New England : a colorful treat for all the senses

New Hampshire stretches just 168 miles north to south, from broad white-sand
beaches to the rugged White Mountains and the Great North Woods. With most
major carriers now serving Manchester Airport, it’s easier than ever to begin your
tour right here and offer an in-depth visit to the area.

Historic Portsmouth, the third oldest town in America, is the centerpiece of the
coastal region. Founded in 1623, Portsmouth provides visitors a glimpse of four centuries of American history and architecture. Strawbery Banke, the site of the original settlement, is now a living history museum encompassing historic houses
from the 17th to 20th centuries. Here, costumed guides and skilled craftspeople
reach across the centuries to make your group feel like time travelers in this charming New England seaport. Beautiful at any season, Strawbery Banke is especially charming decked out in its holiday finery.

The Merrimack Valley was once bustling with textile mills, but they are now quiet, and the cities of Concord and Manchester now are home to a lively cultural scene year-round. The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester features an
outstanding collection, including works by Monet, Picasso and Matisse. A visit to the Zimmerman House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, complete with original furnishings, can also be arranged.

One of the modern attractions in the region is the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord, named for NASA’s first “Teacher in Space.” It offers your group a fun way to learn about space science and aviation. From robotics to a simulator that lets visitors land a space shuttle, the planetarium offers a variety of activities that are both educational and entertaining for all.

 Not far from Concord is Canterbury Shaker Village, a thriving religious community for almost two centuries. Your group can learn about the simple lifestyle of this religious sect, their fine craftsmanship, tour the buildings and the vegetable and flower gardens and perhaps enjoy a meal at the Shaker Table Restaurant.

Just mention the film “On Golden Pond” and most of us envision the natural beauty of New Hampshire’s lakes region. Golden Pond Tours in Holderness offers a close-up look at Squam Lake–not just the Hollywood view, but the powerful forces of nature that created the lakes and the beautiful creatures that live here.

Take to the water yourself on a cruise on the M/S Mount Washington on Lake Winnipesaukee, an islandstudded lake surrounded by three mountain ranges. Or get above it all at Castle in the Clouds, a mountaintop mansion built by an eccentric millionaire a century ago which offers stunning views in all directions.

No matter what the season, visitors head to New Hampshire’s White Mountains! There are 20 peaks over 4,000 feet, including Mount Washington at 6,288 feet,
which makes it the North east’s highest peak. The truly adventurous love to boast that they’ve climbed Mount Washington, but your group is more likely to enjoy climbing aboard the Mount Washington Cog Railway, an historic steam railway whose engines have been specially designed to cope with the steep slope. It’s a great trip, with spectacular views along the way, and a feeling of being on top of the world at the summit.

The White Mountains Trail is a 100-mile scenic byway that encompasses many popular attractions, the greatest being the mountains themselves. Whether your group travels the Kancamagus Highway between Conway and Lincoln, or takes the northern route to Bretton Woods and Mount Washington, there are numerous photo opportunities in every season.

A favorite stop for groups is the outlet malls of North Conway–great scenery,
outstanding shopping and no sales tax in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire and Vermont are famed for their picturesque covered bridges and none is more impressive than the Cornish-Windsor Bridge, the longest wooden bridge in the United States. Spanning the Connecticut River, the bridge links New Hampshire and Vermont.

Vermont, like New Hampshire, is most famous outside the region for its fall foliage, but offers much more than scenery.

Bennington, in southern Vermont, has strong links to the American Revolution.
It was here that the Green Mountain Boys raided the king’s military supplies
and defeated his troops. Bennington also has a fine museum which houses numerous artifacts of Vermont life, including the best public collection of works by Grandma Moses.

More history awaits at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site. The
little town of Plymouth Notch is virtually unchanged since early in the 20th century. The president was born here, was sworn in here and is buried in the village. You can visit Coolidge’s home and his Summer White House office. For a feel of real Vermont life, your group can visit the homes of his neighbors, the general store, and the cheese factory (which is still using the original 19th century recipe).

Vermont is famous for its agricultural products, none more famous than maple
syrup. Although the sap only runs in the spring, the Bragg Farm Sugarhouse is an
interesting and tasty stop year-round. Your group can tour the sugar house and
enjoy the film “Proud Tradition” for more insight into this sweet treat. At
Morse Farm Sugarworks, you can even offer your group a “sugar on snow”
experience, the most traditional way to enjoy maple syrup. And of course there
is no better souvenir of a New England visit than a jug of real maple syrup!

Besides maple syrup, Vermont is famous for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Groups can tour the factory, even watch “MOO-vie” about how the product is made and of course sample the flavor of the day.

The Lake Champlain region houses some of the finest attractions in the state.
The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum brings to life the importance of the lake in
the trade and development of the entire region. Your group will learn about Lake
Champlain’s many shipwrecks, climb aboard a replica of a Revolutionary-era
gunboat and see demonstrations of traditional crafts.

The best known museum in Vermont is the Shelburne Museum, which houses a
staggering collection of Americana, from folk art to furnishings, fine art to fashion. The collections are in historic structures which were moved here to house them. They include a round barn, stagecoach inn, a general store, a lighthouse and even a steamboat. The New York Times called the Shelburne Museum “New England’s Smithsonian.”

The Green Mountains of Vermont are gentle and rolling, making them ideal for
groups that want to try some of the gentler winter sports like snow-shoeing,
cross-country skiing or winter walking. But, of course, the rural nature of
Vermont also makes it a wonderland for those who want to rev it up a bit and try snowmobiling.

Groups will always return to New Hampshire and Vermont for “leaf peeping.”
The vibrant reds, oranges and golds of autumn are spectacular, but don’t stop there. Introduce your group to the amber hues of maple syrup; the dazzling
white of sugar-coated, snow-covered mountains; the lush greens of the mountains in summer, or cotton candy pink of apple orchards in the spring. New
Hampshire and Vermont are always colorful! 

Courtesy of leisuregrouptravel