5 Local Gift Ideas for Your Last Minute Christmas Shopping

You’re all done with your Christmas shopping, right? No? Well, lucky you – there’s an extra weekend of holiday shopping this year.

Still, there are many of us at a loss for what to give our co-worker, neighbor or mother. Have no fear – there are plenty of ideas from the Monadnock Region’s independently-owned businesses. And, of course, there’s the added benefit of NH tax-free shopping!

Here are 5 gift ideas to get you officially “done” with your shopping this weekend:

1. Bee Line Skin Care, by S Formulators, a small bath and body company based in Henniker, NH. This line includes natural beeswax or honey, which helps soften and re-hydrate dry skin (we all need that in the winter!) The line includes skin mists, glycerin soaps, lip balms and soy lotion candles. Beautiful spa-like scents in lovely packaging. Available in downtown Keene at Hannah Grimes Marketplace, a treasure trove of local products.
2. A Fine Art Painting by Kristina Wentzell. Don’t think you could afford to give an original work of art? You can with fine artist Kristina Wentzell’s special holiday “100 paintings for $100 (or less).” Wentzell creates colorful and whimsical oil paintings of landscapes, fruit, birds, landscapes and flowers. Paintings range in size from 8”x8” (for $75-$100) down to 4”x4” (for $30). Her home studio is walking distance to downtown Keene.
3. Hand-Knit Wool Socks at Crescendo Acres Farm, Surry, NH. Who doesn’t appreciate some warm socks in the winter, especially a pair lovingly hand-knit by a farmer’s wife? These comfy socks are sheep’s wool or alpaca blend.  Price range is $25-35 per pair. A trip to the store in Surry could also give you more gift ideas – the farmers carry many unique items made from the farm’s fiber including snowmen, angels, cat toys, hats, mittens (also a hot item), shawls; plus local farm products including preserves, eggs, meat, mustards, breads, pies, honey and more.
4. A Gift Certificate to Your Favorite Monadnock Region B&B or Inn. The Monadnock Region is filled with a bed and breakfast or inn to suit individuals or families. Peruse our listings to find the best one for your gift-recipient's needs -- many have gift certificates available.
5. A Mail Basket by Peterboro Basket Company, Peterborough. This is one of the most popular baskets produced by this local company. It is hand-woven “one-of-a-kind” design with a leather handle on the back for hanging – can be used for mail, toiletries, dog leashes and more. Available in honey, cherry or natural stain and comes with the famous Peterboro brass medallion and lifetime warranty. On sale for $34 (buy 2 for $31 each).

Catch a Holiday Concert

Many local holiday concerts and chorus performance have already come and gone – but there are still three major ones coming up this weekend that are guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit. Two choral and one band performance – take your pick!

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Animaterra’s Winter Concert: Song of Soul

Animaterra is a women’s chorus that performs music of the world’s traditions. The group performs two winter concerts this weekend:

Saturday, December 15, 2012, 7:30-9 p.m. Saint James Episcopal Church, 44 West Street, Keene.
Sunday, December 16, 2012, 4-5:30 p.m. Union Congregational Church, 33 Concord St. (Rte. 202), Peterborough.

$10 for adults, $6 for children and seniors. 

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The Cheshiremen Chorus: A Holiday Festival of Harmony

The Cheshiremen Chorus sings in the barbershop harmony tradition. Their holiday concert features seasonal favorites performed by the chorus and quartets and a sing-along with the audience. A light reception follows the concert.

Saturday, December 15, 2012, 7 p.m. United Church of Christ, 23 Central Square, Keene.

$8 advance tickets, $10 at the door.

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Nelson Town Band’s Holiday Concert

A quintessential local town band made up of musicians of all ages from the town of Nelson. Its holiday concert features one hour of holiday music – with cookies served afterward.

Sunday, December 16, 2012, 4 p.m.

No charge.

O Christmas Tree: Cut Your Own Trees in the Monadnock Region

Sure, you can unceremoniously pick up a Christmas tree in a lot. Or buy an artificial tree.

But there’s something magical about going out to a tree farm, walking through rows of evergreens, selecting a special one, and sawing down your very own Christmas tree.  Add to that the crisp winter air, the beauty of the Monadnock Region scenery, hot chocolate, cider and homemade donuts and you have Christmas memories that will last a lifetime.

While many trees may have already been tagged by now (die-hard cut-your-own tree fans were already out at the farms early this fall picking their trees) there are still wonderful trees to be found, cut, tied to your car, and taken home. If you are from out of town you can select from many fine B&Bs and inns throughout the region to make cutting your tree a relaxing pre-Christmas weekend getaway.

Here’s a list of the popular cut-your-own tree farms in the Monadnock Region. You may want to call ahead for hours, refreshments available and availability of trees. Many farms will provide saws and roping free of charge.

Keene
Monadnock View Farm * 603-352-7892
Wright’s Tree Farm * 603-352-4033

Richmond
Windswept Mountain View Christmas Tree Farm * 603-239-4005

Rindge
Sunny Slopes Farm * 603-899-3169

Surry
Crescendo Acres * 603-352-9380

Walpole
Homestead Farms * 603-756-4800

Westmoreland
Farmstead Acres * 603-352-8730
Old Ciderpress Farm * 603-399-7210

Winchester
My Old Farm * 603-239-6751

8th Annual Currier and Ives Cookie Tour

Cookie tours are a delightful cross between trick-or-treating (without going through the trouble of dressing in a costume) and the thrill of house hunting (without the impending mortgage payment).

You get to tour the inside of an inn, bed and breakfast, store, library or historical society with your friends, see enchanting Christmas decorations and ideas for your home – AND you get a cookie treat (and a recipe card)! It doesn’t get any better than this.

The Monadnock Region’s Currier & Ives Cookie Tour – held this year on December 8, 2012 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. -- takes you on a 13-stop tour through the quintessentially New England towns of Fitzwilliam, Jaffrey, Rindge, Troy, Marlborough, Peterborough and Swanzey. Tickets are $10; a portion of this year's proceeds will be donated to the Santa's House of Jaffrey, which provides toys to local children in need.

Tour Stops include:
Little River Bed & Breakfast, Peterborough*
Paper & Roses, Peterborough
Anytime Apparel, Peterborough
The Woodbound Inn, Rindge*
Jaffrey Public Library (Santa’s House), Jaffrey
The Monadnock Inn, Jaffrey*
The Inn at East Hill Farm, Troy*
Common Collections, Troy
The Fitzwilliam Historical Society, Fitzwilliam
The Troy Historical Society, Troy*
Inn of the Tartan Fox, Swanzey
Swanzey Historical Society, Swanzey
Unbridled Chocolates, Marlborough

*Tickets can be purchased at these locations from November 26 through the day of the tour. Cash or check only.

A tour map will be printed on your ticket. You can begin the tour at any location. The average time between locations is about a 10 minute drive. Make sure you bring a cookie tin or container to store your cookies.

