Family Attractions, Outdoor Adventures, Tax Free Shopping and Special Events.

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MT. WASHINGTON VALLEYNew Hampshire

FAMILY FuN

itinerary

FIVE FOr FAMILIES

Five Fun-Filled Fantastic Days for Families.In and Around the Mt Washington Valley

The Mt. Washington Valley has been hosting families for eons. I can think of no cooler place to hang with the kids than here – that’s why so many families live here. Whether you want to wander the woods or run the water slides, ice skate or skate ski, ride a horse or a raft, see a moose or a clown, the Valley can give you a unique adventure every day of your visit. So let’s get started.

MT. WASHINGTON VALLEYNew Hampshire

Anything is Possible

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Above: The Valley offers views from every field © Karen Stancik PhotographyBottom: Ripley Falls is an easy family hike © Karen Stancik Photography

Cover: Family hiking, courtesy of Omni Mt Washington Resort

DAY ONE – FOrEST AND TrAILSBefore there were shopping centers and waterslides in the Valley there was the White Mountain National Forest…and guess what, it’s still here! It was the reason families came fifty years ago and it will always be THE main attraction. The nearly 800,000-acre forest offers an activity for every age and ability and IT’S FREE and it’s never closed. (Ok, I’m stretchin’ it – it’s almost free - you need a parking pass. They are available at every trailhead for $3. But don’t rely on your debit card, it is self-serve, you’ll need three bucks. And yes, during Hurricane Irene they actually did close the forest. Locked the gates, told everyone to get out and everyone did. Overnight hikers that week found homes away from home with valley residents.)

There are easy one-hour hikes to great views and refreshing waterfalls in case you need to carry an itty-bitty person on your shoulders or this outdoorsy thing is new to your family. Start with Mt. Willard and Ripley Falls and by the end of the week you may just be experiencing your first high adventure to an AMC hut. My favorite full day hike is Edmunds Path to Mt. Eisenhower, one of the least difficult treks to a New Hampshire 4000 footer. Get prepared if you are up for this type of hike by visiting the Ranger Station earlier in the week to check conditions, discuss your ability, and determine the necessary gear.

Left: Mountain Biking, courtesy of Great Glen TrailsAbove: The AMC Hut from the peak of Mt. Lafayette © Karen Stancik Photography

Don’t mess with Mother Nature!Around the Valley on all sides you will find mountains and molehills ready for biking, hiking, horseback riding and carriage rides. In winter strap on the snowshoes or XC skis and leave from your back door. Most inns and hotels can offer trail access without even getting into the car. Even the ski areas are located in the WMNF, so get on the trails and into the trees to begin a new adventure. You are guaranteed a different experience on every visit, be it a 140-foot waterfall, a 100-mile view, the biggest bull moose or tiniest bear cub. Yes, you may encounter a moose or bear on the trail – won’t see that at Mousetown! You’ll know if there is one ahead by the resonance of clicking cameras and the OMGs echoing off the trees.

Top:Many Valley golf courses offer family programs © Karen Stancik PhotographyMiddle: Snowboarder, courtesy of Cranmore Resort Bottom: Dog Sled Rides, courtesy of Muddy Paws

Rolling dog sleds without the snow and chill, courtesy of Muddy Paws

DAY TWO – ATTrAcTIONS, rIDES AND SLIDESFrom Mother Nature to Manmade Adventure… today it’s time to boggle and joggle on rides and slides while you gobble carbohydrates! I mean really, you are on vacation aren’t you? The Valley is home to two theme parks geared to youngsters. Story Land and Santa’s Village are where you can sail a pirate ship, whirl on an antique Austrian or North Pole carousel. Whether you want to spin, dive, climb, soar, reel, or munch both Parks offer a full day of entertainment and activity. When the sun is out in mid summer Santa’s Village and Story Land’s water rides and parks are the coolest spot to be.

