It's that time of year again, that brief few weeks when the trees on the hillsides explode into their vibrant fall colors. No matter how many times we see this yearly spectacular, it never ceases to amaze us. How could so much glorious color have been hidden in the leaves of our hardwood trees? How could summer's green have covered such vibrancy?
This is also the time of year when visitors from all over the world come to see New England's fall foliage. It is this time of year, more than any other season, that the impression we make on these visitors can have far reaching implications. When they go home, whether that home is England or California, we hope they let their friends know that New Hampshire's North Country is a great place to visit.
One of the ways we can accomplish the above goal is to be well-informed about all the area has to offer. Most of us know where to send folks who are anxious to see moose, but, outside of the boundaries of our own towns, how familiar are we about the attractions in other towns in the North Country? In the Androscoggin Valley there are many residents who can recount the history of the pulp and paper industry in the valley and can give directions to Northern Forest Heritage Park up at 961 Main Street in Berlin, but how many locals know the history of the Republic of Indian Stream to the north of the valley? Conversely, how many people in Colebrook know of the Gorham Historical Society Museum and the Model Railroad on Railroad Street in Gorham? And how many residents of either areas could tell visitors of the connection between the John Wingate Weeks Historic Site in Lancaster and the White Mountain National Forest?
The visitors who come to New England in the fall from far away tend to be well-educated, upper middle-class retirees who want to do more than look at the lovely leaves. They want to get a sense of the regions they visit, of the regions' history and people. Generally, they're touring around with an idea of the places they want to be sure to visit "Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont" but are very open to suggestions from locals. These visitors are smart enough to know that nobody knows the best places to see than the locals.
And we do tend to know our own back yard, but it would greatly help these visitors if we could point them up the road to other notable places in the North Country. A great place to study up on what the towns outside our own boundaries have to offer is to go to the web sites of the North Country's chambers of commerce. Click on any of the following sites, and you'll be already to become a great ambassador for the North Country:
We have much to offer in the North Country, this is the time to let the world know.
Back to News List