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 White Mountain Wanderings - Blog |
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White Mountains Perfect for HoHo Holiday Fun
Cold north winds are blowing over New Hampshire’s White Mountains, bringing with them snow and the holiday spirit, making it a perfect time to plan a visit that could be the start of new family traditions. Ride a train and meet Santa Claus. Choose the perfect Christmas tree- and then cut it down yourself. Drink hot chocolate and sing Christmas carols. Pet Santa’s reindeer and feed them a snack before their big night.
"The White Mountains are a favorite summertime destination, but during the holiday season, it truly becomes a wondrous, magical place," said Jayne O’Connor, president of White Mountains Attractions. "The snow-covered mountains, the Christmas lights and decorations in our small towns and villages are a perfect backdrop to some memorable experiences, especially for children. Santa Claus takes center stage for many of those activities and Santa’s Village in Jefferson is a great way to get in the holiday spirit. Millions of lights glow in the winter sky and Santa is available to hear the whispers of children. New this year, Santa’s Village will be open the Saturday after Christmas. The park opens for the season the day after Thanksgiving. Hours that holiday weekend are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. After that, it will be open each Saturday until the end of the year from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 28); Sundays, until Dec. 23, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most, but not all, of the rides will be open. Santa’s Skyway Sleigh, which circles the park, offers a beautiful look at the twinkling lights. After that, it will be open each Saturday until the end of the year. Sundays tend to have lighter crowds and guests are encouraged to dress warmly. Admission is $21 per person; children under three are admitted free.
If there is anything synonymous with Christmas, it’s children, trains and Santa Claus and during the holiday season, the three go together like candy canes and hot chocolate. At the Cog Railway in Bretton Woods, the Santa Train runs twice daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tickets are $31 for adults and $26 for children; youngsters age 3 and under ride free on an adult’s lap. Reservations are recommended and tickets can be booked online at www.thecog.com. All trains depart the Marshfield Station, located six miles off Route 302 in Bretton Woods. Santa rides with children and their families in a heated coach for the one hour roundtrip to Kroflite Kamp, located about halfway to the summit of Mount Washington and the North Pole. At that point, passengers can depart the train and have their pictures taken with Santa.
On the other side of Crawford Notch, the Jolly Old Elf hollers ‘All Aboard!’ for the Santa Claus Express at the Conway Scenic Railroad. Trains depart each Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. for a one-hour roundtrip to Bartlett and at 1:30 p.m., for a 55 minute excursion to Conway. Santa Claus will be onboard visiting with everyone and will have a small surprise in his bag for each child. Tickets for the "Santa Claus Express" will be on sale prior to each departure in our ticket office. For fare information, visit www.conwayscenic.com.
Over in Lincoln, Santa hops on the Hobo Railroad Nov. 23 and 24 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and each Saturday and Sunday until Christmas at 1 p.m. Trains depart from the Lincoln station and tickets are $13, free for children under 3. During the 80 minute trip along the banks of the Pemigewasset River, Santa will visit with each child and gives them a small gift. For more information, go to www.santatrains.com.
After visiting with Santa, families looking for the perfect Christmas tree will want to head to The Rocks Estate in Bethlehem for an afternoon of looking for a tree to bring home. Other activities include horse drawn wagon rides around the property, hot chocolate and carol singing and parents will enjoy looking for unique gifts at the craft fair each weekend through Christmas. The Rocks is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 17 to Dec. 24. For more information, go to www.therocks.org.
White Mountains Attractions, founded in 1957, is the marketing association for 16 attractions within the White Mountains region, including Attitash, Cannon Mountain, Clark’s Trading Post, the Cog Railroad, the Conway Scenic Railroad, Flume Gorge, the Hobo Railroad, Loon Mountain, Lost River Gorge, Mount Washington Auto Road, Polar Caves, Santa’s Village, Six Gun City, Story Land, Whale’s Tale and Wildcat Mountain. For information about the White Mountains, the visitors’ center is located off exit 32 on Interstate 93 in North Woodstock; visit www.visitwhitemountains.com or call 800-FIND-MTS.
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Snow-liage!
Dreary skies broke up this afternoon, giving way to a blue sky, some still-bright fall colors and snow on the high peaks of the White Mountains.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is snow-liage season here.
While the peak colors have for the most part gone by, the fall hues are still washing across the hillsides, especially at the lower elevations. Like plants and teenagers, you will still find some late- blooming color, as some trees take longer than others to reach peak. We’ve seen plenty of bright red trees in our travels.
