Here’s a chance to get the fun of flying without the fear of flying. SkyVenture, located on Poisson Road in Nashua, is a vertical wind tunnel where visitors can experience the freedom of flight. There is no falling sensation. You just float above the trampoline floor with ease. The indoor vertical wind tunnel is not only used by the world’s best skydivers to train in but it was also designed for the general public to experience the sport of body flight. No experience necessary! Almost anyone can do it. Reservations are recommended whenever possible. Open daily. Phone: 1-888-SKYVENTURE.

Meet the Llamas (and a Ffew Aalpacas Ttoo)

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The owners of Cicely Farm, on Flaghole Road in Concord started to get stuck on llamas in 1999, when two llamas joined the farm as a 50th birthday present. Now, the farm is home to 31 llamas and some alpacas, and the public is welcome to visit the barn, and meet and pet these lovely creatures. The farm also offers Guided hikes on the property. Hikes offer hands on experience with a focus on Llama 101, on packing theory and etiquette or on family fun and range from very easy to moderately strenuous. Come on by! Who doesn’t llove a llama? Phone: 603-783-9982.

Pamper That Mailman

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A wonderful opportunity to see a dynamic example of modernist design -- via the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright -- is available through the Currier Museum for the Arts in Manchester, where people can tour Wright’s 1950 Zimmerman House. Enjoy the built-in and freestanding furniture, its textiles, and gardens. Dig this: Wright even designed the mailbox. The Currier offers a variety of public walk-on tours for visitors of the house and its gardens from April through December each year, and private group tours are also available by reservation. Phone: 603-669-6144. (Photo from Currier Museum of Art, Manchester, NH. Bequest of Isadore J. and Lucille Zimmerman)

Pirates, Tree Houses, and Room to Crawl

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Moms and Dads of very young children, be advised that a new children’s museum opened in July 2009 at the old Waumbec Mill in Manchester. Kaleidoscope Children’s Museum, on Commercial Street, is designed for children age 1 to 5, though older children are welcome as well. Many of the special events are great for all ages. Kaleidoscope is designed specifically to encourage creative play and thinking. Among the exhibits is Mini-Main Street, Crawlers Corner, ZOOM!, Let the Show Begin, Read to Me!, Jammin' Tree House, Dino Discovery, You're the Star, Movin' N Groovin', Ahoy Me Mateys!, and Arts Alive! Art classes and workshops, music classes, sign language and more are offered on a rotating basis. Even the big kids will be tempted to get down on the floor and play. Phone: 603-606-3381.

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Wholesome Living

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A fascinating day of history and fine dining awaits the curious visitor at the Canterbury Shaker Village and Shaker Table Restaurant in Canterbury. This National Historic Landmark preserves 200 years of Shaker life on 694 acres, 25 original buildings, gardens, and trails. Known for its tranquil beauty, the village offers tours, exhibits, workshops, family programs, hiking trails, unique shopping and delicious food. There is a great museum store, and the Shaker Table Restaurant features Shaker-inspired cooking using fresh ingredients from area producers as well as many fruits, vegetables, and herbs grown on the Village grounds. The Village is open daily, May through October and weekends November, December and April. Phone: 603-783-9511

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1 World Traders Offer Products
From Here to the Horizon

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For Earth-conscious shoppers, a visit to the southern New Hampshire city of Nashua should include a stop at 1 World Trading Company on Main Street, which offers fair-trade, locally made, and environmentally friendly products in a beautiful and friendly setting. Items range from colorful handmade Guatemalan friendship bracelets to traditional Granite State body lotions, shampoo and recycled (used) bicycles. Talk about diversity! Open daily except Tuesdays. Phone: 603-881-9111.

A Little Bit of Home in a Little Corner
of New Hampshire

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For some of us, winter is the time to hunker down near the fireside and wait it out ‘til spring. If you are going to be spending all that time at home, it is a good opportunity to spruce the place up a bit. A Little Bit of Home, a shop on Bridge Street in Pelham, is filled with products that are both locally and commercially made for the home and gift giving. They include soy candles, new and vintage jewelry, handmade baby gifts, home decor, framed prints, floral arrangements, wreaths, lamps and shades, garden products, angels, christmas goods, kitchen gifts, and collectable glass. Stop in form some browsing for your own home or a friend’s. Discover lovely things you didn’t know until now that you needed. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone:603-893-2921

A Look Behind the Scenes of High-Volume Beer Making

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Whether or not you are a beer aficionado, a visit to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery at 221 Daniel Webster Highway in Merrimack is a fun and interesting behind-the-scenes exploration into the brewing industry at it best. Free tours of the brewery include a visit to the Clydesdale Hamlet, home to the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. At the Brew Hall, guests discover how the world's greatest beers are carefully crafted using the highest quality ingredients and packaged in a state-of-the-art facility. If you are 21 years of age or older, sample our products in the Hospitality Room. Choose from a variety of brews including our seasonal brands and new products. Phone: 603-595-1202.

Astronomical Calendar Mystifies Visitors to America's Stonehenge

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America’s Stonehenge, a maze of man-made chambers, walls, and ceremonial meeting places at 105 Haverhill Road, Salem, is most likely the oldest man-made construction in the United States (more than 4,000 years old). Who built it? No one knows for sure. Like Stonehenge in England, America's Stonehenge was built by ancient people versed in astronomy and stone construction. The site is an accurate astronomical calendar. Various inscriptions have been found throughout the site including Ogham, Phoenician and Iberian Punic Script. Visitors today can enjoy walking, exploring, snowshoeing (equipment rentals available), visiting the resident alpacas, and browsing the gift shop, stocked with rocks and minerals, greeting cards, and more. Open daily year-round. Phone: 603-893-8300.

Bring a Camera for Photos with a Clydesdale

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A visit to the Anheuser-Busch brewery on Daniel Webster Highway in Merrimack offers a broad menu of pleasures: see how the brew is made; stroll through the gardens; visit the gift shop. On the first Saturday of each month, a Clydesdale horse – one of the gentle giants that pulled Budweiser wagons back in the day – is brought out for picture-taking with the public. Phone: 603-595-1202

Craftsmen in Merrimack

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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 Merrimack region are Concord Retail Gallery, 36 North Main Street, Concord, 603-228-8171.

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Historic Comunity Serves Shaker Style Cuisine

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Under the slogan, “Serving New Hampshire’s Bounty Every Day,” The Shaker Table Restaurant at The Canterbury Shaker Village is set in a warm, comfortable atmosphere with pastoral views, offering a culinary experience you won't soon forget. The Table’s cuisine features Shaker-inspired cooking using fruits, vegetables, and herbs grown on the Village grounds. Beautifully prepared and presented, each day's featured fare is a feast for the eyes as well as the palette. Every detail, even the menus, carries the distinct Shaker style of simple elegance. The Shaker Table is located within Canterbury Shaker Village, an internationally-known museum and National Historic Landmark that preserves the heritage of the Canterbury Shakers. Phone: 603-568-1127.