A stunning, historic venue! Centered in downtown Claremont, NH this theatre is a gem in a city that…read moreis on its way forward. I've enjoyed a comedy act, wine and cheese tasting event, and music with amazing acoustics. I feel really lucky to live in a place where we have a small town feel with cultural experiences like the ones at the Claremont Opera House. Highly recommend checking out a show or upcoming event!

Glad to have performed here and gotten to see awesome productions here. With OBSP and Rep producing…read moreexcellent quality shows it has brought new life to a great venue. Throw in some of the concerts, comedy shows etc. and you have a great place for a date night.

This place was not at all on my radar when I planned our trip. We had driven up to Windsor to see…read moreanother museum, and the lady who sold the tickets there talked to us about our plans and recommended this place as very worthwhile. So, after lunch, we crossed a semi-narrow wooden bridge and drove a mile or two to this site. You park in a small lot (there was a sign for overflow parking too) and either pay there (if a ranger is on duty) or proceed to the visitors' center (where you can also pay). Augustus Saint-Gaudens was an American sculptor in the late 1800s and into the very early 1900s. I was not specifically familiar with him, but his work and that of those who trained with him was featured on a lot of U.S. coins at the time. It seems like a lot of the older coinage (before the models used now) was related to him. He also designed the Shaw Memorial on Boston Commons (related to the 54th Massacusetts regiment of black troops - see the film 'Glory' for background). From the visitors' center, there are several other areas to see. The ground slopes down towards the Connecticut River in the distance. Facing that, there is a small gallery and courtyard featuring some sculptures to your right. There is also a large sculpture of Lincoln. As you proceed towards the river, there are some works housed in spaces bordered by high hedges (including a copy of the Shaw Memorial). These end at the border to Saint-Gauden's original house, which is sometimes open for tours. When we visited, the sign just said 'wait for docent to open the door'. We later learned that this only happens between 2 - 4 p.m., which would be helpful to add to the sign. A bit below that is the studio building, which has examples of the sculptor's work and exhibits on the process of creating some. Maybe 300 yards further down is a memorial (sort of a small Greek temple) where the Saint-Gaudens' ashes (and those of several family members) are buried. It was a pretty site especially if the weather is nice. The sculptures, especially those which are outdoors, make for good photos. They also offer periodic ranger-led tours. We tagged along for part of one, but had already seen some of the areas, so we broke off and continued on our own. If you are in this area and have any interest in sculpture, this is very worthwhile.

This was a pleasant visit that I took on my way back down from visiting the White Mountains. This…read morehistorical home was the home of and don't laugh at my explanation, a French guy who grew up in NYC. Augustus Saint-Gaudens died in 1907 and lived here for 7 years til he died. He was a sculpter and he created the gold coin called the Saint-Gaudens double eagle, a twenty-dollar gold coin, or double eagle. This is the only way I knew who he was because I have seen this coin referenced in books and online when I was young. The house is a nice pleasant stroll in the late 1800s early 1900!

Blow-Me-Down-Farms National Park for the Arts is a wonderful new initiative in the Upper…read moreConnecticut Valley, uniting the land and building infrastructure resources of the Saint Gaudens National Historic Park, with the artistic and immeasurable talent of Opera North, a non-profit performing arts organization in Lebanon, NH since 1984. If you're aware of the works and legacy of Augustus Saint Gauden, you may remember that it was Charles Beaman, a New York City lawyer and patron of the arts, whose friendship with Saint Gauden brought the artist to Cornish in 1885. The farm, dating to the 1770s, was bought by Beaman in 1882 and renamed Blow-Me-Down Farm after the nearby brook. Beaman immediately began building his "Blowmedown" cottage, a three story barn, and continually improved the farm adding several buildings and houses. He developed orchards and gardens and had considerable livestock. He also bought the land to the east that is now the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. Beaman leased this property to Augustus Saint-Gaudens and his family, who came to Cornish for the first time in 1885 at Beaman's invitation. Beaman's real estate investments and his work attracting artists to the area was key to the creation of the Cornish Art Colony. The Blow-Me-Down Farm property was eventually purchased by the Saint-Gaudens Memorial, a non-profit operating partner of the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. In 2010 the 42.6-acre Blow-Me-Down Farm was transferred to the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. A local farmer grows corn and hays the fields. The performing arts center has a large circus tent and ample grounds for both indoor and outdoor concerts. While the original farmstead and original auxiliary buildings are being totally renovated, the place serves as both a historic place and a concert venue. We went there for one of their concerts under their relationship with Opera North and the National Park Service. Havana Nights was a superb mix of orchestral music and both, variety skits and circus acts of immense quality. Musical works of Bizet, Lecuona, Bernstein. Valdés and Rodrigo were followed by stupendously performed parts of Man of La Mancha. It was an afternoon to remember. The New Hampshire/Vermont Upper Valley. Is no stranger to culture, with an Ivy League university, several colleges nearby, and one of the most educated populations in the nation. The addition of the Summerfest is just more icing on the cake for this beautiful area's cultural heritage