We may be biased, but this is one of the loveliest times of the season. The colors are still worth a ride, but the crowds of a few weeks ago have thinned out. It is the perfect time of year to take a hike - just be sure to bring some warm clothes, as we think summer has gotten the boot by Jack Frost. Why not plan another trip to our neighborhood? We’ve got some apple orchards and hayrides around and the scarecrows and pumpkin people have come out to play.
We’ve got plenty of ideas and suggestions, so give us a call at 800- FIND-MTS, or stop in at the White Mountains Visitors Center, off exit 32 on Interstate 93 and we’ll point you the direction for some fall fun.
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Primary Colors
We caught ourselves thinking this morning - sadly, we might add - over a cup of coffee that once Columbus Day has passed, it must mean the fall colors have passed, too.
But on our early morning ride up north, our day brightened considerably when we discovered color more vibrant than we could have imagined and it was all in part because the sky was a gloomy gray with the occasional hole that let sun poke through. With no competition from sunshine, the oranges and yellows were practically glowing, especially along Route 115 in Jefferson.
The mountains were clouded over, but their slopes were a lovely purple and honestly, it was just about the finest day we’ve seen for foliage viewing this season. The weather forecasters predict there will be more clouds than sunshine the rest of the week, but you should not let that dampen your foliage viewing plans.
Over the past few weeks, the leaves have had ample opportunity to absorb the sunlight and let us assure you that they have brightness to spare. We don’t always believe everything uttered during a weather forecast, but we must admit to feeling some anticipation as one or two weathermen predicted snow - SNOW!!! - on the high peaks of the Presidential Range this weekend.
If you have not experienced sno-liage - when colorful leaves frame snow-dusted mountains - don’t plan to miss it. There is plenty of color left, although in some of the higher elevations it has gone a little past. We should note for you that we saw quite a bit of another kind of fall colors in our travels - presidential candidate signs. We won’t reach that peak for another few months, but they are adding a bit of roadside color.
Why not plan a drive through our mountains this weekend? Give us a call at 800-FIND-MTS and we’ll tell you where things are the brightest ... and if the weathermen were right about the snow ...
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A Wonderful Weekend for a Drive
When the clouds wandered into Franconia Notch yesterday afternoon, we grabbed our camera and headed out through the Easton Valley (Route 116) and turned left (Route 112) when we reached the end. Not only were we struck by the intense colors on the little drive, but we were also surprised that we encountered few cars. Our journeys earlier in the day took us along the interstate, which was, in places, bumper to bumper.
The secret to Leaf Peeping, especially on this holiday weekend, is to take the advice of Robert Frost and head for roads less traveled. When we reached the top of Kinsman Notch, we heard ourselves gasp when we reached the Beaver Pond. The clouds had intensified the foliage on the side of the notch and with no wind, the pond was like a mirror, as the foliage spilled into it. It was absolutely lovely.
If you are heading our way, up Interstate 93, might we suggest some of the less traveled roadways? - Route 112 west to Route 118, North Woodstock to Warren; - Route 112 west all the way to Route 302, North Woodstock to Woodsville; - Route 117, Franconia through Sugar Hill and Lisbon; - Route 142, Franconia to Bethlehem and on into Whitefield.
If you are coming up for a day trip this week, be sure to drop by the White Mountains Visitors Center, exit 32, off I-93. We can tell you where the brightest colors are and where it won’t be so crowded.
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A Word About Peak
Now that the leaves have been undergoing their autumn metamorphosis for the past few weeks, the question we have often been asked this week is “When are they going to peak?” The short answer is “We don’t know.” Peak foliage is when the changing leaves reach their brightest colors. There is no certain minute, hour, day or place in which that happens. We can tell you, from a historic perspective, that in our White Mountains region, it typically happens during the first week of October.
Then again, it’s all dependent on where you are. Here on the western side of the Presidential Range, we can be up to a week ahead of the colors in the Mount Washington Valley, over toward Conway. Further north, peak can be a few days ahead of ours. Head south and the colors are just beginning to turn. It’s hard to explain “peak.” But after all our years observing and enjoying our most favorite time of the year, it is something you just know when you see it.
You can come around a corner and cast an eye on a hillside and realize that it looks as though it is on fire. You look at an individual tree and realize you have never seen such a deep red. You are standing at an overlook or along a mountain trail and as you look out, your breath is taken away by the panorama of bright colors shimmering in a gentle breeze, under the brightest blue sky you have ever seen. We can’t explain it. We just know it. And you will, too.
Come on up this weekend and see it for yourself. We expect there to be some peak colors, so on your way north, stop by the White Mountains Visitors Center, off exit 32 of Interstate 93 in North Woodstock, or call us at 800-FIND-MTS.
