Carol and I have a seasons pass to Gunstock Ski Area in Gilford, New Hampshire. It is a terrific ski area with great grooming and family friendly skiing. It took me over 30 years of living in the Lakes Region to finally ski at Gunstock as I had always preferred the larger mountains like Canon and Sunday River in Maine. What changed so dramatically for me was age. The older I got, the less I wanted to drive almost 2 hours one way and then pay the hefty price to ski a full day. We like the idea of getting a season pass to an area close by and getting first tracks, skiing hard and being finished at noon.

These chairs don't keep you hang'in

Now that we are regulars at Gunstock Mountain, I have made it a point to ask those going up the lifts with us where they are from and what they do. It has been more interesting than I originally thought it might be as there have been some fascinating people.

In the last few weeks we’ve ridden up with a man who works for Fidelity Investments with a second home on Winnipesauke, a young man working in the preservation and cataloguing of Rhode Island State papers at the University of Rhode Island (one of my alma maters), a manager of a city in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire, a former Olympic skier from the Conway area, and a terrific young man from Londonderry High School who as a member of the school’s ski club and talked to us about how to ski backwards.

The thing that I keep coming away with in talking to these people is that they love to ski and they enjoy the convenience and the ambiance of Gunstock. With stunning views of Lake Winnipesauke and the White Mountains including Mt. Washington, this ski area is not to be missed – and just one more reason why the Lakes Region is so special.

 If you have interest in learning more about the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, please contact us.

photos from OnTheSnow.com

First Night Wolfeboro 2011

Wolfeboro is the only “First Night” left in New Hampshire from the original three towns and city that had participated in “First Night” activities starting in 1999. On Friday, December 31^st, “First Night” Wolfeboro will start at 5:15 with the Mardi Gras-style parade in downtown Wolfeboro, and will end at midnight with fireworks over Wolfeboro Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee.

First Night Wolfeboro Fireworks

As a lifelong lover of music and also as a resident of Tuftonboro, I have been to these “First Night” activities the past decade and I can attest to the wonderful quality of the performances presented. Because of my love of playing the guitar and mandolin, I am drawn to the exceptional music of my former string teacher, Seth Austen and his partner Beverly Woods. Their expertise in evoking sounds from a variety of musical styles range from Celtic, Appalachian, to Old Time Music is never to be missed.

In the same venue as Austen and Woods, the First Congregational Church on North Main Street, is the amazing husband and wife team of Burke and Surette.  The first time I heard Susie Burke’s voice and David Surette’s playing of the guitar, mandolin and octave mandolin I was stunned at their musicality as a duo. Susie’s voice and David’s accompanying of songs which often speak to the heart or are playful and fun will, I believe, make them favorites of yours too.

For only ten dollars for a button you get to visit all the performance venues, not only hearing amazing artists perform their music, but can see Wolfeboro’s Village Players perform, ice sculptures being made, face painting and mask making, an “Olde Tyme Magik Show”, marionettes, a Celtic Odyssey Contra Dance, and many many more wonderful activities.

 Buttons can be purchased at the Wolfeboro Chamber of Commerce on Railroad Avenue or at all select site locations the evening of December 31^st.

Don’t miss your chance to ring out the old year and ring in the new with an extraordinary event, and have a Happy New Year from Carol and me at Maxfield Real Estate! Just one more reason why living in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire is so special.