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 Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region are Hanover Retail Gallery, 13 Lebanon Street, Hanover, 603-643-5050.

Currier & Ives Trail Is a <br>Peaceful Meander Among Small Towns Currier & Ives Trail Is a
Peaceful Meander Among Small Towns

The 30-mile Currier and Ives Trail displays the beauties of small-town New England along its entire length, through or near the towns of Hopkinton, Warner, Henniker, and Webster. The trail follows Route 127 from Salisbury at its northern end down to Contoocook and Hopkinton, and from there along Routes 103 and 202 towards Hillsborough. Hopkinton has its historic covered bridges and grand colonial houses along Main Street. Downtown is split by the Contoocook River runs shimmering through the heart of Hopkinton. Henniker is rich in the arts and culture of the region. Warner is the home of Rollins State Park and Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum. Webster is filled with old farms and fields. See map.

Etch-A-Sketch, Without Boundaries

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Wingdoodle (definition: a fanciful whatchamacallit) is an art gallery and retail store on East Main Street in Warner that invites visitors to pick up imaginative drawing tools and discover the artist within themselves. A new, populist art form that you can practice at Wingdoodle is known as zentangle, an easy-to-learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is a fascinating new art form that is fun and relaxing. Even though it is a specified series of steps, it results in a creative expression that transcends its own rules. Think of a free-form, Zen version of Etch-A-Sketch. Zentangle kits and advice from the folks at Wingdoodle can get you or another artist in your life buzzing on paper. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Phone: 603-456-3515

Families First Ski Lessons

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At most ski areas, if a family wants to learn how to ski or snowboard, members would be split up by age. Mount Sunapee Resort on Route 103 in Newbury, offers Families First, a program in which a family can learn how to ski or snowboard as a group. Family members must be at least eight years old. If there is a mix of skiers and snowboarders then two instructors are assigned to the family. Families First program includes: A two-hour introductory ski or snowboard lesson, specially designed rental skis or snowboard that facilitate the learning process, and unlimited lift ticket to the South Peak Learning Area. Cost is $80. Phone: 603-763-3500.

Hanover Has Charm and Culture to Spare

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The town of Hanover – home to Dartmouth College – offers a charming combination of urban cultural sophistication, Ivy-League New England village atmosphere and natural beauty and recreational opportunities. Hanover's historic, four-block downtown features more than 90 distinctive specialty shops, brand name stores and 20 restaurants. Downtown Hanover is home to nine theaters, the Hopkins Center for the Arts and the Hood Museum of Art. Immediately adjacent to the downtown is Dartmouth College's architecturally stunning campus. Within walking distance of the downtown is a challenging 18-hole golf course and boating on the pristine Connecticut River, a national heritage river. Within easy drive are hundreds of day hikes, some of the most beautiful biking in America. Phone: 603-643-3115.

Head to the Hood

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People with every taste and preference in world art will find something wonderful to savor at the Hood Museum of Art on East Wheelock Street on the campus of Dartmouth College in Hanover. The Hood is home to an outstanding collection of European, American, Middle Eastern, African, and Asian art and artifacts. The collections are especially strong in American art, with portraits and landscapes by noted Americans. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed on Mondays. Phone: 603-646-2808.

Jewels of Your Own Design for Neck, Wrists, Fingers

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Experience whimsy at Vessels and Jewels, a contemporary American craft gallery and bead boutique on Main Street in New London. The gallery consists of unique hand crafted art (pottery, jewelry, glass, metals, fiber, and more) by artists from New Hampshire, New England, and across the United States. The beautiful gallery space is accompanied by an eclectic bead shop filled with an array of beads and beading components. Design and create your own beaded jewelry, with a bit of help from the staff. Vessels & Jewels is located in the center of New London, in a retail space neighboring Ellie's Cafe and Deli and The Bank's Gallery. Hours: Year-round, daily except Tuesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Phone: 603-526-8902.

Meadows, Stone Walls, and Songbirds

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The Lower Shaker Wildlife Management Area in Enfield provides a beautiful – even spiritual – place to walk through lovely fields and woodlands, sit for a picnic, and enjoy wonderful views. Situated on the east side of Route 4A, the property includes over 70 acres of meadowland that rises 1,100 feet in elevation. The upper fields provide spectacular views of Mascoma Lake and a network of trails extends through the forested part of the property. Shaker stonework is found throughout the woodland in many walls and canals that collected water for powering a stone mill. Animals include big game and small game, as well as various songbirds. Located on the mid-level meadow is the Shaker feast grounds. Phone: 603-868-1095.

Small Engineering Gems

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This region of New Hampshire is wealthy with covered bridges. We have a tender spot for the puckishly named Blow Me Down Bridge in Cornish. The most famous of the region’s bridges is the Cornish-Windsor Bridge, the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States. Shutterbugs: try the interesting viewing challenges on both the New Hampshire and Vermont ends of the bridge.