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Places to Go, Things to See in New Hampshire Dr. David J. Demko, Gerontologist, Editor-in-Chief
AgeVenture News Service 06-25-03

Learn what wild game like the moose have known for centuries. New Hampshire is one of the best places to lose your worries while walking the wilderness in search of your "true self". The YOU who used to revel in discovering new places. The YOU that couldn't wait to see what's around the next corner. Well, what are you waiting for, a moose call? Discover the NEW YOU in New Hamsphire. This colonial state boasts the highest mountain in the northeast, hundreds of crystal clear lakes, fascinating historic villages, remarkable hand-made crafts, lively nightlife, and a sandy seashore ready for you and yours to plunk down beach towels. All this is just a quick drive away for one-in-three Americans. Check out the list below for New Hampshire's places to go, things to see.

Lincoln-Woodstock Area Offers Big Adventure Pass
The Lincoln-Woodstock Chamber of Commerce is making it easier and more affordable to visit the western White Mountains this summer with the One Big Adventure Pass—a package of discounts, deals, and savings at area attractions, shops, and accommodations, offered with any two-night stay at participating lodgings. For information call 603-745-5621, or visit www.lincolnwoodstock.com.

Wentworth By the Sea Opens in New Castle
New Hampshire's only grand hotel by the ocean, the historic Wentworth By the Sea, reopened in New Castle on May 15. The Wentworth by the Sea Marriott Hotel & Spa incorporates 164 guestrooms and suites, most with ocean or harbor views, including the tri-level suites in each of the hotel's three Victorian turret towers. In addition to meeting and conference space, guest amenities include a restaurant and waterfront café; a full-service spa with treatment rooms, saunas, and whirlpools; indoor and outdoor pools; and guest access to golf at the adjacent Wentworth by the Sea Country Club. The grounds incorporate historic gardens and an independently-operated full-service marina. Visit www.wentworth.com or call 866-240-6313 for more information.

New Hampshire Highland Games Relocates to Hopkinton Fairgrounds
The 28th Annual New Hampshire Highland Games will take place at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds September 19 – 21, 2003. The new venue offers larger facilities and parking, with many evening events in nearby Concord. The Highland Games is the state's oldest and largest Scottish Games celebration. Highlights include the Gathering of the Clans, Celtic concerts, sheep dog trials, Massed Bands, the New England Regional Scottish Fiddle Championship, Heavyweight Scottish Athletics, the National Highland Dance Competition, and other musical performances and competitions. For more information visit www.nhscot.org

Frank Lloyd Wright Zimmerman House Offers Twilight Tours
Frank Lloyd Wright's Zimmerman House in Manchester offers its popular Twilight Tour program on Thursday evenings through October 2, 2003. Designed to highlight the building in its most magical light, Twilight Tours feature live classical music, and focus on the innovative lighting and unique qualities of the site. The Zimmerman House is owned by the Currier Museum of Art. For information call 603-669-6144 or visit www.currier.org

Mt. Washington Hotel Dining Room Awarded Four Diamond Rating
The Dining Room at The Mount Washington Hotel, under the guidance of Resort Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage Calvin Belknap, has recently been awarded with the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Rating. Since last year's arrival of Chef Belknap, the Dining Room has also been awarded the Wine Spectator's Award for Wine Programs; the International Restaurant & Hospitality Award of Excellence for America's Top 100 Restaurants; the Platinum Wine Award, and the designation of Chef Belknap as one America's Top 100 Chefs. For information call 877-873-0626 or visit www.mtwashington.com

Littleton Wins Great American Main Street Designation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has selected Littleton, New Hampshire as one of five national recipients of the Great American Main Street Award, a designation that lauds towns for their successful efforts in revitalizing their commercial districts through historic preservation. Nestled along the banks of the Ammonoosuc River near the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire, downtown Littleton is a vibrant center of commerce. Its classic Main Streets offers a variety of restaurants, a historic inn, a century old Opera House, dozens of specialty shops, a majestic post office, a working gristmill, and the world's longest candy counter. For more information visit www.golittleton.com

Two NH Historic Sites Featured in Historic New England Driving Tours
Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury and Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth have been included in "Historic New England Driving Tours" a brochure that features scenic driving routes between premiere outdoor living history museums in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The brochure is downloadable and includes themed tours with maps, driving directions, and links to each museum's web site, along with special discounts. For more information visit www.historicnewenglanddrivingtours.com.

