White Island Become a Disney Travel Agent Near Me

Overview

Introduction

White Mountain National Forest holds the highest concentration of New Hampshire's scenic beauty. This preserve is huge—763,000 acres/308,900 hectares in New Hampshire and 45,000 acres/18,220 hectares in Maine—and includes several of the northeast's highest peaks. Below the summits lie hiking trails (1,200 mi/1,930 km worth), lakes and ponds, streams for fishing, and thundering waterfalls (including Glen Ellis Falls and the Crystal Cascade). Wildlife includes bears, moose and deer. Campsites are available.

Clustered in White Mountain National Forest are some of New England's finest ski resorts. Although they're not as extensive as resorts in the western U.S., they are popular with New Englanders who don't want to travel far from home (especially Bostonians). Waterville Valley has 52 trails carved out of two adjacent mountains (Snow Mountain and Mount Tecumseh). More than half of the runs are geared for the beginner or intermediate skier. Some of the favorites include the 3-mi-/5-km-long Mount Tecumseh Trail and Bobby's Run, a challenging trail with a steep slope. At the base of the mountain, skiers can take the free shuttle bus back to the village, where lodges, condominiums, restaurants and shops are available.

North of Waterville Valley is Loon Mountain, a busy resort set on the east branch of the Pemigewasset River at the edge of a spectacular wilderness region. Its 45 trails are wide and well-groomed. Except on a few expert runs, most of the moguls have been carved away, creating great skiing for the intermediate and novice. The North Peak, with its more challenging terrain, is served by a 7,000-ft/2,134-m four-passenger gondola that shuttles skiers to the summit in record time. There is also a large equestrian center, offering a variety of horseback rides throughout the area.

You can see many of the White Mountain area's other popular scenic attractions by taking a driving tour. Heading north for an hour on Interstate 93 from Concord will get you to the edge of the forest (though you may want to stop in Plymouth for a visit to the Polar Caves and Hanging Boulder, a rock that seems to be suspended in air). Continue on to North Woodstock, where you can take the half-hour ride on the White Mountain Central Railroad geared toward children, with its 2.5-mi-/4-km-long scenic excursion that leaves from Clark's Trading Post. If you're traveling with children, you may want to hang around at the Trading Post to see one of the trained-bear shows, several quirky museums, amusements and odd characters such as the Wolfman—who will likely appear along the train route.

If you have time, drive 6 mi/10 km west to Kinsman Notch. There, the Lost River meanders through the glacial depressions and caverns and ends at Paradise Falls (walk the trail that takes you through some of the caves). If panning for gold is your thing, follow Route 112 to the Wild Ammonoosuc River.

Back in North Woodstock, head north again on I-93 to The Flume, an impressive natural gorge (open May-November only) reached via a short bus ride and walk (there is some stair climbing involved). A hiking trail is available. The area is at its most beautiful during the fall.

As you head north, your next stop is at Franconia Notch, which has a number of scenic areas. Be sure to see The Basin (a deep glacial depression) and Indian Head (a rocky formation that has seen renewed interest since the demise of the Old Man of the Mountain). Franconia Notch State Park offers hiking, swimming, boating, camping, fishing, picnicking, a scenic road and (in winter) downhill skiing. A little farther north is the site of the famous natural granite formation, the Old Man of the Mountain, which collapsed in May 2003. The outcropping inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story The Great Stone Face. Nearby, the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway ascends through remarkable mountain and valley scenery. There's also the state-run Cannon Mountain Ski Resort, where Olympic medalist Bode Miller learned on the slopes, as well as the New England Ski Museum.

Continuing north on I-93, you'll head out of the national forest and reach the town of Franconia. There, you can see the home that Robert Frost lived in after his return from England just before World War I. There are displays of Frost's poetry along with memorabilia and a tour of the farmhouse, which dates to the 1800s. A visit there makes a good companion to the Frost Farm in Derry.

Your next major stop is Mount Washington, the tallest mountain in the northeastern U.S. and a peak known for its extreme weather: Winds of 231 mph/372 kph have been recorded at the summit. To get there, drive I-93 South from Franconia to Highway 3 and go northeast. Pick up Highway 302 heading toward Bretton Woods. Nearby is the starting point for the Mount Washington Cog Railway, which operates mid-May to early November (when it's called The Snowflake Express). The world's first cog railway (the steam-driven locomotives have a cogged center wheel) was built in 1866 and climbs a steep, 37-degree grade. It's not a quick trip (about three hours), but it is scenic.

