Posts Tagged ‘New Hampshire’
June 22nd, 2011 by billwebb
August 5 – 8 will be a special weekend in the town of Holderness as it celebrates its 250th birthday. There are lots of activities planned ranging from a grand parade to a pancake breakfast hosted by our local fire department.
A group of wonderful volunteers has been planning the event for months and they’ve thought of everything. At various times throughout the weekend there will be a folk concert, a street dance and a square/contra dance. The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center will be offering free admission and the Historical Society will be the scene of many activities. There will be an appearance by the nationally famous Mattatuck Fife and Drum Band and lots of historic re-enactments and self guided tours of historic sites. You can get more details and updates at the Holderness 250th website.
If you’re planning to be in the Plymouth, NH or Meredith, NH area that weekend you should definitely make a point of visiting Holderness at some point. A celebration like this really represents small town New Hampshire at its best.
Of course, beautiful Squam Lake is a great place to visit anytime. Check out the quality lodging we offer at our lakes region bed and breakfast/country inn. We’ll help make your visit to Squam a memorable one.
We're not 250 years old, but here's a picture from the early days of the building we now call The Inn On Golden Pond. Time and lots of tender loving care sure makes a difference!
Tags: 250th anniversary, bed and breakfast, country inn, Holderness, inn, lodging, Meredith, New Hampshire, Plymouth, Squam Lake
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June 13th, 2011 by billwebb
If you’re looking for some musical entertainment in a fun and unique venue you should check out the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion in Gilford, NH near the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. This a wonderful outdoor facility which features big name artists. It’s conveniently located a half hour from our Squam Lake bed and breakfast. Seats are available under a covered Pavilion or out in the open, including an open lawn area. There is also a restaurant on site if you’d like to include dinner in your plans, although seating is limited and you need to reserve ahead of time.
This summer you can see great shows by performers as varied as Toby Keith and Bob Dylan. Or perhaps you’d like to spend an evening with Chicago or Lady Antebellum. You can catch them all right here in the lakes region.
Why not plan a New Hampshire getaway, treat yourself to a concert and spend a couple of nights in our country inn? Be pampered in one of our spacious, comfortable guestrooms and enjoy a generous home cooked breakfast each morning. If you’re searching for lodging in the Meredith or Gilford area you’ll find we’re just a short distance away and worth the drive.
Bob Dylan will be performing on Aug. 19 and Lady Antebellum on Sept. 4.
Tags: bed and breakfast, Gilford, Holderness, inn, Lake Winnipesaukee, Lakes Region, lodging, Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion, Meredith, New Hampshire, Squam Lake
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June 2nd, 2011 by billwebb
The Lilac season is just about over throughout New Hampshire and the beautiful purple blossoms with their wonderful fragrance will be but a memory for another year. The purple Lilac was named New Hampshire’s state flower in 1919 and the bushes can be found in all parts of the state. We have a couple of bushes here at our Squam Lake inn and as usual they produced numerous flowers. The season seemed a bit short which was probably due to the rain and drizzle we had just as things were blooming. The wet weather caused many blossoms to turn brown rather quickly.
The Governor’s Lilac and Wildflower Commission sponsors a photo contest each year. Check out their website to see the winners from 2010.
Throughout the summer season the New Hampshire landscape will be dotted by numerous wildflowers. If you visit our lakes region bed and breakfast we can help you plan a great day trip which will take you on some of our back roads where you’ll be sure to see the colorful displays. We’ll provide the luxury lodging here in Holderness, mother nature will provide the luxurious scenery throughout your visit.
Tags: bed and breakfast, Holderness, inn, Lakes Region, lilacs, luxury lodging, New Hampshire, Squam Lake
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April 1st, 2011 by billwebb
New Hampshire’s lakes region is home to two triathlons during the summer months. Both are part of the Ironman 70.3 series.
The first, the Mooseman Triathlon, occurs on June 5 and is held at Newfound Lake which is about 30 minutes from our Squam Lake bed and breakfast. There are two parts of this triathlon. The first is the long distance race which consists of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run. There is also an International level triathlon which is a shorter version with a 1.5 mile swim, a 27.25 mile bike ride, and a 6.2 mile run. Either one seems like a challenge to us!
Over the years we have had many participants of these races stay with us. Getting a good night’s rest prior to and after a race like this is an important part of a top notch performance. Our quality lodging is just the answer and since our inn is near the Mooseman Triathlon site on Newfound Lake we’re a natural choice.
The second race, the Timberman Triathlon, is held on August 21 and is located on Lake Winnipesaukee. The starting point is by Ellacoya State Park which is also about 30 minutes from the Inn On Golden Pond. This event features two races. The first, a long distance race the same as the Mooseman race. The second is a Sprint which has a .3 mile swim, a 15 mile bike ride, and a 3 mile run. We’re getting closer to our level.
We always enjoy sharing the weekend with these wonderful athletes who train so hard and push themselves to conquer challenges most of us wouldn’t consider. So if you’re looking for comfortable, quality lodging near the Mooseman or Timberman Triathlons we have just the accommodations for you. Check out our spacious guest rooms and plan to make your participation in either of these New Hampshire triathlons a reason for a great getaway weekend as well.
