Around New England

70. Wachusett Mountain Princeton, Massachusetts

Join us this week as we hike Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts!  Located within the Wachusett Mountain State Reservation [https://www.mass.gov/locations/wachusett-mountain-state-reservation], This was a great family friendly hike with some great views!  We started from the parking lot at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area [https://www.wachusett.com/].  The trail name we did was Balance Rock to Old Indian Trail.  Balance Rock is a natural glacial phenomenon that is an easy .35 miles from the trailhead.  It's cool to check out. After the hike we checked out The Vice [https://www.thevice.biz/] in nearby Westminster, Massachusetts for some coffee and a sweet treat.  The offer deli sandwiches featuring Boars Head meats, ice cream, coffee, and some good looking bakery items.  Check them out if you are in the area! Thanks for listening.  Be sure to check out our socials below: Around New England Website [https://www.aroundnewenglandpodcast.com/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aroundnewenglandhiking/] Tik Tok [https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundnewengland]

69. Mount Will Trail - Bethel, Maine

Join us this week as we head back up to the Bethel, Maine area to hike the Mount Will Trail. [https://woodsandtrails.org/mount-will/]  This is just one of the many trails maintained by the Inland Woods & Trails [https://woodsandtrails.org/].  This non-profit organization maintains over 100 miles of trails in the area.  We first meet them at the Snowbound Expo [https://snowboundexpo.com/] and again at the Boston Run and Outdoor Expo [https://bostonrunandoutdoor.com/].  We brought our dog, and there are many other dog-friendly trails we are eager to try.   Mount Will [https://woodsandtrails.org/mount-will/] is a moderate family-friendly hike with great views of the Androscoggin River Valley including one of our new favorite ski areas - Mount Abrams [https://www.mtabram.com/].  It also has cool views of Sunday River Ski Resort [https://www.sundayriver.com/].   Not far from this trailhead is Grafton Notch State Park [https://apps.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/details.pl?park_id=1] where we were hoping to get a treat at Puzzle Mountain Bakery [https://www.instagram.com/puzzlemountainbakery/] but it appears they were sold out that afternoon.  We were then going to try to go back to Steam Mill Brewing [https://www.steammillbrew.com/] to grab some good food.  We know they are dog-friendly but they were on their shoulder-season break when we went.   G found a winner though!  Butcher Burger [https://butcherburger.com/bethel/]was great.  We got takeout and the staff was great, and the food was phenomenal.  Check them out when in the area!   Thanks for listening.  Be sure to check out our socials below: Around New England Website [https://www.aroundnewenglandpodcast.com/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aroundnewenglandhiking/] Tik Tok [https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundnewengland]

68. Mount Monadnock, Jaffrey, NH

Join us this week as we hike one of the most popular hikes in NH, possibly even the US, Mount Monadnock [https://www.nhstateparks.org/find-parks-trails/monadnock-state-park] in Jaffrey, NH.  Although Mount Monadnock is attainable for almost any ability, it is still a challenging hike.  Be prepared to have fun, but also make sure you are prepared for a real hike!  It was over 4 miles total, and about 1,650 feet of elevation gain.   Besides this park having a strict no-pet rule, this wouldn't be a very dog-friendly hike anyway.  There are exposed slabs on many of the trails.  The exposed peak offers breathtaking 360 degree views from the Boston skyline to Vermont!  Once you hike this one you understand why it's such a popular hike!  Reservations [https://newhampshirestateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/monadnock-hq/r/deDetails.do?contractCode=NH&parkId=271000] are recommended, especially in the busier summer and fall months!!  This state park is free for NH State Park license plate [https://www.nhstateparks.org/fees-reservations/buy-a-specialty-license-plate]holders, but is $15 for anyone else. On the way home we stopped at Ben's Sugar Shack in Temple, NH.  This place did not disappoint!  There's a cool Deli at Maple Station Market [https://order.toasttab.com/online/the-maple-station-market] which had it all...good coffee, great food, and some of the best MAPLE CREEMEES we've had outside of Vermont!  It was right on the way home from the mountain, so it was also super convenient.  Be sure to stop in and check Ben's out!  It's 100% worth it. Thanks for listening.  Be sure to check out our socials below: Around New England Website [https://www.aroundnewenglandpodcast.com/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aroundnewenglandhiking/] Tik Tok [https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundnewengland]

67. Mount Major, Alton New Hampshire

Join us this week as we hike a local favorite of ours, Mount Major [https://www.forestsociety.org/property/mount-major-reservation].  This mountain is a great introductory hike for pets, kids, or anyone looking to take a nice step towards the more difficult mountains.   We have been to a few places to eat in the area.  In the summer, we have been to Pop's Clam Shell [https://www.popsclamshell.com/], right on Lake Winnipesauke in Alton Bay.  They serve seafood and a variety of other fried foods.  You can even eat outside on the deck!  After lunch, there is an ice cream place within walking distance, right in the heart of Alton Bay. This time we decided to try somewhere new.  We went into Gilford to check out the Gilford Village Store [https://www.gilfordvillagestore.com/our-menu].  The sandwiches and desserts did not disappoint! Thanks for listening.  Be sure to check out our socials below: Around New England Website [https://www.aroundnewenglandpodcast.com/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aroundnewenglandhiking/] Tik Tok [https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundnewengland]

66. Lye Brook Falls Trail Manchester, VT

Join us this week as we travel to beautiful Manchester, VT to hike Lye Brook Falls Trail [https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/vermont/lye-brook-falls-trail].  The destination of this 4.8 mile hike is one of Vermont's tallest waterfall.  The hike is fairly easy, kid and dog friendly, and the views are worth the mileage!  We saw a wide variety of hikers here.   After the hike we checked out nearby Depot Street Burgers [https://www.depotstreetburgers.com/] for a delicious post-hike burger & beer.  We also grabbed coffee at Colburn Cafe [https://colburncafe.com/] and the bookstore it is in.  It was super cute and fun to poke around in.  So fun, we ended up missing out on going back to the Vermont Country Store [https://www.vermontcountrystore.com/].  We also poked around The Mountain Goat [https://www.mountaingoat.com/] and they had some great deals, even on Patagonia!   All in all, it was a great day in the Green Mountains of Vermont! Thanks for listening.  Be sure to check out our socials below: Around New England Website [https://www.aroundnewenglandpodcast.com/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aroundnewenglandhiking/] Tik Tok [https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundnewengland]