North Conway Vacations Blog

New Hampshire Maple Syrup Season Arrives!

Did you know that the New Hampshire maple syrup industry produces about 90,000 gallons of maple syrup each spring?  As frozen sap in the maple tree thaws, it begins to move and causes pressure within the tree.  When the pressure reaches a certain point, sap will flow from a fresh cut in the tree and the result is maple syrup!  It takes freezing temperatures in the night and warm sunny days to create just the correct pressure to make the sap run, making a great harvest.

It all starts in late February when small holes are drilled into the trunk of trees and a spout is inserted.  A bucket of plastic tubing is attached to the spout and the sap starts to drip!  As it is collected, it is taken to a sugar house where the transformation to maple syrup all begins.  The sugar house actually boils the sap and it becomes concentrated and has the consistency of maple syrup.  It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of pure maple syrup.  Now, that is a lot of sap!

Now what good is making maple syrup if you can't taste it?  During the weekend of March 27th and 28th, New Hampshire Maple Producers will host a Maple Syrup Weekend.  Over 65 sugar houses across the state will host visitors and offer free samples and demonstrate how the process happens.  You can either check their website or call 603-225-3757 for a list of participating sugar houses.

Here's to maple syrup!

Purity Spring Sled Dog Race at King Pine Ski Area

Dog Sled Races in North Conway are fairly new to the area and are a great spectator sport for all ages.  The King Pine Ski Area will host the 3rd Annual Purity Spring Sled Dog Race Classic on Saturday and Sunday, March 6th and 7th.  The course for the dog sled races will be along the groomed Nordic trails of King Pine, with most of the races being held around Purity Lake.  Mushers and dog teams will be competing for two days, starting at 9 A.M. each day and continuing until about 3 P.M. in the afternoon.  There will be a variety of races from 3-Dog Juniors up to 8-Dog Pros and there will also be a 12-Mile Open Division.    

Admission to the Purity Sled Dog Races is free for spectators and can be viewed from various areas along the course.  Spectators should plan to bring cross-country skis or snowshoes, or rent equipment from King Pine if you choose to view the race along the course.  If spectators view the dog sled races from the start or finish line, equipment will not be needed.

Another great outdoor winter activity in the  North Conway area!   

Sweet Street is a Great Halloween Family Getaway in the North Conway Area

Are you considering a family getaway to enjoy Halloween in the North Conway area?  If not, then you should!  Sweet Street is just what you need.  Remember the days when you would enjoy Halloween and Trick or Treat for hours going all over the neighbor?  Well, now your children can enjoy it as well.  Sweet Street is a safe, old fashioned Trick or Treat block party for children 10 and under.  Sweet Street allows children to stroll down spooky pumpkin lined streets in Jackson Village and collect goodies from displays set up by local businesses and families.  This sounds like fun to me!

In addition to enjoying Trick or Treat, children will be able to enter the Spooky Carved Pumpkin contest, join the Spooktacular Costume Parade, or just enjoy the warmth of the harvest bonfire.  Of course there will be cider and some old fashion country music to enjoy as well.

Sweet Street will be held in Jackson Village on Saturday, October 31^st.  If you do plan to enter the Pumpkin Contest, registration starts at 2 P.M.  The major Trick or Treat event starts at 4:30 and if you have any questions, just call the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce at 383-9356.

Happy Halloween from the Innkeepers at the Old Field House Inn!

Fall Foliage in New Hampshire

Fall foliage is just around the corner and New Hampshire is the perfect place to visit to enjoy the views and outstanding scenery!  Guests of the Old Field House Inn can turn at any corner and enjoy special rides through the countryside and mountains and enjoy nature's splendor as it shows its best colors and scenery of the season.  Vivid reds, vibrant yellows, and brilliant orange are a few of the colors that will be on display.   Of course, there are also the pumpkins galore, apple orchards and hay rides to get you into the full spirit!

We have many favorite Fall foliage rides but two favorites are the Kancamagus Highway and Pinkham Notch Loop.  The Kancamagus Highway  is one of New England's more beautiful drives.  It covers 34 miles and is known by locals as "the Kank".  The east-west drives goes through over 800,000 acres of the White Mountain National Forest and the views are breathtaking.   The Pinkham Notch Loop offers spectacular views of the Presidential Mountains and surrounding countryside, including Mount Washington. 

Fall foliage is almost upon us!  We encourage you to make reservations early and leave the rest to nature!

Added Value for Guests of the Old Field House Inn

When people are planning their vacations they truly want to receive value.  Value for many can be seen as a discount in a room rate, but is that a real value?  Guests of the Old Field House Inn will not be offered discounts on their room rates, but will be offered true "value added".  Let us share with you what guests of the Old Field House Inn receive.

Traditional features are offered including great rooms, TV's, DVD's, DVD library, and a lovely breakfast.  But this is only the beginning.  In addition, guests will also experience what makes the Old Field House Inn stand apart from other Inns.  Guests also enjoy:

• A heated 85 degree swimming pool open from 7 A.M. until 10 P.M.;
• Outdoor hot tub;
• Gas grills for guests to utilize during their stay;
• Picnic tables to enjoy the wonders from the grill or the picnic basket;
• Fire pit to get the full feel of an evening bond fire;
• Game room which is free for all families to use (Rod noted that his mother would be upset if he charged children to play games);
• Movie theater and on evenings when there are families, a "G" rated movie begins at 7:30 for the children and this provides the parents with a well needed break;
• Hammocks for relaxing and taking an afternoon's nap;
• Screened cabanas around the pool.

So come as guests and enjoy the true "value added" amenities the Old Field House Inn enjoys sharing!

Jacuzzi Suites for Romantic Getaways in Intervale, NH

 

Are you seeking a romantic getaway with a Jacuzzi in New Hampshire?  The Old Field House Inn has eight lovely Jacuzzi Suites, all with fireplaces.  Each Jacuzzi Suite features a king or queen sized bed with a skylight over the bed so that you can count the stars!  Of course if you need to connect with the outside world, each suite also has a television and telephone. 

To make your romantic getaway even easier, there are three Romantic Getaway Packages to choose from.  Dinner for Two, Massage for Two, or Romance Deluxe which is complete with a candlelight dinner for two and a ½ hour couple's massage.  Getaway packages start at $395 mid-week and in the winter months, you can even add a sleigh ride to your getaway.  A true romantic getaway!