More Christmas in the White Mountains

These are some more of the things that are going on in the White Mountains during the holiday period:

Holiday Magic Light Park, Campton, NH
Ticket Prices
Car.......................$10.00
Vans 11+passengers...$25.00
Hours of Operation
Thanksgiving, November 22 - December 30th, 2007............Every Friday, Saturday Sunday, 4:30 - 8:30pm
White Mountain Holiday Magic Light Park turns winter's darkest days into a lighted winter wonderland. Drive through a mile of animated light displays. Take a stroll through a dazzling cascade of holiday lights. Thousands of white lights on trees will enchant even Scrooge himself. Simple traditions like a visit with Santa, A family portrait, picking out a Christmas Tree, children's crafts or just a cup of hot cocoa and a sweet treat near the fire will make our LightPark a "must do" on your holiday list.
All guests will receive a coupon book filled with valuable lodging, dining and service offers!!

Call ahead in the case of heavy rains.

Directions
Follow Interstate 93 to Exit 28.
Coming from the North, take a right off of the exit. This will put you on Route 49.
Follow Route 49 for 1 mile. Right after you cross the green bridge you will see the Branch Brook sign. Take the first right on the Branch Brook Rd.

Harvest Your Own Trees

The Rocks Estate, Bethlehem, NH

Hours:
November 17th 2007 - December 24th 2007
Open every day 9am - 5pm
Sunday Afternoons 2-5 pm is Locals Day. Discounts on Trees for Local Residents!

Join us for our Christmas festivities. During the holiday season, the farm has been described by visitors as a "Norman Rockwell Christmas" experience, with four teams of horses and their harnesses jingling set the ambiance for the holiday celebration. Local volunteer groups help with tree sales and a choir set the tone on several of the days.
You can select a freshly cut tree or enjoy the experience of harvesting your own in our scenic fields. We can help you cut the tree or leave it up to you. Once chosen, your tree is transported to the tree baler where we wrap and then tie your tree onto your vehicle free of charge. The local booster club supplies the food and you can warm up around the marshmallow pit while singing Christmas carols. Visit our New Hampshire crafts fair and do your holiday shopping.
We take pride in what we offer:
· A family atmosphere.
· Top quality trees.
· Courteous service—from help cutting and dragging your tree to tying it on your vehicle.
· Free horse-drawn wagon rides, reserved for package customers up until Sunday at 2pm.
· Free tree wrapping.
· Uniquely designed wreaths.
· Scenic turn-of-the-century country estate.
· The knowledge that you are helping to support conservation education in the Granite State.

Bethlehem's Christmas Stamp
A Unique Touch for Your Holiday Cards

Originally named Lloyd's Hills in 1774, the little White Mountain town of Bethlehem NH was incorporated with it's current name on the last Christmas Day of the 18th century. With that in mind, it's rather fitting that today's Bethlehem has a myriad of holiday festivities throughout the winter months. With two cut-your own Christmas tree farms, craft fairs, tree-lighting ceremonies and sleigh rides, the tiny community comes alive during the holiday season.
Perhaps most unique of the holiday traditions offered by Bethlehem is the hand-cancelling of Christmas cards. This rural Post Office estimates it handles over 56,000 Christmas cards from all over the world each year.
If you would like to add more flair to your Christmas greetings, there are two ways to go about it; bring the cards yourself or send them in. Multiple hand cancellation stamps are available for your use in the Post Office's main lobby, shortly after Thanksgiving each year.
If you are unable to bring your cards to Bethlehem yourself, simply address, seal and place postage stamps on the envelopes containing your greetings and place them in a larger envelope. Send this envelope to the attention of "Christmas Re-Mailing", Bethlehem Post Office, Bethlehem, NH 03574. To ensure delivery in time for Christmas, your items should be received no later than December 15th.

Christmas in the White Mountains

Have you seen Santa yet? Santa will be making several appearances in the Lincoln area over the next few weeks so please make sure to pay him a visit.

Here is a list of chances to see Santa:

Breakfast with Santa at the Village Shops, Main St Lincoln, NH

Saturdays December 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2007
9 am to 11 am
Come and experience a delicious, magical breakfast with Santa at the Texas Toast Eatery. Call (603)745-9300 for more information

Take a Train Ride with Santa:


The Hobo Railroad Lincoln, NH

Nov 23, 24 Fri & Sat at 11:00 and 1:00
Dec 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 Train only at 1:00
Reservations taken for groups of 10 or more ONLY

The ticket prices are $13.00 per person with under 3 FREE. Take a Santa Train with Mr Santa Claus himself on board on an hour and twenty minute ride of family fun! Your ride will follow along the Pemigewassett River from Hobo Junction in Lincoln to Woodstock.

Mount Washington Cog Railway, Bretton Woods, NH

The Santa Train runs twice daily, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., each Saturday and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tickets are $31 for adults and $26 for children; youngsters age 3 and under ride free on an adult's lap.

The destination is Kroflite Kamp, halfway to the 6,288-foot summit of the highest mountain in the Northeast. At this point, youngsters can depart the train and have their photos taken with Santa Claus and the panorama of Bretton Woods and the White Mountains spread out behind them.

