Renting A Vacation Cabin

Looking back, we typically vacation in cabin rentals.  We did for our honeymoon, for Christmas and we even rented a one room cabin at a KOA when we went to Niagara Falls.  Ryan did the same when he surprised me with this New Hampshire vacation!  For this trip he chose to rent a cabin on a picturesque lake in North Conway, NH.  Vacation rentals can be found all over the inter-webs simply by googling the location and cabin rentals.  There is always Craigslist (be careful of scams) and vrbo.com where Ryan found this cabin.

Reasons I like to vacation in rental cabins:

- We could invite lots of friends and family to join us.

- We could bring our dog Glacier!

- There's a kitchen to cook our own meals, which is very attractive if you are allergy free.

- We could relax! and not always have to be on the go to find our next meal or place to go.

- We could take advantage of the property for things we would have to pay for if we were staying in a hotel.  In this cabin we were able to swim (at all hours, even the night), have camp fires, kayak, canoe, grill and enjoy the scenery!

- We could play loud music and laugh all night during our spade tournaments.

I'm already wondering where our next vacation rental will be!

xo

Erin

Things to Do in October Around New Hampshire

Ryan surprised me with an trip to New Hampshire last week before our lives started to get a little hectic busy.  It sure was an amazing surprise.  He put so much planning into it by renting us a lake cabin and secretly inviting our friends to join us up there.  I really had no idea all of it was being planned. 

We ended up going up to New Hampshire during prime time when all the leaf peepers (yes that is what they are really called!) head up to see the tree colors.  This post is to tell you the places we went to see to act more as a guide for others looking for activities while there. I will be posting more about our adventures and the lake cabin a little later.

Let me first start out saying we were in the North Conway, NH area.  

Everything we did was within an hours drive.

Cog Railway

Mt. Washington

This was truly great.  The trip up and down were narrated and was informative as you took in the views.  I've driven to the top of Mt. Washington before on the Auto Road and I preferred the railway to driving for the simple fact I wasn't so worried for my life the entire time.  If that kind of stuff doesn't bother you, both ways up are good.  Or even better,  hike it!  Anyway you do it, get to the top of Mt. Washington!

The Flume

Lincoln, NH

The Flume is a natural gorge with a waterfall/river going through.  Plank ways were built so we were able to walk right into the gorge.  It was breathtaking and unexpected.  We ended up walking the full loop hike instead of going back down through the gorge which I wish we would have gone back through just to see it again.

Gondola Skyride

Mt. Loon, Lincoln, NH

This activity wasn't my favorite.  To me it felt like a regular ride up a ski lift and it made me motion sick on the way down.  Although, the view on top was good and there was a neat glacier cave trail.

Kancamagus Highway

A 26 mile stretch of highway with amazing views and scenic stops.

Cathedral Ledge State Park

North Conway, NH

We caught a sunrise here!  There is a road to the top, which we took, but you can also hike to the top.  The view is perfect for the sunrise.  We brought our hiking stove and made breakfast on top.

and some great restaurants...

Moat Mountain Brewing Company

North Conway, NH

Woodstock Inn Station and Brewery

North Woodstock, NH

That is what we fit into our too short vacation up to New Hampshire.  We also spent time enjoying our cabin and kayaking on the lake.  New Hampshire has "Brake for Moose" signs everywhere and did I see one moose?.... no.  Anyway have any of you been to New Hampshire?  What did you do while you were there? I'd love to hear.

xo

Erin

Things I Did Last Fall

Mt. Washington
I rediscover my love for Autumn each year when it comes along.  Last year we had a few adventures during the season including my first trip to Mt. Washington (above).  We have plans to go back in a couple weeks so Ryan can do a night hike.... EEEK!

Amanda and I threw an awesome Autumn dinner party, which we are planning on doing again in the next few weeks!

We went to the Roger Williams Pumpkin Spectacular for our third year.  You bet we will be going back for our annual trip this year.

Last year I was able to fly home to my parent's house during their business season at  Nature's Select Orchard and I loved it!  Wish I could have gone this year but we plan on going at a different time this year.  

In the meantime I have to find some orchards or pumpkin patches in New England worth going to.

Stay tuned, I'll let you know what I find and the other adventures this season brings.

xo

Erin

Things to Do in June Around Connecticut

I have family coming out to visit me in June.  They have been out here several times before so we always try to find something a little different to do each time.  I put together a  list of things we may do in the CT/RI area this June.  I'll be sure to report back after the visit.

Coventry Farmer's Market

Coventry, CT

They've been cited as New England’s BEST farmers’ market by Yankeee Magazine AND selected as one of USA Today’s “Top 10 great places to shop at a farmers market!”

The Book Barn

Niantic, CT

This store is actually a barn with meandering paths to themed sheds full of books.  I especially love all the friendly cats, goats and beautiful gardens you can sit in and read.  It's no ordinary book shop!

Thimble Island Tours

Stony Creek, CT
Take a narrated boat tour of all the rocky islands and their history in the Long Island Sound.

Watch Hill

Westerly, RI (just over the CT border)
One of my favorite coastal towns with shops, restaurants and beaches.
I've posted some on my favorite beach here and here.

Point Judith, RI
A small cape with a working lighthouse, fisherman's beach and where you can buy lobsters right off the boats as they come in!

Mystic Seaport Museum

Mystic, CT
A museum including a 19th century village and many old ships in seaport you can explore.
Mystic, CT is also a must see town with some great restaurants!  This one is my favorite because it is
 allergy-free!

