Keene's Culinary Experience...

The New Haven Connecticut Register just wrote an article about the varied and delicious culinary scene in Keene.  The Innkeepers who live here in the Monadnock region know we have great dining options for our guests, its nice when other people not from this area recognize it as well.

Click here to read the whole article.

Keene Sentinel: MonIFF Int'l Film Festival III a BIG success

MonIFF, the Monadnock International Film Festival just wrapped up its third season and it is being touted as a big success. Check out this article in the Keene Sentinel for all the details.

Colonial Theater in Keene: MonIFF 

Spring Vacation: Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

Some schools in the region have their spring break next week. What will you do with the kids? Here’s an idea: Become a tourist in your own hometown, commonly known as a "stay-cation"! After all, how many times have you said you’ve wanted to climb Mt. Monadnock, visit a local museum or even stay at a local B&B?

Here are some tips to making your hometown “stay-cation” a success:

1. 
Visit to your local Chamber of Commerce for guides and maps. You may think you know your town, but you'd be surprised by all that is new to see and explore.


2. Go to the local library. Libraries often have special discounted rates and good resources for children about your hometown
3. Go to a restaurant you've never tried.


4. Sign up for a tour – such as a walking tour, museum tour or historical tour.


5. Park the car and walk! It's amazing how different your familiar surrounding looks on foot.
6. Book a night at your local hotel or B&B. You can't imagine how thrilling it is for kids to spend the night just minutes from home but still a sleepaway
7. Take pictures, have your kids send postcards to their neighbors and friends. They may think you're a little crazy, but you'll have fun!

Greater Monadnock Earth Days 2013

In the Monadnock Region, Earth Day doesn’t just come and go on April 22. Thanks to the efforts of Antioch University New England’s Environmental Studies Department, the Greater Monadnock Earth Days Festival spans a full two weeks – packed with workshops, seminars, community service projects and more to celebrate the region’s commitment to a healthy community and planet.

The fun (okay, work, but it’s fun if you do it with your neighbors and friends!) begins on Saturday, April 13 with a litter pick-up event, Green Up Keene.  The next week includes the Monadnock Earth Day Festival on April 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting with another clean-up event at the Ashuelot Trail in Keene, followed by an expo, sustainable skills workshop and more.

Earth Days continue the following week on college campuses throughout the region, such as at Keene State College’s earth week events, Marlboro College’s “Wild and Scenic Films Festival”, Franklin Pierce University’s Earth Day Fair on April 22nd and Campus Garden Building Party, a garden blessing and more.

The Earth Days conclude at Keene State College on April 27 with the Campus Ecology Solar Fest.

For more information, visit Greater Monadnock Earth Days 2013 Facebook page.

Ice Out … Fishing In

While true spring-like weather has not yet arrived in the Monadnock Region, the region’s lakes, ponds and streams are in warm-weather mode. The ice is gone … and spring fishing is about to come into season.

Fishing can happen year-round in New Hampshire – there is an active winter/ice fishing community in the state – but the number of fish you can catch and seasons for particular species, such as trout, vary. So make sure you check the NH Fish & Game website for all the rules. They have a handy full-color flipbook magazine for all you need to know about fishing in the state.

Once you get the rules and regs down, and buy your fishing license at N.H. Fish & Game offices statewide or online, or at selected stores around the state, you’ll be ready to grab your pole and start fishing in the Monadnock Region.

And where are the fish biting in the Monadnock Region? Here’s The List

But local fishing lore narrows down the list considerably … some of the best fishing spots include Laurel Lake in Fitzwilliam, Granite Lake in Nelson, Silver Lake in Nelson (best for trout), Nubanusit Lake in Nelson, Robin Hood Park Reservoir in Keene, Thorndike Pond in Jaffrey and Willard Park in Antrim.

Where’s your favorite fishing spot in the Monadnock Region? Let us know!

The Monadnock Region’s Abuzz with MONiff

Just in case you haven’t left your house (or read any local news!) since the snow began to fall, Monadnock International Film Festival (MONiff) – is the region’s first international film festival that will bring world-class film and filmmakers to the area this April.

This exciting event – held on April 4, 5 and 6, 2013 – will feature great movies (along with the filmmakers and actors) at various venues in Keene – including the Colonial Theatre and venues at Keene State College.

