credit --
is worth 25 cents a mile (up to $50) rebate on the gas it takes to get there. The rebate is 30 cents a mile for hybrid drivers. Free women's music concerts every Sunday. 877-LES-B-INN (537-2466), www.highlandsinn-nh.com
Truly green Appalachian Mountain Club Destination Deals stretch the tax rebate even further. Book five nights or more and save 20 percent at any combination of www.outdoors.org/lodging/huts/index.cfm AMC Huts or lodges, Sunday through Friday. Kid's First Adventure at Lonesome Lake is 12 percent off on Sunday-Friday nights and includes a spectacular view of the Franconia Range and in naturalist programs for kids. Pick 3 and Save gives a 10 percent discount at the www.outdoors.org/lodging/highland/index.cfm Highland Center or www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodges/pnvc/index.cfm Joe Dodge Lodge, and 12 percent off at the Huts, The 50+ Midweek Spring Special, available Sunday through Thursday for age 50+ starts at $87 per member per night for private rooms at Highland Lodge and includes lodging; dinner, breakfast, and a choice of buffet or trail lunch, daily programs, and complimentary use of gear from the LL Bean Gear Room. 603-466-2727, www.outdoors.org/lodging
Mountain Edge Resort & Spa and the Best Western Sunapee Lake Lodge--
Discount Coupons offer deals for dining, day care, spa treatments and extended stays. Book directly to receive the coupons. 800-606-5253, www.sunapeelakelodge.com
Seven Maples Campground --
in Hancock offers a third night free for those who book two consecutive nights. 603-525-3321, www.sevenmaples.com
Cedar Pond Campground --
in Milan gives a 10 percent discount on stays of 7 nights or longer, at a campsite or in one of their cabins or campers. 860-663-2268, www.cedarpondcamping.com
Colonel Spencer Inn --
in Campton offers a Mid-Week Bonus: 10 percent off for any two consecutive nights, Sunday through Thursday night; 15 percent off four consecutive nights. 603-536-1755, www.colonelspencerbb.com
Reduced Admission to New Hampshire Attractions
The Children's Museum of Portsmouth --
offers discount admission through pass programs with more than 40 libraries throughout New Hampshire. The passes admit up to 4 people at a cost of just $2 instead of standard admission of $6 per person, a 66 percent discount. 603-436-3853, www.childrens-museum.org
Moffett House Museum & Genealogy Center--
at 119 High Street in Berlin, FREE. Open Tuesday through Saturday year round. 603-752-4590 or 603-752-7337.
Kids eat free and kids stay free in many places.
Top Notch Inn in Gorham --
is one that offers a Story Land gift for those who mention the offer when making reservations. The Inn also offers guests who book two consecutive nights, Sunday through Friday, one free Moose Tour with the tour guide providing the transportation. 603-466-5496, www.topnotchinn.com
Check Hospitality Maps in North Conway for maps and guides with more money-saving coupons for food, clothing and golf. www.hospitalitymaps.com
New England Sampler --
at 42 Hanover Street in Manchester is one of the best options for tax-free shopping New Hampshire-made souvenirs. $10 off all gourmet gift baskets. 603-626-4477, www.thenewenglandsampler.com
For more ideas, itineraries, a calendar of events and online reservations, go to www.VisitNH.gov
DIXVILLE NOTCH
Balsams Grand Resort Hotel
Located on 15,000 private acres in the Great North Woods high in New Hampshire’s majestic White Mountains, The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel offers a world-class experience to Nordic skiers due to its unique geographic location and surrounding wilderness. Ninety-five kilometers of cross country ski trails – including 77 kilometers of impeccably groomed trails on diverse terrain – and New England’s most dependable snow conditions create the ideal experience for cross country skiers of all ages and abilities.
The cross-country skiing sport is taken quite seriously here, with trails winding through an awe-inspiring landscape that varies more than 2000 feet in elevation and professionally groomed to 16-feet wide, and double tracked with a wide skate lane down the middle. Trails are well-marked and rated for level of difficulty. One-third of trails are designated for beginners with heated shelters along the way, allowing families to ski together all day. While almost half of the trail system is labeled blue for intermediate and black for advanced skiers, The Balsams' system is unique in that it includes a rare double-black diamond with some of the steepest terrain in New England. With the opening of the Nordic Center last year, novices and more advanced cross country skiers alike can arrange for lessons with certified pros. In addition to skis, rental equipment includes pulks, pull-behind sleds designed for touring with younger children. For added convenience, a waxing station is available.
During winter, the Balsams boats New England’s most dependable snow conditions, with precipitation rarely changing from snow to rain. In addition to Nordic skiing, The Balsams is known for its alpine ski area featuring 14 trails on two slopes with runs up to two miles long. Families in particular will appreciate that all trails begin at the top of the lift and end at the base lodge, making it easy to reconnect after runs. Other winter activities include skating on the resort’s private rink and snowshoeing on designated trails. For the more adventurous, touring by dog sled or horse drawn sleigh may be arranged through the concierge.
