The Balsams™ Grand Resort Hotel

The Balsams is a NH vacation spot where history and nature converge; a place where many natural treasures can be discovered.  Part of what makes The Balsams what it is today is the sense of escape from the electronic distractions of everyday life.

Logging onto your PC, for example, to read an email from the boss, or turning on the television to watch “Dancing with the Stars” are uncommon activities at this NH vacation spot.

While this type of unplugged vacation is refreshing for many, it can be challenging for others.  To help those video game, electronic gadget and TV-addicted travelers, below is a “how to” guide for getting the most out of an unplugged NH vacation.

Call it our twelve-step program for enjoying an unplugged vacation at The Balsams.

Step 1: Leave the Blackberry and video games at home so you won’t be tempted to use them.

Step 2: Begin stretching and exercising now for the hike up to Table Rock.

Step 3: Practice up on your outdoor sports and games like tennis, shuffleboard, skiing and golf.

Step 4: Pack your digital camera, with a large capacity memory card, so you’ll have proof that you really did partake in all of those outdoor activities you’ll be bragging about to your friends and family.

Step 5: Get the kids excited about The Balsams’ outdoor family fun, far away from their video games, by letting them use their own camera to chronicle everything they experience.  You’ll get an entirely different perspective, and they’ll love having been given an “assignment”.

Step 6:  Learn how to schedule your TiVo or DVR to record all your favorite shows while on vacation.

Step 7: Pack your favorite reading material – books and magazines – in case you suffer withdrawals from not reading email, text messages and tweets.

Step 8: Create a scavenger hunt list for the kids, including things they might see along the way to the Balsams, such as a train, silo, or “antiques” sign, as well as certain types of birds, trees or wildlife.

Step 9: Pack a few simple but fun games to play by the fire in the lobby, like Yahtzee, Uno or Cribbage, or just bring a deck of cards and play Hearts, Go Fish, or a game of poker!

Step 10: Leave that GPS in the glove compartment and pull out the map. Let the kids navigate while they’re in the car, or while you’re out for a hike; teach them how to read a map, a skill we’re in danger of losing as the GPS becomes mainstream.

Step 11: Write out some post cards to send to friends and relatives; we use computers so much these days, the old fashioned cursive handwriting will be a welcomed change of pace.

Step 12: Brush up on your constellations; on a clear night challenge yourself and your family to find Orion’s Belt, the Big Dipper, or the Milky Way!

So to all those NH travelers looking to wean themselves (or their kids) off an ultra connected lifestyle, this NH vacation is just what the doctor ordered.

The Balsams Blogging Team

Image Credit:  Christiin at Flickr