annabellem

Hi there, my husband and I are big travellers. and now have a sweet month old infant. It's been a wet cool spring here in NH, and this weekend's forecast is BEAUTIFUL! We;ve looked at the posts about travelling with babies, and feel confident that at this age, they sleep so much, we'll be fine. we just dont know WHERE!? We're in the seacoast of NH, and would go within a 2 hr radius.

We're thinking of an overnight- ocean, mountain, small city. Babies do cry, so i feel apprehensive about a B/B, and he sleeps with us, so we'd just need a big bed. I feel bad about the baby crying, so thought a hotel would be a bad idea. (is this me being too sensitive i wonder?) how do people feel about this? are you infuriated if there;s a baby next door? Are there places out there friendly to babies?

Hotels? family friendly? suites? fun spots to explore? (he's great in a sling) We would welcome any and all of your ideas for our spontaneous trip with baby!
(if not for this weekend- anytime... we hope to do lots of travelling this spring/ summer!)

thank you!

bm

Burlington, VT? It's probably a little more than 2 hours though. The new Courtyard by Marriott just opened downtown. Maybe they are offering some deals? Also check the Wyndham.
Congrats on your new addition!

dfrostnh

Wasn't the sun and warm weather a big relief after that awful rain! You didn't mention if you wanted to get outdoors. Check the events listing. I think NH Fish & Game's event is today. Next weekend there is some whitewater kayak racing in Webster NH just north of Concord. Not publicized. They put in behind the elementary school on Rt 127. That's an easy walk in. Or you can take a short hike to view from the opposite side of the river. There's a marked public trail. You could stay in Concord NH. Downtown is not as popular as Portsmouth's but you might especially enjoy several of the specialty stores for children and babies including Baby Bungalow right on Main St. Several choices of places to stop for coffee and bagel or pastry (Bread and Chocolate on South Main St!!) Take a ride up around Lake Winnipesaukee. The Center Sandwich area is very beautiful for a drive. If the baby only cries for a few minutes, it shouldn't bother other guests. Congratulations on your new baby!

annabellem

Thanks for your replies. the center sandwich /concord /webster trip sounds good. Are there other towns west of concord that are worthy of a visit /stay? small hikes sound great.

appreciate your responses, still welcome more. best. a

dfrostnh

From Concord's Main Street, if you follow Pleasant street west (follow signs for the hospital) it's a lovely drive thru Hopkinton, Contoocook and Warner. In Warner you can have breakfast at the Foothills, explore the Kearsarge Indian Museum, take a short hike to the top of Mt Kearsarge. Check to see if anything is going on at the Musterfield Farm Museum in Sutton. Very popular with families. We like to go for old time farming days but that's end of August. Unless there's an event going on, it looks like just a farm. Very beautiful, quiet area and a great place for a picnic. Vegetable stand during the summer. There's also a small state park. Continue to New London, nice small college town with a few little shops then do a roundabout (Rt 4) thru Andover. Look for the road that goes up the backside of Mt Kearsarge. This time of year will probably be windy but terrific views looking out toward Lake Sunapee. There's a picnic area at the end of the road. From there it's a very steep hike. At this time of year you probably don't have to pay a toll fee. The views are nice without all the leaves on the trees. There's nothing very special about the drive back to Concord, just country roads. There's a new bbq place in Boscawen that's open weekends only right now/take out only. You can get on Rt 93 at exit 17 to get back to Concord or take a pretty ride via Mountain Rd.
Alternative west of Concord is to head to Hillsboro. Not sure when the High Tide opens but it's a popular take-out place with huge screened porch - good clams and scallops, small play area for children. The drive thru Washington NH and Hillsboro center is nice. Somewhere in this area (sorry, husband not available right now) is a dairy farm (Ekkart's ?) that raises exotic birds and has a display of antique farming things that's open to the public. I don't think it's advertised at all. The family just likes doing it.
If you're lucky, in the Warner area you might see people out with oxen. Check the Concord Monitor event listings for short hikes sponsored by Audubon or local conservation committees. I haven't visited the Haye Estate near New London yet (wait am I waiting for???) but it's supposed to be very nice mid-June for flowers.