WHAT I LOVED IN THE GRANITE STATE

I love writing my incredible travel experiences, and putting it out there for the world to see the hidden gems I visit which aren’t far or close. Destination planning, checking every historical & political aspect, and collecting information of all those destinations is my priority. Since I travel on weekends, getting a rain-check is an integral part of the travel. Especially during summer times, as you never know when it is going to change.

I began the plan by booking the hotel, checking all the places I want to visit, and what I wanted to do. I love creating my travel itineraries, as it makes my weekend perfect just by looking at it. I was supposed to leave on Friday and go to the Mt Washington observatory, but realized it’s going to rain the whole weekend. Sadly, I couldn’t reschedule my bookings. Therefore, I decided to go on the trip anyway.

The trip began around 6:00 PM EST post work, hoping and praying everything’s going to be OKAY- Ahh!! timing is everything. I drove six and a half hours to reach my hotel “Mt Madison Inn and suites” at Mt Washington, Gorham.

The next day, Saturday, on our way to Franconia Notch State Park, we found this perfect breakfast place, nestled in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire, ” Water Wheel Breakfast and Gift House.” They are known for their big pancakes (that are pretty huge), homemade fudge, and pure maple syrup. While I waited for my order, I strolled down into the gift shop to buy some souvenirs, which I have to say was pretty good.

One who has traveled in NH will know that it is blessed with a low population and amazing landscapes! I must say… It is a blessing. Although NH welcomes several tourists and travelers, none of it has blighted the beauty of it. You will not find towering hotels nor any scammers. NH’s major attractions every year during their seasons are, hinting, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, and several other winter sports.

After my breakfast I began my journey to Franconia Notch State Park, but wait! I spotted one of the best views I have ever seen outside the silver screen!! I was at Cherry Mountain, Otto View. This was a treat! I recommend everyone to stop by and visit this wonderful location and enjoy your time there.

Franconia Notch State Park, located in the White Mountains in Northern New Hampshire, Flume Gorge and Old Man of the mountains are the tourist attractions that one shouldn’t miss out! Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the state park had closed all access to the Old Man of Mountains, Echo and Profile lakes. I wasn’t discouraged and visited Flume Gorge, (paid attraction) which is a natural gorge (highly fractured granite) extending 800 ft horizontally at the base of Mount Liberty.

Pathway to the Flume begins from ” The Table rock and The Flume Covered bridge (Kissing Bridge). Table Rock is a section of Conway granite that is 500 feet long and about 75 feet wide. According to resources, New Hampshire has a total of 66 covered bridges and each one of them has an unique structure and its own story. We found one covered bridge built in the year 1886 in Lincoln, NH over the Pemigewasset River at the junction of N.H. Route 175 and U.S. Route 3.

The Flume Covered Bridge AKA the Kissing Bridges

After visiting the Flume Gorge, I began my journey to “The Basin”! Yes, it is one of the biggest tourist attractions in New Hampshire and is free to the public. Beneath a waterfall in the Pemigewasset River is a granite pothole which came about to bet the Basin. Many people have described the basin in different ways, but I feel that it appears as if a white cascade tumbles into the basin and whirls around a rock shaped like a human foot.

Since it is not allowed to swim in the Basin, I began hunting for a waterfall inside the park and at last I found a gem. When you turn and walk towards the Pemi trail you will pass by a small swimming hole, but when you have got to walk a little further until you find the carpeted road, right on the left you will find a small waterfall and a pool, which is a perfect area to enjoy your time. Water was so clear but also very cold. If the water was at the right temperature, swimming would have been much easier. Regardless, I dove into the swimming hole and saw plenty of fishes that swam past me, I believe they were little salmons. Beating all odds of the trip, I enjoyed the first day and spent the Saturday night at the Quality inn, North Conway.

Other than the city area, the cell phone service was poor in North Conway, NH. Often, I was checking my phone to make calls or connect to WIFI to discover places around the area to visit or to find restaurants. If you are visiting New Hampshire make sure you visit here to prepare yourself for what’s coming next, the key is to plan the trip well.

My Sunday begins by visiting a place which is also a gem for NH. The White Mountain National Forest links the Vermont and Maine portions of the Appalachian Trail. This trail has the Mount Washington Auto Road, where visitors can drive to the top of 6,288-foot Mount Washington with scenic views. The Auto Road is not like other driveways, it is known for its distinctive flavors includes remarkable panoramic views and ever-changing weather extremes. It allows passing through four distinct climate zones as you climb to the highest peak in the Northeast.

We paid $55 (Car and the driver $35 and for each adult passenger add $10) to drive auto road for three people. (Be sure to check the website to know how much you will have to pay if you are planning to drive yourself.

Auto view Scenic views – mountain tops covered with clouds

The Mt Washington Observatory or the New England’s Weather Station is located at the summit of the tallest peak in the northeastern United States. If you are families with the New Hampshire’s weather you probably know that it’s called “World’s Worst Weather” and the observatory is tracking this worst weather for 24 hours for 365 days. However, this constantly changing weather adds more colors to this famous peak, attracting more visitors to the peak. We witnessed the dramatic could formation that changes in every second and high wind that makes you feels like you are in heaven.

Auto Road is truly one of the most spectacular drives in the Northeast! Don’t forget to stick the famous “This car climbed Mt. Washington” bumper sticker.

Sunday evening, I drove back to Jackson, NH to have the final glance at New Hampshire. Have you heard about this popular waterfall called ” Glen Ellis Falls”? Glen Ellis Falls is a very unique waterfall as it drops 64 feet down at an odd right angle. This trail starts under the highway and you will see steps to enter the trail and the viewing areas that have made up of granite. The trail begins with the Ellis river and disappears by making small waterfall which water then falls with high pressure through the Glen Ellis Falls. First, you will pass the top of Glen Ellis Falls, further down the trail, will find the base of the falls as you go down the steps. Probably due to the rain, it had so much water flowing, that I felt the rumble and its force. Such an incredible experience to feel mother nature’s brute force. If you visit this falls on the rainy season as we did, probably that view will get you scared or anxious.

If you visit New Hampshire be sure to stop by any 99restaurant and try their unique Hot Buttered Lobster Roll seared with French fries and coleslaw or Broiled Sirloin Tips or Southwest Fajita Steak Bowl. I must tell their “Towering Midnight Fudge Cake” made my trip even much merrier.