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"I took the road less traveled by / And that has made all the difference." It's no coincidence that Robert Frost wrote these lines in New Hampshire.
The state "does" all four seasons extremely well, and the best way to experience them is by driving or cycling down those same back roads that Robert Frost immortalized in "The Road Not Taken." There are 16 "Scenic Byways" in the state -- check out www.byways.org/browse/states/NH/ for a complete list -- running through mountains, along rocky coastlines and across the covered bridges that span the Connecticut River. Add brightly colored foliage or a dusting of snow, farm stands with piles of pumpkins, orchards hung with heirloom apples and antique shops cluttered with treasures, and you'll soon discover why New Hampshire is so famous for fall touring.
New Hampshire is prime birding territory, with more than 300 different species of birds residing or migrating through the state. In the fall, now through November, it's easy to spot the big birds of prey -- osprey, eagles, hawks and falcons -- as they migrate along flyways on the coast and in the mountains. The local Audubon Society (www.nhaudubon.org) offers guided walks and information about recently sited species and good viewing grounds.
You don't need to be a student, or a parent of one, to enjoy college towns like Hanover (Dartmouth College), Keene (Franklin Pierce College), Exeter (Phillips Exeter Academy) and Portsmouth (for nearby UNH at Durham). Drop in after the dust of move-in has settled and campus life is fully engaged. You'll find these towns are cross-generational and cross-cultural centers abuzz with amazing arts programs, entrepreneurial restaurateurs and great bookstores.
Local boy Bode Miller, the reigning World Cup Champion, isn't the only fan of New Hampshire's ski mountains (www.SkiNH.com). Last winter's ski season was one of the best in recent memory and the major resorts continue to invest millions in improvements from high-speed quad lifts to Arcti-Cat ski tractors. For a different experience, skiers and snowboarders can ride the venerable Mount Washington Cog Railway half way up the 6,288-foot mountain, before descending under their own steam. The evolution of the sport is beautifully showcased at the New England Ski Museum at Cannon Mountain in Franconia Notch, that picks up the story after Norwegian immigrants started a ski club here in the town of Berlin in 1872.
You haven't tasted an apple until you've tried one of the local heirloom varieties, fresh picked, dew-decked and sold at orchards along the Apple Way Scenic Byway in Londonderry and elsewhere in the state. For a similar treat, stop at any of the 60 farm stands on the New Hampshire Division of Agriculture's list (www.agriculture.nh.gov) to sample autumn's bounty -- grapes, raspberries and pumpkins, and a variety of artisanal products, from fresh goat cheese to indigenous honey.
TRUE FLAVOR
Dover is fast becoming the new hotbed of restaurant creativity. Two Portsmouth restaurateurs, Jay McSharry (Jumpin' Jay's Fish Café, Radici, and Dos Amigos Burritos) and Louis Hamel (Lindbergh's Crossing and Lou's Upstairs Grill), have partnered on a new venture in Dover. Their new place is actually two restaurants: Little Louie's Fish House, serving dinner; and Dover Soul, open as a coffee house by day and a martini bar at night.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
When you're looking for that special keepsake, made with skill and passion, the name to look for is the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen (www.nhcrafts.org). This 300-member group of New Hampshire artisans sells its products -- everything from hand-turned wooden bowls to hand-crafted furniture -- in eight League shops/galleries scattered around the state. Their annual Craftsmen's Fair is the oldest craft fair in the country is held in August, but their eight stores are open year round. A further bonus: there's no sales tax in New Hampshire.
DID YOU KNOW?
New Hampshire's tallest peak, 6,288-foot Mount Washington, holds the all-time, world, surface wind-speed record -- 231 mph recorded on April 12, 1934. A Meteorological Observatory is still maintained year round on the summit.
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