ggreen

I will be spending a week starting August 18th on Sunset Lake in Alton with my partner and six people I don't know very well(!). (They're all triathletes and I'm along for the ride.) We're staying here: http://www.vrbo.com/118400 - a rental property that some if not all of the others have enjoyed in the past.

In addition to hanging out on the property, tooling around the lake in the provided kayaks and paddleboat, and probably taking our bikes out for some rides, my partner and I are looking to do some hiking in the area. He also has a romantic idea of a day trip to Mount Washington... (We've both been there before but not together and he'd like to change that!) I know it's not all that close but I guess it's all relative.

Of course I'm hoping for excellent weather, but rainy-day ideas are most welcome. Even though we'll eat most meals at the house, any recommendations for restaurants would be appreciated! We tend towards casual and there's little we won't try once. Plus I'm always eager to taste-test ice cream joints!

We'll be driving up from Brooklyn NY in as much of a straight shot as we can stand. (I assume picking up 495 from near Worcester to I-93 to somewhere near Laconia.) On the return, we're not averse to a more leisurely drive if one is recommended...

I grew up knowing people who went to Lake Winnipesaukee every summer. But I have never been to the area, so you could say it's captured my imagination for a long time! Neither of us has been to NH in probably ten years at least. I welcome any advice and suggestions you may have!

simpsonc510

Sounds lovely! I've never stayed in that area, but have driven around there during my annual (BOS-GTG) fall trip to Manchester. It really is a nice area. I'm sure you will have a fantastic time.

ggreen

Thanks Carol! At the risk of being redundant, I'm really looking forward to it.

And I'm happy that my timing works out that I can be at the NYC GTG this weekend. So glad I'll meet you there!

dfrostnh

Although I live about an hour away, we usually head to the north side of Lake Winnipesaukee. You can get a decent lobster roll and onion rings at the Red Hill Dairy in the Center Harbor/Moultonborough area. Just for the fun of it, try to find Sandwich Creamery. I like the atmosphere at the Corner House in Center Sandwich if you get to that side of the lake. They make their own cheese and ice cream. A few years ago, we shared a pint of ice cream in their little garden. Mt Washington really isn't that far. Friends have enjoyed zip lining. There's a new zip line at Gunstock in Guilford, not too far from Alton.

PYO blueberries might still be available when you get here. Fresh, local peaches are available now. Both are great with vanilla yogurt. You'll also find plenty of local corn. Hope the rental home has a big pot. If not, I would bring one from home.

You can get an ice cream trail map. Probably on the NH Dept of Agriculture's website. Just google ice cream trail NH.

Check googlemaps. A shorter route gets off I93 at 9N south of Concord NH (and much further south of Laconia).

The weather has been hot and dry and humid. Take plenty of water with you on hikes and bike rides. Have a great time!

ggreen

dfrost, thank you! Terrific info as always. (I was secretly hoping you'd see my post! )

The ice cream trail map is awesome! I found two versions:
- pdf: http://nhdairypromo.org/Images/2012-ice-cream-map.pdf
- google: http://www.nh.com/dairytrail

(The pdf version is clearly meant to be printed out: page 1 is upside down LOL.)

Thanks for the reminder about local produce. One of my very earliest memories is of picking blueberries along the side of a lake in NH at about age 3. I look forward to comparing NH peaches and corn with those from my corner of MA. The rental listing says a "well stocked kitchen" but I will put my "lobster pot" in the car to be on the safe side! How are the local tomatoes?

And thanks for the directional info. You're right about googlemaps and the route; I'd forgotten about Route 9 it's been so long. I'm excited about the ziplining! And that we can likely accommodate the day trip to Mt. Washington.

The excitement just keeps building!

travelbuff

You didn't mention what town you are staying in so let me add a couple of ideas.

Meredith is close to you and a lovely little town right on the lake, and you can arrange lake tours from there. The town also has a little shopping and several good restaurants, the best known is "Harts Turkey Farm", a must while in the area.

Also a local company is the Anna Lee Doll factory, so pick up a few as Christmas Gifts, anyone knowning NH will ask is you saw the Anna Lee Dolls. My Aunt was one of the early costumers for the dolls when the company started.

Also head north and stop and see (and walk) The Flume, see Indian Head and Old Man Of The Mountain (currently getting a face lift, sadly).

Also check The Weirs, for Sat evening fireworks, not sure if that tradition is still happening, but check.

And most of all HAVE A GREAT TIME.

travelbuff

Also forgot to mention there are now alot of outlet shops in the area, so you might check at the NH Welcome Center as you cross over into NH on what's going on in the area that week, and location of the outlets in the area.

