April Antics

Well, this is it.  Everywhere else in New England has probably already started their lovely spring.  The snow is probably melted, crocuses and daffodils are blooming, and the bunnies are hopping along to find themselves some lovely fresh green grass.

Up here in the North Country, we do things a little bit different.

Sure, the snow is gone from most places (okay – SOME places!) and the temperature is suddenly getting warmer, and yes, it’s quite possible that there may be some early spring crocuses and daffodils popping up.  But up here, you just never know what’s going to happen.  Some people might still be skiing, and those crazy spring hikers might still need snowshoes because yes, there’s always snow somewhere in the mountains in April!

But for those of you who are done with old man winter’s icy cold, Elsa’s snow, and Gale’s wind, we have other options.  

First and foremost – April is the beginning of mud season up here.  Because of this delightful little dirty adventure, there are fewer brave souls out and about in the mountains.  This makes it a really good time for sightseeing believe it or not.  

Rivers and waterfalls are fuller due to the meltdown, and although there isn’t much foliage on the trees yet, April in the mountains has its own kind of beauty.  It’s a great time to take a scenic drive down the Kancamagus highway and stop at the assorted viewpoints and waterfalls.  Or you can pop on over to Upper Falls in Bretton Woods, a popular spot right off the side of the road with easy viewing.  You can even make a day of it – Chasing waterfalls in a great loop that we recommend going down through Lincoln, across the Kancamagus highway, through North Conway and back up through Crawford Notch and Bretton Woods. There will be fewer people about and our scenic vistas and waterfalls take on a different, yet still wild and beautiful look.

Then there are the inside activities – I’m talking about wining, dining and shopping!  Great restaurants and shops are still open – although you should always check the websites in advance for their spring hours. 

Thinking of your spring garden décor? How about checking out one of the many Antique stores in the area. They have great finds for unusual décor that you might not find if you live a little further south.  We have over a dozen antique shops within a 20-mile radius –  and come May, we are going to delve a little deeper into that subject. 

As previously mentioned in our March blog, this is also still a great time to check out the shops and outlets in North Conway for end of season sales.

Last, but not least, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to do some spring hiking and don’t mind possibly getting a little mud on the shoes, there are plenty of options.  Check out our Hike the Whites blog for more info.

Happy Spring everyone!