Films include international, national as well as New Hampshire made films http://moniff.org/festival-films; the festival includes film screenings, panel discussions with the filmmakers, actors and directors, and parties on each evening of the event.

MonIFF was created through a collaboration of artists, local film makers and producers, community leaders from local non-profits, universities and colleges, social service agencies and businesses.

What is it? W.H.A.T.’S. Keene 2013 … A 10-Day Celebration of Keene’s Wine, Hospitality, Arts, Tastes and Shopping

Come April, most northern New Englanders are weary of winter and ready to celebrate.

Keene is offering up the best excuse yet to don your spring jacket and get out into downtown with its W.H.A.T.’S. Keene! Festival, a 10-day celebration of Keene’s wine, hospitality, arts, tastes and shopping, i.e., the acronym for the event.

Forty local businesses are participating in the event, which begins on Thursday, April 4 and ends Sunday, April 14. The celebration, sponsored by several local non-profit and for-profit organizations, will feature daily events by downtown merchants including discounts, two-for-one specials, free gifts, and special offers by Monadnock Region B&Bs and inns. And some merchants – such as Kristin’s Bistro & Bakery, Life is Sweet, Luca’s Café, Local Burger, Good Fortune and Colonial Corner -- will open their doors to featured musicians.

The event will also host the first annual Monadnock International Film Festival, with an April 4 opening night film at the Colonial Theater, and films shown throughout the 10 day festival. If that wasn’t enough, there will also be a guitar festival at Keene State College, a burger eating contest at Local Burger, and much more.

Don’t miss all the fun at the first annual W.H.A.T.’S Keene! Celebration.

Stonewall Farm’s Horse Drawn Sap Gathering Competition

These days, maple sugaring is done with the help of long tubes that are strung through the sugar bush. The no-nonsense process efficiently collects sap from the trees and transports it right into the sugarhouse where it is boiled down to maple syrup.

But before the days of plastic tubing, sap was collected in metal buckets and gathered up by teamsters who drove draft horses pulling sleds through the woods.

To see this bygone era come to life, visit Stonewall Farm in Keene on March 23rd for the 14th Annual Horse Drawn Sap Gathering Contest. The competition begins at 10 a.m.

The contest draws about a dozen teams of two-hitch draft horses from all around New England to compete: The drivers, using only voice commands, maneuver the team of horse-drawn sleds through the narrow sugar bush on the farm, collecting sap buckets and quickly emptying them into containers in the sled. The teamster who is the fastest, with the best control of the horses, and the least sap spills, wins.

The fun doesn’t end once the competition is over. Visitors can congratulate the teams of horses, and enjoy maple syrup sundaes, sugaring demonstrations, sampling maple syrup, hayrides, food and lots more.

Parking at the farm is limited. Free parking shuttles are available from Alumni Field (next to Keene High School) on Arch Street. Entrance fee: Stonewall Farm Members: $3/person; Non-Members: $5/person; Children 6 and under FREE.

Sugaring Season is Right Around the Corner

Maple Syrup (and other maple products) might as well be one of the four major food groups...at least in New Hampshire and the exciting news is that the maple sugar season is just about here.  The precise date of the start of sugaring season varies from year to year (depending on the right combination of cold nights and above-freezing temperatures during the day).  However, sap houses are gearing up for the season which could start in the next few weeks (the season in the Monadnock Region runs roughly from mid-February to mid-April).

In the meantime, mark your calendars for the New Hampshire Maple Weekend which will be held this year on March 23 & 24, 2013. During that time, you can visit one of the many sugar houses that open their doors and give you the opportunity to become maple connoisseurs.  You can learn all about how maple sap is collected and the process by which it becomes syrup.  Learn about the different grades of syrup and sample many tasty treats made from the sweet delicious liquid.

Learn more about the New Hampshire Maple Weekend and participating Monadnock Region sugar producers.

Bookstore Tourism in the Monadnock Region

Travelers who are bibliophiles can’t help but wander into local bookstores when visiting a new place. Visiting an independent, used, or antiquarian bookstore is an exciting adventure for book lovers … the thrill of the “local authors” section, the delight in finding a rare book, and then there’s the relaxation of sitting down and reading the first page of a coveted hardcover.

