Discover More With Seacoast Segway Tours

Submitted by Richard Russell, Granite State Ambassador
Concentra Urgent Care Class of 2009

Discover MORE of Portsmouth -- the most fun you will have touring the City.

Experience historic Portsmouth, NH in an exciting new way. Take a guided tour on your own personal Segway PT through some of the most beautiful and history-rich places in Portsmouth.

Tours start at the Portsmouth Historical Society's John Paul House. There are two guided tours that you can take.  Historic Homes and City Tour or the Historic City and Waterfront Tour. With Segway's amazingly intuitive riding, the better vantage point from up on a Segway, and the distance you can cover with a Segway, you will never do another tour of Portsmouth like this. Sightseeing on this guided Segway PT tour is a unique and fun way to get to know and appreciate a truly historic seacoast city.

Visit Seacoast Segway Tours online or call 603-828-5280 to schedule the tour of a lifetime.

Franklin Pierce: New Hampshire’s Only United States President

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


Franklin Pierce was the only United States President who hailed from New Hampshire and served as the country’s 14th president. There are several points of interest in NH that relate to Franklin Pierce, including his childhood homestead in Hillsborough, the Pierce Manse in Concord, and his burial site in the Old North Cemetery, also in Concord.

Source: City Profile

The Franklin Pierce Homestead in Hillsborough is where Pierce spent most of his childhood; it was constructed by his father the year Franklin was born. Here Daniel Webster was entertained in the ballroom on the second floor, and Franklin Pierce drilled local militia groups. The mansion is maintained and operated by the Hillsborough Historical Society. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The home is located off Route 31; New Hampshire residents are admitted free of charge, while others pay a small admission fee. Guided tours are offered. For information, please call 603-478-3165, or visit the New Hampshire Parks and Recreation webpage dedicated to this historic site.

Source: Wikipedia

The Pierce Manse is located at 14 Horseshoe Pond Lane in Concord, and is the only house ever owned and occupied by Franklin Pierce, his wife Jane, and their two children. Constructed in Greek Revival style, the home is open for tours from June through October. Threatened with demolition in 1966, it was saved and moved to a site in Concord's Historic District. The house has been restored and many of the furnishings either belonged to Pierce or other members of his family. Group tours may be scheduled by appointment.

Source: Wikipedia

The Franklin Pierce Burial Site is in the Old North Cemetery in Concord. Pierce is buried there with his wife Jane and two of their sons. The gravesite was refurbished and the deteriorating markers were replaced by a single granite spire with all the names inscribed. The first child was buried elsewhere at the time of death. The burial site sits toward the rear of the graveyard and is marked by a tall marker. There is also an historical marker in the cemetery with more information about Pierce’s life.

A distinguished statue of Franklin Pierce sits proudly on the lawn of the NH State House on Main Street in Concord. The dedication took place on November 25th, 1914. You can learn more about Franklin Pierce’s legacy and see a photo of the statue by visiting the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources.

Polly's Pancake Parlor is Delicious Any Time of Day

Submitted by Sue Geyer, Granite State Ambassador
Currier Museum Class of 2010

Last fall when my folks were visiting, we took a drive upnorth. Since two of my Father’s favorite foods are maple sugar/syrup and pancakes, I decided to take them to Polly’s Pancake Parlor. I hadn’t been there in a long time and was delighted that it had the same warm rustic feel I remembered.

Although they have a lot of other things on the menu, we were set for breakfast and that is one of their strengths. The fact that they have a tray on the table with maple syrup, maple cream and granulated maple sugar was a big hit. My Dad ordered a full stack of pancakes while my Mom and I did the half stack along with some meat. They have a variety of batters along with different add-ins. And you can opt for up to three different combinations. So I think I had blueberry buckwheat, walnut buttermilk and coconut cornmeal. They are 3-inch pancakes and you get either 3 or 6. What’s really nice if you order the full stack is they bring you three to begin with and then after a little while bring you three more hot from the griddle. And everything was delicious!

The dining room overlooked the mountains and is beautiful. Someone happened to spot some bears playing and clued in the rest of the dining room.

They also have a wonderful little gift shop, which includes Polly’s pancake mix and lots of maple products. You can also order off their website year round.

However, they are closed in the winter, so don't hold off a visit of your own! Once they close for the season, they won't open again until the beginning of May 2012 (check their website for seasonal details). Whenever you do visit, it’s a great destination any time of the day.

