New Hampshire's White Mountains offer many outdoors activities: hiking, backpacking, paddling, cycling, fishing...
And one way to enjoy this Great Outdoors is through the Appalachian Mountain Club, which has ongoing seasonal activities and packages.
For example: autumn Family Weekends, with different themes. Applefest Family Weekend features a ride in a horse-drawn carriage to an orchard, where kids can watch apples get pressed into cider. Family Adventure Weekend offers walks and hikes led by a naturalist. Forest Family Weekend focuses on forest wildlife; highlight is a moose-spotting tour. And in October, Harvest Festival Family Weekend has pumkin and leaf crafts, fall foliage hikes, and "geo-caching" using a GPS.*
Activities take place at several lodges, each located in or near National Forests or State parks. Nice perk: at the Highland Lodge, an L.L. Bean gear room offers guests free use of outdoor gear (such as hiking boots, backpacks, fleece jackets, etc.)
Weekend packages include accommodation (in private bunkroom, with shared bath), dinners and breakfasts, and guided programs. Prices are reasonable, with kids' rates for ages 15 and under; rooms with private bath are available too.
Later in the year, look for repeats of holiday season packages:
- Thanksgiving Family Fun Fall Harvest Package, with Thanksgiving dinner buffet
- Family Gingerbread Weekend, in early December: build your own gingerbread house, enjoy a holiday party, crafts, gingerbread cookie decorating, and guided hikes with an AMC naturalist. (Or do holiday shopping at nearby outlet stores.)
- Bethlehem Christmas Package, with trip to a tree farm to cut-your-own Christmas tree; Christmas Day brunch; New Year's Eve dinner.
See more about all these packages at the Appalachian Mountain Club site.
This brief profile is meant to introduce this destination to family vacationers; please note that the writer has not visited in person.
Always check web site for updates!
