Category: Outdoors

Kiddie Pool 22/01/27

Family fun for the weekend

Plane fun

• It’s the final weekend to see “Festival of Planes,” an exhibit of more than 1,500 model planes and toy aircraft at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire. (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820). Museum admission costs $10 per person; $5 for children under 13, seniors and veterans and active military, and is free for children age 5 and under. The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. According to a press release, the exhibit “features aviation-themed toys, models, puzzles, and promotional items from the past 100 years. Themes range from the Wright Brothers to sci-fi favorites as Star Trek, Star Wars, and more.” There is also a “find Santa” challenge with prizes for kids who spot him.

Snowshoe season

• If this week’s Winter Festival in Concord (see the story above) has you looking for more snow-themed fun, check out last week’s story in the Hippo about snowshoeing. On page 16 of the Jan. 20 issue, Meghan Siegler looks at where you can rent snowshoes, including locations such as the New Hampshire Audubon centers in Manchester and Concord, American Stonehenge in Salem, Beaver Brook in Hollis and Pats Peak in Henniker. She also discusses a few of the more snowshoe-friendly trails in the area.

On stage

• Head to the magical land of Oz at the Majestic Theatre’s young performers presentation of The Wizard of Oz at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry). The show, a young performers edition of the tale, according to majestictheatre.net, will run Friday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students 17 and under. Call 669-7469 or go to majestictheatre.net.

• At the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; 668-5588, palacetheatre.org), the Palace Youth Theatre group (featuring student actors in second through twelfth grade) will present Matilda Jr., the younger-performer version of the musical based on the Roald Dahl book. The show will run Tuesday, Feb. 1, and Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m.

Crowns and a pony

• This week’s storytime at the Bookery (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) will feature the books The Princess and the Pony and Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of the Girl Who Floated, read by Miss Manchester and Miss Manchester Outstanding Teen, according to the website. The storytime will start at 11:30 a.m. and after the stories the Misses will be available for photos. Also slated to make an appearance is Eddy, the Manchester Police Department’s new comfort pony, the website said. The event is free; go online to register.

Chill fun

Winter Fest returns to downtown Concord

Coinciding with the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament is the fourth annual Concord NH Winter Festival on Saturday, Jan. 29. There will be indoor and outdoor festivities for all ages, including shopping, food, entertainment, tours and more.

“There are not a lot of family-friendly events this time of year, and that is what makes this event special,” said Jessica Martin, Executive Director of Intown Concord, which organizes the Winter Festival in partnership with The Hotel Concord.

Ice carvers will demonstrate their craft and compete in a live ice carving competition during the Winter Festival. Courtesy photo.

The highlight of the event is the live ice carving competition featuring “New England’s best ice carvers,” Martin said. It’s free and open to the public on the Statehouse lawn from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ice carvers will also be there on Friday, Jan. 28, the day before the festival, doing live ice carving demonstrations from 3 to 9 p.m.

“This year we have seven carvers participating in the competition, which is the most we have had to-date,” Martin said, adding that the carvings will remain on display at the Statehouse for the week following the festival.

Main Street restaurants and retail shops will be open for a Winter Shopping Stroll; Red River Theatres will have a matinee screening of the animated family film Smallfoot (2018, PG) at 10 a.m. (tickets cost $5); and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will run games and interactive activities starting at 10:30 a.m.

Guided tours of the inside of the Statehouse will be offered, starting every 30 minutes from noon to 3:30 p.m. The tour lasts around 45 minutes and will include opportunities to see the Hall of Flags, which has more than 100 battle flags on display from the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War; the House of Representatives chamber and Senate chambers, which have national significance as the oldest continuously used legislative chambers in the U.S.; the Governor and Executive Council chambers and more.

“There are more than 200 portraits to view as you tour the building,” Martin said, “and it’s always fun to see the Visitor Center’s First in the Nation Primary display and Bicentennial dioramas.”

The Winter Festival Stage, which will be set up on South Main Street next to O Steaks and Seafood restaurant, will be a hotspot of activity, including an ice bar, complimentary hot cocoa, s’mores toasting and more. The stage will feature a variety of live entertainment, starting with a dance party with DJ Darren Roy at 11 a.m., followed by storyteller Ade Shields (11:30 to 11:45 a.m., and 1:35 to 1:50 p.m.), local singer-songwriter Jasmine Mann (11:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., and 1:15 to 1:30 p.m.), New England folk-rock band The Penniless Jacks (12:20 to 12:50 p.m., and 2:10 to 2:40 p.m.) and family-friendly drag performer ChiChi Marvel (1 to 1:10 p.m., and 1:55 to 2:05 p.m.)