If you are planning a Columbus Day weekend getaway, our best advice to you is to take a few moments right now and secure a room reservation. They can get scarce as the weekend moves on and we would hate to have you spending time finding a room, instead of finding those perfect fall colors!
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Color us red ... and yellow ... and orange
We waited to take our foliage drive the other day until mid- afternoon. The haze of last week’s unseasonably warm weather was blown out by a rainstorm and with sun on its westward path, the light was perfect to view the wonderful colors of fall. The perennial question every year is whether the previous summer’s rain or lack of rain - depending on the year - will have some detrimental effect on the fall foliage. We watch the experts opine on the news every September and then we go look out the window.
What we see, no matter the year, are the rich colors of the changing season. For sure, some years - like this year - we see deeper reds on the hillsides, while other years, the yellows and oranges are more prominent. There are scientific explanations on why the leaves turn color, but we just enjoy the unfolding spectacle that changes before our eyes.
The Columbus Day weekend is coming up and we’re going to go out on a limb here and say that by then, the colors in many areas of the White Mountains are going to be at their brightest. Folks from all over the world are coming to see our foliage, and we would highly recommend that if you are planning to head our way over the long holiday, take a few minutes and make reservations for a place to stay.
We can help you make your plans, so give us a call at 800-FIND-MTS, or head to our website or stop by and see us - the White Mountains Visitors Center is located off exit 23 of Interstate 93 in North Woodstock.
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Fall's Call
For the first day of autumn on Sunday, we found ourselves following our nose on a drive along Route 302. As we drove into Bretton Woods, we could not help but let out our first little gasp of the foliage season. Mother Nature’s fashion show is featuring some of the most vibrant colors in several years. Red is very big and under a clear blue sky, it absolutely pops out and makes you just pause for a moment.
Although the weather has a certain feel of summer to it, the air is clear and the sky, aside from a few wispy clouds, is a deep blue. We found ourselves in Crawford Notch at lunchtime and we had no trouble finding ourselves a picnic table by Willey Pond for a little repast.
We can’t tell you precisely when peak foliage will be, but we can tell you it generally things are at their brightest the last week of September, into the first week or so of October. Come for a picnic, a day, or an entire week, but do make plans to come see the fall colors in the White Mountains.
Our enthusiastic staff at the White Mountains Visitors Center, off exit 32 of Interstate 83, are standing by to answer your questions as you follow your nose north. You can call us at 800-FIND-MTS, too, or on the web at www.visitwhitemountains.com
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Fall Spice
Mother Nature threw us for a loop last week, when she turned the furnace on high and watched while we baked in temperatures that approached 90 degrees. But the weather here in the White Mountains has returned to more autumn-like conditions and as we drove here and there over the past few days, we could see that fall is definitely coming on.
If you cast your eye across the hillsides, the higher elevations appear to be dusted with dashes of spice - cumin and curry, with a smattering of chili powder. There are always some trees that get ahead of the rest and from what we see in our travels, the reds are very vibrant. So we can’t wait to see an entire woodland ablaze later this month.
Be sure to make your plans now to come to the White Mountains and view with us this exciting time of the year. It is our favorite season, with lots of fun and festivals to make the autumn colors a most memorable time. The White Mountains Visitors Center, at exit 32 off Interstate 93 in North Woodstock, is a great place to stop by on your travels north. We have all sorts of information and suggestions to make the most of your trip. You can also call us at 800-FIND- MTS.
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Summer Takes a Break!
If we needed a nudge to know that summer is on the wane, we felt it a couple of mornings this week, when the temperatures dipped nearly into the snowmaking zone in the wee hours of the morning. That’s not so unusual here in the mountains, when August hums along. But it catches us unawares and is the prod we need to get out and enjoy the end of summer. Those cool mornings give way to gorgeous days, when the sky is blue and the haze is nowhere to be seen.
As we approach Labor Day, these are the perfect days to bring the kids for one more dip at the Whale’s Tale Water Park, or to see the bear show at Clark’s Trading Post or even to visit Santa Claus, at Santa’s Village. We know it’s a hectic time of year, getting ready for school and everything, but summer doesn’t last forever and there’s always time to enjoy one more day of it.
It is also not too early to start planning for a weekend during the fabulous fall foliage season and we can help by pointing you in the direction of the best attractions that provide a window - and adventure - on our most favorite time of the year. Be sure to stop by the White Mountains Visitor Center, located in North Woodstock, straight ahead when you get off exit 32 of Interstate 93. We have maps, brochures and great advice for wrapping up the summer and falling into foliage season. We can also help you out if you’d like to call 800-FIND-MTS. See you soon!
