July 21, 2018 – New Hampshire – Upper Ammonoosuc Falls

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I went to the Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in Coos County, New Hampshire. The Upper Falls is known more for the pools and gorges, then the actual Falls. It has plunges, and cascades with the highest water drop at a mere eight feet. It is also popular for cliff jumping, and unfortunately has been a known area where drownings have occurred.

We were pleased to be able to visit the Upper Ammonoosuc Falls. It was a warm day, and a bit sunny for photographs, but I always attempt to capture our adventures on film. The Falls was not too clear from the road, but luckily my research allowed us to locate it. We walked around, crossing a bridge, before hopping along on some rocks along the water. We observed some cliff jumpers, which was somewhat frightening, but I was told “I do it all the time, don’t worry”. Luckily it all worked well, and we watched a crowd of various ages jumping into the pool of water. My favorite thing about this Falls was the rounded, uncommon boulders that shaped the gorge, and the clear color of the water below. Overall the Falls was somewhat plain, but we still do cherish all of our adventures (Rating: 3)

July 20, 2018 – Ahern State Park – New Hampshire

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I visited Ahern State Park in Laconia, New Hampshire. Ahern State Park is a 128 acre park, which includes a shoreline on Lake Winnisquam. It is popular for beach goers, bikers, hikers, fishers, and boating (non-motorized).

We were quite pleased to explore a new park on a “not-too-hot” summer kind of day. We drove down a long gravel road before arriving at the beach, and parking area. We started down the trail parallel to Lake Winnisquam. The trail was very quiet, with the distant sound of children swimming, and boaters enjoying their morning. We found several trails down to the shore, for some Shadow swims. As usual I wished I had brought my suit, but instead Wilma and I watched Shadow float around, cooling down and relaxing. The trails were a little unclear, so I avoided any complex loops. We found some fun rocks along the way, allowing us to view the lake from above. The trail had a little more mosquitoes then preferred, but we did our best to ignore them, and carried on our happy way. There really was not a lot to see at the park, but as per our usual adventure we reveled in the new smells, and overall experience (Rating: 3).

July 20, 2018 – New Hampshire – Tannery Hill Covered Bridge

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I visited the Tannery Hill Covered Bridge in Gilford, New Hampshire. This bridge crosses the Gunstock Brook. It was constructed by Tim Andrews in 1995, is a lattice design, and spans approximately 42 feet in length. The bridge connects the town hall with the rest of the town center. The name comes from a tannery that once stood in the same area. The bridge accommodates foot traffic only.

I immediately fell in love with this quaint, little bridge. It was somewhat away from the busy sounds of traffic, and in a peaceful, shady location. On arrival to the bridge the music of the babbling brook below could be heard, singing the sounds of peace. There were some colorful flowers, nicely landscaped nearby. We sauntered back and forth through the bridge several times. Simple, charming and picturesque. I found a funky, fun, little tree nearby, which was great to photograph as well. We did not stay long as some fisherman soon joined us, but I definitely was quite fond of the Tannery Hill Covered Bridge (Rating: 5).

Throwback Adventure – April 2015 – Cliff Walk

I will have sections of my blog that I will title “Throwback Adventure”, and will plan on posting them every Thursday. These are journeys we have taken before I started the blog, but are well worth sharing.

In April 2015 Shadow, Buster, and I journeyed to Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island. Sadly Buster has passed away since, but he definitely enjoyed his share of adventures. He was an amazing boy, and will always be missed. Cliff walk is a 3.5 mile trail that borders the shoreline. It is a National Recreation Trail in a National Historic District. Cliff Walk runs behind some of the mansions in the area, and includes: tunnels, paved paths, rocky shoreline, and beach areas.