So pack up your friends, your sense of adventure, and have a great time touring great local establishments and tasting delicious homemade cookies!  Turn your cookie tour into an overnight or weekend getaway by staying at a local B&B or inn.

Wearing Plaid for a Cause

You could say that wearing plaid is reserved for Scots … or New England hunters.

But here in the Monadnock Region we’re asking everyone to don their plaid shirts, skirts, coats and even socks and hats.

It’s just for one day, we promise. And it’s for a good cause.

Plaid Friday, which this year falls on November 23, 2013, is a nationwide effort to promote local, independent businesses in one of the most busiest shopping days of the year, “Black Friday,” where shoppers usually crowd into big box stores to get holiday deals. On this day, citizens are instead encouraged to wear plaid clothing – and shop locally -- to show support for locally owned and operated businesses.

Plaid Friday is part of a larger effort of a national “Shift Your Shopping” campaign to buy more local products and services. Locally, Monadnock Buy Local is championing the Plaid Friday effort.

“The New England economy could use a boost,” says Jen Risley, Monadnock Buy Local’s program manager. “That’s why we’re asking everyone to shift their holiday shopping to locally owned and independent businesses, local artists and craftspeople.  Doing so will stimulate the local economy and help support job growth in our community.”

To join the fun, make sure you visit one of the Monadnock Region’s Plaid Friday Hubs on November 23 … owners will take a picture of you decked out in your finest plaid, and answer questions you may have about how you can support the “buy local” movement.

Buy Local Hubs:

Howard’s Leather in Spofford
Inn at Valley Farms in Walpole
Life is Sweet Candy Store in Keene
MindFull Books & Ephemera in Jaffrey
One Stop Country Pet Supply in Keene
Pocketful of Rye in Keene
Prime Roast Coffee Roasters in Keene
Toadstool Bookshop in Keene
Walpole Valley Farms in Walpole

The Covered Bridges of the Monadnock Region

“The American covered bridge has inspired more poets and painters than has perhaps any other familiar object of our native landscapes.” — David Steinman, author of Bridges and Their Builders, 1941.

Covered bridges are a symbol of America’s simpler times. They are picturesque, inspirational and even romantic. While they are viewed today as quaint throwback to a bygone era, these wood bridges were originally designed with an intense Yankee-like practicality in mind.

Without a covering, a wood bridge exposed to the elements would last only 15 to 20 years. That common sense approach to cover wooden bridges has paid off: Some covered bridges have lived on into the 21st century – thanks in part to a Federal program to help restore many of the still-standing covered bridges that were on the brink of collapse after decades of neglect.

While there were more than 10,000 covered bridges in the U.S. in the 19th century, there are still about 750 still standing – and functional. Fifty-four of those covered bridges are in the state of New Hampshire; of those 7 are in the Monadnock Region.

Here is a glimpse of these Monadnock Region covered bridges (they are state numbered). Note that these bridges are not only pretty to look at, but today serve as functional bridges over rivers and streams. When you drive through a covered bridge, slow down and take the time to look at the engineering marvel of its protecting roof, with criss-crossed braces extending from the top to the bottom.

Ashuelot Covered Bridge (NH #1)
Winchester, NH
Built in 1858, renovated in 1999
This bridge is considered by local historians to be one of New Hampshire’s most elaborate covered bridges. It originally was built to transport wood across the Ashuelot River for use by the Ashuelot Railroad. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.


Coombs Covered Bridge (NH #2)
Winchester, NH
Built 1837, renovated in 1971
The bridge, which spans the Ashuelot River, was named for its original builder and owner, Anthony Coombs. It was used for social and commercial purposes; and it is still used today. It listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Slate Covered Bridge (NH #4)
Swanzey, NH
Built 1862, rebuilt 2001
The bridge was named for the Slate family, who lived nearby. The bridge suffered many mishaps in its history including collapsing under a team of oxen in 1842, damage from a snowplow in 1987 and a fire in 1993. The bridge was rebuilt in 2001 for $900,000.

Carlton Covered Bridge (NH #7)
Swanzey, NH
Built in 1789, rebuilt 1869 and 1996
The records say that the original bridge was built at a cost of “15 pounds.” According to local lore, the bridge was put up by barn builders because the truss construction is so similar to that used in barns. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Thompson Covered Bridge (NH #5)
Also known as the West Swanzey Bridge
West Swanzey, NH
Built in 1832, rebuilt 1976
In 1973 it was posted for 6 ton limit, just enough for an empty school bus. When school buses were filled, drivers simply asked students to get off the bus, walk the bridge, and re-board on the other side. In 1976 a new concrete and steel bridge was built nearby for buses and trucks. This bridge, now posted at a 3-ton limit, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sawyer’s Crossing Covered Bridge (NH #6)
Also called “Cresson Covered Bridge”
Swanzey, NH
Before 1771, reconstructed in 1859 and 1996
When the bridge was renovated in 1859 town folks celebrated in a big way: with lanterns hung from the rafters, a four-piece orchestra, lunch at midnight and dancing through night. The bridge also became famous in 1953 when its image was used in a Chesterfield cigarette Christmas carton. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

County Covered Bridge (NH #8)
Hancock and Greenfield, NH
Built 1832, rebuilt in 1937, renovated 1981
A flood swept away the original bridge in March of 1936. The bridge was rebuilt using funds from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration project. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Horatio Colony Preserve: City-Limits Hike with Great Views

Many of us who live in Keene deeply appreciate the unique experience of living in a city ringed by pristine woodlands. Even more unusual is the fact that you don’t even need to travel outside of city limits to take a hike on forested land.

If you are visiting Keene take a side trip to the Horatio Colony Nature Preserve, a 614-acre parcel of woodlands and wetlands located off Route 9 in Keene on Daniels Hill Road – only a stone’s throw from the Monadnock Marketplace.

The land -- owned by the Horatio Colony Trust and maintained by Antioch University New England graduate students -- includes 3.5 miles of hiking trails up a moderately steep hill, a historic cabin and old foundations. The land also serves as a natural laboratory for place-based education, nature research and public program initiatives.

The land was purchased in 1892 by author Horatio Colony II’s grandfather, Horatio Colony I, a successful mill owner in Keene, who bought 132 acres of abandoned sheep pastures of Pisgah Farm, on West Hill in Keene. Colony and his family enjoyed the land so much he subsequently purchased adjacent tracks of land over the years.

The Colony family, who lived on Main Street in Keene (now the Horatio Colony House Museum), built a summer cabin on the north slope of the West Hill property and dubbed it the “Tip-Top House.”  The younger Horatio, after he inherited the property, allowed the forest to regenerate and built a writing cabin in 1938, which has been restored and still stands at the entry point to the nature preserve.

The preserve maintains three trails: Red Diamond (1.1 mile loop), Ridgeline (1.7 miles) and Slickenside Trails (.7 miles); there are 21 signposts marking environmental and historical points of interest. The preserve is open every day, from dawn to dusk, for hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Hunting, mountain biking, camping, fires and motor vehicles are prohibited. There is a free trail guide available at the kiosk near the trailhead.

