Rose Robinson

When we moved to the Mt. Washington Valley, in the northern moutainous region of New Hampshire, we immediately felt right at home. A popular tourist destination with a multitude of retail outlets, it was the unparalleled beauty of the area that sealed our decision to relocate here. Surrounded by the 750,000 acre White Mountain National Forest, and set at the base of Mount Washington - the highest peak in the Northeast - the Valley is just 2-1/2 hours from Boston.

Primarily a four-season resort community with a foliage season that attracts many folks (locally called "leaf peepers") as well as a winter haven featuring Alpine and downhill skiing as well as some of the best cross country and snowshoeing opportunities in the East. Summer brings a gamut of outdoor activities: hiking, biking, swimming, and camping. Visitors to the Mt. Washington Valley enjoy all of this as well as over 80 restaurants, 2400 lodging rooms, and excellent outlet shopping (no sales tax!).

Photo of Silver Lake, Madison, NH

Tourism is the Valley's largest industry. Being a year-round vacation destination, it attracts visitors from all over the world. For those of us who are lucky enough to live here, the Valley is a great place to live, work and raise a family!

Conway Lake- Conway, New Hampshire

May 18th, 2010

The water is perfect!

The Mt. Washington Valley is comprised of many distinct towns surrounded by magnificent mountains which include the 780,000-acre White Mountain National Forest. This area was originally a 19th century summer destination for wealthy Bostonians who sought out the superb vistas, the picturesque Saco River and the ponds and lakes such as Conway Lake. Habitat to fish species such as salmon, smallmouth and brook trout, the lake also attracts swimming, boating and fishing enthusiasts. Here are more fun facts about Conway Lake courtesy of Wikipedia.

Conway Lake is a 1,299-acre water body located in Carroll County in eastern New Hampshire, in the United States. The lake is located in the towns of Conway and Eaton, just to the east of the White Mountains and is part of the Saco River watershed.

Conway Lake was formerly known as Walker's Pond. At the northern edge of the lake on Mill Street there is a park by that name that comprises the Conway Lake Dam and original mill site. The lake itself was once much smaller in size; the creation of a dam to build a grist mill enlarged the lake to its present size. In 1817 the Gazetteer of the State of New Hampshire said of Conway: "It contains 4 corn mills, 5 saw mills, 1 mill for dressing cloth, 2 carding machines, 3 distilleries, and 3 retail stores."
It was not until the coming of the train tracks in 1865 that the mills started to prosper. At that time logs were floated over Conway Lake for processing before being hauled off by freight car to Portsmouth and other places. Together with the nearby granite from Redstone, the mills on Mill Street were responsible for producing wood for several train stations in New England.

Through the years, Conway Lake has been a source for recreation, where fishermen and canoeists can go for a quiet paddle. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department manages the lake for landlocked salmon; fishing licenses are required, and the lake waters are patrolled regularly. Lakeside residents and day visitors can swim on private and public beaches. Sailing and water skiing are prevalent in the summer months.

The legend of Ol' Pork Chop:
The lake is home to herons, loons, eagles, deer, snakes, stinkpot turtles, painted turtles and snapping turtles. According to older residents, there exists a very old and very large snapping turtle named Pork Chop, who is so-called because a summer resident claims to have fed the turtle pork chops each year. Stories of Ol' Pork Chop have been used successfully to coax children out of the water, but there have been no known snapping turtle attacks reported.

It's amazing how we as human beings can become so anesthesized to our everyday world that we start to take for granted many of the wonderful things that are given to us.

Let me share a story. In 1990, my hubby and i decided to give up all that was familiar and dear to us, and move north to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It wasn't easy to do. Our families were not in favor of this move. For years, we felt like pariahs to our own families, as we were "the black sheep". We weathered the criticism, the disdain for moving "so far away" and eventually (finally) were forgiven. So here we are. In the best, most beautiful area in the world. Looking out our back deck we see glorious views, awe-inspiring sunsets, and occasionally a deer or a turkey. Recently though, I noticed we were taking all this natural beauty for granted; so I started to take daily photos and post them. Here are today's photos taken after yesterday's 16-inch snowfall. Enjoy!