A free shuttle service will be available, running between the Statehouse, the Hotel Concord, the Holiday Inn and the Black Ice Hockey Tournament at White Park throughout the day.

Martin said attendees should continue practicing Covid safety — masks are not required but are strongly encouraged for indoor activities — and should have no difficulty staying spread out.

“This outdoor festival will offer people the space they need to socially distance themselves,” she said.

Concord NH Winter Festival

Where: Main Street, Concord
When: Saturday, Jan. 29. Most activities will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ice carving demonstrations will take place on Friday, Jan. 28, from 3 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Admission is free. Certain activities may have a fee.
More info: Visit intownconcord.org or call 226-2150.

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Black Ice Pond Hockey Association.

Kiddie Pool 22/01/20

Family fun for the weekend

At the movies

Catch some family-friendly screenings at area Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com) this weekend. On Friday, Jan. 21, the “Little Lunch Date” screening is of Happy Feet (G, 2006). The show starts at 11:30 a.m. and admission is free but reserve seating with purchase of a $5 food voucher.

On Friday, Jan. 21, it’s a “Lights Up, Sound Down” sensory-friendly screening of recent release Sing 2 at 3:45 p.m. Tickets cost $6.49.

And if you’re always on the lookout for kid-friendly screenings, you may want to save the date for a screening of Smallfoot (PG, 2018) on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 10 a.m. at Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St. in Concord; 224-4600, redrivertheatres.org). The event is part of the city’s Winterfest and tickets cost $5.

On the stage

Catch the final performance of the Palace Youth Theatre’s January presentation of Matilda Jr. on Thursday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588). All of the roles are performed by student actors in grades 2 through 12, according to the website. Call the theater for tickets.

In a book

Jack Dalton, the kid conservationist and 11-year-old author, will read the book Kawan the Orangutan: Lost in the Forest at the Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St. in downtown Manchester; bookerymht.com) on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 11:30 a.m. for storytime and crafts.

In nature

Looking for something to get little ones outside during the week? The New Hampshire Audubon is holding nature outings at the Brockway Nature Preserve in Hopkinton for 3- to 5-year-olds and their parents on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 10 to 10:45 a.m. This next session, on Tuesday, Jan. 25, is titled “Who Made that Track?” Admission costs $10 per family and space is limited; go to nhaudubon.org to register.

At the museum

Or get some science indoors on Tuesday at the SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; 669-0400, see-sciencecenter.org) for Storytime Science Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 2 to 5 and their caregivers. Pre-registration is required and space is limited to 10 family units. The program will cover STEM topics through storytelling, movement, experiments and more, according to the website. The program costs $3 in addition to admission, which is $10 for ages 3 to adult and free for kids under 3 years old.

On the court

Catch some UNH basketball live and in person (masked up, according to school rules). The men’s team plays UMass Lowell on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 4 p.m. On Wednesday, Jan. 26, the men’s team will play Maine at 7 p.m. (a game rescheduled from Jan. 12). Also Wednesday, catch the women’s team in their game against Maine at 4 p.m. All games will be played at Ludholm Gym on the UNH campus in Durham. See unhwildcats.com for directions, policies and to buy tickets, which cost $10 general admission, $8 for kids and seniors.

In the kitchen — save the date

Looking to get kids some hands-on kitchen experience but not, you know, in your kitchen? The Culinary Playground (16 Manning St. in downtown Derry; 339-1664, culinary-playground.com) has several upcoming classes for kid-parent teams. While many of the January and February classes have sold out, there are still openings for March and April classes on cinnamon rolls ($58 for a parent-child team, ages 6+), I Love Paris baking class, which includes French macarons ($60 for a parent-child team, ages 8+), and a homemade pasta for cheese ravioli class ($50 for a parent-child team, ages 6+). Call or go online to register.

Winter veggies

Plan what you’ll plant

I am probably not the only person who is determined to lose a little weight after all those delicious but fattening meals and desserts served up over the holidays. One way to feel satisfied and lose weight is to eat more salads and enjoy more vegetables. That’s my plan, anyway, and I recently took stock of what is lingering on in my storage fridge. I still have some nice veggies from summer that still taste good and are satisfying my hunger.

Digging around the vegetable drawer I noticed several kohlrabi I grew last summer, but that had not been touched in months. I was prepared not to like them because they had been stored so long. I peeled one, chopped it into half-inch cubes, and added to my nightly salad. It was delicious! It’s even tasty as low-calorie snack food just by itself.

Gardens aren’t just for food. They can be for fun, too

Kohlrabi is in the cabbage family, but not well-known or much grown. It looks like a space alien in the garden: It is an above-ground root vegetable of sorts. Round or oblong, it can be green or purple, with leaves poking out of the beet-like “tuber” on bare stems. It is crunchy, and tastes a bit like broccoli, which is in the same family. It can be used to make coleslaw when grated with carrots.

Buy a packet of kohlrabi seeds and plant them in early June or late May. They are fast-growing plants and only need a bit of space to grow well. If you want kohlrabi all winter for adding to stir-fries, plant a green one called ‘Kossak,’ which gets large — up to 8 or 10 inches in diameter — and stores for up to four months in a cool, high-humidity place like the vegetable drawer of your fridge. I get seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds in Maine, but it is also available from High Mowing, Gurney’s and Park Seeds, among others.

I also found half a purple cabbage that had been lurking in my vegetable drawer since September. I expected it to be stale, but it was fine. Cabbage is easy enough to grow, but I often don’t bother because I don’t use it much — it is cheap and readily available. I grated some and added it to a green salad, adding color and bulk.

I had a great onion crop last summer. I buy onion plants from Johnny’s Seeds most years instead of babying seed-started plants indoors. When I start from seed, I start them under lights around March 1. When I start my own, even with intense light close to the seedlings, they are always a bit flimsy. Some of the plants I get from Johnny’s are nearly as thick around as a pencil, and take off and start growing immediately. The kind I grow are yellow onions, one called Patterson. They keep for months in a cool location, but will sprout and soften if left in the warm kitchen in a bowl.

The plants come in bundles of 50 to 60, according to their catalog, but last year I got closer to 100 plants per bundle. Onions don’t like competition, so weed early and often. Space your onions about 3 inches apart in the row, with rows at least 8 inches apart. They like fluffy, rich soil so be sure to add lots of compost and stir it in well. You can also start onions from “sets,” which are like little bulbs but less vigorous than plants.

What else am I eating from the garden now? Garlic. It is easy to grow, but if you didn’t plant any last October, you’re probably out of luck. It sets its roots in the fall, goes dormant, and pops up early in the spring. It is rarely available to purchase in the spring. I was out in California one spring and bought some soft-necked garlic in the spring, and it did fairly well here. You could try planting some of last year’s garlic, come spring, if you have any left over but it’s not recommended.

Fresh potatoes from one plant

Potatoes are also a mainstay of my winter menu. I know, they are not usually recommended for dieters. But that is partly because of how they are served. They are a healthy starch, but many of us tend to load up potatoes with sour cream or butter. Add them to a stew or stir-fry, and they are still tasty but much less calorific.

I went 20 years once without buying a potato. I grew plenty, and saved out some for planting each spring. By only eating my own, I went a few months without any while waiting for my new crop to be ready. But it was a matter of principle to only eat my own. Commercial potatoes, if not raised organically or following IPM guidelines, can carry heavy pesticide loads.

The trick to getting lots of potatoes is to grow them in full sun. You can get potatoes where there is only six hours of sun per day, but the more sun, the more potatoes. And don’t let the potato beetles defoliate your plants. Check leaves, including the underneath side, for orange egg masses or larvae often when they are starting to grow. They can multiply exponentially if you let early beetles multiply.

Having a vegetable garden is, of course, a certain amount of work. But not only does it provide me with good, healthy, organic veggies; it also saves me lots of money and keeps me active in the garden. As we get older, the more exercise we get, the better. So start reading the catalogs or websites of seed companies, and plan what you will plant, come spring. Me? I can’t wait!

Featured photo: Try growing Kohlrabi this summer. They’re tasty and keep well. Courtesy photo.

Wheels on the trail

Bike the Windham Rail Trail — yes, even in winter

By James LeBoeuf

[email protected]

James LeBoeuf is a local outdoor enthusiast, writer and musician. He grew up in the southern New Hampshire region and seeks out nature wherever he can find it. Below, he shares his appreciation for the Windham Rail Trail.

The Windham Rail Trail is a true local gem of southern New Hampshire.

