It’s said that the American Poet Robert Frost received inspiration for his poem “The Road Not Taken” while living in New Hampshire. So enchanted with the area’s landscapes and natural beauty, he and his family choose the town of Franconia to live full-time from 1915 to 1920, and where they summered for almost twenty years. After his death, and to honor their literary resident, the town took over his home and created The Frost Place: a house-museum and center for poetry and the arts.
On a recent visit to the “Live Free, Or Die” state, specifically the White Mountains area, about equal distance from the Vermont and Massachusetts border, we found ourselves with many roads to choose from. Driving around the Franconia area itself, it’s easy to see the sights that influenced Frost’s poetry. The ski season was winding down, the spring and summer activities weren’t quite up and running yet, so we found it to be a blissfully serene time to be in one of the most beautiful spots in the northeast.
But even though we were in between ski and hiking/water sport seasons, there’s much to do in the towns and villages that may get overlooked during busy times. Our accommodation at the Bretton Woods Vacations cabin, placed us within a short drive of the unique towns of Littleton, Franconia, and North Woodstock. In one direction was a scenic drive through foggy, dreamy landscapes: in another, a village Main Street shop advertising the world’s longest candy counter.
Maple sugarin’ – sap collection (Photo by MJ Hanley-Goff)
Arriving at our luxurious wooden three bedroom cabin at Bretton Woods, we saw the clues to one of the area’s most important contributions to our breakfast plate: maple syrup, and lucky us, we had arrived during “sugarin’ season.” Just behind our cabin, nicknamed the Owl’s Nest because of the delightful tree that stood directly in the center of our unit, we saw a sign pointing to the on-site Maple Sugar Farm. Down the short path was a collection of maple trees with hoses inserted into the bark which allowed the sap to drain into the buckets below.
The maple sugar season is not that long, typically from mid-February to mid-April, and then the work to boil, filter and bottle the liquid begins. According to the New Hampshire maple syrup website, it takes about 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. But not only will you find the maple syrup for pancakes, you’ll see the maple syrup flavored coffee, candy, lip balm and even one of my favorite souvenirs: the maple syrup air freshener.
Gummi army military heroes (Photo by Emily Goff)
Littleton, NH boasts Chutters on Main Street with a candy counter that runs the length of the store. Though tempted to measure it, (we did look it up: 112 feet long) the amount of candy jars was staggering. Most every flavor, shape and color you could think of was represented: gum balls, chocolate, taffy, plus their own creations like gummies in the shape of army soldiers, called “gummi military heroes.” Candy at every turn.
The covered bridge and river walk, Littleton, NH (Photo by MJ Hanley-Goff)
The town is on the banks of the Ammonoosuc River and has a picturesque walking trail that brings visitors across a covered bridge to the other side – ideal for a perfect stretch of the legs before dinner or after downing a handful of chocolate-covered raisins.
Gondola Ride up to the summit at Bretton Woods Ski Resort (Photo by Emily Goff)
Even though ski season is winding down, it doesn’t mean the gondola that brings folks up to the top of the ski trails does, too. Bretton Woods Ski Resort offers trips to the summit for scenic views and a bite at the Rosebook Lodge which offers food-to-go bites, or a dine-in option. There’s also a souvenir shop in the lobby for last-minute souvenirs, or items on clearance, like hats and gloves. The ride is a great option for non-skiers to enjoy the mountain views; the ride up and back seemed almost mystical with the low clouds around us, and only the nearby tops of the mountains or evergreen trees peeking through.
On North Woodstock’s Main Street, we had plenty of shops to wander in and out of. Two of our favorites were Fadden’s General Store & Maple Sugarhouse which houses an on-site Sugar House Museum, and tours of the production facilities. The Fadden Family has an extensive history in the local sugarin’ production: after settling in the area in the 1800’s, the family began their syrup business in the 1930’s. Over the years, and five generations later, they’ve modernized the process, ship it all over the world, and their shop is a favorite stop for bus tours.
At the Fig Tree store, which is right across the street, we chatted with owner Stacy, AKA “Fig.” She runs a “feel good shop of inspired connection.” Fig designs items which can be worn, hung, or just laughed at, she says, and her jewelry, plates, mugs, tees, etc., are as quirky and captivating as the other. If you’re looking for something special, and she doesn’t carry it, she’ll send you to another business that does.
Expect to find trendy restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, and everything in between even though one feels they’re far from civilization. We’re glad we took this road.
Top photo: Two roads diverged in a wood (Credit: MJ Hanley-Goff)
To get your own “walk in the woods,” hike a la Robert Frost, check out the spring and summer suggested hikes at Visit White Mountains.
To find out more about the spring and summer gondola rides at Bretton Ski Resort visit the website.
For info on the The Frost Place, visit the website.
For info on accommodations, and other activities, the folks at Bretton Woods Vacations were immensely helpful.