COFFEE ANYONE?

Living in the White Mountains...what more can anyone ask for. If you would like to MOVE, please contact me. My neighborhood is a new community (there are 3 houses and 4 owners so far) and we would LOVE new neighbors! Go to www.royalview.net for more info. Thanks for looking!

We're not getting a bailout here in the Mt. Washington Valley in northern New Hampshire. We are offering lots of ski deals to vacationers though; in the hopes that enticements not bailouts will work.

Cranmore Mountain is offering two-for-one lift tickets from Monday to Thursday (no holidays). They also offer a package deal of 3 tickets for $135- which is pretty good being only $45- per day. If you buy a lift ticket after 2:00 p.m. you can ski that day and continue onto the next day also (that's the "After 2, tommorrow too" deal)...for more information on Cranmore in North Conway, go to www.cranmore.com.

Shawnee Peak just 20 minutes east of North Conway in nearby Maine, offers 40 trails, of which 19 are lit for night skiing. Some Mondays, you can pack up the car full of people, and the whole carload pays $75 for the day (be sure to arrive before 11:00 a.m.) Monday nights bring tickets for $12-$14; Tuesday nights are two-for-one ski passes and $15- on some Tuesday nights (call first to confirm which nights offer the discounted prices). Thursdays are men's day and Fridays are women's day; both are $28 lift tickets. Got a honey who likes to ski? Take him or her on a date every Saturday night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. for just $15. You can splurge on champagne later at these prices.

Attitash in Bartlett has a special promotion; buy a lift ticket and get a $10- off coupon for your next lift ticket, purchased between January 9th and March 1st. Go to their website at www.attitash.com for more ways to save at Attitash.

King Pine in East Madison is no slouch either; my daughter-in-law took advantage of their ice skating for just $12 this past weekend and loved it! Their ski packages are great: $45 Saturday night family deal (2 adults, 2 children); their senior deals are worthwile also. Those aged 65 to 69 can ski for just $28.

At Wildcat in Jackson, there is a $25 Sunday afternoon ticket. Wednesdays are two-for-one on any non-holiday. Your birthday? You can ski free here on your special day.

Last but certainly not least, Black Mountain still has their family special in place; two adults and two children ( 6-17) can ski for $79 midweek and $99 on weekends and holidays.

These are some of the "snow much fun" here in the Mt. Washington Valley!

The Mt. Washington Valley comes alive in the winter months, as the mountainsides are dotted with happy skiers and snowboarding, ice skaters out of a Victorian painting, and vacation fun is at its peak!

With the backdrop of the Presidential mountains, many of our local scenery is right out of a Currier and Ives print. Winter nights are magical as sparkling lights illuminate snow covered trees. Mt. Washington is the picture of everything a New England resort should be with its charming villages, icy rivers and snow-covered mountains rising magnificiently against blue skies. With seven terrific downhill ski areas, ice skating at Ham Arena, cross-country ski trails and lots of lakes and ponds just begging to ice fish on, and you can see that recreational fun is plentiful.

At the end of a bustling day, whether it be from snow-sports or from shopping at the many outlet stores, local restaurants and pubs offer a fireside to warm your tootsies and savor a hot toddy.

Many of the towns are still dressed up from the holidays; it adds to the festive air. Experience small New England Villages with their town commons and white steepled churches, many covered bridges, and of course country roads and ski trails...here are some photos to enjoy (taken by Jackson XC, and posted on their website: www.jacksonxc.org. Many thanks to Jackson Ski Touring Foundation in Jackson Village for these wonderful photos!)

The famous Jackson Falls, as the tumultous water slowly turned into ice art!

A lone skier cuts the first path on the ski trail.

Ever wonder what silence feels like? Untouched and beautiful after a snowstorm, this path could lead to many adventures.