Pick-Your-Own Strawberries

Lymann Orchards

Middlefield, CT

or

Scott's Yankee Farmer

Old Lyme, CT
June is pick-your-own strawberries season!

I can't wait for summer!
xo
Erin

P.S. Click here to see what we did when my family visited last June
P.P.S. Photos above were taken at the Watch Hill Harbor.

Mt. Washington and My Veteran

A few weeks ago we took a day off of work and headed up to Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.  It is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at 6,288 ft but is most known for it's dangerous ever changing weather.  The Mountain has claimed many lives (even a couple a few weeks before we were there) due to the sudden changes of weather, high wind speeds, and the rough terrain.  There is an Observatory at the top that records all the extreme weather.  The day we spent there was beautiful, surprisingly, because it was already September!  There was hardly any wind and I really didn't even need a coat.

I've never climbed the Mountain (yet) but this was Ryan's fourth time hiking up it.  This time he was on a mission though; to climb it in less than 2 hours.  I'm not sure of the official record but we think it's around one hour and fifteen minutes.

Ryan officially climbed up the Tuckerman's Ravine in 2 hours and 2 minutes!

The Cog Railway is something I would love to come back and do. 

 It's an hour long ride up the opposite side of the mountain

Even though I didn't climb with Ryan I still got to the top via the Auto Road.  This was really intense for me.  I dropped Ryan off at the base of the trail and told him I would meet him up there.  I wasn't planning on driving up but had planned to take the train up.  Well, we found out that the train was on the opposite side of the Mountain than the trail head so it wasn't feasible for me to drive an hour to the other side.  I panicked a little, prayed a lot and then just got in the line to drive up.  I refused to look over the edge or even out my window driving up.  I only looked at the road in front of me.   I was having nervous flashbacks to this scary road in AZ.  My method worked for me and I made it up. 

The picture below is the windy road up.

This is the gravel part of the road.  Complete drop off! and yes it's a two lane road so you do have to be all the way over to the edge on the way down.  Thankfully we drove down after they stopped letting cars up that day so I had the road to myself.

I'm so proud of Ryan for more than just his ability to conquer mountains but also for serving in the United States Navy for nine years.  I've seen the sacrifices he's made because of his service and I feel like a thank you once a year will never be enough.

Thank you to all the veterans out there!

More of our hikes around New England:

Lion's Head, Salisbury, CT

Bear Mountain, CT

Lantern Hill, CT

Bluff Point State Park, CT

Napatree Point, RI

xo

Erin

Pumpkin Specatacular

This was our third annual visit to the Pumpkin Spectacular at the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, RI.  

I forgot how impressive it was with over 5,000 pumpkins before we began walking down the trail.  This year's theme was the various regions of the U.S.A and they blasted the appropriate music for each place you were currently looking at.  Did you know Rhode Island has a song?!

Check it out here.

Anyway, I think the bottom two pumpkins are meant for WI.; a deer and a cow with the word "Cheese" above it.  I didn't find any pumpkin for CT but what would even be on in?  There were many pumpkins for New England of lighthouses and lobsters and such.

If you get a chance to check it out, it's defiantly worth it.

xo

Erin

See our visit two years ago here.

Waterville Valley, NH Raft Series

Last week I was up in New Hampshire and I brought my camera knowing I was going to be surrounded by mountains.  Each morning I woke up to this pond with a raft and snapped a picture with my iphone on my walk to the convention center.  These moments were breath taking for me each morning.  I only took out my dslr camera once all week while hiking to a waterfall.

xo

Erin

A Beach Hike: Napatree Point

A few weeks ago we went to our favorite beach, Napatree Point, to hike to the end of it.  When we got there a fog rolled in.  We walked for miles with only seeing three people, also walking out, to go fishing.  I've never walked out to the end before (about two miles down) and with barely any visibility in front of me I really had no sense of distance when we were walking.

The beach hike was a total of 4 miles.  I think I would visit this beach every single day if I could.

More hikes in CT:

Lion's Head - Salisbury, CT

Bear Mountain

Bluff Point State Park

Lantern Hill

xo

Erin

Traveling Around New England

My family took the long drive from Wisconsin to Connecticut to visit Ryan and I this last week.  Of course we had to cram in a ton of all things New England on their five day stay.

There was a total of 6 of us traveling around, including 3 small children and we wanted to make sure everyone kept busy.

Our Itinerary:

Day 1: Martha's Vineyard

Day 2: Whale watching off of Cape Cod

Day 3:  Nautilus Museum (Submarine) and Mystic, CT

Day 4:  Point Judith, Fisherman's Beach and the lobster boats in Galilee, RI

Day 5:  Watch Hill, RI and beach day

What a great way to start off the summer season!

xo

Erin

Historic Northeast Snowfall

 Being from Wisconsin, I was skeptical of all the talk of a big snowstorm hitting the Northeast. You see, I've learned that Connecticut, and generally New England, tends to over exagerate weather.  The Governor has shut down the state (yes, state) many a times before a single snowflake has even hit the ground.  Well, the snow did come yesterday after all.  

In October. 

We have snow...

and it stuck.

It didn't melt.

Yet.

 Most of the leaves are still on the trees so the heavy snow has caused many big branches and trees to fall.  After hurricane Irene and this early snowfall this year I think only the strong are still standing.

I realized yesterday that I completely missed Fall.  And by that I mean I didn't even realize it has come and gone.  I'm so busy with my internship, work, and classes this semester I am going all day and come home after dark. 

Sad.

But....

When is the last time you made a snowman in October?