A quiet afternoon at Belknap 4-H Fair. The kids will love to get up close and personal with all of the farm animals. All of the animals at the fair belong to 4-H kids, so these animals are used to being loved by children and don't mind all the attention. Check-out the sheep, cows, pigs horses, chickens and rabbits! Don't forget to swing through the exhibit hall and see the creativity of the local 4-Hers! Usually the second weekend in August.
When visiting the White Mountains you must stop and take in Franconia Notch State Park. We are fortunate to drive through on our way to Elle's Grammie's house. We have seen bears eating blueberry's on the slopes of Cannon Mountain and Red Tailed Hawks flying by our window. Elle can't wait to drive through next time, because she is going to say hello to the red and yellow tram cars!
The aerial tram brings visitors to the top of Cannon Mountain. Elevation 4,180 feet. On a clear day, you can see four states and Canada. Of course the day we went you were lucky to see your hand in front of your face, but that is besides the point! Elle thought it was just amazing that we were in the clouds, just like her cartoon buddy, Kipper!
Once at the top of the mountain you can hike around the short walking path or check out the 360 degree view from the observation deck.
Once you are finished with you adventure atop Cannon Mountain, you can venture over to the New England Ski Museum, swim in Echo Lake, fish in Profile Lake, ride your bike on the bike path, visit the Flume Gorge or hike along the Appalachian Trail. A visit to Franconia Notch State Park will certainly fill your day!
Pictures taken in the Notch just go great with Back Country paper. You might consider adding some stamping to your page using CTMH's Campin' Fever Acrilx Stamp. This stamp set is especially relevant if you do any fishing while enjoying your stay in the park.
View of the town docks and Church Landing in Meredith.
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There is nothing like an ice cream treat while riding the rails!
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Squam Lakes Science Center in Holderness NH
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is located off of Rt. 113 in Holderness.
The Science Center opened to visitors in 1966 and has been improving on its basic mission ever since. The wildlife exhibits are situated along the Gephart Exhibit Trail, which is a meandering wooded trail approximately 3/4 miles in length. Along the trail you have the opportunity to see first hand fishers, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, deer, river otters, black bears, and raptors. Each exhibit has plenty of hands on games and displays to keep youngsters engaged. Our little ones enjoy the 'chipmunk slide' (We named it that as it is in the underground exhibit with the burrows of worms and chipmunks!), the slide at the river otter exhibit, the bear den and the fun barn located in the middle of the trail. These gross motor activities really keep the little ones engaged.
Just after the deer exhibit you can veer left and take a stroll through the Kirkwood Garden. This amazing garden is ever-changing with the seasons and if you are lucky enough to visit while the roses are in bloom your nose will be in for a real treat! After walking through this garden you will be inspired to start working on your own backyard sanctuary. Don't be intimidated to bring your little ones into the garden, it is included in your admission and has plenty of room for kids to run about.
While at the Science Center you can also hike the Mt. Fayal Trail. This trail takes you to the summit where you will have a spectacular view of Squam Lake.
Whether you are a resident of the Lakes Region or just here on vacation, make sure you visit Squam Lakes Natural Science Center!
Scrapbook your visit to the the Science Center with Close To My Heart's Back Country paper packet (X7110B) and Backwoods stamp (B1328). Shop Now.
Bretton Woods holds a special place in our family history. It is where my husband and I met! I was a teaching little folks how to ski in the resort’s Hobbit program during my winter break from college. My husband-to-be had been talked into working in the Adult Ski School by a buddy. As fate would have it we ran into each other on the stairs in the now ‘old’ lodge and the rest is history! We started dating that winter and were married four years later. In fact, the tables at our wedding where each named after trails at the Mountain!
Bretton Woods remains one of our most favorite, if not favorite mountain to ski. We have skied many New England peaks, and my husband even spent a winter in Colorado and we still have to rank this NH gem amongst our favorites. Our love for this mountain goes beyond the emotional connection it holds for us (I learned to ski there when I was 6), it really has some outstanding terrain and the commitment to keeping skiers on the mountain and not on the lifts is evident each run.
Many years ago Bretton Woods was known for being a great mountain to learn to ski on or family destination. However, in recent years this has really changed. With recent expansions Bretton Woods has added some real steep and challenging runs to the repertoire, making this Mountain a great destination for ANY skier. The most advanced can spend the day carving huge turns down some of the newer terrain or in the wooded glades, while the younger or less experienced can enjoy some of the mountain's old favorites! Can you tell we just love this Mountain?
When I was a kid learning to ski at Bretton Woods, the Rosebrook Condos were just being built and the Mountain’s logo was a bunch of yellow trees clustered together. Today if you visit the Mountain, you’ll notice all of the luxury townhouses and condos that hug the slopes and mountainside along with a logo that depicts the Mount Washington Hotel and Resort. These two entities are now one and when you make a ski trip to Bretton Woods you can also enjoy everything the Hotel has to offer. Many ski and stay packages are available as well as the many resort activities that the Mount Washington provides.
If you have never skied this mountain, give it a try. I don’t think you’ll be sorry, and if like me, you learned to ski there many years ago and haven’t been back in a few years, give it a go. The spring skiing is some of the best around! You can’t go wrong!
**So now that you have decided to pack up the fam. and head for the Mountain, be sure to pack the camera. There is no better view of Mount Washington than from the top of the Upper Express lift. When it comes time to scrapbook these great pictures, you will want to checkout the Close To My Heart paper packet Aspen and the Snowflake Kisses stamp!