According to Larry Portzline, the author of “Bookstore Tourism: The Book Addict's Guide to Planning & Promoting Bookstore Road Trips for Bibliophiles & Other Bookshop Junkies”, bookstore tourism is a growing grassroots travel niche that encourages book lovers to plan group trips to cities and towns with interesting, fun and unique independent bookshops.  “It taps into this thirst for literary adventure,” he writes. Portzline suggests combine your bookstore trip with other literary attractions, such as writing retreat centers, sites of well-known books and tours of famous authors’ homes.

Here are some bookstores along the way if you plan a literary adventure in the Monadnock Region. Asterisked (*) booksellers are open by appointment or by chance only, so make sure you call ahead. And don’t miss the upcoming “Round the Mountain Book Sale” on April 11-14, 2013. For more information about this sale and participating bookstores visit:

Aard Books*
31 Russell Ave., Troy NH
603-242-3638.

Bequaert Old Books*
37 Rt 119 W, Fitzwilliam, NH
603-585-3448

Callahan & Company Booksellers*
Rte. 123, Sharon, NH
603-924-3726

Eagle Books*
19 West St., Right off Central Square in Keene, NH

603-357-8721 


Homestead Books
221 East Main St. (Rt 101), Marlborough, NH

603-876-4213


Hurley Books, Inc.*

1752 Rte. 12, Westmoreland, NH 03467
603-399-4342 


Ray Boas, Bookseller*

On the Common, 44 Elm St., Walpole, NH 03608

603-756-9900


Ted Cole Books*
7 West Street, Antrim, NH 03440

Books also for sale at New Hampshire Antique Coop in Milford, NH
603-588-3145


The Book Preserve*
33 North Main St., Antrim, NH
603-588-4020


Toadstool Bookshops
3 Locations:
  12 Depot Sq., Peterborough, NH
  222 West St., Keene, NH
  586 Nashua St., Milford, NH


Winter Farmers’ Market

Just because the snow is falling and the ground is frozen solid doesn’t mean there isn’t fresh food at the farmers’ markets. While you won’t find local basil or tomatoes at a Monadnock Region winter farmers’ market, you will find lots of ingredients to make what you crave most this time of year – soups and stews. We’re talking potatoes, garlic, onions, turnips, rutabagas, celery root and carrots. Many farmers markets also sell meat, eggs and milk – and some sell wool products such as yarn and felt for winter crafting.

So visit a local winter farmers’ market during your winter stay in the Monadnock Region. You’ll go home with fresh ingredients for the comfort food you need this time of year.

Keene Winter Market
Colony Mill Marketplace (near Elm City Restaurant & Brewery entrance)
Saturdays (2nd & 4th of the month).
Nov. 10-Apr.27 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)

Milford Winter Market
Milford Town Hall
Saturdays (most 1st and 3rd of the month).
Oct. 20-Apr. 6 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Peterborough Winter Market
Peterborough Community Center
Wednesdays, Oct. 17-Apr. 24 (3-6 p.m.)

Walpole Winter Market
Walpole Town Hall
3rd Saturday of the month.
Jan. 19-Apr. 20 (11 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Snow Fun – Skiing and Snowshoeing -- in the Monadnock Region

The Monadnock Region doesn’t have the big (read: crowded) downhill ski resorts that the White Mountain region to the north of us does. But we do have some of the most beautiful and serene cross country and snowshoeing trails in the state.

Snow can be found in our region from about early December until March – and the latest snowstorms have dumped a foot or more of light powdery snow all over our region. It is a winter wonderland here in the Monadnock Region right now! Perfect for a jaunt out into our woods and forests on cross country skis or snowshoes.

There are endless Monadnock Region hiking trails waiting to be discovered by ski or snowshoe this winter.  You could also ask your local innkeeper for tips as there are too many trails to list in this blog posting.  If you prefer groomed trails, here is a list of maintained trails (some have facilities for rentals and lessons as well):

Granite Gorge Ski Area, Keene/Roxbury: Downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing park. Lessons and rentals.

The Inn at East Hill Farm, Troy: Cross country and snowshoeing trails.

Road's End Farm and Ski Touring Center, Chesterfield: (603) 363-4703. Cross country and snowshoeing trails.

Stonewall Farm, Keene: Snowshoeing. Daily snowshoe rentals: adults $3, kids $1.

Windblown Cross Country Ski Area, New Ipswich:  Cross country and snowshoeing trails.

Woodbound Inn, Rindge: Cross country and snowshoeing trails. (No trail fee for guests of the inn)

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

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.

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.

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.