The Balsams is a four-star destination that boasts 202 individually decorated guestrooms and suites; four dining venues, including the Dining Room renown for its sumptuous table d’hote culinary presentations; over 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting and banquet space; and unparalleled year-round recreation including nightly entertainment and children’s programs. The resorts famous “Ballot Room” serves as the polling place for the nearly two dozen area residents who are the “first in the nation” to report the results of their voting in national elections. Serving guests since 1866, the resort is included in the National Register of Historic Places, and is part of Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts family -- one of the nation’s foremost hospitality and entertainment veterans.
For reservations and information about The Balsams, call 1-866-380-6798, or check web site www.TheBalsams.com.
DOVER
Children's Museum of NH officially opened!
This "new" museum continues the award-winning legacy of the Children's Museum of Portsmouth, founded in 1983 and nationally recognized as a leader in the field for its innovative, experiential learning programs. Serving over 97,000 visitors a year from all over New England and beyond, the Museum outgrew its original location and needed more space for exhibits, programs and events.
After a decade-long search for larger space, the Museum signed a 60-year lease in 2005 with the City of Dover for the Butterfield Building at the corner of Washington Street and Henry Law Avenue. Since then, while championing a $3.6 million capital campaign, the Museum has completely renovated the 20,000 sq. ft. building, adapting it for use as a publicly accessible museum and upgrading the structure and internal systems to secure Leadership in Environmental Engineering Design (LEED) certification. The entire building is now a working exhibit on environmental efficiency and stewardship. Located on the banks of the Cocheco River, surrounded by Henry Law Park, The Children's Museum is a gateway to the future downtown waterfront development.
The new Museum provides triple the exhibit space of its previous home, with the following benefits:
New exhibits with a wider range of topics and more in-depth exploration of topics are immersive experience-and- discovery centers for learning:
- The Museum's signature Yellow Submarine is a state-of-the-art focal point. Completely CNC-design engineered and manufactured by the Museum's Roe Cole, the new sub replicates the experience of deep-sea dives thanks to computer animation and control systems integration created by students in Professor Bill French's Electronic engineering and technical program at the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord. Roe Cole, Proprietor of Roe G. Cole Custom Design and Construction (Kittery ME) and his crew were responsible for constructing all of the custom exhibits for the new museum, all designed in-house under the direction of Susan Kaufmann, Exhibits Director.
- Build It Fly It gives junior aerospace engineers the chance to flight-test their own designs while learning the concepts of aerodynamics, engineering and physics. This exhibit was designed by Museum exhibit staff member Eric Yuan and custom-fabricated by FlexLink (Allentown, PA).
- Cochecosystem explores the natural and industrial environment of the Cocheco River, from natural beaver and osprey habitats to a naturalist's study to the mills. Christopher Pothier's murals form the backdrop to the Cochecosystem display while a trolley hand-crafted by Don Bishop duplicates the mill workers' experience.
- Primary Place expands the Museum's age range to early-learner infants to 3-year-olds. A space filled with colorful original murals by children's book illustrator Karen Holman and hand-carved wood play sculptures by Joshua Sargent Primary Place affords more discovery opportunities to the youngest members of the family.
Two levels of fully ADA-accessible space link the entire exhibit area visually and physically by an all-abilities ramp/gallery for visual arts exhibits. The exhibits themselves are also designed to allow children with mobility issues equal hands-on access rather than isolating them from the rest of their group. They can accompany their class up the ramp to second floor exhibits, for example, instead of having to divert to the elevator (though a new elevator has been installed.) The Dino Dig offers a chair-level "dig-site" as well as one children climb into.
First-rate visitor service and amenities include storage space for jackets and strollers, snack area, group orientation space, well-designed entry, and family restrooms on each floor.
The new Museum builds on an established reputation as an invaluable, supplemental education resource for schools and families:
- The Children's Museum is one of the most-visited attractions in New Hampshire with an established reputation for drawing family visitors to the state. Surveys show that 87 percent of the families who come to the Museum traveled to the area specifically for that purpose.
- The Museum provides educators with assets that are not available elsewhere to expand the depth and breadth of traditional curricula with informal alternatives to in-classroom learning. Learning in our Museum setting is a self-directed process of active engagement with experiences New Hampshire Department of Education standards are the foundation for every exhibit.
- The new Museum builds on an established reputation as a self-supporting, financially-stable asset to the community. Fully 60 percent of operating revenue comes from admissions, sales, events and program fees. The balance comes from corporate partners, members, individual donors and foundations who enthusiastically support the Museum's mission and accomplishments. Virtually every major corporation in New Hampshire has contributed to the capital campaign and programming initiatives.
Full details about the new Museum can be found on the new web site, designed by Brown & Co. of Portsmouth. Visit www.childrens-museum.org or call 603-742-2002.