Also that area was where On Golden Pond was shot, so you get an idea of the true beauty of the area.

ggreen

Thanks travelbuff! I did say we're staying in Alton, which is south of Winnipesaukee. A lake tour sounds fun!

Since everyone I'm staying with is there to do a triathlon on Sunday morning, unfortunately I think Saturday evening fireworks will be out. Good thing I got to see the NYC ones on the Fourth!

And the doll factory sounds interesting, too. Growing up, my mom used to take us to the doll museum in Sandwich on Cape Cod; supposedly some of my grandmother's dolls were in there, but all I remember were dusty glass cases... A doll factory will be the other side of the equation, so to speak.

ggreen

I did know about outlet shops - I remember how painfully slow it was to get through traffic in Conway a number of years ago, and I imagine the number of shops has only increased! Now that I'm staying in the area instead of passing through, it's definitely on my list to check them out. ...I should have mentioned it in my OP, but since it's not a priority to my partner, I'm not sure if it will actually happen.

I'd completely forgotten that On Golden Pond was shot there! Wow, that movie had such memorable scenery. Thanks for the reminder!

Lookin_Glass

Will you be the house chef while they triafalete? Carb up with lobster fra diavlo and cool down with lobster rolls!

I've never printed up this bumper sticker for fear of legal action but here it is. . .

"We Climbed Mount Washington. My Mechanic Got a Check for a $750 Brake Job, And All I Got Was This Lousy Bumper Sticker"

Have fun and enjoy your nyc gtg. I had considered a road trip, but the media thing threw me off. I'm sure others will love the exposure!

Safe journey

annikany

Take a ride up MT Washington if you dare. Beautiful views of the White Mtns.

simpsonc510

I love shopping the outlets in N Conway!

dfrostnh

ggreen, thanks for the compliment. My cherry tomatoes are just starting to ripen so the standard tomatoes are still pretty green but farmstands and farmers markets have tomatoes already since they use methods to start growing sooner. You can check around the supermarkets. This past week Shaw's had lobsters at $4.99/lb. Market Basket still had un-advertised $3.99 special There are stores in Tilton (I93, exit 20) or in Concord (I93 exit 14), not sure if there are any closer to Alton, and they will steam the lobsters at the store. (allow at least 20 minutes).

On Golden Pond was filmed at Squam Lake near Center Sandwich. You can take a pontoon boat tour with the Science Center in Holderness.

Annalee dolls are unique. They are characters made out of felt. Lots of mice and elfs for the holidays in various sizes. Wonderfully expressive painted faces. Meredith is also home to one of the League of NH Craftsmen shops. You'll find upscale handcrafts of all types there.

You should check to see what farmers markets are in the area as well as the farmstands. Surely you need free range eggs for breakfast!

A young friend goes to the mountain bike place in Northfield, I think. It was an old ski area that's been re-done for mountain biking. So that's also an option. That would be around exit 20 or 19.

ggreen

So my partner's story about Mt. Washington is that he and a friend hiked up it sometime just after college. Took them waaay longer than they anticipated and they only reached the top at the very end of the day. Tired and anxious about the return, they took the cog rail back down - only to find it deposited them on the opposite side of the mountain from where their car was parked! Sounds like it was quite the adventure, one they fortunately remember happily.

My youthful visits to the mountain were much more mundane.

Will you be the house chef while they triafalete?

L_G, that would be scary indeed! I'm a city girl, way more accustomed to the ins and outs of the delivery menu than cheffing for the hordes... The organizer already has a grocery list, so I'll apprentice myself out to her! (As for the GTG tomorrow, should be interesting! Looking forward to it and the Boston one in the fall!)

simpsonc, as I suspected the outlets have only increased - and like celestial bodies, so has their gravitational pull! Of course a number of them can be found elsewhere... but Stonewall Kitchen outlet?! That's one shop even my man will be excited to visit!

dfrost, $3.99 or 4.99/lb for lobster seems amazingly cheap considering you're not right at the ocean's edge. I will definitely be getting some of those! And of course free range eggs for breakfast! Eggs are already on the grocery list; we'll just have make sure to buy local.

I'll be sure to mention the mountain biking to the others. As it is, I'm a big wuss even when going down a regular hill on my bicycle... So maybe I'm better at being a spectator for that one - or better yet, I'll go shopping!

Thanks so much everyone for your contributions. What a fabulous list of suggestions - I hope I can fit a bunch of them into our week!