Free family golf clinics being offered throughout May

Posted on May 4, 2010 by The Mom Entrepreneur

Recently, I have been interested in learning more about the game of golf. My father and brother are avid golfers, and I have played a few times. I enjoy the fresh air, beauty of the greens, and exercise I get from playing the game. My kids are getting older, and it would be nice to get the family interested in an outdoor sport we can do together.

I recently learned about PGA Free Lesson Month, which is held at facilities nationwide throughout May.  New for 2010, PGA Free Lesson Month has added free family golf clinics, giving families the opportunity to learn and participate in the game of golf together.

PGA Free Lesson Month gives individuals and families an opportunity to improve their game, making golf more fun and enjoyable for everyone.  While the affordability of PGA Free Lesson Month is evident, since it’s complimentary, the health benefits received by playing the game of golf are invaluable as well.

Every golfer who takes a free lesson is encouraged to register at www.PlayGolfAmerica.com/FLM to enter a sweepstakes to win a two-day/two-night golf getaway to The PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance in Port St. Lucie, Fla., including hotel accommodations, round-trip, economy airfare, and a custom-fit set of golf clubs. One hundred runners-up will receive a copy of The PGA’s First Swing Golfer’s Guide and a 2009 PGA Championship DVD.

For more information, and to search for a participating golf course in your area, visit the PGA Free Lesson Month website.

Filed under: Discounts and savings, Fall activities, Family Fitness, Family fun activities, Outdoor fun, Outdoors, Quality time with kids, Sports, Spring activities, Summer activities, Summer attractions | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

The Great Bay Discovery Center – Stratham

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Adrienne

My girls and I have a new favorite hangout – the Great Bay Discovery Center in Stratham.  This indoor/outdoor treasure is a great place to explore and learn about the Great Bay estuary and all of the creatures that live there.

The Discovery Center has a variety of interactive displays inside, and the highlight for my kids was the “touch tank,” where they’re allowed (with supervision) to carefully hold the clams, horseshoe crabs, snails and other underwater creatures.  They also enjoyed seeing the numerous maps and drawings that explain, in a very kid-friendly way, about the local animals, fish and plant life in the area.

Outside, there are trails and a boardwalk leading out to the water.  Numbered signs allow even young children to “lead the way” along the trails and my three-year-old was thrilled each time she spotted “animal footprints” scattered along the boardwalk.  There are signs throughout, outlining interesting facts about the habitats, including marshes, wetlands and forests.  The Discovery Center also boasts lovely gardens and an abundance of birds. 

We’ve visited at various times of the year and learned something new on each trip.  In the late spring, we got to see the horseshoe crabs lay their eggs in the sand – a big hit with the girls.  They also enjoyed wading out in the shallow water to check out the fish, horseshoe crabs and sea grass.  We had a blast at a summer picnic when all of the flowers were in full bloom.  And we also enjoyed visiting in the late fall, when we could explore a wigwam and learn about the area’s early settlers.

They had a great time playing on a wooden gundalow, which we discovered is a type of boat.  Kids can climb aboard, “guide” the boat using a wooden steering wheel and even explore a lower level “hideout.”

Picnic areas allow visitors to enjoy the scenic, peaceful environment.  Bring lunch – or a snack – and do a little bird-watching. 

The Discovery Center is free – a rarity these days – and is a great place for kids of all ages.  They welcome school trips – in fact, I recently chaperoned a field trip with my daughter’s pre-school class, which was a joy.  The program was age-appropriate and our guide was friendly, knowledgeable and wonderful with the kids.  They also offer a variety of educational programs, camps and even kayaking trips.

Great Bay Discovery Center is open from 10 am – 4 pm

Wednesday through Sunday: May through September/Weekends in October

Grounds are open from dawn to dusk year-round

Learn more at www.greatbay.org/sandypoint.

