Poverty Lane Orchards & Farnum Hill Ciders at 98 Poverty Lane in Lebanon have created a popular product by developing a line of hard (fermented) ciders, the single most popular beverage in New England in the 18th and 19th centuries. These days, visitors can purchase both hard and sweet (non-fermented) ciders at the farm stand, open daily beginning September 11. Also on sale at the farm stand are “growlers,” half-gallon refillable glass bottles. The farm stand sells pre-picked apples, and for this year it is hosting an orchard walk with signs along the way that explain the natural and cultivated history of the orchards. Fun for families with kids. Phone: 603-448-1511.

Craftsmen in Lake Sunapee Region

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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

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. Design and create your own beaded jewelry, with a bit of help from the staff. Year-round, daily except Tuesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Phone: 603-526-8902.

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.