We decided to choose one of the first spring weather days to journey to Cliff Walk. It was still a “winter-dark” kind of day, yet spring was in the air. We enjoyed walking on this picturesque trail, on the paved trail, through the tunnels, and onto the shore. It was neat to see such unique structures, and architecture on our walk, combining with the gorgeous rocky shoreline. We even found a nice, quiet area to picnic on the rocks. I am sure the walk is even more beautiful when the green color, and flowers are out in the spring in summer. However, it was nice to avoid the tourists, crowds, and to relax enjoy this gorgeous location. I think I will plan a visit again in the future (Rating: 4).

photo contest Cliff Walk in Newport RI April 2015

July 19, 2018 – Massachusetts – Sully’s Ice Cream Stand

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I visited Sully’s Ice Cream Stand in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Sully’s Ice Cream Stand has been family owned since 1986, and is known as “home of the super scoopers”. Sully’s has over 100 flavors, even including several sugarless options.

We enjoyed our little outing to Sully’s Ice Cream stand. The stand was very quiet, and we were able to place our order at the window immediately. There were many flavor choices but I settled on coconut chip, while Shadow and Wilma’s ice cream came with a treat frozen into the ice cream. There was limited seating, and the stand was right on a busy road so I elected to take our ice cream home. As soon as we arrived home, we quickly gobbled up our ice cream, enjoying every bite! I expect we will venture to Sully’s Ice Cream Stand again (Rating: 4).

July 14, 2018 – New Hampshire – Beecher and Pearl Cascades

On Saturday we journeyed to the Beecher and Pearl Cascades in Carroll, New Hampshire. The Cascades are part of the Crawford Brook, on the Cascade Loop Trail of the White Mountains National Forest. The Beecher Cascade is a 35 foot plunge, while the Pearl Cascade is a 20 foot plunge. The trail begins behind the Crawford Depot which is an active station of a scenic railroad. Follow the “Avalon Trail” which will lead you to the Cascade Trail Loop.

We were elated to start our afternoon with a trip to the Beecher and Pearl Cascades. The trail was not clear, but again, the research let me know exactly where to locate to the trailhead. We started following the trail signs to the Avalon trail, before connecting to the Cascade Loop trail, and then to the first Cascade, the Beecher Cascade. The trail was quite uninspiring, but the anticipation, and nature, allowed us to relish every moment. We easily located the sign to the Beecher Cascade and followed to sign down to this Cascade. This Cascade was a beautiful gorge-like cascade, with a powerful stream flowing down the rocks. There was a little area to hang out in for Shadow to nap, while Wilma posed on some rocks. I am always delighted when I can get close to a Cascade, a true connection to nature.

The second Cascade on the trail was the Pearl Cascade. We actually missed this Cascade, and began hiking uphill for awhile, along the very rocky trail. We found a little area of the Brook where we were able to sit and relax a bit, and revel in the peace of nature. I eventually decided to ask a fellow hiker and he informed me that we were trekking up on the “A-Z” trail. We quickly turned back, and eventually made it to the Pearl Cascade. I am still unsure of how this miscue happened, but we definitely added a good work-out to our day.

The Pearl Cascade was difficult to see from the trail, so we climbed down to the Crawford Brook to check it out. Somewhat distant in site, the Cascade had minimal water streaming down the rocks. I was disappointed in this Cascade, but glad we were able to find it before departing. (Rating, Trail: 3, Beecher Cascade: 4, Pearl Cascade: 3)

Cascade Loop Trail

Beecher Cascade

Cascade Trail

July 14, 2018 – New Hampshire – Ammonoosuc Lake Trail and the Red Bench Trail

Yesterday we went for a hike on the Ammonoosuc Lake Trail (officially referred to as the Around-The-Lake Trail) and the Red Bench trail in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. These trails begin behind the AMC Highland Center on Route 302. The Ammonoosuc Lake trail is a less then two mile hike that goes around the Ammonoosuc Lake, and at mid-point you can choose to branch onto the Red Bench Trail. The Ammonoosuc Lake is small, approximately two acres in size, and has views of the mountains from the shore.

