One of the first things you notice as you drive into Franconia Notch State Park is the massive amount of wildflowers covering the highway and hillsides. Wild Lupines flood the median that splits North and South Interstate 93, which cuts through the heart of Franconia. Mountains line the highways and in every direction you look […]
Month: June 2016
Mt. Major: A Family-Friendly Hike with Fanatic-Friendly Views
Located in Alton, just 7 miles south of Ellacoya State Park, a short hike up Mt. Major (1,785 feet) provides spectacular panoramic views of Lake Winnipesaukee. This hike leads up to Mt. Major State Forest which is in the Belknap Range. The loop described below is a perfect half-day hike whether you are 5 years old […]
Rhododendron Bloom Report: June 24, 2016
As the cultivated rhododendrons in landscaped house gardens are fading for the season, the native “rose trees” at the rhododendron grove in Fitzwilliam, NH are still not ready to bloom. It may be another two weeks or so before they are fully in blossom. The temperature and rainfall usually have an effect on timing of […]
Umbagog, Gift of the North
Before heading up here, the Great North Woods certainly had this far-away, almost mystical element to it, and finally stepping foot into it, I must say its not lost its mystique, not one bit. Mid-afternoon on an unusually windy Wednesday, I rounded the turn in to Umbagog Lake State Park. Known for its remote campsites […]
First impressions: White Lake State Park
When we move into a new space, we’re inclined to make our impression on it. We like to decorate— tack photos to the walls, arrange tchotchkes on the bookshelves. Once we’re comfortable, once it’s home, the new place then makes an impression on us. My first day at White Lake State Park was a scramble to […]
Rhododendron Bloom Report: June 17, 2016
There has not been much obvious change to see in the grove from last week to now, although discreet changes are certainly happening on the cellular level that we cannot see without looking very closely with a microscope. I have included photos of both leaf and flower buds taken a week ago as well as […]
New Video Series Explores Hidden Gems of NH Park System
With 93 properties spread out across New Hampshire, our State Park System offers a diverse mix of extraordinary places and outdoor experiences across a relatively small state. And while some of our parks see several thousands of visitors each year, others receive far fewer. These lesser-known and lesser-visited parks still have much to offer and […]
Rhododendron Bloom Report: June 10, 2016
Hey Folks, This week’s tour of Rhododendron State Park was a bit on the cool side – 58 degrees F at 3:00 pm – windy and dry. Not much in the way of biting insects, but a few found me. As shown in these photos (which were taken on Thursday June 9, 2016), the flower […]
9 Reasons to Discover the Power of Parks this Summer!
All this summer, a group of passionate and inspired Interpretive Rangers will bring a series of nature-based programs to our parks! These programs are offered free to our guests with paid park admission so take the opportunity to try one (or many) of these programs when you camp, swim or hike at a New Hampshire […]
Rhododendron Bloom Report: June 3, 2016
Hey folks- Welcome to the 2016 series of bloom reports from Rhododendron State Park. A new posting should be published for this “blog” each Friday until the bloom is over for this season (perhaps mid-August or so). As usual for this species of rhododendron (Rhododendron maximus – a native North American species), the actual bloom […]