Conway Scenic Railraod, North Conway, NH


Santa Claus is giving the "All Aboard" call to travel with him on a delightful train ride at Conway Scenic Railroad. Ride through the Mt. Washington Valley, aboard heated coaches, powered by one of our powerful diesel locomotives. The "Santa Claus Express" will depart the historic North Conway Station, Saturdays and Sundays, December 1st & 2nd, the 8th & 9th the 15th &16th and the 22nd & 23rd at 11:30 a.m. for a 1 3/4 hour ride to Bartlett and at 1:30 p.m. on a 55 - minute trip to Conway. All train excursions are roundtrip. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RAILWAY HAD THE INCORRECT INFORMATION POSTED ON THEIR WEBSITE FOR DATES AND PRICES. I HAVE CORRECTED THE INFORMATION.
Bartlett Fares
Coach First Class
Adult $20.00 $24.50
Child (4 to 12 Yrs) $13.50 $17.50
Under 4 Free* $11.00
Conway Fares
Coach First Class
Adult $12.50 $16.00
Child (4 to 12 Yrs) $9.00 $10.50
Under 4 Free* $7.50
· When accompanied by an adult, child not occupying a seat.

Time for First Tracks

Well the day has finally arrived. After a couple of false starts, mother Nature has decided that perhaps we are due for a normal winter. In conjunction with the great snow makers at Loon, and about 2-3 inches of the natural white stuff Loon Mountain has officially opened for the season. They open today with 5 trails and more terrain is expected to open over the weekend. What a great way to spend Thanksgiving, eating Turkey and Skiing, and oh yeah watching some football.

Today I will be doing my first tour of the White Mountains since we have started to receive snow. I think that it will provide a stark contrast to what I have seen over the last month, but only a visual check will confirm my thoughts. I know some of the roads will probably be closed, but that is what makes it fun. Check back for pictures and look at the slide show in the right hand margin.

The Snow has Arrived

The first significant snow of the season has arrived. I am like a kid waiting for Christmas Morning. This means that it's time to break out the shovels, plows, and yes the snow blower. As I drove up this morning it started out as a few flurries, but as I progressed up I-93 the snow became heavier and heavier. The forecast for Lincoln says 5-10" of the white stuff will fall. A lot of this will have to do with elevation, but snow is snow.

While it was not sticking to the highway, the resort had to hook the plow up and clear the snow from the driveway. The grass was covered with snow and the pine trees were a picture perfect green and white.

The ski areas are getting ready to open. Loon looks to open on Wednesday and Cannon on Friday so sharpen the skis and come for a visit.

A Hike to Sabbaday Falls

On Saturday I took a group of 10 people out to Sabbaday Falls and other various places along the Kancamagus Highway. Sabbadya Falls is a 3 level water fall created by a fault line that runs through that area.

It was almost a picture perfect day with deep blue sky, a crisp autumn chill, and the sound of Sabbaday Brook rushing in the distance. The hike is not a long one as it is only 3/10's of a mile each way. The trail parallels the brook and cuts through some beautiful birch and pine areas. The one thing I noticed was that the ferns, which usually are quick to turn when hit by frost, were still a vibrant green which made them really stand out among the leaves that had already fallen.

The trail here is a nice gravel path that is well maintained. There is only one are on the trail that has any real significant elevation change. Once we arrive at the falls we took the left fork which brings you to the bottom the falls. It was a little icy here as the water oozes out of the rocks here and created a bit of an ice skating rink, but was manageable with proper footwear.

It is always interesting to observe the people I am with to see what their reaction is to the falls as they see it for the first time and this time proved no different. They are amazed at the beauty and intrigued as to why it has a 90 degree turn between the 2nd and 3rd fall. They also notice at how smooth the rocks have been made by the water rushing over the rocks There is a walkway that takes you alongside the falls and that was a little icy, but we made it across without incident.

If anyone wants to take a nice hike this is the place to go for you. Once the snow starts to fly it will be a good idea to have snowshoes when you hike into here.

Winter is Fast Approaching

Earlier this week I was told that there was snow. I looked out the window and it was a fairly nice day so I was a little confused. Well it turns out that 2 ski areas, Bretton Woods and Attitash decided to try out their snow guns. When I drove by those ski areas on Wednesday I saw for myself that they indeed had made some snow, but not enough for one to ski on. It was just enough to make you want it to snow more so everyone can come up and carve some turns in some fresh powder.

This winter will bring some excitement to our friends at Loon Mountain and Cannon Mountain. Loon (http://www.loonmtn.com/) will be opening the first 2 trails of the South Mountain expansion. It has been exciting to see the progress all summer. Over at Cannon (http://www.cannonmt.com/) they have been working on improving their snowmaking capacity. There is nothing quite like driving thru Franconia Notch and seeing a blizzard on Cannon Mountain.

I keep praying for an early snowstorm so I don't have to rake the leaves at home, but Mother Nature isn't answering my prayers just yet, but we will be having a windy weekend, so maybe they will blow into my neighbors yard and I can escape having to bag leaves.

Pretty soon it will like this: