Head to New Hampshire for early autumn activities before the first frosts bring an end to the season. Rustic charm abounds in the woods and lakes of The Granite State, so soak up the fresh air and beautiful fall foliage at one of the regional harvest festivals.
Start your trip at the spectacular Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch State Park, in the middle of the White Mountain National Forest. Gaze at the “Great Stone Face” immortalized by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Daniel Webster, ride the aerial tramway to Cannon Mountain, and visit the New England Ski Museum. A bike trail traverses the length of the park and offers access to all park facilities and natural features.



Visit the home, studios and gardens of great American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, N.H. Stop by on Saturday, September 24, 2011, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for the fourth-annual Sculptural Visions event. Admission is free all day, and you’ll see demonstrations of several sculptural techniques, such as modeling with clay, carving of wood and stone welding and assemblage. At 1:00 and 3:00 p.m., two sculptures will be cast in bronze during a demonstration of “lost-wax” bronze casting. Hands-on children’s activities and a Fire Organ performance take place throughout the afternoon.



Flag Hill Winery in Lee, N.H. started as a family dairy farm 60 years ago, switching to grapes in the 1990s. Now they produce several wines and a variety of spirits from fresh New England fruits. Bring your pruners and join other volunteers to help with the grape harvest in late September and early October. Sign up on their email list to be notified of the confirmed harvest dates.
Set up camp at the Friendly Beaver Campground in New Boston, N.H. This pet-friendly Good Sam Park has big-rig sites, full hookups (30 or 50 Amp) and plenty of planned activities for the whole family.