Northern Forest Heritage Center Sponsors Season of Festivals
The Northern Forest Heritage Park in the north woods town of Berlin celebrates the working forest and the region's diverse cultural heritage through a series of summer and fall festivals. Events include lumberjack competitions June 29 and September 21; the fifth annual Festival du Bois (Festival of the Woods) July 26; "Exploring Our Past," a glimpse into the archeological and native American history of the Androscoggin River Valley, July 19; and "The Working Forest," a Labor Day Festival on August 30. Call 603-752-7202 or visit www.northernforestheritage.org for more information.

Aylmer's Grille Opens in Jaffrey
Aylmer's Grille, which opened this spring at 66 Main Street in Jaffrey, offers creative American cuisine for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. Chef Aylmer H. Given, a Jaffrey native, honed his culinary skills at premiere hotels around the country. Specialties include steak, chops, fish, and pastas. Call 603-532-4949 for more information.

Portsmouth Launches New Trolley Route
The Lafayette Road Trolley, a new trolley that links Portsmouth's downtown area to the Pease International Tradeport, nearby shopping malls, Water Country, and the southern end of Lafayette Road, has been added to the city's trolley routes. The trolley service is operated by COAST (Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation) which also offers the Downtown Loop Trolley, departing from Market Square on the quarter hour from the end of June through the end of August. Trolley fares are $1. Call 603-743-5777 or visit www.coastbus.org.

Southwestern New Hampshire Gains a Ski Area
Crotched Mountain Ski Resort is making a comeback and will re-open for skiing and snowboarding in the 2003/2004 season. Peak Resorts, based in St. Louis, Missouri, will operate the ski area. Construction is underway on a new, 40,000 sq. ft. base lodge, new trails, an automated snowmaking system, and new chair lifts. Call 603-588-3668 or visit www.crotched.com for more information.

Summer Exhibition at Dartmouth's Hood Museum of Art
The Hood Museum of Art celebrates 30 years of regional art exhibitions at Dartmouth College with "Regional Selections 30," on view June 7 through August 3, 2003. The exhibition is the result of a year-long collaboration among 12 arts organizations in New Hampshire and Vermont. Recent works by area artists were chosen by museum and nonprofit gallery directors across the region. A fully illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition. The Hood Museum has a full schedule of gallery talks and new art shows opening throughout the summer. Visit www.dartmouth.edu/~hood or call 603-646-2808 for more information.

Mt. Washington Golf Courses Offer GPS Systems
Golfers playing either of The Mount Washington Resort's two golf courses may have a little help from Uplink, a global positioning system that uses satellites orbiting high above the earth to pinpoint exact locations of players and layout features. A receiving device mounted in all golf carts will provide players with distance measurements and communication features, plus a three-dimensional color image of each hole that automatically zooms in as players approach the green. For more information call 603-278-GOLF (4653), or visit www.mtwashington.com.

BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel Ballot Room Open to Visitors
The tiny town of Dixville Notch votes en masse promptly at midnight in the "First in the Nation" balloting of the presidential primary season every four years. The balloting takes place in a special room in the town's centerpiece—The BALSAMS Grand Resort and Hotel. Visitors are now welcome to visit the hotel's Ballot Room with its collection of memorabilia and photos depicting the history of the New Hampshire Primary, general elections, and presidential candidates since 1960. For information call 603-869-5506, or visit www.thebalsams.com.

Keene Named to Distinctive Destination List
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Keene, New Hampshire to its list of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations, an annual selection of uniquely preserved communities in the United States. Chartered in 1753, tiny Keene is a Currier & Ives landscape come to life, where pristine local landmarks, Revolutionary War reenactments and bucolic rolling hills provide a perfect spot for family fun. In recognizing Keene, the National Trust singled out the restored Colonial Theater and Stonewall Farm, an educational working farm. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.
Request your free New Hampshire Guidebook, call: 1-800-FUN-IN-NH, ext. 100.
Image credit: Photo credit:New Hampshire Travel and Tourism Development

Dr. Demko reports on lifestyle issues and trends in Aging America. Submit comments to: demko@demko.com This column may be used, free-of-charge, by print and broadcast media
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"David Demko, AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com" Please see AgeVenture "Permission to reprint" policy.