Here’s a link to a clip from YouTube which shows that the Timberman Triathlon is much more than just a race!
watch?v=TVNAJwD5YEk
Tags: bed and breakfast, getaway weekend, Lake Winnipesaukee, Lakes Region, Mooseman Triathlon, New Hampshire, Newfound Lake, quality lodging, Squam Lake, Timberman Triathlon
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March 3rd, 2011 by billwebb
It’s maple syrup season here in the lakes region of New Hampshire which is one of our favorite times of the year. This process is so fascinating and such a wonderful tradition that we always look forward to it. From the serious producers to the neighbors who simply hang old milk bottle on their maple trees everyone has a lot of fun. Our New Hampshire bed and breakfast is a great place to stay for a couple of days and venture out to several sugar shacks in the area. One year we tapped our own trees and produced some Inn On Golden Pond maple syrup. Attached is a description of maple season which is taken from the NH Maple Producers website. Who could describe it better?
“Each year, the New Hampshire maple industry produces close to 90,000 gallons of maple syrup. Maple sugaring time in New Hampshire runs from mid-February to mid-April.
As the frozen sap in the maple tree thaws, it begins to move and build up pressure within the tree. When the internal pressure reaches a certain point, sap will flow from any fresh wound in the tree. Freezing nights and warm sunny days create the pressure needed for a good sap Harvest.
In late February, New Hampshire maple producers tap their sugar maples by drilling a small hole in the trunk and inserting a spout. A bucket or plastic tubing is fastened to the spout and the crystal clear sap drips from the tree. It is then collected and transported to the sugar house where it is boiled down in an evaporator over a blazing hot fire. As the steam rises from the evaporator pans, the sap becomes more concentrated until it finally reaches the proper density to be classified as syrup. It is then drawn from the evaporator, filtered, graded and bottled. It takes approximately forty gallons of sap to make one gallon of pure maple syrup.
Maple syrup is made in the Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada, and the maple season usually lasts 4-6 weeks. The days and length of the sap runs depend entirely on the weather.
We hope you will visit a sugar house during the maple season and learn for yourself just how this ancient tradition is carried on. New Hampshire’s maple producers take great pride in the high quality of their maple products. Many sugar houses are open throughout the year, selling their pure maple delicacies.”
Buckets to collect sap Yummmm! It’s boiling time!
Tags: B&B, bed and breakfast, Lakes Region, maple syrup, New Hampshire
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February 10th, 2011 by billwebb
We have a new addition to our area recreational scene. The new Plymouth State University ice arena is a state of the art facility and appears to be the first all “green” arena in the country. Everything from the geothermal refrigeration and heating system to the lighting was designed to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
The arena is home to the Plymouth State’s men’s hockey team and women’s hockey team, but also offers programs to the general public including open skate sessions, youth hockey, broomball, learn-to-skate and learn-to-play-hockey sessions. It’s a gem for the area!
When you come to the Inn On Golden Pond for comfortable lodging in the Plymouth NH area you can now bring your ice skates and get out on the ice during public skate sessions all year round. Just click here to see the public skating schedule.
Artist’s rendition of the new PSU ice arena
Tags: B&B, hockey, Holderness, ice skating, lodging, New Hampshire, Plymouth, Plymouth State University
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January 23rd, 2011 by billwebb
Each year we hold two candlelight dinner weekends in the spring at our Squam Lake bed and breakfast. This year’s dinners will be held on the weekends of March 18 & 19 and April 1 & 2. Our normal hospitality is supplemented with a special 5 course candlelight dinner on Saturday night. Bonnie is the chef and Bill is the waiter. These weekends have become a favorite with our repeat guests some of whom have been coming almost every spring since we started this tradition 17 years ago. Since we do not normally serve a dinner here at the Inn this is a very special event. Bonnie really out does herself with delicious home made soups, creative salads, mouth watering entrees and sinful desserts.
This is an excellent way to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, but most of our dinner guests just enjoy the great food and good company of others here for the weekend. Of course, this is maple syrup season so during the day a stop at a local sugar shack can be great entertainment. The summer is still months away so New Hampshire towns like Meredith, Sandwich and our own Holderness which revolve around Squam Lake and Lake Winnipesaukee are pretty quiet. Plymouth on the other hand is active as Plymouth State University is in session. There’s always something to do.
So come up for a great New Hampshire weekend getaway and celebrate the end of winter with us. The weekend is priced at $375 per couple which includes 2 night’s lodging in one of comfortable rooms, two country breakfasts and our gourmet dinner on Saturday. Once you come you’ll be hooked!
Ruth and Bob enjoying their dinner
Tags: bed and breakfast, getaway weekend, Holderness, maple syrup, Meredith, New Hampshire, Plymouth, Sandwich, Squam Lake
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December 3rd, 2010 by billwebb
The ski season has started here in central New Hampshire. Loon Mountain, Cannon Mountain and Waterville Valley are all open and satisfying the desires of those skiers who’ve been waiting for the new season to start ever since last season ended. These three mountains are about 30 minutes from our Holderness/Plymouth area bed and breakfast. So if you stay for a weekend or a few days midweek you can ski a different mountain each day.