If you visit the Horatio Colony Preserve, don’t miss the clearing on the west side of the Ridgeline Trail that presents a nice view of West Keene, and the foundation of the long-gone Tip-Top House.

Leaf Peeping: An Epic Year?

Although New Englanders would like visitors to believe that each and every one of our leaf peeping seasons is a sight to behold, some foliage seasons (we quietly admit amongst ourselves) are better than others.

Last year was nothing to write home about. The colors were there (yes, still beautiful), but dominated by muted oranges and yellows. What we all wish for – and what characterizes a “spectacular” foliage season -- is the eye-popping “pow” of the reds.

What magical combination of weather events make this happen?

Colors from 2012

Yankee magazine meteorologist Jim Salge sheds some light on the best conditions for a great foliage season. In his blog post he writes:

“We know that the best years are made possible by a warm, reasonably wet spring, a moderate summer with adequate rainfall and an autumn season that features a dominance of warm, dry days and cool nights, with only occasional rainfall.”

So far, so good. And looking out our windows we can see that the result of this year’s magical weather formula is already turning many trees blazing red.

It may shaking out to be an epic foliage year in New England. Don’t miss it.

If you are in the Monadnock Region in this magical time of year, you may want to stop by Peterborough’s “Peak into Peterborough” at the height of the peeping season on October 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Spend the Saturday with your family browsing the town’s unique shops, restaurants and galleries. The town itself will welcome visitors with tent sales, a farmers’ market, hayrides, lives music and more.

An Apple a Day...

Nothing beats biting into a fresh and crisp apple picked straight from the tree...and September and October is apple picking season in New Hampshire.  From common varieties like Paula Reds and Cortlands to more unique varieties like Ananas Rienette and Roxbury Russet (heirloom apples), there is no shortage of tasty treats at our local orchards and farm stands.

Fun tip: A bushel of apples weighs about 42-48 pounds.

A great place to learn about the different apples can be found at the website Orange Pippin or of course right from our local orchards and the great people who manage them.  So make sure to get out during this great weather and pick some apples...or just pick up some fresh apple cider or home baked apple pies or apple wine or apple inspired ice cream flavors or...

Hancock

• Norway Hill Orchard has a beautiful view of Mt Monadnock from their hillside location and feature acres of apples to pick.
  603-525-4912

 Walpole

• Alyson's Orchard has dozens of varieties of apples to pick from while you gaze over the beautiful Connecticut River Valley.
  800-856-0549

Milford

• McLeod Brothers Orchards is located in Milford on the Eastern edge of the Monadnock Region along the Souhegan River.
  603-673-3544

Mason

• Birchwood Orchard
  603-878-0542

Keene

• Maple Lane Farm has been in business for over twenty years and have eight varieties to pick from.
  603-352-2329

Greenville

• Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard, located in Grenville, the farm also feature a 4.5 acre corn maze!
  603-878-2101

From Pickles to Schnitzels: Harvest Festivals in the Monadnock Region

Fall foliage is at its peak around Columbus Day (and the weekend after). But the weeks leading up to “leaf peeping” are quite special in the Monadnock Region. The days are pleasant, nights are cool (bring along your sweater!) and harvest festivals are in full swing.

Along with artist tours, there are several other notable festivals in the region in September and early October – before the “peeping” crowd descends. And the variety of festivals are remarkable – from pickles to schnitzels!

So, mark your calendars, book your room at one of our beautiful B&Bs or inns, and enjoy this relatively quiet season.

Sept. 15-16 (Sat., Sun., starts at 4 p.m.)
Antrim’s Home and Harvest Festival
Antrim, N.H.
This is a traditional New England harvest festival that features art and crafts, a “home grown” parade, fireworks, kids’ games, live music and a lot of food. There’s also a skateboard race and slalom championship.

Sept. 22 (Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Marlborough Madness Festival
Marlborough, N.H.
This town-wide event features food (lots of it and so many different kinds – from BBQ chicken to vegetarian fare) and tons of yard sales. There’s a 5K race starts at 9 a.m.

Sept. 22 (Sat., starts at 5 p.m.)
Fall Harvest Celebration and Potluck
Tracie’s Community Farm
Fitzwilliam, N.H.
Bring your favorite potluck dish! There’s a band and a chance to pick your own pumpkins.

Sept. 22 (Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.)
Winchester Pickle Festival
Winchester, N.H.
This is an old-fashioned town fair with a focus on pickles, of course! Enjoy a downtown parade unlike anything you have seen before – with pickle-themed floats and costumes. There’s also an arts and crafts fair, lots of food (and free pickles), and free entertainment.

Sept. 23 (Sun., 11 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Ultimate Harvest Challenge
Stonewall Farm
Keene, N.H.
A combination of the summer Olympics and Highland Games – except that you’ll be on a farm doing farm chores and tasks. A fun and challenging romp for adult and their kids.

Sept. 29 (Sat., noon-5 p.m.)
10th Annual Schnitzelfest
Hillsborough, N.H.
Visit downtown Hillsborough the last Saturday of September for the most authentic German food outside of Germany. Try some schnitzels (breaded or grilled), bratwurst, wieners, homemade German potato salad, beer, wine and more. Live “um-pah” bands, music, crafters and more.

Sept. 29-30 (Sat., Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.)
4th Annual Farm Family Fun Days
Crescendo Acres
Surry, N.H.
Join the farmers of Crescendo Acres for two days of fun and education on the farm … sheep shearing, felting and knitting demonstrations, sugarhouse tours, live honey bee observation hive, farm tours, refreshments and more. Visit with the farm’s alpacas, miniature horses and the visiting sheep, goats, honey bees and rabbits.

Oct. 7 (Sun., 9 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Local Food Festival
Thayer Public Library
Ashuelot Village, N.H.
A celebration of the local farms in the village of Ashuelot and town of Winchester. Live music, food sampling and more. For more information contact: Julia Ferrari at 603-239-6830 or Harriet Charland 603-239-6521.

Monadnock Region’s Public Forests

Many of us who live in the Monadnock Region have a deep connection with the surrounding forests – perhaps it’s because wherever you are in the area you’re never very far away from trees – lots of them.

New Hampshire, in fact, is the second most forested state in the nation (number one is Maine); forests are spread over 4.8 million acres – that’s 84 percent of the entire state.

Seems like an incredible statistic when you consider that deforestation on a global level is at an all time high (about 32 million acres of forest worldwide are destroyed every year – equal roughly in size to New York State) and that only 27 percent of the entire U.S. is forested land.

When staying at a Monadnock Region inn or B&B put on your hiking shoes and explore some of our beautiful and protected forest locations. It’s a perfect way to go “leaf peeping” during the fall season.

Fox State Forest * Hillsborough * 1,445 acres
This forest has been a State of New Hampshire research station since 1933. Open daily with more than 20 miles of trails for hiking and cross country skiing. The forest has an education center and farmhouse/office.

