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Lunch in the basement.

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When I think basement, I imagine dark corners, cobwebs and mouse turds. Clearly there was none of that here.

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How big is this resort?

It has its own post office.

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And a line of high end shops down the hallway. One of which I was forbidden to enter by my spouse…

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Did I mention the carpet?

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Trees, pine cones and woodland creatures. Very whimsical.

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Since we were visiting off season for lunch there were only two options, an upstairs restaurant offering small plates and tapas or downstairs which had a full menu. I think you know by now my husband is not a small plate kind of guy.

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Another cocktail? Don’t mind if I do.

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The menu was a bit smaller than I expected from such a big place, and as I scanned to the bottom I was seriously hoping my spouse would find something he wanted before he found the filet. Gulp!

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We elected to split a bowl of clam chowder to start and instead of bringing two spoons, they divided it in cute little square bowls. Very tasty.

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One shrimp scampi and a crabmeat sandwich later…

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We were replete and ready to continue exploring.

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The Cave at the Mount Washington resort

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The best thing about this basement… aside from the carpet?

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It had a genuine prohibition era speak easy…

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That you enter through a tunnel of rock! Be still my heart.

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Okay, I was extremely disappointed it didn’t open until 9:00pm when we’d be long gone, but still.

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It was a funky space.

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Burrowed in the ground, no windows, only one access port.

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They took their drinking in secret seriously.

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The bar itself was behind this locked gate but that didn’t stop me from sticking my nose… and camera… inside.

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No flash.

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Flash.

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How cool is that!

If you can, enlarge this article and read the middle and right hand columns for its history.

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I really hope we’re back in the area some night.

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Because I’d love to stroll through here with a martini in hand.

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Mount Washington resort part two.

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Stepping inside this splendid hotel is like walking through a time machine. Back to the grand old days of luxury accommodations…

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When you “summered” in the mountains and the resort was your seasonal home.

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Elegant, but warm and inviting at the same time.

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Walk through the first floor to the rear of the building….

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Into the rotunda with fabulous views…

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Even when you look up.

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Step outside on the massive panoramic covered porch…

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And you get an idea of how large this resort really is.

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10,000 acres to be exact.

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The porches go on forever, positively begging you to grab a cocktail and relax. Which we did. Because who am I to ignore a begging porch?

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One cocktail down, we made our way back inside, found an elevator…

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And rode it down to the basement where we continued exploring.

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In case you were wondering, our basement does not look like this.

To be continued.

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The Mount Washington Resort.

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If you’ve ever visited Mount Washington and driven through the valley, you know there’s one structure that dominates the landscape.

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The regal Mount Washington resort. Built in 1902 she’s been the hotel to the rich, the famous and everyone in between. The cheapest room is over $500 a night and if you want a king size bed with a view? Prepare to pay $1,500.

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As you turn in the driveway, geese.

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Geese… everywhere.

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Circle past the front door to the parking lot, which is a bit of a hike if you’re too cheap to pay valet… which we were… and then stroll back.

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Past some climbing vines….

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And an impressive row of chrysanthemums.

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Everywhere you look? It’s spectacular.

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Even the portico ceiling.

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And then you walk inside….

To be continued.

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The Crawford Notch 500

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When you take scenic drives around the White Mountains of New Hampshire you’re going to pass through a lot of notches. Roads that are cut straight through the hills make for some fantastic photos.

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Unless you’re riding with my husband who hates having anyone in front of him and is constantly jostling for position.

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I can’t tell you how many great shots I’ve lined up just to whizz past them in a blur.

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My husband may be well into the senior citizen age range but you’d never know it by the way he drives.

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Ever come up behind an elderly driver and have to slow to a turtle’s crawl?

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I can guarantee that’s not my spouse. He’s the one coming up in your rear view mirror who makes you move into the next lane to avoid him riding in your back seat.

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It may not look like it, but he was doing about 90 here, passing from the right, next to a big rock. Good times.

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After we exited Crawford Notch and I drew a deep breath?

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We finally visited a place that’s been on my bucket list for years….

To be continued.

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Late autumn color on Bear Notch Road.

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Leaving the Kancamagus highway, we took an alternate route. Up and over the Bear Notch road.

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In certain sections, the autumn color was stunning.

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And from the scenic lookout where I screamed at my husband to stop the car….

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Pure perfection.

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Breathe deep of that fresh, crisp mountain air….

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And you’ll know why I keep returning to visit these glorious unspoiled areas.

❤️

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Lower Falls Part two…

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I hope my photos do justice to how lovely this part of the White Mountains is….

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And though not as wild as the upper Sabbaday falls, the lower falls were equally lovely.

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We clambered around at leisure, simply enjoying the day.

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Rocks, ya gotta love them… and marvel at their weird stripes.

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This is a very soothing place. Quiet, peaceful…

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What is it about water? Spend enough time near it… and your breathing slows.

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The rest of the world seems to slip away.

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And while my husband was busy climbing and exploring?

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I just… was.

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I highly recommend it.

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Because the Falls have to fall somewhere….

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Driving farther down the Kancamagus highway we noticed a sign that said Lower Falls, and since we’d just explored the upper… we had to take a look.

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The first thing we saw? A fenced in giant rock. There was no explanation given as to why this particular rock needed its own fence…

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Maybe it just wanted to feel special.

Rocks, they’re so sedimental.

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Poor rock. Did it deserve to be cleaved in half by that tree?

Of quartz not.

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There were lots of rocks. And this made me smile. Rocks here, rocks there….

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There were rocks everywhere.

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Walking farther down we found pools.

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And more rocks, which I never take for granite.

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Even my husband was marveling at the rocky splendor. Though he’s a bit boulder and clambered about near the water’s edge.

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Rock on!

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Sabbaday Falls, part three.

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Everywhere I looked there was a beautiful picture waiting to be taken.

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Not to mention videos.

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I love these kind of places. Easy hiking with railed bridges and paths that criss cross over the natural splendor.

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And these were extremely well made, designed to withstand water and rough weather. I can only imagine the force of the falls in the spring, it must be epic.

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For those who are interested:

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And for those of us with bad knees?

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Random benches to take a break.

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While I agree with the ❤️ sentiment, I dislike the defacement.

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The return path when you’ve had your fill.

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Onward…

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Sabbaday Falls, part two.

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Mother Nature is amazing and we thoroughly enjoy visiting some of her special places.

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Sabbaday Falls was one of them.

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The walkways and paths are cut into the rock and follow the natural trail.

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There’s the husband taking pictures beside a really big rock. That says it all.

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Did I enjoy all the stair climbing? No.

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But it was totally worth the discomfort and I smiled through the pain.

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Rocks and trees. Trees and rocks. I was a seriously happy camper.

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The falls spray water everywhere and some of the paths were slippery.

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But damn, it sure was beautiful.

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And the sturdy walkway was impressive in and of itself.

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If you’re ever in the area? Go!

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