It may take some effort to get to the top, but when you do, you are rewarded for that effort!…read more Stunning views of the Lake Winnipesaukee region!

Forget paying for Castle in the Clouds - come to the Abenaki Tower for free!…read more Easy parking. I can see it getting a bit muddy in some places. 0.1 miles from the lot to the tower. Then about (5) sets of stairs to the top. Yes, a damn shame there is so much graffiti on the tower. However, it's not in your face w/ bright colors. Ignore it and take in the immense view. This is a better vantage point of both lakes Winnipesauke and Wentworth. Higher up too. I came on a cloudy day and it was still breathtaking. Pair this with the Wright WW2 museum and you have a solid day.

This is one of several mysterious stone chambers in New England, whose provenance and purpose is…read moreunknown. Usually they are square or rectangular in shape, with stone slabbed roofs and soil floors. Archaeologists usually try to claim that they were built by early colonists as 'root cellars' yet they are ill-suited to that task as the floors are soil, which is hardly conducive to dry storage. There is also some documentary evidence from early colonists saying that the chambers were there when they arrived. Other chambers have had very old trees growing out of their walls, evidence that the chamber must be older than the tree. Another theory is that they were sweat lodges used by native Americans, but there is no evidence to show that any native groups built stone sweat lodges. So who did build these things? The closest equivalent in Britain is the souterrains of Scotland or fogous of Cornwall, but these tend to be larger and have curved layouts. The corbelled roof construction is similar to the beehive cells constructed by early monks like the Culdees, but there the similarity ends. Maybe it was early Viking explorers? An earlier megalithic culture that we don't know about? It's a fascinating enigma. Research by antiquarians and earth mystery researchers has shown that many chambers have precise geometric ratios in their construction, and that they are aligned to significant solar events like midwinter solstice, and this Beehive Hut seems no exception. The proportions are almost exactly 2:1 - it is just short of being twice as long as it is wide, and the width and height are the same. The entrance (by my estimation) seems to be aligned to midwinter sunrise (it's hard to be precise because of the tree cover), and is situated part-way up a hillside, which would allow the rising sun to enter the chamber. There are an interesting couple of white quartz stones, one in the back wall and one in the left-hand side wall, which may mark the extremes of the sunrise positions between equinox and winter solstice. But as I'm not resident here I am unable to do the long-term observations that this theory would require to confirm it. Interested locals should get in touch with the New England Antiquities Research Association (NEARA), who will know more about these things.

On our second visit to the Zimmerman House, we were blessed with two docents (guides) from the…read moreCurrier Museum, both were very knowledgeable about Wright and the building. I learned a few new things on this visit, and we also got to walk to the Kalil house just down the street, which the museum has recently taken under its control. That could hardly be more different, yet still recognisably a Wright house.

Not what you might expect to find in Manchester, NH…read more Connected to the Currier Art Museum, they provide tours that are hosted by two volunteers. You can see this home and there is one two blocks away called the Kalili Home. If you appreciate Frank Lloyd Wright, this is a must of you're in Manchester.

I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine (and NH) has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Yes. Loop trail? No. Well marked signs? No. Element of surprise? Yes. I didn't realize until recently that Steep Falls was more than just the name of a town (or bridge) in Maine. I mean, I knew it was named after the falls it surrounds, but I guess I didn't realize you could access those falls for a nature walk! We first came during late autumn. There's a small parking lot, but you want to walk across Main St/Route 11 (before the bridge) to the other side because there's nothing actually adjacent to the parking lot itself. There are pretty obvious trails from here, but nothing is marked. Just follow the water itself (except for one spot, which you'll have to veer away from the water, into the woods, over a much smaller bridge [meant for snowmobiles? ATVs?] over Tucker Brook [I think?] then back down to the water). The fun fact about this spot is that, while it's nearly 75 feet across apparently it's only a six food drop, but still manages to be one of the top volume waterfalls in the entire state (with the water flowing steadily and strongly all year round). From what I've heard from locals, this is a spot to party at during the summer (even when we came we saw remnants of fire pits on the beach before the falls). Just sitting on the rocks so close to the falls was pretty stunning; it's loud, it's splashy, and it feels entirely remote as this part of Saco River is surrounded by tall evergreens!

The Wiggly Bridge is a narrow pedestrian suspension bridge that stands in York, Maine. Located just…read moreoff of Maine State Route 103 (Lilac Lane), the 75-foot-long bridge crosses the tidal flow from Barrel Mill Pond to the York River. Built in the 1930s, it is believed to be the smallest suspension bridge in the United States. The bridge provides access to the Steedman Woods Nature Preserve and is a popular feature of the Fisherman's Walk trail. Originally known as the "Barrel Bridge", local lore claims that it earned its current name from a perceptive group of Girl Scouts who noted the bridge's "wiggly" nature. When walked upon, the deck bounces and flexes, banging back and forth in the anchorages. Many native southern Mainers can share their own childhood memories of leaping over the edge into the water and being pushed underneath with the current, one way or the other depending on the tide. This practice, as well as clam digging and any other possibly damaging activity, is now discouraged due to the erosion of mudflats. The Wiggly Bridge stands out as an iconic landmark and a must-visit destination for anyone looking to immerse themselves in York, Maine's unique charm and natural splendor. Steedman Woods is also a great place to visit. A nice stroll on the trails in this lush and tranquil forest offer scenic viewpoints and picturesque spots that showcase the breathtaking beauty of the Maine coast. Parking near the Wiggly Bridge is limited, so you may need to park on the side of Route 103 or in a nearby harbor lot, keeping in mind some spots may require a permit or have time restrictions. It is also possible to walk to the bridge from nearby York Village.

"Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle in your boots and shoes Wiggle,…read morewiggle, wiggle, you got nothing to lose" (Bob Dylan) Ever since I stumbled upon a Yelp listing for something as awesomely named as "The Wiggly Bridge", I knew I just had to make a visit happen one of these days. Pulling off that visit was difficult, because following the address we had put us in the middle of a residential neighborhood with "Permit Parking Only" signs galore. We parked off to the side, held our breath, crossed our fingers, and looked for the Bridge, which was nowhere to be found. Luckily, a gent was walking near us, and he directed us to a long circuitous walk down an elevated path, under the road, and across a marine walkway. As we walked and walked and walked, we finally caught sight of the big green spires that told us we had found the elusive Wiggly Bridge. The Wiggly Bridge is just 75 feet long, and I've seen a few sources claim it's the smallest suspension bridge in the world. And yes, we can confirm that when you walk across it, it most definitely bounces, wiggles, and flexes under your feet. I can also confirm that on a rainy day (like today), the Bridge should really be named "The Wiggly and Slippery Bridge", because it was slippery as hell.

A lovely covered footbridge established in 1995. It's quaint and quiet and a lovely representation…read moreof New England. As you walk across it, stop and listen to natures music...bustling leaves, roaring streams, singing birds. It's really quite peaceful. If you put the Town Hall on your GPS, it's right at the end of their parking lot to the right. I recommend this picturesque stop while in Gilford!

This is a must stop when you come to Gifford NH. It's so beautiful with the trees, flowers, water,…read moreand walking in a covered bridge. You park at the town hall lot and see it on the right side. It's just peaceful and lovely to stop and look and relax here for a bit.

Was such a beautiful day today so I decided to go visit the Robert Front farm in Derry Nh and I'm…read moreglad I did what an amazing and beautiful place. The farmhouse is closed for the season but the old farm out back is quite the adventure walking on the trail and reading his poems and living on the farm the inspiration from living on the farm. Wonderful poem's along the way the sounds of birds squirrels just being in the nature of it all. What a time in America The cold winters weren't easy and yet we fortunate to have the Robert Frost farm here in New England

Was a beautiful day so we started with the walk around the estate. Every so often there would be a…read moremarker with information about Robert Frost and one of his poems. Unfortunately we arrived too late for a tour of the house, but those in the barn were very informative. Strongly encourage a visit if you are close by.

One of my favorite waterfalls and hikes!…read more It's on the Kancamagus highway and White Mountain National Forest. It's a .6 mile round trip hike, easy for the little ones too. There was ample parking and it's a nicely maintained area. The waterfall has multiple levels and a gorge. I really love the wooden bridges, viewing platforms, and railings, it reminded me of the Enders Falls in Granby, CT. My family and I enjoyed the hike and the views. It's a beautiful spot and worth a visit!

What an amazing place to stop, deep into the kancamagus highway drive. This hidden gem is about 1/3…read moreof a mile walk into the woods with about 100 feet of elevation gain. So a slight incline as you walk up to the falls. This waterfall drops through a stone flume that it has carved out of the earth for centuries. It almost bounces from rock wall to rock wall as it makes its way to the emerald pool at the bottom. The pool is strictly off limits to swimmers. There is a wooden staircase that climbs to the top of the falls, you should always stay within the rails of the wooden fences. As you get to the top you're face to face with the water as it plummets through the air and flume to the rocks below. The colors here are so magnificent in spring with the variations of green and in fall with all the beautiful autumn colors. I suggest a stop here in every season. In the winter you will 100% need micro spikes to get through the trail. It's so worth it to see this beautiful place through every season we have here in New England. Sabbaday is a beautiful place and has a soft spot in my heart. It's like stepping into a fairy world of green trees and mossy rocks to its wooden paths, and cascading water fall. If you've never been, you simply must check it out. The path is wide enough for strollers, scooters, or chairs, but again, would have to stop where the staircase begins. The cost is $5 to park in the lot, which isn't much considering all that goes into making these parks so great. There are a few spots with picnic tables to eat lunch, but the bugs will be having lunch as well! You! Still worth every second!

Really cool old house. The history is very interesting there and says a lot about the land. Was a…read morelittle disappointed though that they closed off entering the house in the fall.

Stopped in to visit on a trip along the Kancamagus Highway. They have a well kept, historical…read morecemetery, a newer barn constructed using a portable saw mill from trees on site and the original home structure. The house is furnished with period pieces and there is a docent available to answer questions. It's a nice stop to get out and stretch your legs, learn a little history and enjoy a beautiful day. There is a short walking trail on the property and the barn is available for rent.