If your kids have grown into those double digit ages, a trip to one of the mountain resorts is the plan -Attitash, Cranmore, Wildcat Mountain and Bretton Woods Resorts offer water slides, mountain coasters, summer tubing, bungee trampolines, mountain biking, horseback riding and climbing centers. I’m saving the best for last – the aerial adventures offered at the resorts are for Day Five!

If you are feelin’ the need for speed to satisfy a competitive nature in your household, visit the White Lake Speedway go-kart.

Above: Mountain coaster in winter and summer, courtesy of Cranmore ResortRight: Photo Courtesy of Story Land, Where Fantasy Lives

DAY THrEE – WATEr IN THE WILDTime to get back to nature. We have more water here than you can shake a stick at! For a northern neighborhood, we spend a lot of time in the water. So come and join us. Just how much water do we have?

Well…You can swim in, fish in, tube on, kayak or canoe the Ellis, the Saco, the Swift, the Bearcamp, the Androscoggin or the Wildcat Rivers.

You can hike to, sun at or drive by Lowers Fall, Emerald Pool, Rocky Gorge, Glen Ellis Falls, Brickett Falls, Kendron Flume, Arethusa Falls, Diana’s Baths, Nancy Cascades, Jackson Falls, Ripley Falls, Thompson Falls, Winniweta Falls, Champney Falls, Sabbaday Falls, and Crystal, Flume and Silver Cascades.

You can boat on, swim in and flat water kayak on Conway Lake, White Lake, Echo Lake, Crystal Lake, Silver Lake, Ossipee Lake, and Lake Chocorua… You can even hike up to the Lake of the Clouds on Mt Washington or drive down to the big momma, Lake Winnipesaukee. You gettin’ my drift?

Top: Kayaking is a great day for all ages and skill levels © Karen Stancik PhotographyBottom: Canoeing and picnicking on the Saco © Karen Stancik Photography

Top: Skiing, courtesy of Cranmore ResortBottom: Conway Scenic Railroad on Frankenstein Trestle © Karen Stancik Photography

For a restful scenic experience and an entertaining historical tour, there are two train excursions in the Valley. The Conway Scenic Railroad will take you from Conway to Crawford Notch across Frankenstein Trestle and the Cog Railway offers a lift to the top of Mt. Washington via the steepest railroad tracks in America.

Now, occasionally even our mountain paradise gets a bit of liquid sunshine so we’ve got your indoor adventure covered at Kahuna Laguna Water Park and the Ham Ice Arena.

And I have not even mentioned the swimming holes behind the Eastern Slope Inn, Hussey’s Field off River Road, by the covered bridge in Conway, Sawyer Rock, oh, and don’t forget Weston’s Beach…ol’ fashioned swimming holes. Some are even equipped with rope swings. So pack a picnic and head out into the sunshine.

If the color of the water you live for is white, visit the valley in spring or travel a bit further north for a day or weekend of the best white water rafting and kayaking in the northeast. Many rafting excursion services offer great family packages that include overstays.

Ask your hosts or stop by the Chamber info booth for the locations of the best water spots and the businesses that help you get outfitted properly to enjoy them. Be it a picnic lunch, floating cooler, kayak, tube or canoe rental, just get out there and enjoy the fun. Enough said on that.

Right: Rafting, courtesy of raftnh.com Top: Rafting, courtesy of raftnh.com Bottom: Fun family rafting, courtesy of North Woods Rafting © Karen Stancik Photography

DAY FOur – NEW ExpLOrATIONS AND ExpErIENcESHow about explorations of the informative kind? They need not be boring or tedious. An activity or area you never even realized you had an interest in may be the highlight of your visit. Or better yet, the highlight for your children. Here are a few of my favorites –

Top: The Remick Farm offers family programs year round © Karen Stancik Photography Bottom: Residents of The Remick Farm await your arrival © Karen Stancik Photography

Top: The Valley’s Chocolate Tour is an annual favorite © Karen Stancik Photography Bottom: Arts Jubilee outdoor concerts offer great music and fireworks © Karen Stancik Photography