Shieling State Forest * Peterborough * 45 acres
Enjoy more than 2 miles of self-guided foot trails through valleys, tree-covered ridges and even a wildflower preserve. There is also a learning center with an exhibit area. Located ¼ mile south of the Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough. For more information call 603-271-2214.

Gap Mountain * Jaffrey/Troy * 1,100 acres
A fascinating 1.5 mile to the top that includes old cellar holes, apple trees, stone walls, meadows, and an old unfinished ski tow. At the top, enjoy a stunning view of Mt. Monadnock and enjoy picking wild blueberries in the summer.

Heald Tract * Wilton * 975 acres
This forest provides opportunities for hiking, fishing, birding, nature walks and picnicking. And, there’s plenty of wildlife to watch: moose, beaver, otter, hares, blue heron, fox and deer.

Madame Sherri Forest * West Chesterfield * 513 acres
The forest was named for an eccentric wealthy woman, Madame Antoinette Sherri, who worked as a costume designer for the Ziegfeld Follies in the 1920s and built her “castle” in the woods in West Chesterfield. The castle was destroyed by fire in 1962, but the foundation and grand stone staircase remain with the forest grown up all around it.

McCabe Forest * Antrim * 192 acres
This forest was once in danger of being developed into a golf course and/or a housing complex with river views. Instead, owner Dorothy McCabe deeded the land (and her home) in 1982 to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests to manage and protect. Today, you can walk along 2 mile loop of diverse and lovely trails through meadows and forests along the Contoocook River.

Monson Village * Wilton (but must be accessed through Hollis) * 215 acres
A 3-mile trail that is steeped in history: You’ll find a restored Colonial-era house, old cellar holes and stonewalls. Monson Village was New Hampshire’s first inland pioneer settlement.

And the list of Monadnock Region forests goes on!

Here are a few more forests you may want to explore if you happen to be staying in one of these Monadnock Region towns.  Make sure you ask your Monadnock Region inn or B&B host for more information and directions:

Alison Nims Piper Memorial Forest * Sullivan * 199 acres
Blaine Forest * Jaffrey * 167 acres
Olson Family Forest * Sullivan * 775 acres
Parker Hill Forest * Roxbury * 89 acres
Rumrill Family Forest * Stoddard * 89 acres
Stearns-Lamot Forest * Rindge * 123 acres
Stephens Forest * Wilton * 120 acres
Taves Forest * Roxbury/Marlborough * 175 acres
Thurston V. Williams Family Forest * Stoddard * 379 acres
Welch Family Farm Forest * Hancock * 120 acres

En Plein Air: Art in the Great Outdoors

“En plein air” is a French term that translates to “in the open air.” In the art world, the expression is used to describe artists who take their canvases, brushes, paints and create their art outside, in the natural light.

Much like creating art “en plein air” is an exceptional way to capture nature’s beauty on canvas, viewing art in the great outdoors – in the natural light -- is quite a different experience than viewing artwork in an indoor gallery.

In the Monadnock Region, the biggest outdoor art exhibit is “Art in the Park,” which takes place at the Ashuelot Park on West Street in Keene every Labor Day weekend. This year’s 54th Annual Art in the Park, which is run by the Monadnock Area Artists Association falls on September 1-2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

More than 80 artists from around New England are represented and will exhibit and sell their work; there is also an area for students from the region’s two high schools to exhibit their artwork. There is also a raffle to fund art scholarships.

For more information visit Monadnock Area Artists for more information.

Once Art in the Park is over you can get your local artist fix in a few more weekends of art events this fall.

These two events are studio tours that take you right into an artists’ working environment:

September 15-16: The 7th Annual Hillsborough Open Studio Tour. This take you to artists’ studios within a 20 mile radius of downtown Hillsborough.

October 6-7 (Columbus Day Weekend):

17th Annual Monadnock Open Studio Art Tour: This tour travels through the towns surrounding Mt. Monadnock: Chesham, Dublin, Hancock, Harrisville, Jaffrey, Marlborough, Peterborough and Sharon.

Fall Foliage Art Studio Tour: Another wonderful tour that takes you through the Monadnock region including the towns of New Ipswich, Rindge, Swanzey, Spofford, Keene, Nelson, Stoddard and Antrim.

28th Annual NH Wool Arts Tour: The tour features fiber artists who work in wool from local sheep and alpacas, and farms that sell yarn and wool.  This event is fun for the whole family and is great for people who enjoy the fiber arts or would simply like to meet the animals, enjoy the fall colors and visit some farms.

November 3 & 4:

Keene Art Tour. A self-guided art studio tour featuring 19 artists in 13 studios in Keene, New Hampshire.  Featuring painting, pottery, furniture, jewelry, drawing, sculpture and more.  Free and open to the public. Pick up your brochure and map at our headquarters, Creative Encounters at 18 Main Street in Keene.

Pitcher Mountain: Easy Climb, Great Views and Wild Blueberries

Pitcher Mountain in Stoddard, N.H. is 2,153 feet tall but it will perhaps be the easiest New Hampshire mountain you will ever climb -- and it comes with all the “great view” perks of a tougher climb.

The hike to the top (300 vertical feet from the trailhead) is less than ½ mile (0.4 miles to be exact); the main trail (the one to the right of the parking lot and blazed with white triangles) is a well-traveled wide fire road through what is known as Andorra Forest, owned and managed by the Faulkner family for more than 70 years.

The hike gets those who are even just moderately fit up to the summit in about 20 minutes with barely breaking a sweat (there is another rocky/bolder trail option to the left of the parking lot, blazed with blue if you’d like more of a challenge). The easy-peasy path will reward you along the way with bucolic views of the 200-acre Pitcher Mountain Farm, which raises Scottish Highland beef cattle.

Once at the top you can see, on a clear day, the southern portion of Vermont’s Green Mountains, most of the Monadnock Region (including Mt. Monadnock) and even the White Mountains (Mt. Lafayette) if the sky is really clear. The 50-foot fire tower at the top can be climbed to get an even better 360 degree view.

View of mountains from fire tower

 If you happen to climb Pitcher Mountain in mid- to late-August, be sure to bring along a coffee can, basket or bucket to collect the mountain’s wealth of wild high-bush blueberries (the small, dark and incredibly sweet kind) – there’s 50 acres of these berry bushes at or near the summit. Payment is by honor system at the trailhead in the parking lot – give an honest estimate of how much you picked – and drop a dollar or two per pint on your way out.

Easy climb. Great views. And sweet blueberries to pick in August. You can’t ask more of a mountain hike. Plus the drive to Pitcher Mountain on Route 123 is a scenic pleasure.

The MacDowell Colony: An Artists’ Retreat

If you happen to be an artist of any stripe – or a lover of the arts -- you already know that the MacDowell Colony is a special treasure in the Monadnock Region. The art colony, the oldest of its kind in the country located on 450 acres in Peterborough, is dedicated to nurturing the creative spirit of artists providing them with a stress and distraction-free environment in which to create.  The stays are free to artists who are selected in an application process (including housing and meals) – the only criterion for acceptance is artistic excellence.

