Not our name, but our passion
A fine example of a day use park in the New Hampshire Stat Park System. Clough State Park has a nice beach for swimming, picnic tables and grills for barbecue and a pavilion the can be rented for functions.
There is a boat launch for canoes an kayaks.
There is a day use hiking trail around the reservoir and the adjacent Everett Dam can be visited.
The Wason Pond Conservation and Recreation Area in Chester is a multi-use park ideal for family outing. The park contains a covered bridge, several swimming holes, a community center, a short trail, a playground and a large field where you may find charity yard sales occasionally during the summer.
The best access to the covered bridge and trail is from the Community Center parking area.
The trail suitable for mountain bikes and hikers leads to a swimming hole with a Tarzan swing. Take note of the flora along the trail.
Next to the center in the opposite direction is a large playground for the little ones.
Further on is the second entrance to the park and another parking area with the main swimming area.
If in the Raymond/Chester area be sure to spend a nice afternoon at the park.
Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire is one of the jewels in the State Park system. The park is the epitome of a multi-use, all purpose park with hiking, equestrian, archery, camping, snowmobiling, fishing and swimming as just some of the activities. Divided into several sections accessed from sevral points the park contains 10,000 acres of woods, trails and ponds.
There are over 40 miles of trails winding through the heavily wooded park. Most of the trails can be accessed through the Podunk Road entrance to the park. The road is rough dirt and the trail heads are at several places along it.
Keep an eye open for the grave of an unknown civil war soldier.
There is a parking lot to leave your car with access to many of the trails.
Also available are equestrian trails with parking available for horse trailers.
Maybe the best option would be to stay at one of the campgrounds in the park. There is a large public site with swimming and facilities including a camp store.
The swimming hole here is for campers only.
Canoes and kayaks are also available for the campers.
There are also hike in camp sites and cabin rentals within the park.
Besides the hiking and camping there is a fly fishing only pond, a children’s fishing pond and an archery range.
If history is your forte there is much to offer there as well. The old CCC camp houses two museums of local interest. The Bear Brook Civilian Conservation Core Museum is housed in one of the few remaining CCC encampments still extant in the U.S.
An Antique Snowmobile Museum is also housed in one of the old CCC barracks.
Across the street from the CCC camp and museum grounds is the Old Allenstown Meeting House.
The day use portion of the park is further along Deerfield Road. Here you will find a lake with swimming, canoe rentals and picnic facilities.
In summary this is a great park for the whole family and has something to offer almost everyone.
The Taylor Mill State Historic Site is located in the Ballard State Forest in Derry, New Hampshire.
You cannot miss the mill as it is right off Island Pond Road in Derry. About 100 yards from the mill there is a small parking area with a port-a-potty and a short trail leading to the mill.
Good fishing in the small pond on the way to the mill.
A short five minute walk brings you to the pond and mill.
Robert Taylor for whom the mill is named bought the property in 1799 and started operation of the “up and down” sawmill in 1805.
There are demonstrations at the site every other Saturday during the summer. A modern mill is brought in to provide a comparison of the technology advancement from 1805 to today.
The 1805 era mill is fascinating to see in operation. The sluice gates are opened to the pond, the waterwheel starts to turn and the saw blade starts to cut.
The interpretive volunteer was wonderful with Alex explaining the differences between modern and colonial saw mills and reviewing the history of the site.
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.
