Wagon Hill Farm, Durham, NH

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Ray Bisson

kids-on-wagonIf you drive along Route 4 between Durham and Dover Point, you will see a picturesque old wagon sitting on top of a hill at an old farm.

If you drive this route in the winter, you can see hundreds of people sliding down the hill. Wagon Hill Farm is a 140 acre farm, which was purchased by the town of Durham to preserve this beautiful resource.  This easy hike takes you through many habitats, including a grassy field, wooded jacob-and-dakotaforest and salt water shoreline. 

You start your hike near the old farm house and walk through the field. Then you make your way along  into the mature woods, which brings you to a grassy opening with picnic tables near Great Bay. Our kids found a Horseshoe crab along the shore.

The farm also has antique equipment, an old foundation and a cemetery along the walk.

horseshoe-crabThe walk is about 1.2 miles in length, but there are many interconnecting trails, which can make for longer, shorter or varying hikes. There is a trail on the opposite side of Route 4, but we have not been on that trail. We enjoyed our hike with our new puppy. Dogs are allowed if leashed.

The town of Durham has many recreational facilities, which can be viewed on their website. The site includes descriptions and trail maps.

Filed under: Fall activities, Family Fitness, Family fun activities, NH hikes, Outdoor fun, Quality time with kids, Spring activities, Summer activities, Summer attractions, Traveling with kids, Winter activities | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Exploring the Gonic Trails along the Isinglass River in Rochester, NH

Posted on June 30, 2009 by Ray Bisson

WM Islinglass River Trail 5-25-09bRecently, we learned about the Gonic Trails at Mount Isinglass Recreational Area in Rochester, NH. This facility is located a short distance from Route 125 in Gonic; a village of Rochester. The facility is part of the Waster Management Turnkey Recycling & Environmental Enterprises.

On our first visit, we stopped at the nature trails. The trail head has ample parking. There are three trails from this parking lot, Watson’s Way, a 1.4 mile loop, Locke’s Local Loop, a 1.3 mile loop and Luanne’s Lane, a 3.5 mile one way trail. There was a mailbox for trail maps, but there were no maps when we were there.

WM Islinglass River Trail 5-25-09eWe took the trail for Locke Falls on the Isinglass River. The beginning part of the trail was very nice. The trail was fairly wide and easy as it winded along a slight rolling terrain. The trails are well marked with different color paint for each trail.  As we approached the river, we saw old granite abutments for the former Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad. Once we reached the river we could see people fishing and wading in the currents.

We continued on, took a right and followed the trail, which quickly narrowed. There were portions of the trail that had debris, which at times made it difficult to walk. I am not sure if the debris was remnants from this past winter’s ice storm.

Open year-round, the recreational park is used for hiking, WM Islinglass River Trail 5-25-09hbiking, fishing, swimming, and picnicking in the summer and ice skating, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing in the winter. Dogs are also allowed.

Directions to the trailhead:
From Rochester, follow Route 125 south to Rochester Neck Road. Take a left onto Rochester Neck Road. The trails are 1/2 mile up on the right. Follow this link to Google Maps for Directions.

Filed under: Fall activities, Family Fitness, Family fun activities, NH hikes, Outdoor fun, Quality time with kids, Spring activities, Summer activities, Summer attractions, Wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Shaw’s Rewards Card Summer Offers

Posted on June 10, 2009 by The Mom Entrepreneur

I recently discovered that Shaw’s Supermarket lists local tourist destinations on its website where the Shaw’s Rewards Card can be used to earn discounts. This includes popular spots in ME, NH, MA, VT and CT like the Seacoast Science Center, Strawberry Banke, Fisher Cats Baseball, Water Country, York’s Wild Kingdom and many more. Most offers are only available for the summer of 2009. To view participating destinations, click here…>

If you do not have a Shaw’s Rewards Card, you can sign up here.

Filed under: Discounts and savings, Educational, Family fun activities, Museums, Outdoor fun, Quality time with kids, Summer activities, Summer attractions, Traveling with kids | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Chuck E. Cheese’s Reading Program

Posted on June 9, 2009 by The Mom Entrepreneur

Lately, we have been discussing the many programs we have been finding that encourage kids to continue reading over the summer. Make sure your kids complete the Chuck E. Cheese Reading Rewards Calendar as well. They will earn 10 additional tokens with their food purchase for two weeks worth of reading.

Filed under: Birthday party ideas, Discounts and savings, Educational, Family fun activities, Rainy day activities, eating out with kids, summer reading programs | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Enjoy a FREE Ice Cream at Friendly’s Restaurant on June 6th

Posted on May 27, 2009 by The Mom Entrepreneur

Thanks to Deal Finding Mom for this announcement about Friendlys’ Restaurant’s Free Ice Cream Day on June 6th from 12:00 pm- 5:00 pm. You can go to a participating Friendly’s and receive a one scoop cone or cup at no charge.

For more information, and to locate a Friendly’s near you, click here…>

Filed under: Discounts and savings, eating out with kids | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

South Mountain at Pawtuckaway State Park

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Ray Bisson

We recently took a hike to South Mountain at Pawtuckaway State Park. We wanted to go on an Pawtuckaway South Mtn 4-24-09heasy first hike in the hopes that our four year old would enjoy hiking and we could do additional hikes this summer. We wanted to stay close to home, but do a walk that we have not already done. I found this hike trough Trails.com (a pay site, but very good details about hiking trails).

