DESTINATIONS | NEW ENGLAND ’ S AUTUMN SHOW
• New Hampshire was named for Hampshire , England , by Captain John Mason .
• The weather station on Mount Washington holds the record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth ’ s surface at 231 mph in 1934 .
• In New Hampshire , about 6.9 million cords of wood are harvested each year for lumber , paper , and other products . Replanting trees is rarely necessary as New Hampshire ’ s forests reseed themselves .
by Randy Bray
• Cannon Aerial Tramway is the first aerial passenger tramway in North America . It was built in 1938 at Franconia Notch .
Vermont
The Green Mountain State provides plenty of forest-covered mountains with an abundance of multi-colored scenes for viewing . Highways and byways are numerous enough to get a good look of the state ’ s natural beauty , but not to the point of too much traffic . Several routes highlighting the southern segment of Vermont ’ s autumn show are : Route 7A from Bennington to Manchester ; Route 30 from Brattleboro to Manchester and from Manchester to Dorset to Pawlet ; Route 11 from Manchester to Chester ; Route 100 from South Londonderry to Weston .
Near Dorset , just north of Manchester , lies Emerald State Park harboring 67 campsites spread across a heavily wooded ridge . The park surrounds its namesake , the 20-acre Emerald Lake , which offers adventure for water-based activities . Another state park , Gifford Woods State Park near Killington is not only a hub for hikers , but also a perfect base camp for RVing leafseekers . Whether driving through on a New England autumn photography trip , or escaping for a couple days to enjoy a fall season outing , the region caters to both .
For the history buffs along for the trip , a stop at the Bennington Museum in Bennington is worth consideration . The muse-
© istockphoto . com / Jaco Le Roux um highlights the heritage of southern Vermont and neighboring regions . Paintings and sculptures by Vermont artists and military artifacts are displayed , as well as an array of American glass from the 19th to the early 20th century . Onward north on Route 7A in Manchester is the American Museum of Fly Fishing . The museum holds the world ’ s largest collection of angling and angling-related items . The exhibits document the evolution of fly fishing as a sport , art form , craft , and industry in the U . S . and abroad , dating as far back as the 16th century .
Call 1-800-837-6668 for Vermont travel information .
10 Autumn 2009 |