Candlelite Inn is All About the Personal Touches

Submitted by The Mighty Candlelite Foursome:

• Rita G, Inaugural Class of 1996
• Leo G, Red Spotted Newt Class of 1997
• Judy L, St. Mary's Bank Class of 2008
• Ron L, Concentra Urgent Care Class of 2009 

The distance from the Lake Sunapee Region Chamberof Commerce seemed long in that we went down the interstate that took us eastsouth east and then we cut to the west to get to the Candlelite Inn. When we reached Bradfordand made the last turn, there it was. Ourfirst impression of the late 1800s building was that it looked like a convertedfarm house. Instead, the Candlelite Inn wasbuilt as a guest house (inn) with what we thought to be a barn but was a stableand carriage house. Marilyn and Les Gordon,who visited NH over the years from southern New Jersey (NJ Turnpike Exit 3), bought theinn in 1997 and have done extensive work to bring it to its pleasant andpresent state.

The Candlelite Inn, Bradford, NH

Having never stayed at a B&Bbefore, we did not know what to expect. Whenwe arrived, we were delighted that Marilyn was outside greeting and welcomingus with her warm smile! She made us feel like we were returning guests.

Marilyn gave us a tour of the Inn. Rita and Leo were in The Mini Suite on thefirst floor with access to a gazebo porch, cute front glass stove in thesitting area and a beautiful queen sized bed and large bath. Also, there was a decanter of sherry with twoglasses for them to enjoy a pre-meal drink (aperitif). The finishing touches were outstanding, evendown to a rubber ducky to float in the bathtub while bathing.

Ron and Judy were in the Peach Room onthe second floor with four posted bed, a sofa, decorative trunk and a mirroredarmoire. Again, there was a decanter ofsherry there for their enjoyment. The bathroomwas large and spacious. A variety ofamenities (including a rubber ducky) were provided.

The rooms were warm and cozy, Rita,Leo, Ron and Judy were all very happy to be there.

Marilyn was so accommodating withour special request as Leo wanted to see the Bruins in the final game forthe Stanley Cup on Wednesday evening. She set up the TV in thebreakfast room tuned to the correct station and all we had to do was hit the"on" button. Our leisurely dining experience in New London thatevening took much longer than anticipated. We felt badly because we weregreatly delayed in returning to the Inn. Because of Marilyn's kindness, we were able to see the most important part ofthe game....the last 5 minutes... and all the celebratory happenings andpresentation of the trophies. As an Inn Keeper, Marilyn is thetops!! 

Our Breakfast Main Course

Nextmorning, the gourmet breakfast that Marilyn Gordon served was extraordinarilyDELICIOUS and NOT the usual bacon, eggs, toast and cereal. Instead, we enjoyed the starter of biscuitswith butter; main course of mascarpone stuffedFrench toast and dessert of home made pound cake with crème fraiche and berries.

Dessert for Breakfast!

This stay was our first Bed andBreakfast experience!  It was pleasurableto have the personal touch, to actually talk to the people who run and are theoperation. To learn about the work thatwent into restoring the building, the recipe and the effort that went intopreparing the breakfast that we had. Itwas an experience that only offered by a Bed and Breakfast not the chains.

The Candlelite Inn will be adestination for us some time in the future. We surely will recommend itto our friends and visitors to New Hampshire we encounter as Granite State Ambassadors.

Exploring New Hampshire's Capitol

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

If your idea of traveling through Concord, New Hampshire is flying by the exits on Interstate 93, then you’ve never really been to Concord. Probably best known throughout the world as the birthplace of the Concord Coach, Concord became the state capitol in 1808, and is an exciting city that’s rich in history, culture, education, and heritage. Downtown Concord is a hub of unique shops, restaurants, and historic sites. When you do visit Concord, plan to spend a day or two and don’t miss these interesting stops:

All rights reserved by New Hampshire Historical Society

The State House: Located in the center of town on North Main Street, the capitol building is the oldest one in the country where the legislature still meets in its original chambers. Take a tour and see the legislative body in session. As you walk the hallways, note the portraits of past Governors on the walls.



The Museum of NH History: Contained within Eagle Square, the museum is a must-see for anyone interested in exploring how the state was born. Exhibitions include a birch bark canoe, a simulated fire tower, and of course an authentic Concord Coach. Take time to browse through the extensive gift shop; you’ll find plenty of books, maps, and historically significant items.

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center: Named for Alan Shepard, who was the first man in space, and Christa McAuliffe, the first private citizen in space, the center is New England’s largest air

All rights reserved by pobrecito33 (Flickr)

and space museum. Families love the planetarium shows and other events. The center is located at 2 Institute Drive.

