NEW HAMPSHIRE - White Mountains

Alpine Adventures on Main Street in Lincoln offers off-road trips in all seasons through fantastically beautiful wintry scenes through Franconia Notch, Twin Mountain, Bog Pond, and Mount Moosilauke. Buckle Up and Hold On, as the license plates dictate, because you're in for an off-road thrill like no other in New England. Winter displays the extreme off-road capabilities of 6-wheel-drive Swiss army transport vehicles called Pinzgauers. Pinzgauers have modified seating to accommodate 11 guests (one is shotgun) in blue bucket seats with lap belts. We padded the overhead cages and added a kickin' stereo system with mikes for the guides to entertain you on your journey. Phone: 603-745-9911.

One of the last classic Main Streets in New England, downtown Littleton is a vibrant community on the bank of the Ammonoosuc River. Downtown offers a nice variety of restaurants, a historic inn, a 100-year old opera house, specialty shops, a majestic post office, a working gristmill, the world’s longest candy counter, and a sculpture of the original “glad girl” herself: Pollyanna.

When snow blankets the ground in northern New England, October’s hay rides transform into winter sleigh rides. Farms all over New Hampshire offer this delightful outdoor adventure, sometimes in large groups, sometimes in sleighs for two or four people. These rides showcase New England in all its wintry beauty. Among the many farms offering the rides is Charmingfare Farm in Candia, where the sleighs travel along old logging trails. The one-and-a-half-hour ride includes a stopover with campfire and refreshments. Phone: 603-483-5623.

The Brick Store is a genuine old-fashioned general store that dates back as far as 1790 – in fact, the store calls itself America’s oldest continuously operated general story. It is located on the main street – Route 302 – in the delightful town of Bath. Customers include some old-timers in their 90s who tell the owners, Mike and Nancy Lusby, that they remember buying penny candy there as kids. How authentic is that? At the Brick Store, visitors can buy distinctive New England specialties — including smokehouse meats and cheese, homemade fudge, gift packs and gift baskets, maple syrup, weathervanes, and much more. It is open daily. Phone: 800-964-2074

If you drive regularly in any New England town, it’s only a matter of time before you spot a car bedecked with a bumper sticker that reads “This car climbed Mt. Washington.” In 2011, the famous Mt. Washington Auto Road on Route 16 in Pinkham Notch is celebrating its sesquicentennial--that’s 150 years of family trips, road races, and bicycle climbs to the summit and its impressive view. The Auto Road plans to celebrate with a number of special activities all summer long, including motorcycle weekend, a road race, and a special sesquicentennial black tie gala. The Road is open from March through November. Phone: 603-466-3988.

Northern New Hampshire hosts an abundance of wildlife, including that gentle giant, the moose. Many guests travel to the White Mountains and Great North Woods regions of New Hampshire to see moose in their natural habitat. Moose Path Trail starts at Route 16 north from Gorham to Errol. Take Route 26 to Dixville Notch to Route 3 north to Pittsburg. This wilderness byway is ideal for the outdoor enthusiast as moose are often spotted along the drive. If you see a moose, keep your distance! They are large, wild animals, and it is important to give them wide berth.

Winter brings a whole new set of sights and sounds to the White Mountains: extra-crisp mountain air, crystal-blue skies, the soft crunch of new snow. A winter tour above the tree line on Mount Washington is absolutely unforgettable, and now this tour is accessible to anyone by way of the SnowCoach, operated by Great Glen Trails on Route 16 in Pinkham Notch, Gorham. A specially constructed all-wheel drive system allows the SnowCoach to deliver you to the world above tree line on the Mount Washington Auto Road. SnowCoach tours last approximately one and one-quarter hours and depart daily, weather permitting, from December through March. Phone: 603-466-2333.

Crisp winter air, beautiful forest all around, and a harness full of big dogs who just want to pull. The town of Jefferson in the White Mountains is home to Muddy Paw Dog Sled Kennel. The kennel offers dogsled rides ranging from two to 50 miles, including dog sledding overnight trips. Guests of all ages and abilities can meet the rescue and second chance sled dogs, pet them, help to harness/hitch the teams and even help drive. The company will customize a unique dogsledding trip to fit your family or large group if you don't see a trip listed that is the perfect fit for you. Sgt. Preston, don’t you wish you were here? Phone: 603-545-4533.

Warm up your visit to the White Mountains with a pop-in visit to the Woodstock Inn Brewery at 135 Main Street in Woodstock. Brews with names like Red Rack, Pig's Ear, and Loon Golden Ale are produced through a traditional seven-barrel system using premium hops and English grains. The prize-winning brews are on display during a free tour of the brewery every day at noon. Woodstock Inn Brewery has won several national awards for its ales; Pig's Ear Brown that has won the National Beer Tasting Championships two years in a row. Come by and get acquainted. Phone: 800-321-3985.

There are over 100 factory outlet stores in Conway, most of them located at Settlers’ Green Outlet Village and Settlers’ Crossing, located adjacent to each other off Route 16. The original outlet destination resort, North Conway is home to Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren, Under Armour, Banana Republic and many more. Antiques, specialty ski shops, art galleries, craft shops, boutiques and gourmet food shops abound. And…no sales tax is charged here. Both Settlers’ Green and Settlers’ Crossing offer a variety of dining options including Black Cap Grille, Starbucks, Brandli’s Pasta Grille, Wrapsody’s ‘N Greens, Kaity’s Big Chill and the Lodge Café. Phone: 888-667-9636.

Founded in 1932, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen is one of the oldest craft organizations in the country. The League was formed during the Depression to help New Hampshire craftspeople make a living through difficult financial times by building an audience and market for fine handmade craft. The League operates seven retail galleries throughout New Hampshire. The galleries present the work of juried craftspeople, along with demonstrations, exhibits and educational programs.
Galleries in the White Mountains region are Littleton Retail Gallery, 81 Main Street, Littleton, 603-444-1099; and North Conway Retail Gallery, Main Street/Route 16, North Conway, 603-356-2441.

Margret and H.A. Rey, authors of the Curious George children’s books, were artists and adventurers, historians and naturalists. Their spirit lives on in the Margret and H.A. Rey Center and Curious George Cottage at 35 Village Road in Waterville Valley, their former home and a place of art, science, and nature programs for children. On Saturdays, the Rey Center is open and filled with Curious George exhibits. Two storytimes will fill up the little ones with George adventures. At the Curious George Cottage, visitors may read books, try drawing in the style of H.A. Rey, and enjoy the view of Mount Tecumseh. Call ahead for hours. Phone: 603-236-3308

For indoor and outdoor pleasures, the resource in East Conway on Route 113 is Town & Country, offering country gifts, wood and gas stoves as well as snowmobile sales, service, rentals for outdoor adventurers. The country store offers Lodge Cast Iron Cookware, country furniture, weathervanes, Warren Kimble Prints, candles and gifts. The outdoorsman can find Polaris and Yamaha recreational vehicles for sale or rent. Snowmobile renters can hit the trails immediately through the Snoward Bound Covered Bridge parking area located just behind the store. Cross the covered bridge and enter a groomed scenic trail connection to New Hampshire's Corridor 19 snowmobile trails. (While the indoor people stay put and shop.) The store is open daily through the winter. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Phone: 603-939-2698.