Since the MacDowell Colony was founded in 1907 by Marian MacDowell, a pianist and wife of composer Edward MacDowell, the colony has hosted more than 6,000 artists – writers, poets, playwrights, visual artists, sculptors musicians and composers -- including legendary names such as Leonard Bernstein, Thornton Wilder, Aaron Copland, James Baldwin, Spalding Gray, Alice Walker and many more. The colony has supported in residence winners of at least 61 Pulitzer Prize winners.

Perhaps the most charming aspect of a colony artist’s stay is the lunches which are quietly hand-delivered in a basket to the doorstep of each of the 32 personal studios (breakfast and dinners are shared by the 20-30 artists in residence in a common dining room). The stays are a quiet, contemplative and often artistically productive retreat … one that artists relish as a pause from their busy lives to pursue -- without interruption -- their art.

While artists are on retreat, guests to the MacDowell Colony are welcome (with advance notice) to visit the Colony’s main building and the library, which houses the collected works of MacDowell Fellows in all media. You can also visit the MacDowells’ gravesite which is a registered historic marker, and is located down the road from the Colony.

Another public event, Medal Day (this year held on August 12, 2012) is when artists-in-residence open their studios to the public and an award is given to a resident artist who has shown to be outstanding in his or her field. This year the Edward MacDowell Medal will be awarded to photographer Nan Goldin. The ceremony begins at 12:15; lunch follows at 1:15 p.m. -- you can bring your own picnic lunch or purchase a basket for $20. The open studio tour is from 2-5 p.m.
The Colony also hosts MacDowell Downtown, a series of free artist presentations offered on the first Friday of the month from March through November at 7:30 p.m. at the Peterborough Historical Society in downtown Peterborough. Each season features several MacDowell artists who volunteer to share their work with the local community at a public presentation which have included film screenings, readings, visual presentations and more. These are free and open to all.

A Sanctuary Among the Pine Trees

Even if you are not particularly spiritually or religiously inclined, a visit to the Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge will soothe your soul.

This nondenominational open air cathedral sits on a restful hilltop with a splendid view of Mt. Monadnock in the distance. While the pine trees that make up the seating area in the cathedral were hit hard in a 2008 ice storm, there are enough trees still standing to give an “enclosed” feel to the outdoor chapel.

Outdoor cathedral with views of Mt Monadnock

The Cathedral of the Pines was created by Sibyl and Douglas Sloan III to honor those who sacrificed their lives in World War II, including their son Lt. Sanderson (“Sandy”) Sloan, a pilot who purchased the land in Rindge in hopes of building a home for him and his bride when he returned from the war.

But the young B-17 pilot’s life was cut short when he was shot down over Germany; he died and never returned to build his home. His parents created Cathedral of the Pines on the property he purchased as an interfaith shrine to Sandy and a national memorial to those who have served their country.

Cathedral Tower

The Cathedral’s website notes: “It was their hope that interfaith understanding would help bring world peace.”

Today, the Cathedral of the Pines, a nonprofit organization that is supported 100 percent by private donations, is the site of many weddings, ceremonies, church services and events. The Cathedral of the Pines, which encompasses 236 acres – some of which are beautifully landscaped with flowers and pathways – is open free to the public daily from May through October. The site welcomes visitors to participate in events, mediate in the outdoor chapels and learn about its history in the small museum on the grounds.  There is also a small gift shop on the premises.

So, if you are visiting the Monadnock Region, stop by the Cathedral of the Pines for an hour or two of respite from the world. Bring your lunch (there are picnic tables), walk the grounds, stay a while to gaze at the splendid view … and prepared to be rejuvenated.

The Cathedral of the Pines is located off Rte. 119, a few miles east of Rte. 202. 
Follow the signs upon entering Rindge, NH.

Become a Localvore

It’s easy – not to mention healthy -- to eat local food in the height of the summer season in New England. In New Hampshire, we celebrate Eat Local Month the entire month of August (August 5-11 is NH Farmers’ Market Week.

How can you learn about the art of preserving, growing and even foraging for your own food?  The Monadnock Localvores have workshops almost year-round on just how to do that. These workshops are run by knowledgeable farmers and backyard enthusiasts who will expertly guide you through the art of gathering your own mushrooms, cooking with your CSA bounty, baking bread, making cheese and even brewing your own beer or local apple wine.

Visit the Monadnock Region, the unspoiled Southwest corner of New Hampshire, and take advantage of the opportunity to "eat local" at one of our charming B&Bs or Inns serving the most scrumptious breakfasts you will find anywhere.

Here are some upcoming workshops (click through to link to find out pricing and remaining slots available):

• August 16, 2012 (10 a.m.-12 p.m.) Wild Mushroom Foray 
• September 6, 2012 (6-8 p.m.) Brewing a Local Beer
• October 14, 2012 (2-4 p.m.) Apple Wine Making
• October 21, 2012 (1-3 p.m.) Beginner Beekeeping

Full of Hot Air - The Hillsborough Balloon Festival & Fair

Whether you love floating high in the sky in a piloted hot air balloon, or you prefer to watch balloons from terra firma, there is something for everyone at the Hillsborough Balloon Festival & Fair, held this year Thursday through Sunday, July 19-22, 2012. Parking is $5 per car, but entrance to festival itself is free.

The festival has become a major four-day extravaganza for this small town of 6,000  since the festival merged dates with the former Hillsborough Fireman’s Weekend, and recently, an artisans fair has been added to the weekend. Today, Hillsborough welcomes more than 30,000 people each year to the festival.

There are lots of activities within these four days of this charming New England summer festival to satisfy everyone in your family: carnival rides, an artisan fair, live music, a parade, a 5K road race, fireworks, and a bevy of colorful hot air balloons, which will dramatically lift off twice a day at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. (weather permitting) on Saturday and Sunday.

The balloons are, of course, the main attraction to the festival. And there are several ways to enjoy them:

• Flights over the Monadnock Region. Full-fledged flights piloted and crewed by regional balloon enthusiasts – will be available to the general public. The rides last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and cost $200 per passenger (most balloons can carry 3-5 passengers as well as the pilot).  Cash, checks and all major credit cards are accepted. To make flight reservations, call (603) 464-0377. 
• Tethered flights. For those who prefer to remain closer to the ground, there will also be tethered flights available – meaning the balloon is secured to the ground and are piloted into the air about 50 feet for about 5 minutes then floated gently back to the ground. The cost is $15 per person.
• Night glow show. For those who don’t want any part of jumping into a balloon’s basket, but appreciate the beauty of hot air balloons, don’t miss the “Night Glow Show” at dusk on Friday night where a half dozen (or more) balloons will remain on the ground but inflate (using the white flame) and become dramatically illuminated. This show is free to the public.

The Hillsborough Balloon Festival & Fair is sponsored by civic organizations and groups (the Hillsborough Civic Organization, comprised of the three original local groups, the Hillsborough Fire Department, Hillsborough Lions Club, and the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce) and the proceeds from the festival provide major financial support for these organizations.

Need a place to stay while attending the festival?  Inquire with a local B&B for great overnight accommodations to make your weekend getaway complete.

I Scream, You Scream...

It was 1984 when President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month. He also proclaimed the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day, where all people of this great nation should observe the day with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

Ice cream lovers in the U.S. will forevermore tip their cones to the 40th president of the United States for this awesome proclamation. We can eat our favorite dessert with abandon throughout the hottest month of the year – and relish some sweet celebrations held everywhere on the third Sunday – this year held on July 15 – that’s right, this Sunday!

Before digging into those cones and dishes laden with frozen desserts, here are some fun facts courtesy of the International Ice Cream Association) about ice cream:

• America is the ice cream capital of the world – it produces 1.5 million gallons per year; each American consumes an average of 22 quarts per year.
• Not surprisingly, vanilla is the most popular flavor in the U.S. (it comprises about 20 to 29 percent of all ice cream sales); chocolate is a distant second and garners about 10 percent of the market.
• One out of every five ice cream eaters admit to binging on ice cream in the middle of the night; this study discovered that men binge in the middle of the night more than women.
• About 9 percent of all the milk produced in the U.S. is used for ice cream.

In the Monadnock Region we are fortunate to have our own share of locally-made, high quality (okay, its amazing!) ice cream.  Below is a list of some of your local innkeepers favorite ice cream places.

• The best known in the area may be Walpole Creamery, which not only sells out of its Scoop Shop in Walpole, but is available in many retail locations in the region.  Their ice cream is of the highest quality and some of the tastiest around!
• Kimball Farm in Jaffrey is known for its huge portions, extensive variety of flavors, and great quality.  It is more than just an ice cream stand, it's more like a clam shack that's not on the beach since they serve plenty of lobster rolls, fried clams, burgers, fish and chips and chicken finger baskets.
• Connolly Brothers Farm in Temple is a true farm experience.  You drive up the dirt entrance road till you reach the dairy barn...cows on the right and dairy store on the left.  If you drive up on the right day you can walk in on them (the owners...not the cows) actually making and packing the ice cream.  This is not a scoop shop, their delicious home made ice cream is available in cups or pints or as cookie sandwiches and chocolate covered pops.  Don't forget to thank the cows on your way out :)
• Step back in time at the Central Square Ice Cream Shop in Hillsborough, an old fashioned soda-shop and parlor reminiscent of a bygone era.  The ice cream is homemade and worthy of a stop!

The latest local entry into the frozen dessert business is Stonewall Farm, a non-profit educational farm in Keene that is now producing ice cream from certified organic milk from its own cows.To commemorate the day with a celebration Reagan would have most certainly approved of, visit Stonewall Farm this Sunday where the farm will be celebrating National Ice Cream Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you get there early (at 9 a.m.) you’ll catch the “Bikes for Bovines” fundraiser race.

Treasure Hunting in the Monadnock Region

After watching the Antiques Roadshow, you can’t help but fantasize that a sweet little ceramic bowl you picked up for a buck or a wood armoire you got for a steal will fund your retirement or put your kid through college.

While finding priceless treasure is a rarity (even Roadshow guests are sometimes disappointed), the thrill of the antiquing is still a wonderful pastime.

If you are in the Monadnock Region this summer, you might want to spend a rainy day or two trying your luck in the region’s many antique haunts – from shows to shops to dealers and auctioneers. You never know what treasures you might uncover!

One of the most well known antiquing opportunities in the Monadnock Region happens every year in the historic town of Fitzwilliam and this year is no exception.  Saturday, July 21st is the 37th Annual Fitzwilliam Historical Society Antiques Show & Sale held on the town commons with more than fifty dealers invited.  A special exhibit, "Wedding Bells", will be presented in the Amos J. Blake House Museum during this time. Admission to the Museum is free and tours are conducted by trained docents.

In addition to the Fitzwilliam Show, here are some of the shops you may want to include in your tour around the region:

Fitzwilliam is worth a special trip for its nine antique shops in town – including Dennis and Dad,  which specializes in 18th and 19th  century English ceramics and Macreay Landy, which collects unusual architectural hardware, wrought iron, oil lamps and fireplace equipment.

Head northeast from Fitzwilliam to Peterborough and you’ll find five antique shops in town, all with a different focus. Bowerbird & Friends on Depot Square sells antiques, gifts and plants for the home and garden … and don’t miss their fabulous collection of antique children’s books. Visit Grove & Main Antiques on Grove Street for their intriguing mix of French and Swedish enamelware including body pitchers and turn-of-the-century lunch pails and more. Murray’s Home Again on the corner of Routes 101 and 123 sells an eclectic mix of household and garden items, check out their Facebook Page where they update new items almost daily.

If you happen to be staying the western part of the Monadnock Region, check out the several antique shops in Walpole. Of note is Robin Fernsell Antiques on School Street, where Robin sells folk art, furniture, art work and accessories for the home. And for the dog and horse lover, take a side trip to Dog and Pony Show on the outskirts of town on Country Road, located in a horse barn. Their collection of horse- and dog-related items date from the late 18th to the first quarter of the 20th century and include porcelain, pottery, metal ware, prints, paintings and home furnishing. They also sell custom-made needlepoint dog collars for your furry friends.

Have fun treasure hunting in the Monadnock Region and let us know what you find! For a complete list of the Monadnock Region’s antique shops, visit the Monadnock B&B Association's website and listing of Antiques stores all across the region.

It Takes a Village … to Hold a Music Festival

Actually it takes many villages – more than a dozen -- in the Monadnock Region to host the annual summer Monadnock Music Festival. The village concert festival – now in its 46th year -- is a series of free classical music concerts set in intimate New England venues – from town halls to churches to historic meeting houses.

“What has always made Monadnock Music special is the intimacy of our venues and the quality and range of offerings across a spectrum of periods, styles and genres,” says William Chapman, executive director of Monadnock Music.

The 2012 summer festival season – July 6-August 11 -- brings some rising stars and renowned artists; selections include a season-long examination of the works of Virgil Thomson, the return of opera, Sanford Sylvan and Appalachian Spring. At the helm of the season is Monadnock Music’s new artistic director, Gil Rose, the former artistic director of Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Opera Boston, and a three-time Grammy Award nominee.

The concert series is a perfect excuse to catch a world-class concert, and explore some old New England villages in the Monadnock Region such Peterborough, Harrisville, Wilton, Francestown, Walpole, Jaffrey and Dublin.  It is also a way to get to know village residents, who come out in droves to support the concert series; the goal of the concert series, after all, say organizers, is to make classical music accessible to people in rural areas.

So, this summer, spend a day (or night) in some of the Monadnock Region’s most picturesque towns – and listen to some beautiful music.   Complete your evening of classical music with an overnight stay at one of our many wonderful local B&Bs or inns.

