Not our name, but our passion
The Tip Top House was a stone hotel built in 1853 on the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire. This is the oldest structure on top of the mountain and can be accessed via trail, auto road or cog railway.
The building is believed to be the oldest mountain top hostelry in the world and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Just outside the town of Raymond, New Hampshire in Nottingham is one of the better state parks in New Hampshire’s State Park System. Pawtuckaway State Park has a good sized lake for swimming and boating, great camping, cabins for rent and hiking opportunities.
Being our local park we take advantage of the nice swimming beach on the lake with its associated playground and picnic areas. The beach is shallow and sandy perfect for young family members.
The campground at the park is spectacular. Many of the sites are nicely spaced and provide a secluded camping experience right on the lakeshore. There are canoe and kayak rentals available. and the swimming beach is only a short walking distance from most sites.
There are weeklong (Saturday to Saturday) cabin rentals available as well.
On the west side of the park there is an access road winding through forests and ponds.
Short hikes will bring you to a fire tower and excellent examples of glacial erratics.
Pawtuckaway is a great park for a week of family camping or if in the area it is also great for day use. If you are staying at the campground and want a night out I suggest The Tuckaway Tavern in Raymond as a good spot for a nice meal. They also have a nice butcher shop to pick up meat for the barbeque.
The White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire has a 32 mile section of NH Route 112 called the Kancamagus Highway. It is a premier three season travel destination and the ultimate short New England road trip. You can enter the highway either from the Conway / North Conway side or the Loon Mountain / Lincoln side.
The highway is perfect for cool weather hiking in the spring and fall, swimming in the summer and fall foliage in the autumn. If you are planning on stopping at any of the attractions along the highway you should stop at a ranger station for information and to pay a fee.
There are also fee stations at the various stops along the route.
When coming from the Conway side of the highway the first thing you will come across is the Albany Covered Bridge. This is wonderfull any time of year but is spectacular in the autumn when the colors are in full bloom.
Boulder Loop trail is a moderate level hike nearby. As you proceed up the highway you will be running parallel to the Swift River with numerous opportunities to stop and wade or just admire the scenery.
Lower Falls is the prime swimming hole on the river. Many a summer day was spent growing up sitting under the waterfalls and floating down the rapids in this area. There is a picnic facililty and restrooms available.
Sabbaday Falls lays at the end of a short hike,
and Rocky Gorge is where you used to be able to jump off the short cliffs into the gorge below (no longer allowed).
There is also a short walk over the small bridge which leads to a picturesque small New England monutain pond.
At the top of the mountain there is an observation deck and some nice views of the surrounding mountainside.
All along the entire route there are numerous trailheads of varying difficulties and lenghts and several campgrounds some of which are open all year. A great road trip any time of the year.
The USS Albacore (AGSS 569) is an experimental research submarine that pioneered the American version of the “teardrop” shaped hull typical of most modern submarines.
The ship was commissioned in 1953 and underwent extensive testing, after decommissioning it was put on permanant display in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1985.
The sub and museum are easily acessable just of the Route 1 bypass with parking and a museum next to the sub.
There are memorials to the sailors who lost their lives on ships commissioned in New Hampshire at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
There is a self guided tour to the interior of the submarine.
An interesting piece of nautical history and be sure to check out the rest of Portsmouth while in the area.
Lets face it, although extremely unhealthy french fries are exceptionally delicious. From fast food fries to steak frites at a high end restaurant all are tasty and satisfying. There is a small stand at Old Orchard Beach in Maine that serves some of the best fries you will ever have. Pier French Fries is located just before the pier in the beach and attraction section of Old Orchard Beach, Maine. The fries are freshly cut and cooked and are always crisp and crunchy with just the right combination of oil, salt and potato flavor. They come in several sizes and are a must indulgence when visiting the beach.
