New Hampshire, Part 2 - September 14, 2006 (Re-run)

Our first stop this day was the town of Jackson, long a tourist destination for all four seasons.  Specializing in weddings and honeymoons, Jackson offers a variety of lodging choices and activities.  Many weddings have been conducted at the famous covered bridge.

 

 Near Jackson, we visited the Glen Ellis Recreation Area, a popular spot for scenic hikes with several waterfalls.  Glen Ellis Falls is the main attraction at 66 feet tall.  The others are small, but still quite pretty.

Also nearby is Pinkham Notch, another mountain pass known for mountain climbing, hiking and skiing.  Several rivers and ponds in the valley complement the surrounding mountains to create spectacular scenery.

Our last stop for the day was in Gorham, a town of about 2800 people.  Long a railroad town, Gorham became the arrival point for tourists coming by train from Boston and other large cities to the south.  To accommodate winter travel, the trains were equipped with massive snow plows.

New Hampshire, Part 1 - September 13, 2006 (Re-run)

 One of the best things about this trip was the opportunity to spend time with several dear friends.  We ran into recent acquaintances while in New Hampshire, and long time friends who lived in Vermont and Connecticut.  I always enjoy such reunions while traveling around the country.

Unfortunately, we soon realized that we would not be staying long enough to see fall colors at their peak.  We were just too early and didn't want to hang around that much longer.  I know there will be some who are disappointed not to see the iconic New England autumn, but they will have to settle for what there was.

Our first stop was in North Conway, a small village in the White Mountains with a population of roughly 2000 people. Several nearby resorts attract tourists throughout the year, with rock climbing being important in summer and skiing in winter.  Our campground was a lovely spot on the Saco River. 

 

New England still has lots of covered bridges, but the one near North Conway had been converted to a fun gift shop.

In New Hampshire, mountain passes are referred to as "notches", of which there are a couple dozen.  Crawford Notch has a small community and a state park known for scenic hiking.  The scenery includes wildlife, mountains and waterfalls. 

Bretton Woods is an unincorporated area that is home to a world famous resort.  Having the largest ski resort in the state, a full service spa and two golf courses, it draws tourists year round.  The resort is famous for hosting the 1944 United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, which resulted in establishing the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

There are many historic churches in New England, quite a few made of stone.