If you want to drive up Mount Washington rather than ride the cog railway, you'll have to approach on a different route. At the intersection of Highways 3 and 302, go north on 3, then pick up Highway 115 to Highway 2. Go east to Gorham, and a few miles/kilometers to the south you'll find the Mount Washington Auto Road. Be aware that it's slow going, and the driving is a little tricky. Put your car in a low gear when driving down the mountain: The road is so steep, you can burn up your brakes if you don't use the gears to slow the car—but at the end you will get a bumper sticker that tells the world "This Car Climbed Mt. Washington."

Those who opted for the cog railway should head south on Highway 302 to Crawford Notch. It was the scene of an 1826 landslide that killed a family but left their house standing, an event that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's story The Ambitious Guest. While you're in the area, be sure to see Arethusa Falls, one of the state's highest, and the Silver and Flume Cascades, which tumble impressively down Webster Mountain.

Highway 302 takes a bend to the east at Bartlett and takes you close to Echo Lake State Park, a mountain-rimmed body of water that's famous—as you might guess—for its echoes. Skiers may want to stay at Attitash Bear Peak, a large winter resort with challenging terrain. Those who prefer fantasy to natural history can head to Story Land (open Memorial Day-Columbus Day), an amusement park where children can meet Cinderella, Heidi's grandfather and other famous fairy-tale characters. Nearby Jackson is New Hampshire's finest cross-country skiing destination, with many, many miles/kilometers of scenic trails. The town itself is lovely—and a favorite spot for antiques shoppers and covered-bridge enthusiasts.

Head south on Highway 16 to North Conway. If you haven't already had your fill of train trips, consider taking the Conway Scenic Railroad—it's a fun, 11-mi/18-km ride through the Mount Washington Valley on a full-size vintage steam or diesel train (running April-December).

Overview

Introduction

In western Maine, near the state's border with New Hampshire, the White Mountain National Forest covers 41,943 acres/16,980 hectares. The forest, about 60 mi/95 km northwest of Portland, is famous for cascading streams and mountain panoramas (you can see Mount Washington, the highest peak in the northeast U.S., across the border in New Hampshire).

Nearby, still in the White Mountains, is the Sunday River Ski Resort, about 10 mi/16 km north of the national forest (http://www.sundayriver.com). The ski area has eight different peaks with 126 different trails and 17 ski lifts. Most of the trails are for the novice or intermediate skier, although suitable expert runs can be found on White Cap Peak. There's a resort village at its base, and it's close to the delightful town of Bethel (6 mi/10 km south), which is also a popular summer resort. Skiers can choose from a range of accommodations, restaurants, shops and apres-ski activities. In early October, the ski resort is home to the zany North American Wife Carrying Championships. Just as the name implies, contestants carry their significant others through an obstacle course in hopes of winning cash prizes and their wife's weight in beer.

Overview

Introduction

A former railroad village located about 75 mi/120 km southeast of Burlington and part of the town of Hartford, White River Junction once hosted hundreds of trains a day. It now has a burgeoning arts colony with several galleries and the Center for Cartoon Studies, a two-year program endowed by Charles ("Peanuts") Schultz.

At the center of the village is the Hotel Coolidge, which overlooks the switching yards and is one of New England's few remaining railroad hotels, and the Briggs Opera House, where Northern Stage theatrical troupe performs. The "junction" part of its name is not just from its railroad history—it's also the junction where the White River flows into the Connecticut River, the border between Vermont and New Hampshire.

Overview

Introduction

The world-renowned Greenbrier resort is located in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, 121 mi/195 km southeast of Charleston.

This posh facility comprises 6,500 acres/2,635 hectares of scenic land, a spa and mineral springs, three outstanding golf courses, pools, tennis courts, riding and hiking trails, and other outdoor adventures such as hunting and fishing.

Other activities include world-class cooking classes. You can stay in a guesthouse or in the historic hotel.

The resort has an unusual sightseeing attraction: tours of the underground bunker system built to protect the members of the U.S. Congress from nuclear attack. The facility was built during the Eisenhower presidency and exposed by the Washington Post in 1995.

Greenbrier State Forest is less than 2 mi/3 km from White Sulphur Springs and features camping, cabins, hiking trails, picnic pavilions and a beautiful view from atop Kate's Mountain.

About 30 mi/48 km northeast of White Sulphur Springs is Watoga State Park. It has the Greenbrier River as part of its boundary and is the state's largest park.

