White Mountains 10/9- 10/10
 

Hi,
A group of 3 couples are planning to visit White mountains for Fall colors. Please suggest a good itinery for 2 days in the White Mountains area. We'd like to do 2-3 good hikes (medium-easy maybe 3 miles) also see some good falls.
Please suggest a good cottage or motel/inn which is good but not that expensive, maybe around the North Conway area??
Thanks in advance-Preeya

We use Top Notch Rentals, they are very good http://topnotchrentals.com/

Our favorite area to stay is in Jackson (on the right through the covered bridge after StoryLand) as it is a quaint little town with a bunch of great resturants, golf course & a few shops in walking distance...they usually have some activity going on (& Sat morning farmer's market in the summer). It's 5 minutes to StoryLand, 10 minutes to Attitash water/alpine slide, 15 minutes to the N Conway outlets.

Here you can also walk up the Jackson Falls. It's an easy hike (or you can drive up). People sunbath/read & kids play on the rocks wading in the waterfall. Wear water shoes as it gets slippery.

My favorite waterfall hike is Arethusa Falls. The falls are 176 feet tall (according to my hiking book). It's in Crawford Notch on 302. Go past Attitash (maybe about 15-20 minutes?). The entrance is just passed the sign saying Crawford Notch Park on the left. You'll see railroad tracks and a big white house from the parking lot. It's an easy-moderate hike (we took all the kids ages 5-16). The falls are some of the best I have seen in the White Mountains.

There are also some good hikes off the Kangamangus highway - we bought the book "Nature Hikes in the White Mountains" - Buchsbaum. It lists some great hikes in NH (mostly for families) tells exactly how to get there, gives a map of the hike - best book I have found yet!!

You don't say what level you'd like to hike but for something challenging (where we also took all the kids) try Tuckerman's Ravine up to the peak of Mt Washington (past Jackson on Rt 16 about 10 miles).

PS - Drive up to Cathedral Ledge off of West Side Road - it's a short walk into the woods (100 yards or so). You get a great view of the valley and all the fall colors.

Hi preeya-

Diana's Bath on West Side Rd. is a short hike (about 1 - 2 miles) to a nice series of falls. West Side Rd. can be accessed from Conway, No. Conway or Bartlett. Rates may be higher due to Columbus Day. The Scarecrow Pub, Delaney's, The Red Parka, Horsefeathers, and the Upcountry are all reasonable, friendly places to eat. I have not stayed but have heard that Will's Inn is clean and not too expensive. Have fun!

Hi,
Be aware that Conway is very crowded, especially at the time you are going. We stayed in North Woodstock, which is the other end of the Kancamagus Highway. It is busy, but not nearly as much as Conway. We stayed at the Wilderness B&B, a great place, but not likely to take three couples at ths stage. There are other places in town. I would back the recommendation for Arethusa Falls, probably the best hike we took in the area. There are any number of hikes around Franconia Notch, very close to North Woodstock. Enjoy, but be prepared for a lot of company.

Thanks so much everyone for your input. I'm definitely going to the Arethusa falls and the other hikes all of you have suggested! I have booked us at the Profile Deluxe Motel (only ones having some vacany for 6 of us!) How is it? ANy idea? This is in Twin Mountains area, so is there any good vegetarian place around there? Please suggest. Also, any other "to do's" not to be missed?
Thanks again-Preeya

The consensus "best view for the least effort" hike in the Whites is Mt. Willard, at the northern end of Crawford Notch. Park at the old Crawfords train station, which is now an AMC operation. You can get detailed directions there if you want, but the trail is pretty straightforward and well-signed. Cross the tracks heading west and then turn left a few hundred feet after entering the woods. The trail leads, after an easy mile and a half, to the top of the cliffs at the head of the notch, with amazing views to the south. Highly recommended.