Maple Sugaring in New Hampshire

Betty's Travel Planning Tips

Submitted by: Betty Gagne, Granite State Ambassador, First in the Nation Class 1999 & Customer Service Assistant NH Division of Travel & Tourism Development

Granite State Ambassadors Visited Rock Estates in April 2010

Aaaaah, spring. You know it’s here when you start seeing buckets and tubing attached to sugar maple trees in your travels – the cold nights and warm days are generating the sap flow, which will be boiled down and turned into rich and delicious maple syrup. It’s part of New Hampshire’s tradition, and this year’s Maple Weekend will be held on March 19th and 20th. This is a big deal in the Granite State, as more than 80 maple sugar houses will be open for authentic gathering of the sap, sap-boiling demonstrations, and - best of all – hot pancake breakfasts featuring warm and sweet New Hampshire maple syrup.

Granite State Ambassadors learning about sugaring in April 2010

Did you know that the maple industry in New Hampshire produces close to 90,000 gallons of maple syrup a year? Even more amazing is that it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup. We hope you will visit a sugar house during the maple season and learn for yourself just how this ancient tradition is carried on. For locations of maple sugar houses and a calendar of events, please visit the New Hampshire Maple Producers website.

Through our website, you can search for special maple sugar themed lodging packages. Our website also has a wonderful family-oriented maple sugaring itinerary written from a child’s point of view that describes a warm and welcoming visit to a maple sugaring farm during spring.

Sweet travels!