The White Mountains

1. Explore the Lost River.
2. Drive across the Kancamangus.
3. Climb to Arethusa Falls/Frankenstein Cliff
4. Shop the Outlet Malls.
5. Ascend in the Wildcat Mountain Gondola
6. Brave the Polar Caves.
7. Slide down Attitash Mountain.
8. Play Adventure Golf!
9. Drink Apple Cider.
10. Visit the - deceased - Old Man of the Mountain.

    Quick Tips:

    There's really no need to make reservations, with so many places to stay up here. But if you have your heart set on a particular hotel, by all means reserve in advance.

    To avoid the crowds, drive up on a rainy weekend. The rain will probably stop but you won't have to deal with the masses.

    Best Way To Get Around:

    Having a car is necessary for seeing all the remote places in the White Mountains, but North Conway and Lincoln have walkable town centers.

Food - two meals per day - is included with the cost of the room. The food is above average, and very rich. For myself, I'd rather be able to choose my own restaurants rather than having to eat at the same place every night.

In my opinion, the walking trails were over-rated. There is a nice overlook from the hotel, and a hot tub right on the hillside.

Most of the guests were older, and my girlfriend and I didn't feel completely comfortable at this hotel.

The hotel rented out game machines and vcrs, as well as movies. We rented a few movies as well as played a few games while the rain poured. We also enjoyed the hot tub, especially with some glasses of champagne.

The hot tub in the room itself was a plus. It was quite large, not the half-size tubs that some hotels offer. The two double-beds were not that romantic, but that's what you get for booking over the internet.

Most of their packages include breakfast and dinner, with your pick of the menu. Dad's restaurant is large enough to serve all the guests in the hotel. Perhaps we ate at odd times, but there were rarely many people in the restaurant. In this quieter section of the White Mountains, it is nice to have a restaurant to return to in the evenings. The food was satisfying, if not gourmet. Steak, shrimp, and chicken -- cooked American-style, figure largely on the menu. You can even get a lobster.

Another mile or so further on the path will bring you to Frankenstein Cliff, where you will be able to look down at passing cars far below. This is a challenging hike.

Details Located 1 mile west of the RT. 302/16 Jct in Glen, NH.
Open Daily 7am-6pm
.

When I came here on Labor Day weekend, the sight was near deserted. Unfortunately, some unsightly garbage had been left behind by other visitors. Such things are common in easily accessible locations. Please do not litter in America's beautiful natural places. Costs There is no cost to see Diana's Baths. There is an honor system parking permit. Please do pay to park, as it keeps the site kept up. How to Find It Diana's Baths is off the West Side Road, a half-mile from the turnoff to Cathedral Ledge on West Side Road, Bartlett, N.H. (near North Conway).

Lost River is a family attraction, but all its wonders will not be accessible to everyone. Smaller adults and children can follow the river through the caves, whereas some larger adults may only be able to walk through the larger caves. There are some definite tight squeezes, but you are warned in advance. In addition, there are some places where it is damp, or indeed, you may be crawling through a waterfall. A Rainy-Day Activity? Recently, I visited Lost River on a damp, rainy day in May. Because of the weather, Lost River was nearly deserted, despite being a holiday weekend. Figuring that we were going to get muddy and wet anyway, my boyfriend and I went ahead and explored the caves. Only one cave was closed due to the flooding. The rest were open and we were the only people in the park. Summary Lost River is safe, soft adventure. You feel the excitement of spelunking without much of the danger. Very popular on hot summer days, the dank caves and the river running through them provides a cooling-off for sweaty visitors. Details Dates and Hours Lost River is open mid-May to mid-October. July and August 9am-6pm. May, June, September and October 9am-5pm. Last ticket sold 60 minutes before closing. Prices Adults: $9.50
Ages 4-12: $6.50
Ages 3, 2, and 1 with adult: Free

Website: Find Lost River