steve's White Mountain Blog

This post goes under the heading of "why was this our first visit" when it is 6 miles from home.

We live in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where the men are hardy, the women are capable and the maple trees are plentiful. In the town of Thornton sits a fairly rustic structure with a sign announcing it's function.

Benton's Sugar Shack, it is more than a shack but not by much. The weathered barn board and muddy parking area reminds travelers of any New England barn they have driven by hundreds of times. But inside the operation boils down barrels of maple syrup everyday, and will burn 30 cords of wood to achieve the golden brown nectar in a season. Also inside is the best breakfast around, nothing fancy- served on paper plates with plastic forks and knives but delicious as any place I have eaten in the world.

Tour the Maple Sugar production, while you wait to be seated, it is fascinating to see and smell (bring the kids).

...Get there early, or bring your clubs. The Sugar shack has a driving range across the street for golfers to groove their swing before or after breakfast.

Tapping:  in the early spring when the days are warm and nights are cold sugar maple trees are tapped. The Sap runs into buckets and is transported by hand or pipeline to a collection system.

Mike Benton gives the tour while you're waiting for breakfast. Here he's feeding wood into the evaporator system that boils down 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of maple syrup.

They sell the finished product at the sugar shack, and it is also carried at Clark's trading post a near by attraction that has trained bear shows during the summer months.

This is a Authentic place to take the family, and was fun for my wife and I as well. We live so close to some really terrific "only in New Hampshire" attractions and enjoy discovering new places close to home everyday.

Now I know that is a long title but, there is so much to praise about this property. Number 1) it's on a spectacular Golf Course 2) it is 8 minute to the states largest ski area 3) it offer on site recreation for big and small 4) we have no income or broad based sales tax in New Hampshire &#5) the place is only 7 years old, so everything is shiny and new. Town Homes Starting at $184,000...furnished!!

The view looking across at the third hole, and the beautiful Pemigewasset River...run through it.

A nightly Dinner train runs along the course, covered bridge and one of the many water features shown.

Playground , indoor & outdoor pool, Tennis, pro-shop, lounge, and restaurant are all on-site.

1,645 square foot duplex style floor plan means only one neighbor, 3 bedrooms + loft 3 full baths

Add a screen porch, a private deck off the master and a nice furniture package the sellers will leave

and you get a great space for an asking price of $184,000.

The Brand-new indoor pool was taken care of  by a one time assessment that the sellers have paid.

 For more listing information about this Loon Mt Area golf home call me 800-926-5653

             or  email: steve@alpinelakes.com / www.alpinelakes.com                                             

My Readers hopefully know me by now and know I enjoy the place I live.

The Valley Between Loon and Cannon Mountains holds more than snow for me. My family lives the recreational lifestyle the area lends it self to. We Kayak in the spring, Golf in the summer, hike in the fall, and ski in the winter.

And we do the touristy stuff..because it's still fun for us.

We were at Clark's trading post once, and we took the train ride. Those that have been will tell you there is a Wolf-man that chases the train. You see our little trip crosses near Wolfy's Ore claim. He Yells at the train as it passes, and the conductor instructs the passengers to ..yell back scram you old goat. When my son was small he was afraid of the Wolf-man, but since we live near this attraction. We run into Wolfy (out of Costume)many times since my son's first ride. I introduced my son to this gentleman and told Conor..this is Wolfy, Conor asked some questions about his job and off we went. The following season sure enough we find our selves on the train,again in Wolf-man's territory. When all the children shook their finger and yelled :"Scram you old Goat"..my son said HI Frank. Families return year after year to visit the Crooked house, ride the train, see the bear show, and the other wet & dry attractions at Clark's it has become a tradition.

Clark's Trading Post..and Bear Shows. Lincoln NH.

Here are a couple more things to do when you visit the White Mountains;

  The Flume at the Base of Mount Liberty, Lincoln NH, at the Entrance to Franconia Notch

  a covered bridge, waterfalls, and walk ways deep in the shear rock walls that form the Flume.

Nothing Better on a hot summer day than a trip to the whales tale water-park. Lincoln NH

As longtime season pass holders we enjoy the wave pool, and ten huge slides,there is a shallow

kiddie pool for the little ones and an Adult pool for the older ones (read beverages here) plus

the popular lazy river and several food venues (with live bands on the weekends).

   Artist Bluff..Over looks the slopes of Cannon Mt, Echo lake & the state park as far as the

eyes can see ( free parking across from Peabody base lodge). This hike is less than an hour.

But Lafayette, Liberty, over to Little Haystack and then down the brook trail is an all day hike.

 The Jack O'Lantern Golf Course in Woodstock , 18 holes along the Pemigewasset River.

This was a fund raiser for the North Country center for the Art, to support the live plays in Lincoln.

I'm not sure how we scored that day but we had fun and the course is Beautiful along the water.

A quick trip up to Jefferson and it's Six Gun city.

This western creation is a great time for the kids.

Story Land/ Jackson NH

Lost River Caves / Woodstock NH.

Pemigewasset River Tubing / Lincoln NH

Highland Games / Lincoln NH

Paper-mill Playhouse- Lincoln NH.

White Mt. Snowmobiling.

Year-round recreation and activities for the whole family

Take a trip to the White Mountain anytime of the year.