The hike was supposed to be a 0.8 mile hike up a 885± foot high mountain to a fire tower, which on a clear day you are supposed to be able to see Boston. As we followed the directions to the parking lot we found the access road was gated.  The sign said that the trail head was 0.8 mile up this access road.  We decided to put our four year old in his stroller and push him to the trail head, then let him walk. (As long as the stroller has medium sized or larger wheels, the access road is not a problem to push the stroller along.)

As we started our hike we walked past a brook, pond with beaver dam, beaver hut and numerous stone walls. We also came across a small stone foundation on the right of the access road, an old cemetery and another stone foundation on the left. Since I am a Land Surveyor and like history, I wanted a closer inspection of the foundations and the cemetery.  This area was the homestead of Barnard & Sally Goodrich and later of George Goodrich, grandson. My curiosity was peaked and I wanted to learn more.  Later I found a book called “The Barefoot Farmer of Pawtuckaway” written by Paula Casey Wood and an article about George in the Bear-Paw Print with photographs of what the homestead used to look like.

Pawtuckaway South Mtn 4-24-09fJust after the homestead is the parking lot and trail head. We parked the stroller and started our climb.  The trail winds through mature woods and around multiple rock formations. The trail was a bit wet and slippery in spots. There was only a couple of steep sections of the trail and the hike to the top was fairly easy.  Our kids would take turns leading, which provided an incentive for our youngest son to walkPawtuckaway South Mtn 4-24-09o all the way to the top. 

At the top we found the fire tower, which we climbed up to a viewing platform.  The stairs are very steep, so if you have young ones you might want to stay close behind them. After sitting at the top for awhile, we descended the mountain and headed back down the access road.

Even though our hike became a 2.4 mile hike, it was an enjoyable way to spend a beautiful spring day and we are hoping to do this hike again this fall when the leaves are changing.

Click here for Pawtuckaway Trail Map

Click her for Directions and Additional Information about South Mountain

Filed under: Educational, Fall activities, Family Fitness, Family fun activities, NH hikes, NH mountains, Quality time with kids, Spring activities, Summer activities, Summer attractions, Wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Visit the Polar Caves for free until June 19th

Posted on May 20, 2009 by The Mom Entrepreneur

The Polar Caves in Plymouth, NH is a great family tourist stop. It includes a series of caves and passages formed by the falling of massive boulders nearly 50,000 years ago as the third continental glacier moved southward over New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

You can explore the Rock Garden, a jumble of glacially deposited granite boulders and take a self-guided tour of the caves. Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., early May to late October, weather permitting.

They also offer gemstone and fossil mining for the kids, a gift shop and ample picnic spots. Kids can also visit with the animals, which include Fallow Deer, Pheasants from around the world, Peacocks, Swans and a wide variety of ducks. We try to visit every year.

For a limited time, the Polar Caves in Plymouth, NH is offering a “buy one, get one admission for free”. The offer is valid Monday – Friday only and expires June 19, 2009. 

To print your coupon, click here…>

Filed under: Discounts and savings, Educational, Family fun activities, NH farms, NH hikes, NH mountains, Outdoor fun, Quality time with kids, Summer activities, Summer attractions, Wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Free Family Film Festival at Regal Cinemas starting in June

Posted on May 19, 2009 by The Mom Entrepreneur

Starting at the end of June, two theaters in New Hampshire (Hooksett 8 and Fox Run Stadium 15), will be offering a Free Family Film Festival. It’s a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents.

Since 1991, Regal has provided this service to the community, and best of all it’s FREE! Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.

To view a listing of available movies, dates and times, click here…>

Filed under: Educational, Family Shows & Concerts, Family fun activities, Quality time with kids, Summer activities | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

TD Banknorth’s 2009 Summer Reading Program

Posted on May 12, 2009 by The Mom Entrepreneur

Kudos to TD Banknorth for offering a summer reading program for kids. They have made the program very simple.

Kids need to read 10 books, print out an online form, list the titles of all 10 books and bring to their nearest TD Banknorth branch.

Upon successful completeion of the summer reading program, TD Banknorth will deposit $10 in every kid’s new or existing Young Saver account.

Now reading can be fun and profitable!

Filed under: Educational, Quality time with kids, Rainy day activities, Summer activities, summer reading programs | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Spend the day at Canobie Lake Park with mom this Sunday

Posted on May 6, 2009 by The Mom Entrepreneur

Several years ago when Canobie Lake Park had their Mother’s Day promotion, we went and had a blast. I don’t believe they offer this promotion every year. Our favorite park of the park are the shows. Canobie Lake hosts top-notch entertainment. 

 This Sunday, May 10th, moms get in free to Canobie Lake Park and are treated to lunch (when accompanied by a paid child admission). The park is open from 11:00am – 6:00pm and their spring admission rates are very reasonable.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Filed under: Discounts and savings, Family Shows & Concerts, Family fun activities, Mother's Day, Spring activities, Summer activities, Summer attractions | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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