Situated between Route 28, Route 111 and North Lowell Road in Windham, it offers a welcome respite from the rigors of the commerce of Route 28 as it travels up out of Massachusetts and into Salem. It is a haven for all outdoor activities that don’t require a motor, as no motorized vehicles are allowed. And one of its most popular uses is biking — which you can do even in the dead of winter.

Life of the trail

First, a little history. (I gathered my information from the Windham Rail Trail Alliance website, windhamrailtrail.org, and from nashuacitystation.org.)

The Windham Rail Trail started out like all of the other rail trails, as a railroad. From 1847 to 1849 a project was undertaken to build a rail line to facilitate movement of products between two then mill cities — Manchester, New Hampshire and Lawrence, Mass. This section was part of a new connection as there already existed a Salem portion and a Derry portion. The Windham section proved to be very costly as much land needed to be filled in to bring the surrounding lowlands up to grade and to also bore through the long granite ledges that stood in the way. This line operated until 1980, when it was abandoned and the rails were removed for scrap.

Here is where the story starts for us rail trailers. In 2003 the State of New Hampshire called for a citizens advisory committee to develop an off-road travel way along the Interstate 93 corridor. The initial idea was to develop a path that ran all the way to Concord that would encourage ways other than an automobile to head north. The Salem, Windham and Derry rail beds proved to be perfect for this. The decision was made to pave the trails to make them more usable and much easier to maintain. Together with the partially paved Salem trail and the Derry trail this forms the longest paved rail trail in the state.

Get biking

When I was growing up there were a few neighborhood daredevils I knew who even in the snow would take out their trusty bikes and slip and slide around. Usually it was a short-lived adventure as the cold and snow took over. Let’s face it, those skinny-wheeled 10-speeds of old were dry-weather machines.

Today there are all sorts of bikes made for all-season use: Think fat tire bikes. These sturdy bikes along with light and warm clothing keep the biking fun going even when the snows grace the trails. More than once I heard the familiar call of “ on your left!,” which is an alert that a cyclist is approaching faster than you are traveling and wants to pass, while I was cross-country skiing. The Windham Rail Trail is truly a four-season all-weather place.

There is more than one way to access the Windham Rail Trail but I find the best starting point to be off North Lowell Road in the Windham Depot section of Windham.

You can access this off both Route 111 and Route 28. The way off Route 111 on North Lowell Road winds along a wooded stretch passing equine farms and fields until it comes into the depot proper. As you round a curve you will see the Windham Junction gift shop. They serve a nice pre-ride breakfast or a post-ride lunch.

As you pass the store on your left old C16 comes into view. C16 is a restored caboose from the heyday of the railroad. Across the street is an ample parking lot. As you head out onto the trail proper look off to your right and down into the wood. You will see remnants of a mill stream cutting through the mire and granite. This stream passes under the trail and will feed the many marshes and ponds you will see. As you enter the trail, trees arch overhead and woods line both sides.

Nature & wildlife

The trail is overall flat with some slight grades, but none that would be considered a true hill. Proceeding down the trail the waters open on the left as serene marshes, at times right at trailside, at other times down below the grade. One of the most intriguing aspects of the trails are the granite “tunnels” the trail passes through. These are not truly tunnels as they have no roof but instead are steep granite walls that rise up right off both sides of the trail. These are vestiges of the rail line. The fact that they had to cut through so much granite to lay the rail bed down creates a treasure for us today. In winter intricate ice sculptures form from the waters that flow through holes in the stone. And keep your eyes open for the varied wildlife that can be found here. You can spot many varieties of waterfowl, hawks, fisher cats and deer. Early on the trail I did spot a beaver dam that created a small pond and a bit of a fast-water stream.

There are many side trails that veer off if you are inclined to explore. Most any day of the week during any season you can find a wide variety of people enjoying the peace of the woods and the fresh air, from parents with children taking a walk to folks walking dogs to well-suited cyclists on top-tier bikes.

With only two road crossings the trail is different from most. If you are seeking exercise either vigorous or moderate or just need to shake that cabin fever, the Windham Rail Trail can accommodate.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Snowshoeing in a winter wonderland

A seasonal activity that’s accessible to all

Winter sports have never appealed to me. Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating — I can think of dozens of things I’d rather do, most of which involve being warm and cozy and, well, inside. But snowshoeing is different: It doesn’t take much skill beyond being able to walk, but it’s still a decent workout; the setting is typically beautiful and serene, where you’re surrounded by nature rather than crowds of people; and it’s pretty accessible, with inexpensive rentals available and trails all over the state.