Overview

Introduction

The pueblos blancos (white villages) of Andalusia can be visited along any number of routes, using one of the villages or perhaps the cities of Seville, Jerez de la Frontera or Cadiz as a base. About 270 mi/435 km south of Madrid, the villages lie within the triangle formed by the coasts of the Atlantic (the Costa de la Luz) and the Mediterranean (the Costa del Sol) to the south and the Sierra de Algodonales to the north.

These ancient whitewashed villages, most of Arab and Berber origin, cling to the mountainsides in perilous splendor—they gleam like jewels from a distance. The roads winding through the region are narrow and sometimes terrifying, but the views are as breathtaking as any in Spain. There are 10 or so towns of note, but a few are standouts.

Most of the white villages are in the Cadiz province, but Ronda, in the adjoining Malaga province, is probably the best town to base yourself in, because it's one of the largest in the region. Its setting is spectacular: The town is surrounded by mountains and split by a deep river gorge. The tall, whitewashed buildings cling to the walls of the steep gorge, and a graceful arched bridge connects the two sides of town.

Ronda also has one of Spain's oldest bullrings, built in 1784. A fascinating museum explains the town's important role in the development of the sport. Each year in early September, the town hosts a colorful fiesta and bullfight, with many participants wearing costumes in the style of the late 1700s. Reserve accommodations and bullfight tickets well in advance if you plan to attend.

To the northwest, the tiny town of Zahara de la Sierra winds up a rock pinnacle and overlooks a lake. Plan to take a couple of hours to stroll the steep streets, pausing in a cafe or restaurant to rest your legs. If you go all the way to the top of the outcropping, you'll get to explore a small fortress that was built by the Moors. The view is superb.

Arcos de la Frontera, west of Ronda, is arranged along a steep cliff (with an upper town atop it and a lower town beneath). It's also set up well for tourists, with a lovely parador in a former castle looking over a gorge (its bar affords great views of orchards, olive groves and vineyards spread on the plain below).

Historic sites in town include the 16th-century Parroquia de Santa Maria (St. Mary's Parish Church), which boasts the remains of St. Felix (on display in a glass case), and the Gothic Parroquia de San Pedro, perched on the edge of a cliff, which lost out to Parroquia de Santa Maria in a battle over which church would get the remains.

Continuing to the west, you'll reach Jerez de la Frontera. The town is most famous as the home of sherry (the Anglicized version of the word jerez), and many of the wine cellars, or bodegas, can be visited. The Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre (Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art) is a prestigious riding school that puts on exhibitions starring its prancing steeds (http://www.realescuela.org). The 11th-century ruins of the Alcazar are also worth a visit.

The mountain villages of Grazalema and Setenil de las Bodegas, with houses built into the rocks, are two more possibilities. Closer to the coast are the picturesque towns of Gaucin and Casares.

Overview

Introduction

One of Whitefish's main attractions is Whitefish Mountain Resort near the city itself. Of the nearly 100 runs on 3,000 acres/1,215 hectares of skiable terrain, most are for intermediate skiers, though there are also some areas for beginners and experts. https://skiwhitefish.com.

Additional activities include night skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, Sno-cat tours, dogsledding and snowmobiling. In summer, Whitefish Mountain Resort is popular for mountain biking, hiking and the guided tree-top canopy tour of the forest.

Overview

Introduction

The Yukon's capital and biggest town, Whitehorse was an important transportation hub when it was the terminus of the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad to Skagway, Alaska, and the transshipment point for freight going down the Yukon River. You can still ride on a portion of this railway as it chugs over the breathtaking White Pass and past blue glaciers—a bus provides transportation to the rail line from Whitehorse.

Whitehorse has several attractions and events that shouldn't be missed. The Yukon Historical Museums Association offers an interesting walking tour of Whitehorse, but if the weather is too chilly for strolling, visit the Yukon Government Building, which tells the story of the territory in stained-glass windows and wall hangings.

Should time permit, consider a Yukon River tour aboard the MV Schwatka. If you'd rather experience 19th-century nautical nostalgia on land, visit the SS Klondike—the restored stern-wheeler is now a dry-docked museum.

Other day-trip destinations include Takhini Hot Springs, 17 mi/27 km away, where you can soak in the natural heat of a spring-fed mineral bath, and Miles Canyon. Nearby, the Whitehorse Rapids dam has the longest wooden fish ladder in the world (late July to early August is the best time to see salmon migrating up the fish ladder).