Filed under: Fall activities, Family fun activities, Outdoor fun, Quality time with kids, Rainy day activities, Spring activities, Summer activities, Wildlife | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Take a factory tour with your family

Posted on April 6, 2010 by Adrienne

If you’re looking for something fun to do with your family, consider taking a factory tour.  New England is home to a variety of interesting, unique companies that offer free (or inexpensive) tours – and many come complete with product samples.  Participants of all ages will enjoy seeing how ice cream, toothpaste, maple syrup, soda, potato chips and beer are produced and packaged.  Visitors can also see newspapers being printed, glassblowers creating works of art and much more. 

Here is a sample of some of the more interesting tours in our area:

New Hampshire

Anheuser-Busch – When you think of a family adventure, you might not automatically think of a brewery tour, but visiting the Anheuser-Busch factory in Merrimack, NH really is entertaining for all ages.  During the free tour, visitors will see how beer is brewed, fermented and packaged.  Guests will also enjoy beautiful scenery, with gorgeous landscaping.  Kids will love visiting the Clydesdale Hamlet, home to the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales.  Older (21+) guests will enjoy the complimentary beer tastings onsite.  The gift shop offers a variety of Anheuser-Busch merchandise. 

Parkers Sugar House – Folks at the Sugar House in Mason, NH make maple syrup the old-fashioned way, using a wood fire to create top-quality syrup with a distinctive flavor.  This family-owned business has been around for decades and on the free tours, they demonstrate older methods of making the syrup – placing hot rocks into the sap – as well as more modern techniques, using a wood-fired evaporator.  How sweet!  The Sugar House is in full operation every March and April. 

Conner Bottling Works – The Conner family has been producing and bottling Sqamscot Old Fashioned Beverages for five generations – dating all the way back to the Civil War. Visitors to their Newfields, NH plant can learn more about the company’s soda (or tonic), which comes in many delicious flavors.  In the factory, which smells like melting popsicles, guests can watch the manufacturing and mixing of the syrup recipes and the conveyor filling glass bottles with carbonated water and syrup.  Come visit NH’s last independent bottler, where the hard-working staff invites you to “Experience the Past… One Sip at a Time”! 

Flag Hill Winery – Flag Hill’s spectacular vineyards in Lee, NH offers delicious wines and stunning views.  Not all grapes can survive the cold New Hampshire winters, so Flag Hill carefully selected six varieties of grapes that thrive in this climate, producing and bottling all of their own wines onsite.  They create delicious grape, fruit and dessert wines, as well as New Hampshire’s first port.  Each spring and summer, they offer fruit wines, including new varieties such as blueberry.  Visitors will enjoy the tours, samples and breathtaking views.  Bring a picnic or enjoy a meal in their lovely dining room.
 
Maine

Toms of Maine – Are you curious about the how the products you use every day are made?  Visit the Toms of Maine Factory in Sanford, ME and find out how toothpaste gets in the tube, how deodorant is made and more.  Tours are held at specific times during the summer, reservations are required, not recommended for children under age 5. 

Vermont

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream – I scream, you scream, we all scream for the Ben & Jerry’s tour.  Visitors to the Waterbury, VT factory will learn about ice cream, as well as the company’s social mission.  The half-hour tours start with a short “moovie”, followed by a tour of the ice cream production, where guests will learn how two childhood friends created a hugely successful, socially-conscious business.  Then, guests can sample the flavors in the Scoop Shop and visit the gift shop for products with a socially responsible mission. 

Cabot Creamery – It may sound cheesy, but a trip to the Cabot Creamery in Cabot, VT will be a “gouda” time for the whole family.  Join a factory tour, where you can watch cheese makers in action, watch a video about the history of Vermont agriculture – and, of course, enjoy plenty of samples of Cabot’s specialty – cheddar cheese.  In addition to cheese samples, visitors can visit the gift shop for an assortment of tasty made-in-Vermont products, including local micro-brews, wines and coffees.   Tour admission is $2/person, children 12 and under are admitted free.

