Have you ever heard of the White Mountains? When you plan a trip to the United States, do you think about including them in the itinerary? If not, know that many other Brazilians thought so. And hundreds of Americans too. The White Mountains National Forest is a national park in the United States, located mainly in the state of New Hampshire – and a portion in Maine – which is on the north of the country’s east coast. The mountain range is part of the Appalachian Mountains and has several ski resorts, as well as trails, natural beauty and a lot of attractions, mainly for families or groups of friends (but it is also great for couples looking for romantic trips).
I was there in the winter of 2008-2009, while I was on exchange in Lincoln, one of the tourist cities on the mountain circuit. Despite my exhausting work at McDonalds, on my days off I took the opportunity to get to know the region a little more.
The first major attraction of the White Mountains is its proximity to Boston, about two hours away; and New York, about five hours. In other words, it is possible to take a break from visiting big cities and discover a beautiful place or go skiing. The region has an endless number of hotels and resorts of all prices and comfort options. There are also several restaurants and pub options for those who want to have fun at night (I used to hide and enter through the back, because I wasn’t 21 years old. Clandestine, we see it here).
There is no shortage of ski resorts in the White Mountains. Attitash, Bretton Woods, Waterville Valley, Wildcat, Cannon and Loon are some of them. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, the resorts also offer activities such as cross-country skiing, snow tubing e snowmobile. It’s a region where it snows a lot, so you don’t run the risk of getting there and not having snow to play in.
I used to go to Loon Mountain, which is the ski resort in Lincoln. There is the largest gondola in New Hampshire, with a beautiful view. It was the place I liked skiing the most to date (I also went to Chile and New Zealand). The reason is exactly the beauty of the view. As the station is in a national forest, the slopes are generally surrounded by trees and they organize the slope so that it looks like you are going around the mountain, instead of going straight down. I only went on the easy slopes, for beginners and families – I always had a lot of assistance from the mountain staff. I found the tracks to be well marked (in Chile I couldn’t distinguish the green track from the blue one, for example).
Bretton Woods is another resort that is highly recommended, a friend worked there, but I didn’t go skiing. This is where Mount Washington is located, the highest peak in the region. In fact, if the name Bretton Woods sounds familiar to you, don’t be surprised. It was there that the Bretton Woods conferences took place in 1944, at the Mont Washington hotel: this conference, in short, brought together 44 countries to define rules for commercial and financial relations between the most industrialized countries in the world – with this the IMF and the BIRD. So, for those who enjoy history or economics, it is still a cultural tour.
And how much does it cost to ski there? The pass lift, verified in January 2013, costs between 60 and 80 dollars for adults. Buying passes for more than one day gets a discount. Renting equipment off the mountain is always cheaper. In Lincoln, the big rental stores always leave discount coupons for McDonalds, so it’s a good idea to take a look. There are also several small shops on the way from the city to the mountain, which, in addition to renting, sell clothes (new or second-hand) at great prices. And if you’re small or skinny, it’s definitely worth checking out the kids’ section, where everything is MUCH cheaper – my new ski pants cost about $10 at the time. To get from Lincoln to the mountain there was a free bus.
White Mountains beyond skiing or outside winter
The seasons in the White Mountains region are very regular, so attractions follow this calendar and summer and spring programs will not be open during the winter, and some natural attractions may also be closed due to snow.
In addition to skiing, there are several things to do there. They say the most beautiful time is autumn, around September and October. And the busiest time (for Americans) is summer, due to the theme parks and family attractions.
There are three options for train rides through the mountains and their beautiful surroundings, the Conway Scenic Railroad, Mount Washington Cog Railway and the Hobo Railroad. The last one, at Christmas time, hosts a nightly “Polar Express” – children and parents wear pajamas and the ride has a Christmas theme. Another program for children during Christmas is Santa’s Village, which is a Christmas theme park, complete with a reindeer carousel.
For those interested in nature walks, Flume Gorge is an excellent option. It is an impressive natural gorge, with waterfalls and natural pools along the way. It is located within a state park where the Old Man of the Mountain stood, a stone figure, naturally carved into the mountain, that is the emblem of New Hampshire. The stones collapsed in 2003, but there is still a memorial above the rock formation. There are also two lakes there, Echo Lake and Profile Lake. Anyone who wants to reach the region of Cable Caryou can take the Cannon Aerial Tramway, which even offers views of Canada!
A cool option, in another part of the mountains, is Lost River, a region formed in the Ice Age, with stone walls, caves and waterfalls. And Polar Caves Park also offers cave tours and trails, as well as museums and animal exhibits. For those who want to enjoy theme parks, there are some alternatives: Six Gun City & Fort Splash, Story Land and Whale’s Tale Water Park.
How to get there and how to get around there
The tourist attractions are in different cities, but close to each other. You can choose just one place you want to visit and stay there, or move between cities. An attraction for driving are the roads, which are part of the tour, such as The Kancamagus Highway, which runs from Lincoln to North Cornway. It is known as the “Scenic Drive” because of the beauty of the surrounding views. The ideal would be to rent a car and drive around the region. The vehicle is also very useful for those who go skiing and want to avoid carrying their equipment to the bus stop.
Getting there from other states is only possible by car or bus. Distances are short. However, the options for bus schedules, leaving from Boston or New York, are few. From Boston, the bus leaves from the airport. From New York you need to take a bus to Concord or Manchester, in New Hampshire, and from there take another bus to one of the smaller cities – but it’s important to pay attention to available times. If you can rent a car, it’s cheaper and it’s definitely more practical.
Attention: It is not a good idea to travel to the United States without international health insurance, as hospital costs there are very high. Read here how to find cost-effective insurance (and with a discount!)