Here’s the lineup:

Note: Village Concerts are free, other concerts require ticket purchase; visit Monadnock Music  for details and reservations.

Friday, July 6, 7:30 pm – Peterborough Town House
Town House Concert (tickets required)
OPENING NIGHT

Monadnock Sinfonietta performs music commissioned by Martha Graham

Sunday, July 8, 3:00 pm – Harrisville Community Church
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Players

Wednesday, July 11, 7:30 pm – Deering Community Church
Village Concert (free)
Guest Artists: Irina Muresanu (violin), Rob Auler (piano)

Friday, July 13, 7:30 pm – Peterborough Town House
Town House Concert (tickets required)
Guest Artist: Claremont Trio

Sunday, July 15, 3:00pm – Wilton Center Unitarian Church
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Players

Wednesday, July 18, 7:30 pm – Keene Ahavas Achim Synagogue
Village Concert (free)
Guest Artists: Hirsch-Pinkas Duo (pianos), 
Jonathan Hess, Robert Schulz (percussion)

Friday, July 20, 7:30 pm – Peterborough Town House
Town House Concert (tickets required)
Guest artist: Alan Feinberg (piano)

Sunday, July 22, 3:00 pm – Francestown Old Meeting House
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Players

Wednesday, July 25, 7:30 pm – Temple Community Church
Village Concert (free)
Guest artists: Terry Everson (trumpet), Scott Jarett (organ)

Thursday, July 26, 7:30 pm – Sullivan Congregational Church
Village Concert (free)
Guest Artists: F. A. E. Duo, Nicholas DiEugenio (violin), Chi-Chen Wu (fortepiano)

Sunday July 29, 3:00 pm – Keene Colonial Theatre
Opera Celebration (tickets required)
Guest Artists: Heather Buck (soprano), James Maddalena (baritone), Frank Kelley (tenor), Aaron Engebreth (baritone); directed and conducted by Gil Rose

Wednesday, August 1, 7:30 pm – Hancock Congregational Church
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Players with Krista River

Thursday, August 2, 7:30 pm – Washington Congregational Church
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Players

Saturday, August 4, 7:30 pm – Peterborough Town House
Town House Concert (tickets required)
Guest Artists: Sanford Sylvan (baritone), David Breitman (fortepiano)

Sunday, August 5, 3:00 pm – Walpole Unitarian Church
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Players

Wednesday August 8, 7:30 pm – Jaffrey Center
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Quartet

Friday, August 10, 7:30 pm – Peterborough All Saints’ Church
Village Concert (free)
Guest Artists: Lorelei Ensemble

Saturday, August 11, 3:00pm – Dublin Emmanuel Church
Village Concert (free)
Monadnock Quartet

Gilsum Rocks!

Forty eight years ago a Gilsum, N.H. postmaster and barber (and apparently an avid rock hound and collector) had an idea to start a “rock swap” in his hometown. The idea was not so far fetched in this tiny town about 10 miles north of Keene, since it was home to many commercial mines that operated until the 1940s that produced feldspar, mica and beryl.

While those mines have long been closed down (although one, the Beauregard Mine is available to mineral clubs by reservation only) the tradition of rocks and minerals lives on with the annual Gilsum Rock Swap & Mineral Show.

In late June this otherwise sleepy town of 807 residents comes alive (yup, it rocks!) when 6,000 to 8,000 people from all over the country roll in to attend the show. The show features about 60 dealers, swappers, collectors and distributors who buy, sell or even swap (which was the original intent of the show 48 years ago) rocks and minerals of all stripes including beryl, quartz crystals, semi-precious stones and more. The displays include not only rough cuts of these rocks, but also fossils, prized collections and semi-precious stones fashioned into beautiful jewelry.

The weekend activities include educational presentations on how semi-precious gemstones are extracted and made into jewelry and how to begin prospecting for minerals yourself. You can also crack a geode, pan for minerals and try your luck at the diamond dig site.

The town of Gilsum opens it arms to visitors for the weekend and features other events all weekend long including a daily pancake brunch, bake sale, book sale, chicken barbeque dinner and a traditional Saturday night New England ham and bean supper with all-you-can-eat homemade pies.  For overnight accommodations, contact one of the local B&Bs, Inns or Cottages.

The Gilsum Rock Swap & Mineral Show takes place this year on June 23 and 24, 2012 at the Gilsum Elementary School fields, Route 10 in Gilsum, just north of Keene, N.H. (about a 2-hour drive from Boston). Show hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the event is free, although donations are appreciated; the proceeds from contributions are earmarked for the town’s youth recreation and community programs.

And this year, as a special tribute to the originator of the event, Francis “Bunk” Malony’s entire rock collection will be on display on Saturday at the Gilsum Historical Society from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

If you love rocks and minerals – or you just love a great community event -- this is a show that you cannot miss! For more information visit Gilsum Rocks!

Secret Gardens

For a gardener, there is something enticing about a “secret garden” … those home gardens that you might catch a small but inviting glimpse of an arbor, the turn of stone path, a flower bed alive with color.   For us avid gardeners, it takes every ounce of restraint not to edge in and take a closer peek.

The best way to indulge the voyeuristic gardener in us – and to get new ideas for your own garden – is to go on a garden tour. The most popular garden tour in the Monadnock Region is the annual Secret Gardens of Keene.

The Secret Gardens of Keene tour, hosted by the Cheshire Housing Trust, is held this year (rain or shine) on June 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour is actually a successful fundraiser for the nonprofit organization to support its mission to provide affordable housing for moderate- to low-income families (the Cheshire Housing Trust runs 63 affordable apartments or rooms in Keene, Marlborough and Hinsdale).

Each year the tour features new gardens throughout Keene – from traditional landscapes to more eclectic gardening styles. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $12 each at various locations throughout the region, or purchased at the day of the tour for $15 at Ashuelot River Park (273 West Street in Keene).

Once the Secret Gardens of Keene tour day is over, make sure you mark your calendar for The Garden Conservancy’s “Open Days” which will be held twice this year in the Monadnock Region.

The Garden Conservancy’s Monadnock Region Open Days:

• June 30, 2012, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A tour of four exquisite private family gardens in Peterborough, Harrisville and Nelson. 
• July 1, 2012, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tour includes gardens in Walpole, Alstead Center and nearby Wilmington, Vt.

Here are some tips for attending a garden tour:

• Stay on the paths. Don’t ever wander into a garden bed.
• Never take any seeds, seedlings or plants without permission.
• Don’t stop in the middle of the pathway – if you want to linger to admire a plant or take photographs let other visitors pass you.
• Don’t go into any roped off areas for any reason.
• Carpool to each location with friends in order to reduce traffic and pollution.
• Thank the host at each stop – it is a lot of work getting a garden ready to be viewed by the general public.

The best way to enjoy a garden tour is with your family or a group of friends. If you are from outside the Monadnock Region, book an overnight stay at a B&B or inn to get an early jump on the tour; and take a break during the middle of the day with lunch at one of the many Monadnock Region’s restaurants.