If yours is an urban family in a neighborhood of metro stations and corner cafes or a suburban life is what you call home, be sure to visit the Remick Farm. It is actually called the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, but I dropped the doctor and museum parts so the kids would go. It is 100% authentic. The kids can explore acres of farmland and barns with chickens, turkeys, goats, pigs, sheep, cows, oxen, and horses. Seasonal activities include

maple sugaring, cider making and ice harvesting. The crops raised are used in their historic cooking programs. But the coolest part for me was the trip through Drs. Remicks’ homes, the two country doctors who

lived on and had their practices at the Farm. The original doctors’ medical office and the medicine room are eye opening for sure. I especially liked the bone retriever. No, it is not my yellow lab, but tongs used for getting bones out of one’s throat!

Especially fun is a day trip to the Mt Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center. Sounds like a place you may not be able to get Dad out of, huh? But everyone will like it – it is totally hands-on fun for the kids. Here the kids can explore the science of weather and climate through interactive exhibits like the air cannon, the flow tank and the “wind room”! They can meet and interact with the weather observers living and working in the weather station atop Mt Washington via a twice a day

The Fryeburg Fair in October is food and fun and friendly farm critters © Karen Stancik Photography

live video link. You could drive to the top of Mt Washington in the morning and stop by here in the afternoon to get the entire experience. The museum is free and right next to a cupcake place… that’s a no brainer!

Seasonally there are many special events just perfect for families – summer children’s theatre, The Polar Express Train excursion, the Corn Maze at Sherman Farm, the Sandwich and Fryeburg Fairs, the Chili and Chocolate Tours, Arts Jubilee Fireworks and Symphony, Thomas the Train visits and much more. For an updated calendar of events visit www.mtwashingtonvalley.org/ca lendar/v_ca lendar.cfm?start_month=4&start_year=2012 ...or scan this QR code with your smartphone.

DAY FIVE – HIGH ADVENTurEHere it is day five. The week has flown by and hopefully it has been full of great family laughs and picture ops. Now, are you ready for high adventure? This is not Wipe Out but a fun day of high ropes, canopy tours, zip lines and winter sports. So strap in and hang on tight. It is an adventure for all ages and more fun than watching dad play twister.

Get up in the air at the mountain resorts. Fly the Giant Swing at the Cranmore Adventure Center or take the self guided aerial forest ropes course that will literally elevate you to new heights over rope bridges, ladders and cargo nets, zip lines and more. Drive just twenty minutes north to Bretton Woods to experience the Canopy Tour. I loved it so much, I went back and did it again. I never knew I had it in me to zip and repel like a paratrooper! Bretton Woods’

three-hour canopy tour is just about the most fun I have ever had on a vacation and I wasn’t on vacation. Sure beats going to the movies. It was exhilarating, the views are breathtaking and the feeling of accomplishment far outweighs that of my college degree.

If you are really up for a white knuckle and your confidence is way up there try rock-climbing instruction. The White Mountains of New Hampshire are home to several of the best climbing schools in the

Above: Swing, courtesy of Cranmore Resort Above: Ropes for all ages, courtesy of Cranmore Mountain Resort

world. Yeah, People come from all over the country to climb in the Mt Washington Valley. How about you?

So there you have it. A five-day fun-filled family fest in the Mt. Washington Valley. I didn’t even get to the movie theatres, the sports restaurants and family dining spots. The lodging options are abundant and varied. So if you are looking for a four-bedroom condo for the in-laws and cousins, a cottage in the woods, an indoor pool and hot tub, a fireplace or a campfire, the Valley offers all kinds of options. Sleep in or sleep out, eat in or eat out, but get out to the Valley, It’s only natural!fashioned letter. Take a nap! Begin your evening at a Valley Originals restaurant for home cooked food and hometown atmosphere.

End the day with the windows cracked, even in winter, fresh air, starry skies, and the songs of loons on the lake.on 16N. Here you are. Wow, what a day!

Come celebrate the Fourth with Fireworks in North Conway Village © Karen Stancik Photography