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Summer is Warming Up!
The Fourth of July holiday may be a week behind us, but Mother Nature sure put on a dazzling display of her own last night. We sat up for hours on the front porch watching lightning play, listening to thunder roll over the valley ... and comforting one very scared pooch.
The storm has gone on its way, leaving behind a gorgeous summer morning. It is promising to be a warm one.
Perfect, we think, for spending some time in the water. Over at the Whale’s Tale Water Park in Lincoln, there is a new ride now open. The adventurous can try out the Banzai Pipeline, a twisty-turny ride through a tunnel that ends up in a pool below.
Our speed is more along the lines of Jonah’s Escape, a quarter-mile lazy river you can float along. We also like the giant wave pool, Willie’s Wild Waves. It really doesn’t matter what your age is, there is a float and a pool with your name on it.
Best way to enjoy the park is to lock up your cares and worries in the trunk of your car and go with the flow. And don’t forget to wear sunscreen!
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Summer Celebrations
We ate cake not once this week, but twice, as we stopped by two of our attractions to celebrate two momentous occasions. The Wolfman turned 50 last week! And so did Six Gun City!
If you have ever been to Clarks Trading Post in Lincoln, you’ve likely encountered Wolfman coming out of the woods and warning you to stay away from his claim, where he mines the rare Unobtanium. He’s a scary fellow, but all you have to say is "Scram you old goat" and back he goes into the woods. If you head to Clarks this summer, be sure to wish Wolfie, as some affectionately call him, a very happy birthday.
Up the road in Jefferson, all kinds of dignitaries turned out one afternoon this week for a 50th anniversary celebration. It was in 1957 that Jim and Eleanor Brady, along with their eight children, opened their farm for pony rides and roadside refreshments. Five decades later, Six Gun City is still going strong with its western themed amusements. We can remember being a young lass and riding in a stagecoach, as well as on one of those ponies. One day this summer, we plan to enjoy the rest of the park - the roller coaster, the water ride and a cold drink from a cup shaped like a cowboy boot.
The mercury is rising here in the White Mountains and we think it is a great place to come a cool off. Be sure to stop by our visitors’ center, right off exit 32 of I-93, and we can tune you in to where the fun is. Or give us a call at 1-800-FIND-MTS.
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Here Comes Summer
We decided this morning when we got up with the sun that the frost warning the other night and rainy days last week were well worth this day, and indeed, the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
The mercury went into the 80s, the sun was bright in a blue sky and the weatherman says we¹re in for more days like this one. We were so happy, we went to the closet and brought out our white shoes. Lest we jinx this fine weather, however, we will wait another couple of days to wear them. Our holiday weekend plans will surely include some time outside. There is a crop of dandelions that must be tamed and some burgers and dogs that have a date on the grill.
We hope your plans include some fun here in the White Mountains. While several of our attractions, like the Flume and Lost River, have been open for the past couple of weeks, those venerable children¹s favorites - Clarks Trading Post, Santa¹s Village, Six Gun City and Story Land - open for the season this weekend.
We can help you out with your plans for this weekend or anytime during the summer that stretches out before us. If you are heading north, stop by and see us at the White Mountains Visitors Center, straight ahead when you get off exit 32 of Interstate 93, or give us a call at 800-FIND-MTS. Do check back often here at the White Mountains blog. We are looking forward to sharing our summer adventures with you.
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Spring is in the Air
No matter what the weather is doing outside our window here in North Woodstock, we know that spring is truly in the air when we see the bears at Clark’s Trading Post looking down at us from their perches. We can’t help but wonder if the bears wished they hadn’t kept on napping. The weatherman tells us we may get as many as 10 inches of snow by tomorrow morning and warns of a Nor’Easter later this weekend. But since bears hibernate throughout the worst of the winter season, they typically don’t enjoy the fun of a spring snow storm - you know, the kind where there’s several inches of superb snow perfect for making snowmen.
Which brings us to Pemi and Echo, the youngest bears at Clark’s Trading Post (and may we just say here that we can’t believe they are 4-years-old!). They hibernated for the first time this year, taking a two month nap and they woke up on April 1. A few days later, after they blinked sleep out of their eyes and got a good meal inside of them, Maureen Clark had a surprise. She and a few others from the Clark’s crew made a huge snowman and dressed it up, complete with a black hat, red scarf and pine cone buttons. The face was crafted from apples for eyes, a carrot nose and a grinning banana mouth.