The State Library: Situated at 20 Park Street, the library is an attraction in itself. Resources and services include catalogs, online databases, a Family Resource Connection, and even an ‘Ask a Librarian’ service for research questions.

For more information about what there is to see and do in Concord, please visit the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce website.

Get Outside and Explore New Hampshire with Letterboxing!

Submitted by Ellen Edersheim, Lake Opechee Class of 2007

This is one of my favorite hobbies, inexpensive and I have been to the most interesting places, its gets everyone outside. Websites like www.letterboxing.org and www.atlasquest.com  can explain it better then I can. You don’t need any expensive equipment to do it. 

First, you figure out a trail name. Mine is skier4444 (when you go to those sites you will see letterboxes that I have put out). Then, you either buy or make a stamp that goes along with trail name (yes, mine is a skier) and buy a blank book to put other stamps in (to start with can use back of index cards that come in a book). In your backpack, you also will put in a pen to write comments, either ink pens or ink pad to stamp the stamps. Then you’re ready to start your adventure...

Go to one of the listed websites above, type in a location and out comes with a list of letterboxes for that area. You will be very surprised how many you see listed in your search. Clues will say if they are close to the road or how many miles, and if located inside or outside. Print out the clue (if have an iPod, iPhone, iPad there is an application for this, so you will always have them) and off you go on an adventure.

When you find the box, it can be anything from a film canister to a Tupperware box. You open the box, and in it, will be a log book and a stamp - the stamp usually represents location of where you are. Use their stamp to stamp your book, and then take your stamp and stamp their book and write a little note, like what the date was and your trail name. Be very sure to put the box where it was found, so you won’t ruin the next person's adventure. Rather than carrying a book, some people keep their stamps on index cards and make a scrapbook when they get home and take photos of their adventure. What a fun way to document your search!

Here is an example of a box I have put out (you can click on the image below to see a larger version):

The icons to the right of the box name "Old Man viewing" each have a meaning:

• Hand = hand-carved stamp
• Car = close to road
• Dog = dog friendly
• Bike = bike friendly
• Wheelchair = handicap accessible

And to acclimate you to the letterboxing terminology:

• Date Planted = The day the shadowbox was placed
• Planter = This is the person who put the box out, and it can be different then owner

When you click on "Click here for a clue", you receive your instructions! I have included them below so you can see how the clue works:

Easy –5 min
Go to the Pull-off after Boise Rock- Northbound only. park at the 3rd -10 min parking signs, stop, Face the sign, look to your right. Will see a big rock, go around right side, will see 2 more rocks with a little cave in between. Look in the cave to find the old man…. (And the stamp is a stamp I made of the old man)

Hike Length: 0.0 miles—gives length of hike, here less than ¼, so 0.0

Elevation Gain: 0 feet- no elevation gain for this box.

Other Fun Letterboxing Information

• Patches! You can get the New Hampshire patch, shown to the right.
• 50th Anniversary Preserve Letterboxing Challenge. This year the nature.org is having a 50 year anniversary of letterboxing in NH. A series of letterboxes will be “planted” at 12 preserves across the state and one on the grounds of the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel.  A “series” includes 3-5 letterboxes on one preserve linked by a common theme. Your challenge is to collect as many series as possible during the year 2011. Follow this link to read more about the 50th Anniversary Preserve Letterboxing Challenge.
• Local Organizations Offer Letterboxes! Visit Sugar Hill Historic Museum and buy a book, which tells you about history of the town and location of boxes. Or visit the websites for Town of Peterborough or the Northern Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce to learn more about their offerings. Also, the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce has some boxes in stores located in North Conway, they are listed on the Atlas Quest website.
• Gatherings! Letterboxes also have gatherings where can meet other letterboxes and exchange stamps. You can look on Atlas Quest to find upcoming gatherings. 
• Do it with your kids! Here is a website for kids who letterbox: www.letterboxing.org/kids/

Get out and explore…it's fun….a great adventure and you get exercise….gets you and kids off the computer!!

What is a Yankee Dollar Stretcher?

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


Are you ready to save some money during your trip to New Hampshire?

On the homepage of http://www.visitnh.gov/, go to ‘4 Seasons,’ click Money-Saving Offers, and scan the ‘Yankee Dollar Stretchers.’ Yankee Dollar Stretchers are a cool way to save money while visiting New Hampshire. Businesses in the tourism industry have put together some terrific money-saving packages and deals to make vacationing in New Hampshire sweeter than ever!

Be sure to check the page often because new offers are always being added. And, if you are a NH business and want to post a special deal for your place, you can email the information to Communications Manager Tai Freligh at tai.freligh@dred.state.nh.us.