Mt. Monadnock: The Mountain that Stands Alone

Our region is defined by Mt. Monadnock, an Abenaki word that means “mountain that stands alone.” Mt. Monadnock, a stately mountain that rises to 3,165 feet at the summit, can be seen from just about every corner of the region and with its bald top has panoramic views of six New England states.

While its certainly not as tall as Mt. Fuji – the most climbed mountain in the world – Mt. Monadnock still ranks #2 in the world for the most climbers (about 120,000 hikers reach its summit every year). It is a favorite among hikers for several reasons according to the “Monadnock Guide,” the little booklet first published in 1970 by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests:

• It has a bare summit area; you can see as you climb. Most of the trails are open to views 2/3 of the way. And the view from the top is spectacular; on a clear day you can see the Boston skyline.
• It has variety – in landscape, flora and its many routes to the top: Mt Monadnock Hiking Trails Printable Map (pdf)
• It has historic interest. It has been climbed by people for centuries and has been the subject of poems, essays and paintings – from the transcendental writings of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson to the iconic paintings of Abbot Handerson Thayer.  According to the site MonadnockMountain.com, there are even operas, symphonies, waltzes and Morris dances written about it.
• It’s easy to get to from major metropolitan areas in the Northeast.

So when visiting the Monadnock Region, don’t forget to pack your hiking boots for a trip to the summit of Mt. Monadnock.

But before you go, here are some tips to make your hike fun and safe:

1. Don’t expect a walk in the park. While climbing Mt. Monadnock doesn’t require sophisticated hiking gear, expect to break a sweat while climbing over bus-sized boulders to make it to the top. Wear sturdy hiking shoes.
2. Allow 4-5 hours for the round-trip hike. Make sure you arrive early enough so that you are not caught descending the mountain at nightfall.
3. Bring food and water. And remember that Monadnock State Park is a carry in/carry out park – you’ll need to take out all your trash.
4. Leave your dog at home. As much as you’d like to take your pooch along, there are not pets allowed in the park.
5. Know the routes. The easiest route to the top is the White Cross Trail (serious hikers may want to try the White Dot Trail, which is a better challenge).
6. Bring money for the admission fee. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children ages 6-11. Free admission for children ages 5 and under and N.H. residents age 65 or over.

The Monadnock State Park is located off Route 124 near Jaffrey, N.H. and is open year round. The best times to climb are late spring through fall season. For more information visit the New Hampshire State Parks website.

Your local innkeeper should have plenty information about climbing Mt Monadnock and other great hikes around the area.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Strawberry season – at least the fresh pick-your-own kind – certainly doesn’t last “forever.”  But for a few glorious weeks in June, it’s strawberry season in the Monadnock Region.

Fresh strawberries grown locally are a different breed altogether from those golf ball sized flavorless kind shipped from thousands of miles away and hermetically sealed in a plastic container. Our strawberries may be smaller, but they are popping with lip-smacking juicy flavor – perfect for making strawberry shortcake, topped with fresh whipped cream, or eaten straight off the strawberry plant.

If you visit in June and stay at one of our B&Bs or inns, you can bet that those freshly picked strawberries will make it to the breakfast menu. You can also visit one of our Local Farmers' Markets held every day of the week during the summer to pick up a pint for a snack.

Visit one of our several PYO strawberry fields during your stay this June. While you’re at it, pick a few extra pints for your friends and neighbors for a much-appreciated souvenir of your trip to the Monadnock Region!

Make sure you call ahead before you head out to pick strawberries to get the latest on the picking conditions.

PYO or Farmstand Strawberries in Southwest New Hampshire:

Alyson’s Orchard
57 Alyson’s Lane, Walpole NH
603-756-9800

Darby Brook Farm
347 Hill Road, Alstead NH
603-835-6624
 

Homestead Farms
16 River Road South, Walpole NH
603-756-4800

Monadnock Berries
545 West Hill Road, Troy NH
603-242-6417

Rosaly's Garden
Route 123 South, Peterborough NH

Tenney Farm
1 Main Street, Antrim NH
603-588-2020

And if you are visiting the Monadnock Region in mid- to late-June, don’t miss our two annual strawberry festivals:

Wilton’s 5th Annual Strawberry Festival and Craft Fair:
Saturday, June 16, 2012, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wilton Center Unitarian Church, Wilton, NH
For more information email: Carolynhoggroy@yahoo.com.

Picadilly Farm’s Annual Family Concert and Strawberry Shortcake:
Saturday, June 23, 2012, 1-3 pm
Picadilly Farm, 264 South Parrish Road, Winchester

For more information on these and other Pick-Your-Own locations throughout New Hampshire, download this handy PYO guide put out by the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food.

Keepin’ Food Local

Love eating local food? If you are committed to eating local, fresh food wherever you happen to be traveling, then your visit to the Monadnock Region can be a localvore heaven, particularly in the summer months.

The Monadnock Region is known as a “hotbed” of New Hampshire’s local food activity, with good reason. Local fare is offered to guests at many area inns, B&Bs and restaurants (for restaurants offering local foods, visit Monadnock Menus.

Plus, during the summer you can find a farmers’ market happening in the region every day of the week -- even in the winter there’s a farmers’ market to be found most weekends.

So, don’t forget pack along your cloth bags when visiting. And head on over to one of the many vibrant farmers’ markets in the region – one is sure to be found near your B&B or inn.

Here’s a complete list (list courtesy of Monadnock Table magazine:

Monday
Peterborough (May-Oct., 11-4 p.m.)
Monadnock Community Hospital, northeast parking lot
"Fresh Chicks" Facebook page

Tuesday
Keene (May-Oct., 9 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Behind The Colonial Theatre on Main Street
Keene Farmers Market

Wednesday
Peterborough (May-Oct., 3-6 p.m.)
Depot Square
Peterborough Farmers Market

Thursday
Keene (June-Oct., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene, rear employee entrance.

Rindge (June-Oct., 3-6 p.m.)
West Rindge Common Park at the corner of Route 202 and Bradford Street.

Friday
Harrisville/Nelson (June-Oct., 5-7 p.m.)
Harrisville Store or Nelson Village Green. Market begins June 8 in Harrisville and alternates with Nelson every other week.

Walpole (May-Oct., 4-7 p.m.)
Town Common
Walpole Farmers Market

Saturday
Gilsum (May-Oct., 8 a.m.-noon)
Gilsum Village Market, Main Street

Hancock (May-Oct., 9 a.m.-noon)
Horse sheds behind First Congregational Church, Main Street.

Hillsborough (July-Sept., 9 a.m.-noon)
Butler Park, corner of Central and Main Streets
Hillsborough Pride Farmers Market

Jaffrey (June-Sept., 9 a.m.-noon)
Coll’s Market and Deli parking lot, Old Sharon Road.

Keene (May-Oct. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Behind The Colonial Theatre, Main Street
Keene Farmers Market 

Sunday
Temple (May-Dec., 11 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Temple Town Common, Route 45.