It was a little dreary, and cool on this summer day, but we were quite pleased to not get caught in a downpour. This is a trail I attempted to find before, but never was able to locate it. However, I decided to email the AMC Highland Center, who quickly responded, allowing me to easily locate the trail. I immediately fell in love with this gorgeous trail. Although close to society with an occasional sound of traffic, it really provided a remote feel. There were several areas where Shadow could swim, and we were able to view picturesque views of the mountains. The trail ran slightly above the Lake in most sections. It was maintained well, and perfectly gorgeous. We traversed the loop twice, and on the second round decided to check out the Red Bench trail. We followed this trail uphill for a bit, crossing the railroad tracks, before finding an actual Red Bench at the little overlook. I was disappointed not to see a view (likely from the lush summer landscape), however was quite pleased and surprised to find a real Red Bench. Quite an amusing and exclusive aspect to this trail.

I am guessing this is not a well known trail as our first loop we had the entire Lake to ourselves. On the second lap we saw a young family, and also what appeared to be an AMC guided tour for families and their pre-school children. Definitely a hike that is perfect for young children, and of course others who enjoy a charming, and scenic walk. I expect to be back at this trail again in the future. (Rating: 4)

July 13, 2018 – New Hampshire – Frosty Scoops

Yesterday we made a stop at Frosty Scoops in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Frosty Scoops is an adorable little ice cream stand on Main Street that sells homemade ice cream. They are connected to the Common Man Inn and Spa, a well known Inn, Spa and restaurant in the area.

We were very happy to find an ice cream shop with a window to get a treat to cool down on a nice warm day. I was pleased, and surprised to see the dog ice cream was free, and although just a tiny little scoop, Shadow and Wilma sure did not complain. I myself decided to order a frappe. We then found a nice corner, shaded area to sit, sip, and devour. The set-up for this outdoor area was perfect, with fun music blasting, a sandbox for the kids to play, picnic tables, outdoor games, and benches for guests. There was even a retro truck on display. Definitely a fun atmosphere to enjoy some ice cream on a summer day (Rating: 4, Dog Ice Cream: 3).

July 13, 2018 – New Hampshire – Rainbow Falls

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I went to Rainbow Falls in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Rainbow Falls is located in the Walter-Newton Natural Area. It is a source of Glove Hollow Brook, and is 25 feet in height. There are benches at the base of the waterfall to sit, relax, and enjoy the view.

The parking lot for Rainbow Falls was not marked, however, our research did us well, being able to locate the parking lot, and the trail. The parking lot is a dirt lot located on Cummings Road. We walked up the road a bit to the trail on the left, where the kiosk was located. One aspect of this trail I appreciated was that there were maps available to take, as well as a trail map posted at the kiosk.

We began our hike to the Fall from the kiosk. The trail was well marked, but I found it somewhat dull, and a little buggier then our “normal” adventure locations. We did find several spots where the brook was flowing, but overall the water was pretty dried out. There were little bridges along the way, some of which appeared oddly placed. Upon arrival to the falls we were quite disappointed, as there was barely a drop flowing from above. I guess we missed the prime time for the Rainbow Falls. We wandered around for a bit, before heading back. A disappointing stop, but we still enjoyed a good walk, and some time exploring (Rating: 2).

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Throwback Adventure – Stanley Park – August 2016

In August 2016 Shadow, Buster, and I visited Stanley Park in Westfield, Massachusetts. Sadly Buster has passed away since, but he definitely enjoyed his share of adventures. He was an amazing boy, and will always be missed. Stanley Park is a non-profit, privately owned park, that is approximately 300 acres in size. It includes: gardens, trails, playing fields, and a duck pond. The park was established in 1945 by philanthropist Frank Stanley Beveridge.

We stopped at Stanley Park after a wonderful visit with family. The park was beautifully landscaped, and highlights of our visit, included: a variety of bridges, an old working mill, the duck-filled pond, an old rustic church, and even a live swan! We enjoyed walking along the trails, and photographing the gorgeous scenery. This was as stop that I planned, but did not do any detailed research, so we wandered around without a map. However, I do think we found some of the highlights of this magnificent park (Rating: 4).