Itinerary: Lancaster, NH, Maple Syrup and Foliage

Written by: Carol Fusaro
Bio: Works for Sullivan Creative, providing marketing services for businesses throughout NH’s Grand North.

First stop: waterwheelYou will want to get an early start and get fueled up for the fun ahead. Here’s one of our favorite breakfast places:
The Water Wheel Breakfast & Gift House on Route 2 in Jefferson. Nestled in the beautiful White Mountains, the Water Wheel serves homemade, country dining with a little bit of history. You’ll see amazing views of Mt. Washington outside the restaurant. The Water Wheel also serves and sells Fuller’s Sugarhouse pure maple syrup.

Weeks State ParkMorning: You will enjoy breathtaking views of the North Country on your drive to Lancaster. Be sure to visit Weeks State Park located on Route 3, just 1.5 miles south of Lancaster. You can take a scenic drive up the 1.5-mile auto road, or hike on any of the park trails. While you are there, take a tour of the historic John Wingate Weeks Estate, which provides a 360-degree panorama of mountain splendor, including the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, the Green Mountains of Vermont, the Kilkenny Range, the Percy Peaks, and the upper Connecticut River Valley.

FullersEd_at_BoilerMidday: After your drive or hike, plan to come visit Fuller’s Sugarhouse and country store at 267 Main Street (Route 2) in Lancaster. They’ll give you a tour to show you how they make pure maple syrup and a taste of the award-winning syrup and candy. While you are there, pick up some maple candy for your road trip and bring home some of their pure maple syrup. The country store has a great variety of syrup and candy, as well as other locally made products.

Afternoon: After you leave Fuller’s Sugarhouse, drive east along Route 2 through Jefferson, plan a stop at the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, located about 5.4 miles southwest on Route 115. Nestled beneath the mountains north of the Presidential Range, Pondicherry has often been called a “crown jewel” of New Hampshire’s landscape, with great hiking trails and sweeping views from the wetlands and ponds.

Day 2(?): After leaving Pondicherry, head north towards Jefferson and then on to Gorham for more views of the foliage on the backside of the Presidentials. From Gorham, follow Route 16 south through Pinkham Notch to North Conway and see the colorful grandeur of the foliage on Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the northeast US.

This is truly a wonderful trip that you can do in a day or split up over the weekend. If you use this itinerary, please let us know what you think! And when you get home, be sure to try some great maple recipes using Fuller’s Sugarhouse maple syrup!