There’s new ownership at Waterville Valley with indications there will be many upgrades and improvements. At Cannon Mountain there’s been some expansion with the addition of Mittersill ski area and some new lifts. It’s great to see the industry continuing to add new features all the time.
Cross country skiing will start up later this month assuming Mother Nature provides us with some natural snow. Temperatures are cold enough so it shouldn’t be too long. We are cross country skiers and one of the things we like to do is return to the Inn at the end of the day and curl up next to a crackling fire in the sitting room. Add a glass of wine or a cup of hot chocolate and you feel like you’ve found your little piece of heaven! Of course, besides the inviting fire our guests get a great breakfast to start their day and the opportunity to retreat to a cozy guest room when all is said and done making for the perfect New Hampshire getaway weekend.
So if you’re going to ski NH and are looking for quality lodging give us a call.
Skiers enjoying the slopes at Waterville Valley
Tags: B&B, Cannon Mountain, cross country skiing, getaway weekend, Holderness, inn, Loon Mountain, New Hampshire, Plymouth, quality lodging, ski NH, Waterville Valley
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October 31st, 2010 by billwebb
Happy Halloween to everyone. Of course, Halloween means that November is up and that is the time of the year when our loons leave the lake and head for their winter habitat. Loons
Squam Lake loons gone until next year
are a fascinating bird and while they have been around for millions of years they seem to have found their way into our consciousness as a result of the movie “On Golden Pond.” They certainly hold a special spot in the hearts of lake residents all around Squam Lake.
When people visit our Holderness bed & breakfast they almost always ask where they can see loons. The best way is on the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center boat tour which departs from Holderness village three times a day during the summer and fall seasons. Occasionally we see them from the road, but it’s rare.
Loons will gather in groups before departing their summer home. They migrate to open water anywhere from the Maine coast to the Gulf of Mexico. Their plumage turns a dull gray during the late fall and winter months. They’d stay all year, but the ice which forms on the lakes throughout the New Hampshire Lakes Region means they can’t swim and dive for fish. So off to the open water they go. Males go one place, their female partners go elsewhere. An interesting phenomenon – married for life, but taking separate vacations!
As the cool weather settles in our attention turns from the many outdoor activities available to us during the summer and fall to the warm and inviting inside of the Inn. This is a time when our guests really appreciate the cozy feeling of our beautiful guest rooms and our main sitting room where people relax next to our fireplace where there’s always a crackling fire in the evening.
Tags: bed & breakfast, Holderness, inn, Lakes Region, loons, New Hampshire, Squam Lake
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September 13th, 2010 by billwebb
Fall foliage season is just a couple of weeks away and some of our trees are beginning to show signs of the changing colors. If we had to name our favorite season of the year fall would definitely be it. Our Holderness B&B is ideally located for folks who are coming to New Hampshire to see the colors. The brilliant colors of our hardwood trees not only cover the hillsides surrounding our lakes, but the clear calm waters of Squam Lake also reflect the shoreline trees giving an added visual bonus.
Throughout New Hampshire’s Lakes Region we have miles of walking and hiking trails providing the opportunity to get out and see those colors up close. There’s something very special about walking a trail covered with fallen leaves and breathing in that crisp fresh air that has a particularly clean smell to it in the fall. The air is dry, the temperatures are moderate and the mosquitos have disappeared. Of course, we’re in the foothills of the White Mountains so for anyone who would like to combine some leaf peeping with a more challenging hike you won’t have to go far.
For many fall is the perfect time to take a driving trip. The most popular drive for fall foliage is through the White Mountains and across the Kancamagus Highway which is a perfect day trip from the Inn. We’ve included this route on our website. But there are other lesser known drives that offer wonderful views of Mother Nature’s work as well which we’ve also included in our day trip section. We suggest you stay at least a couple of nights so you can take in some local scenery and get to see some of the off the beaten path side roads which offer a real insight into New Hampshire.
For those who may not have time to take a hike or devote an entire day to a drive in the area you’ll be happy with the spectacular scenery you’ll get looking out from our breakfast room or from our spacious guest rooms to our back yard and surrounding woods. We’ve got Maples, Oaks, Birch, Beech and the evergreen Pines – a terrific mix of colors. If you haven’t made your plans yet don’t delay. Available rooms are getting scarce for our peak foliage season.
Beautiful New Hampshire roadside color
Tags: B&B, bed and breakfast, fall foliage, Holderness, inn, Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire, New Hampshire Lakes Region, Squam Lake, White Mountains
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Great workshops at New Hampshire's Canterbury Shaker Village
Learn about the White Mountains at Plymouth State University's Camp PSU
New Hampshire Weekend Getaway at our Squam Lake Bed & Breakfast/Inn
P.O. Box 680 | Route 3