MT WASHINGTON VALLEY
1785 Inn Offers Drinks, Fido gifts, Mud Masks, and More
PARTAKE IN THE 1785 INN’s FLAMING COCOA LAVA DRINK – They call this “warm mud to take the chill off of a cool spring evening”, the 1785’s signature flaming Cocoa Lava is sure to leave you smiley clean; have two and you’d better plan to spend the night! This drink features a flaming concoction of Peppermint Schnapps, hot chocolate and Bailey’s Irish Cream all topped off with whipped cream and cinnamon (for that dirty look!). The glasses are rimmed with caramelized cinnamon sugar, just to add to the filthy goodness of this drink. Info: 800-421-1785, www.the1785inn.com.
Zeb's General Store Has Maine Mud Chocolate Products & Mudslide Coffee
Walk into Zeb’s General Store, and the old-fashioned penny-candy counter takes you back in time. Zeb’s is the largest purveyor of New England-made products in the country, and features such wonderful Mud Season offerings as a muddy Moosely Dark Chocolate Sauce, along with White Mountain Mudslide Coffee. In the height of the mud season, you’ll find Hogwash soaps, perfect for groveling in the mud for the ultimate in a clean complexion. Info: 800-676-9294, www.zebs.com
FOUR YOUR PAWS ONLY-
Mud Boots & Rain Gear for Fido and Fifi - We all know the best way to protect floors is to take off our boots when we come in the mud room, but what about our four-legged friends? Four Your Paws Only offers a full range of pet gifts, supplies and gear for inclement weather, including reflective dog boots and yellow doggie slickers. Info: 800-327-5957, www.fouryourpawsonly.com.
Garden Dreams
Mud Masks - Garden Dreams, a locally-based purveyor of fine soaps and spa products offers a Mud Mask with roots in French Green Clay and Oatmeal. It’s a wonderful product to awaken the body to spring and good clean mud. The instructions suggest covering the entire body in the mud mask, and once dried to run into the freshly melted lake during Mud Season for the ultimate in refreshing tingle. Of course, for the less adventurous, a warm shower will offer equal cleanliness but no where nearly the tingle. Info: 603-367-9913, www.gardendreams.org.
Red Parka Pub
Mudslide Drinks and Pies - Just to get into the mud-mood, order the 16-ounce Mason Jar Mudslide at the Red Parka Pub, one of Mt. Washington Valley’s après- mud fun institutions. Follow that up with the Mud Pie – a generous concoction of Oreo cookies, nuts, coffee liqueur, in between mounds of coffee ice cream, syrup and whip cream, and you’ll be sure you’ve just landed in mud-heaven. Info: 603-383-4344, www.redparkapub.com.
Sweeney Ridge Metalsmiths
"Wipe Your Feet" Plaques– Adults know to wipe their feet when they enter, but how about Rover? Sweeney Ridge Metalsmiths offer a “Wipe Your Feet” sign featuring your choice of twenty different breeds of dogs for $20. While it may not keep the mud off the rug, it’ll be a great reminder to kids and possibly even pets. Info: 888-600-9470, www.sweeneyridge.com.
For more information on vacationing during Mud Season or beyond in Mt. Washington Valley, NH, visit www.mtwashingtonvalley.org or call 800-DO-SEE-NH (800-367-3364) to request your free vacation planner.
SUNAPEE
The Blue Acorn Inn
Owned by Innkeepers Deb & Kurt Markarian (21 Sleeper Road, Sunapee, NH 03782; 603-863-1144 -- E-mail innkeepers@ blueacorninn.com), the Inn is nestled on 22 acres on a quiet road just minutes from Lake Sunapee and Mount Sunapee Resort. It is a four season inn that offers a comfortable, cozy atmosphere for guests looked for their "Home Away From Home." Guests enjoy the warmth of the family, friendly inn which is a pleasant change from hotels.
Built in 1847, The Blue Acorn Inn offer 6 uniquely decorated rooms. All the guests can enjoy the Great Room with its large fieldstone fireplace, a patio and a big backyard that is shared with the local wildlife. There's plenty to do here - enjoy the scenery, hike, bike, see the fall foliage change, ski, snowmobile, ice skate on the pond, go snowshoeing, downhill sking. During spring, watch the maple syrup being made at one of the local sugarhouses. Hold an outdoor reception or family gathering here, or during summer, take a chair-lift to the top of Mt. Sunapee for a breathtaking view. Take a leisurely cruise on the lake on the MV Mt. Sunapee or do your own boating on the lake. Pack a picnic and head to Sunapee State Park for a swim. In the evening, relax by the fireplace with a warm cup of cocoa or tea. In addition to the huge hearty country breakfasts and the spectacular sunsets ~ The Blue Acorn Inn is the perfect way to start and end your day. Gift Certificates are always available.