TUG members share their restaurant and tourist  recommendations

Last update Aug 25, 2002

Addresses and phone numbers were gathered from off the net where ever we could find them. In many cases, conflicting data was found. Please verify locally before relying on this information.

Bartlett

"We ate at the Red Parka pub ($80 for two adults and two children), and the Spaghetti Shed, which we liked very much: huge helpings for about $10 a person and very welcoming. We also had a take-out dinner from them. (Warning: they don't take credit or debit cards.) We also had breakfast at Glen Junction and Banners, both of which are very good and child friendly, and visited Trail's End icecream parlour, which has a great play area, often."

Lincoln

"Attractions in the area are: The White Mountain National Forest with multiple trails including part of the Appalachian Trail. The Old Man of the Mountain, various tourist traps, are nearby. Conway and North Conway with all kinds of outlet stores are over the Kancamagus Highway. For the skier, there is Loon Mountain and many other skiing trails all around."

Loon Mountain

"The kids had fun doing the Loon Mountain Park activities for a day. If planning on doing the Mountain Park pass, check the local flyers for a $3 off coupon per pass. I didn't realize there was one until after the fact. The wildlife part of the activity was well worth going to. My youngest didn't think too much of the in-line skate park because the half-pipe that was there last year is gone. The ramps are very small and he couldn't use his BMX on it. We biked Franconia Notch two separate times, bringing picnics both times and ending at the Marketplace Stores in Lincoln. The road from Lincoln to Loon is almost 3 miles uphill so it
was more pleasant letting the kids roam the shops while we drove back to get the car we left at the start of the trail. (Of course our kids are plenty old to shop at malls by themselves. I wouldn't plan this with younger children !)

Mountain biking on Loon Mountain is for more advanced riders so we biked their cross country ski trails several times. There is no cost for their use and they run along the river. The river running along the resort is too hazardous for tubing but you can swim at Echo Lake State Park about 12 miles away. We did go to Bretton Woods and enjoyed taking the lift up and biking down their trails, we found it very appropriate for intermediate skilled bikers. Bretton Woods is about 1 hour from Loon and it is NOT SHORTER to go by Bartlett and cut down Bear Notch Road. We saw moose several times while driving the Kangamangus. There are plenty of other acitivites near Lincoln, depending if you are interested in water slides, Clark's Bear Trading Post, the Flume etc."
 

North Conway

"There are many short or long hikes to nearby waterfalls and our favorite, Diana's Baths (resort staff can give you directions.) If you go to Diana's Baths, make sure you have on swimming gear and bring a picnic lunch."

"Our family enjoys mountain biking. You can bike: Whittaker Woods (across the street from ESI). Bike Bear Notch (not the Attitash resort, but drive up Bear Notch Road in Bartlett to one of the National Forest gravel roads and ride the wide, gradually descending gravel roads down the mountain, stop at the river bed and let the kids splash in the shallow pools)--if you don't have 2 cars, you can pay to take the Attitash shuttle bus to the drop off--or get directions to the road, drop off the entire gang, driver goes back to Attitash and just pay for the driver to get shuttled back to the road-- then everyone can bike down and ride back to the Attitash resort to get the car. "

"Mt. Cranmore (about 1 mile from the resort) has a lift service for the riders and bikes to the top -- even this 40-something year-old Mom made it down and had fun! "

"Travel by car about 1 hour to the Franconia Notch area and bike the 8.9 mile paved recreational path through the Notch (get the directions at the Flume information booth)--you want to END at the FLUME -otherwise you travel uphill more than down!! 1 car dragging you down? The Mountain Club at Loon will shuttle you and your bikes to the start, or drop everyone off and the driver can pay for the shuttle. You can bike into Loon, but the ride is longer, so if you don't want to bike that far, have the shuttle driver let you drop your car off at the FLUME and then drop you off with the rest of your group. You will bike through Cannon Mountain area, the Basin, Old Man of the Mountain viewing area, Lafayette State Park, and end at the FLUME. While you are there, make sure to take the walk up the FLUME attraction, it is BEAUTIFUL and the entrance fee isn't very expensive."

