New Hampshire Maple Tours at The Rocks Estate.
BETHLEHEM, N.H.—Maple tours are back on tap at The Rocks Estate this spring. Discovering the history of 
maple sugaring, participating in the process of tapping trees and making syrup, riding a horse-drawn wagon through the scenic Rocks property, and tasting treats have made these tours a favorite springtime tradition.
“Last year nearly 800 visitors participated in the Maple Experience in just six days (last year),” said longtime Rocks Estate manager Nigel Manley. “We collaborate with a number of area businesses to provide a fun and educational program for visitors of all ages.”
Maple tours at the 1,400-acre Rocks Estate, owned by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, are scheduled for March 12, 19-20, 26-27, and April 2, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day. Reservations are recommended.
Visitors learn how to identify the sugar maple trees that produce the sweet sap for making syrup, hear the history of maple sugaring, and see part of the process demonstrated at the on-site New Hampshire Maple Experience.
The Experience is housed in a renovated historic building, which features a working sugar house and 
Museum featuring a collection of sugaring artifacts from the late Charlie Stewart, a legendary sugar maker from nearby Sugar Hill. Fourth-generation sugarer Brad Presby will demonstrate the modern techniques of turning maple sap into sweet syrup.
In continuing its tradition of partnering with area businesses, The Rocks has again teamed up with the famous Polly’s Pancake Parlor in nearby Sugar Hill to offer a tasty twist to the popular sugaring program. Polly’s will offer an abbreviated menu at The Rocks from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. each day of The New Hampshire Maple Experience. Polly’s waffle and pancake mixes will be available for sale again this season.
Kingdom Kernels Kettle Corn of Lower Waterford, Vt., will also be onsite, offering fresh-popped corn in two 
varieties Original of course, Maple Kettle Corn.
With the 2010 opening of the N.H. Maple Experience museum, The Rocks also offers off-season tours during the summer and fall. Visitors from June 1 through Columbus Day may visit the Maple Experience for a virtual sugaring experience, with a brief video shown in the sugar house outlining the sugaring process, and a tour of the museum.
For those looking to turn the springtime Maple Experience into a weekend-long North Country stay, The Rocks collaborates with local inns to offer weekend vacation packages. Visit http://www.therocks.org/vacations.php to find participating lodging establishments.
The Rocks is also planning a maple dinner in partnership with Cabin Fever Maple Whiskey and Chef Joe’s in Franconia. The April dinner will be a fundraiser for The Rocks.
For more information, please visit http://www.therocks.org. For Maple Experience reservations and other 
inquiries e-mail info@therocks.org or call 603-444-6228.
The Rocks is the North Country Conservation and Education Center of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (http://www.forestsociety.org). The Forest Society is non-profit membership organization founded in 1901 to protect the state’s most important landscapes and promote wise use of its natural resources.
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Hi Steve - what a sweet tour...
Steve,
Brrrrrrrrr, but it still sounds like a sweet ride!
Patrick
Steve,
What a great way to introduce people to some of the sweetness richness of NH. This surely fits you and your company like a glove.
Best,
Steve
Steve... My son was just asking me last weekend about this process. I thought it would be a great surprise to take him to this. However to do this in a one day trip is just a little too much when coming from CT. I would make a weekend out of it, but I have to work on Sunday.
Valerie, we all need a break now and then, and as a New Hampshire spokesmen I have to say, come on up to the White Mountains for a weekend.
Steve just down the hill from my house is a small farm and they make their own Maple Syrup. I am always amazed at the patients they have in collecting the syrup from the local maple trees, and then the care they take is refining it. Their syrup is not cheap, but I always get some each year.
Hi Steve. My dad and I did maple syrup for many years. He did the bulk of it, but I was around enough to help with the heavy lifting and the cutting of the wood needed fo the outside boiler
GREAT stuff!!!!
Sounds like a fun field trip...especially for pancake eaters.
This is a fun time at the rocks Estate...1,400 acres of Christmas tree farms, horse drawn carriages and maple sugar...what could be better for young and old.
Steve,
Yeah we aint talkin Aunt Jemima here. Some serious maple syrup comes outta those trees. mmmmmm so good on cinamon waffles.
I was up that way this past Christmas Day for my annual winter Pemigewasset River hike. I hike about 7 mi upstream and then cross the river on a bridge and hike 7 mi back.
I love participating in environmental causes. Mine is "SWEAT", the Shawsheen Watershed Environmental Action Team. the Shawsheen River is a tributary of the Merrimack and flows through Andover, Wilmington & Tewksbury, MA.
Great post. Will check out The Rocks and see when the event is.
Best wishes in your continued success,
- Jamie
Thanks Jamie, I'm all for the good causes, and will keep posting info on events in my area...again thanks. Steve
One of my favorite local flavors Steve! I love everything maple. I may try and take my family to a local farm for some samples.