New Hampshire (NH) is the place to be come fall … and a NH vacation at the Balsams Grand Hotel located in The Great North Woods is leaf peeping at its best.
Though precisely when the foliage will peak can be unpredictable, it works its way down from the north, so your best bet for seeing peak colors in New Hampshire would be anywhere from the end of September to the first couple of weeks in October. Yankee Magazine provides a helpful foliage guide that’s filled with leaf peeping tips and includes interactive maps and calendars, available at www.yankeefoliage.com.
Fall Reflections, Lake Gloriette
This New Hampshire resort is located at the foot of Dixville Notch at the edge of Lake Gloriette, amid vast acres of forest. The mirrored colorful fall reflection of the Balsams Grand Hotel on the lake is truly an awesome sight. The grounds offer miles of hiking and biking trails and the photography is unsurpassed. The clear streams and lakes in the area provide fall fishing and the wildlife is plentiful.
The early morning mist rising on the water of this grand hotel’s Lake Gloriette together with the aroma of the firs, the call of the loon, and the colorful leaves all lend to a quiet time of reflection.
Views From Table Rock
A hike to nearby Table Rock, which overlooks the Balsams Hotel, or taking in the view from the Panorama Country Club will provide leaf peepers with breathtaking scenes that are unique from other areas of the state.
If you’d like to do some additional hiking during your stay at The Balsams, the Appalachian Club has an online guide that lists their recommendations for the top 10 fall foliage hikes in New Hampshire’s White Mountains that you can check out at http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2007-09-17-nh-hikes_N.htm.
The Balsams Grand Hotel is a New Hampshire resort that provides the best of foliage, fun and relaxation – A destination that keeps visitors returning year after year.
Judith Howcroft
The Balsams Blogging Team
Photos provided by Judith Howcroft and Wilderness Light Photography
One Comment
Tai Freligh
Posted September 23, 2009 at 11:51 am | Permalink
In addition to the Yankee Foliage website, the state tourism website has an interactive foliage tracker map where you can get foliage conditions by region and by calendar date. Link at: http://foliage.visitnh.gov.ns1www.silvertech.net/index-flash.html.