Tom Walton, who created the Snow or No We Go snowshoe trail series that takes place over several weekends this winter in Canterbury and Franklin (see the full story at hippopress.com in the Jan. 13 edition), steps up his snowshoeing game by running — which is much easier to do with made-for-racing snowshoes that are light and only a little bigger than your shoes.

“Snow is one of the best surfaces to run on, and single-track through the woods is beyond beautiful,” Walton said. “Snowshoe racers like a packed trail because it’s faster. We use racing snowshoes, very light, from Dion.”

Even non-racing snowshoes are much lighter than they used to be, and not nearly as bulky, making it an activity that kids and even the most uncoordinated adults can do. And Walton pointed out that it is beneficial during a time of year when it’s often easier to stay inside.

“Sunlight is critical for health, both physical and emotional,” he said. “[And] it is great aerobic exercise. … Being outside on snow on a crisp, clear day running through the woods is heaven.”

Several local organizations offer snowshoe rentals and access to their trails, and some towns and nonprofits maintain trails throughout the winter — often for cross-country skiing or snowmobiling, which make for good snowshoeing trails as well.

Or, if you want to buy your own snowshoes, you can forge your own path.

“Well-marked trails are a plus but not necessary because you can ad lib and follow your own tracks back,” Walton said.

Here are a few suggestions for local rentals and trails; for more suggestions throughout the state, visit visit.nh.gov and search for snowshoeing under “activities.”

Snowshoe rentals

Need to rent a pair of snowshoes? These local places offer rentals (usually dependent on trail conditions, so call or check their websites for the most up-to-date information).

America’s Stonehenge (105 Haverhill Road, Salem, 893-8300, stonehengeusa.com) offers snowshoe rentals when trail conditions are good; as of Jan. 17, the trails were closed because conditions were poor, according to the website, and will reopen when there’s more snow. Rentals are $20 for ages 13 and up and $14 for 12 and under. Admission to the snowshoe trails without rentals is $13 for ages 13 and up and $7.50 for ages 12 and under. Snowshoes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations are not accepted.

Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) offers snowshoe rentals for $10 a day. They’re available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting, and arrangements can be made for weekend rentals as well ($20). Visit beaverbrook.org or call 465-7787 to reserve, or to find out more about upcoming guided hikes.

Gunstock Mountain Resort (719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford, 293-4341, gunstock.com) offers snowshoeing in its Outdoor Center, which includes 25 kilometers of groomed trails. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To reserve snowshoes or for private tours, and for rental pricing, call the Outdoor Center (ext. 504).

NH Audubon Both the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn) and the McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord) offer snowshoe rentals every Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost to rent is $15 for the day, and they’re only rented out when there are 6 or more inches of snow on the ground. Adult and youth sizes are available, on a first-come, first-served basis. The Audubon also rents binoculars during those hours for $5. How-to handouts and trail maps are provided with rentals. Visit nhaudubon.org.

Pats Peak (686 Flanders Road, Henniker, 428-3245, patspeak.com) offers snowshoe rentals for $19 a day. It has three trails ranging from easiest to expert (recommended only for those with expert ability and equipment), with distances of 1 to 3.5 miles and vertical inclines of 200 to 700 feet. The trails are free to use, but Pats Peak does not maintain them, and conditions are dependent on weather. A snowshoe map is available, and conditions can be checked daily on the website.

Local trails

If you own snowshoes, you can use them anywhere that has enough snow, but some local trail systems are more likely to have packed snow, either because they are maintained or because they are well-used. Here are a few ideas.

• Adams Pond Trail (Pillsbury and Adams roads, Londonderry, 437-2675, londonderrynh.org) is open for snowshoeing.

• Beaver Meadow Golf Course (1 Beaver Meadow Dr., Concord, 228-8954, bmgc.golf) has groomed trails for snowshoeing that are maintained by the Concord Parks & Recreation department.

• Benedictine Park (341 Wallace Road, Bedford, 228-1231, bedfordlandtrust.org) has town-owned trails that are available for snowshoeing.

• Horse Hill Nature Preserve (184 Amherst Road, Merrimack, 882-1046, merrimackparksandrec.org) has a variety of conservation trails that you can traverse with snowshoes.

• Mine Falls Park (Whipple Street, Nashua, 589-3400, nashuanh.gov) offers trails that can be used for snowshoeing.

• Southwest Park (at Yudicky Farm, off Main Dunstable Road, Nashua, 589-3400, nashuanh.gov) also has trails open for snowshoeing.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

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