"Don't have a bike with you??? Joe Jones is in walking distance from ESI and rents them as do other bike places. In No. Conway, bike to some of the shopping outlets/boutiques if you are just interested in window shopping."

"My boys like fishing in the trout pond at ESI or the Saco River (ESI borders on the river). Relax by the pool-(ask for towels at the front desk); take the car to the Lower Falls on the Saco River (use West Side Road) and go tubing and picnicking (yes, it has a bit of a current and you ride down the rock falls!) but there is a large swimming area at the base of the Falls for the faint at heart. Take a 3 mile ride to Echo Lake (off West Side Road) for a day of swimming, sunbathing, fishing and don't forget the binoculars to watch the climbers scale Cathedral Ledge across the lake. It is a clear mountain spring fed lake and is never over crowded, has bathrooms and bath houses but no snack shack (bring a picnic). They do have charcoal grills and plenty of tables. Take the car up the road to the top of Cathedral Ledge to check the rock climbers progress, the view and the bathers at Echo Lake."
 

• "Take the car up Mt. Washington's Auto Road, or better yet take the COG Railroad up to the summit of Mt. Washington. I have driven up and down Mt. Washington twice and everyone enjoyed taking the Cog Railroad better than driving (you get to view all the notches that you don't see by car and the designated driver gets to enjoy the trip!). Eastern Slope Playhouse is very quaint but the players do a great job and it is air conditioned. So, buy some tickets (reasonably priced) and don't worry if you have to sit near the aisle as the players use the aisle stairs to sometimes enter and exit the stage as they sing or act (my kids ask for an aisle seat!).
• Take a ride on the Conway Scenic Railway (offers 45 minute to 5 ½ hour rides, even has a dining car) Eastern Slope Inn is walking distance from the Conway Scenic Railway and the Town Commons (which has a nice kids playground). In fact, anyone staying in Savard House has a deck that overlooks part of the Scenic Railway - I own in the Savard House.
• Visit the railway museum that is there and don't forget to stop in at Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream -yum. If you are at ESI on Sunday evening, the community orchestra usually play in the Gazebo at the commons. Walk over with a blanket and enjoy a small town Sunday event.
• If the kids wants amusement rides type of events, visit Storyland in nearby Glenn (yes-all the story book characters come to life), and is you are short on cash funds, you can even bring a lunch cooler into the park when it is time to eat---but, no BBQ facilities). Heritage, right next to Storyland is neat also, though more educational than amusement ride. Travel about an hour to visit Santa's Village and/or Six Gun City. No. Conway has a neat little water park area with miniature golf. In fact, No. Conway has 3 miniature golf parks, and yes, one is a Pirates Cove.
• Drive to Attitash Mountain (15-20 min)and spend the day on the alpine slides and water slides. It is a 1 mile ride down a special toboggan run on special sleds, and you have brakes to slow down."

"New Hampshire does not have a state tax, so if shopping is your thing, you better bring some plastic for all the famous outlet stores and boutiques. No. Conway is a factory outlet shoppers destination, even having an LL.Bean outlet ( I live in Maine and I think the No. Conway Bean outlet has a better clothing selection than the Freeport factory seconds store). Don't (in any circumstances, what-so-ever) forget to go to the New Hampshire Craftsmen Barn. The barn has 3 full floors and is just fabulous. It is about a 10-15 minute walk from ESI if you don't want to sit in the traffic. There are also several movie places in town. Visit some local covered bridges."
 

The information contained in this TUG Dining Guide is provided by TUG members and is solely the opinion of those members. The Timeshare Users Group is not responsible for its content. This information is for the personal use of TUG members only. Any commercial use of this material without the written permission of the Timeshare Users Group is strictly forbidden

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