Maureen explained that Pemi and Echo had never experienced snowman snow. Or a snowman for that matter. If you think that Pemi and Echo immediately went for the eyes, nose and mouth, they didn’t. They weren’t quite sure what to make of their new friend and Pemi even started to perform a few tricks for the adorable snowman and then he appeared to be telling it some secrets. In the end, the Bear Pair tackled the snowman and then went off to take a nap.
In just a little more than a month, Clark’s Trading Post and all our White Mountains Attractions will open for the season and it’s not too soon to start thinking about your visit this summer. Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-FIND-MTS for ideas and information about a vacation you’ll never forget. Pemi and Echo, by the way, are waiting.
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Seeking Santa
We were thinking that Santa Claus would be so busy this time of year, that there would be few chances to catch up with him as he prepares for The Big Day.
But part of his magic is that he’s everywhere in the White Mountains and we caught up with him on Sunday at Santa’s Village in Jefferson. It was at the end of the day and Santa was very excited at the lists presented to him that afternoon.
His message, by the way, is that he’s put on a third shift of elves to handle all those iPod and PlayStation requests.
Santa’s Village has welcomed record crowds this holiday season and it is certainly worth a trip to see the lights, ride the Skyride around the park and, of course, visit Santa and Mrs. Claus in their cute little cabin. Santa’s Village is open each Saturday and Sunday, until Dec. 23.
Santa Claus also let us know that he is taking time out to ride the rails the next two weekends at the Hobo Railroad in Lincoln, the Conway Scenic Railroad in Conway and the Cog Railway, up the slopes of Mount Washington.
The Ho-Ho-Hobo Santa Express, which has been running since 1987, offers one train at 2 p.m. on Dec. 9,10, 16 and 17. Santa Claus will visit with each child during the one hour and 20 minute ride, so have those lists ready.
Across the valley, the Conway Scenic Railroad will host the Jolly Old Elf on its Santa’s Holiday Express. Trains depart on Dec. 9, 10, 16 and 17 at 11 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. from the depot in North Conway Village.
And Santa Claus also pays a visit to the Cog Railway the next two weekends, to visit children riding up the side of Mount Washington on the Snowflake Express. Trains depart the Marshfield Base Station, about six miles off Route 302 in Bretton Woods, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
For more information on any of these attractions, do give our little elves at the White Mountains Visitors Center in North Woodstock a call at 800-FIND-MTS, or visit our website at www.visitwhitemountains.com.
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Here Come the Holidays
Wasn’t it just yesterday that you came up to visit us during the foliage season? And now here it is with Thanksgiving bearing down.
After you left, Mother Nature shrugged her shoulders and took off, leaving us to rake up her remnants and the door open for Jack Frost to slip through. Not that we didn’t enjoy it on those late October days.
It’s always interesting to see what kind of weather moves in on a day-by-day basis in the late fall. We had snow several times in the past few weeks and it was enough that eager skiers made their first turns down the front slopes of Cannon Mountain.
This week, the White Mountains are more like the Wet Mountains. Those of us who really really do like winter but are trying to pace ourselves say ... we don’t have to shovel rain.
But now that we are making up our Thanksgiving shopping list and marking off the calendar for the holiday season that follows, we thought we would share some great ideas for a getaway and perhaps the start of some new family traditions.
We like to get in the festive mood by heading up to Bethlehem to The Rocks Estate. It opens for the season on Saturday and this is where you can go to select and cut your own Christmas tree.
After you’ve done that, especially if its after Thanksgiving, you can get some Christmas shopping done at the New Hampshire Crafters Fair, from 10 am to 4 pm every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 10. Then you can climb aboard a horse drawn wagon for a tour of this beautiful estate.
And don’t forget to say hello to the Stumpy family.
Our other simply must have to do date is heading over to Santa’s Village in Jefferson. You may have visited there this summer, but it is absolutely wonderful at Christmas, with hundreds of thousands of lights twinkling against a truly North Pole backdrop.
Santa lands there the first weekend after Thanksgiving and for each weekend after that through Dec. 23. Check out the website -- www.santasvillage.com -- for times.
We adore Chris Van Allsburg’s ‘The Polar Express’ and last year, the popular train ride that has been reenacted for years across the valley in Conway came to Lincoln. While tickets, which are made available through a lottery system, are not available, you might want to check with local lodges and hotels in Lincoln and North Woodstock. Several offer weekend packages that include these sought-after tickets. It’s not too early to plan ahead for next year.
For information on this wonderful excursion, trot over to www.believeinbooks.org.
Of course, you are always welcome to call us to help you plan a trip up here to see us at 1-800-FIND-MTS.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at White Mountains Attractions.
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