Thoroughly enjoyable self-guided walk through this summer home to 19th century diplomat John Hay…read moreand his family. It is incredible how many gorgeous, welcoming mansions New England has, yet with a different wonderful experience every time. Hay House does not disappoint. This beautiful classic home looks out to Lake Sunapee, and features a rock garden, fairy tale stone gate where the roses grow, and access to everything from the children's rooms and bathrooms to the well-stocked butler's pantry. The best aspect of being self-guided is the freedom to go at your own pace, and appreciate the many details without having to stare at someone doling out long bios. Plentiful signs give you the ideal highlights of each room as well as relevant history, and you can admire the decor and architectural elements to your heart's content. We happened to be there for Artists' Weekend, where many painters were positioned in various spots on the lush grounds, painting their happy little trees. Live music was played on the porch, and it was a lovely environment for such an event. Landscaping and flowers vary with blooming times of year, and there are some nature trails around the grounds. The walk from the parking lot at the street, to the Hay house, is about 1/4 mile on the dirt/gravel road with a bit of a hill. There was another parking lot at the house itself, which we did not realize until we were hoofing it back. Restrooms on site. Beautiful venue for a wedding, which is something they do. Terrific site all the way around. Paired nicely with the Ice House Museum of antique cars about 10 minutes away, and lunch at Peter Christian's Tavern nearby.

Beautiful place to walk and explore. My only complaint is I wish the trails were marked a little…read moremore clearly, we took a wrong turn and had to walk back a ways. There was a long (unexpected!) beautiful stream, and it was the highlight of the whole place for me.

Recently visited here on my first proper New Hampshire trip. Absolutely stunning! So informative,…read morewith a very extensive array of exhibits. An absolute must see, especially because of the lovely staff! Much love from Providence!

Made my first visit to the museum on dec 3, 2022. I had signed up myself and a friend for the Snow…read moreSnake workshop. It was a very congenial group, and the staff who assisted were also warm and welcoming. After a short talk about the traditional ways of making the snow snakes, there was information on the current plans to include other Native bands in competitive games in early 2023. Everyone in the workshop was invited to sign up for the online newsletter so they would know when it was happening. It was an enjoyable and informative 2 hours!

The Claremont Brewfest is a huge Fall event now going into its tenth year. The activity is…read moreorganized and operated by the Claremont Kiwanis Club, a chapter of the international charity organization known worldwide for its collaboration with UNICEF to enhance children's health among many other activities. Now in its tenth year, the Claremont Brewfest proceeds benefit area children. Last year the Claremont Kiwanis Club was able to donate over $50,000 to build a new playground in town. The brewfest counts with the sponsorship of area businesses as well as over 35 brewers in New England which offer their selections to ticketed guests. Entrance tickets are sold way in advance and they consist of a VIP ticket for $75 - these sold out in 90 minutes the day of the sale, and General Admission pricing that starts at $40 in July and become $55 on the day of event. In addition, numerous food trucks sold food throughout the event. Several hundred people attended this year's event, tasting 4 ounce containers of the brewer's selections. The beers included special Octoberfest editions, IPAs, Double IPAs, Pilsners, Sours, Lagers, Hefeweizens and special selections for those with VIP tickets. The atmosphere was festive and congenial, including a few folks in Lederhosen. Live music was playing throughout the event. The selections, the people, the music and the brewers made this one amazing day.

An exclusive members only club, Baker Hill's views are amazing. Food is wonderful and affordable…read moreand there are events almost daily. While we sat on the porch we watched golfers on the course and enjoyed sitting in the cozy bar with a view of the Valley and Mount Sunapee.

Then, from up high, there came a mighty rain, a deluge to cleanse the soul. Okay, okay. It was…read moreraining something fierce and we wanted to see what was inside the artsy shop. There were some mediocre paintings and so on (it's a co-op!), nice wooden sculpture, and remarkable hand painted silk (and at $96, they knew it was good!) scarves. The shop did not cater to tourists with a painting of "our" house so we only walked away with a wooden implement. Still, during peak tourist season, this place must make a ripping profit!

Quintessential New Hampshire with a friendly and attentive woman behind the counter. I desperately…read moreneeded some nice cards for the holiday and am glad I stopped in since they had exactly what I was looking for. Great location and a nicely arranged (albeit small) gallery. I highly recommend stopping by to check it out!