Simon Pearce – Visitors can watch the talented Simon Pearce glassblowers at work in their Windsor, VT factory.  By blowing glass, craftsmen can produce vessels in a wide variety of shapes and sizes – which is a spectacular thing to watch.  Their catwalk viewing gallery, located above the factory floor, provides a great vantage point of these skilled artisans. Guests can also see beautiful pottery being made and shop for stunning, unique products, including dishes, vases, lamps and more. 

Massachusetts

The Cape Cod Potato Chip Company – For a family adventure that’s “all that and a bag of chips,” visit the Cape Code Potato Chip factory in Hyannis, MA.  The company produces 150,000 bags of potato chips, popcorn, pretzels and tortilla chips each day.  The free, self-guided factory tour takes about 30 minutes and is fun for all ages.  You’ll end up at the factory store, which offers a variety of products and free samples that will make you cheer, “chip, chip hooray!” 

The Boston Globe – In today’s Internet era, your family can still experience the wonders of a more “traditional” media outlet.  The Boston Globe offers free tours of its Boston facility, including the printing plant. The hour-long tour includes a short videotape. Participants must be at least 9 years old and groups are limited to a maximum of 30 people.  Tours are by reservation only and must be scheduled in advance. 

There’s a wide array of interesting tours in New England – and across the country.  For other ideas, visit: www.factorytoursusa.com.

Filed under: Educational, Factory tours, Family fun activities, Museums, NH farms, Outdoor fun, Quality time with kids, Rainy day activities, Summer activities, Summer attractions | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

Celebrate Easter by attending a non-traditional egg hunt

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Adrienne

My daughters love a good Easter egg hunt.  We typically attend our town’s festivities, the Newmarket Recreation’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt, wearing snow boots, but we’re hopeful for green grass instead this year.   

My friends all have their favorite egg hunts around the state, and some, like our town’s, are traditional.  This year, however, there are a variety of interesting, unusual options, including:

  • Next Level Church in Durham will rent a helicopter and drop 25,000 Easter eggs filled with prizes onto the Oyster River football field.  This free event will be held on Saturday, April 3, with the helicopter drop at 1 pm.  The eggs will be filled with candy, as well as bigger prizes, including certificates for Nintendo Wii’s, iPods and even a flat screen TV. There will also be a carnival, featuring Velcro walls, face painting and bouncy houses.   Between 3,000 to 5,000 people are expected to attend.
  • Charmingfare Farm’s Egg-citing Egg Hunt in Candia will be held on March 27, 28 & April 3 from 11am – 2pm daily.  Over $75,000 dollars in prizes will be given away. A special egg hunt area will be set up for children ages 2-12. Each egg contains candy or a small gift.   The farm will also offer a special Tractor Train Ride, where each child will receive one special prize egg.  The cost is $17.00 per child and adult, children 1 year and under are free.  The horse-drawn, tractor train and pony rides are included. SAVE $5.00 if you order online using promo code: bunny.  For more information, go to www.visitthefarm.com or call 603/483-5623.
  • Participate in Waterville Valley’s Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 am at the summit on April 4, and enjoy free skiing until 8:00 am.  A children’s Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 9 am at the J bar. 
  • Concord is planning a traditional Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 3 at 10:30 for children up to grade 4.  But they’re also holding a Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt on Friday, April 2 at 7:30 pm for kids in grades 5-8.  This rain or shine event will be held at White Park, and is open to Concord/Penacook residents only.  BYOF (Bring Your Own Flashlight).  

Do you have a special traditional or non-traditional Easter egg hunt you attend every year with your family?

No matter what you decide to do for Easter, hope you have a very “hoppy” holiday.

Filed under: Festivals, Holiday Celebrations, Outdoor fun, Quality time with kids, Spring activities | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Affordable skiing for the family

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Ray Bisson

Do you remember, before you had children, going skiing for the day? Lift tickets were expensive at $40-$50+ each!  But what a great time we had skiing with family and friends.

Now, we have a 9 year-old and a 5 year-old and we want to share this activity with them. You could imagine our surprise when we saw lift tickets for $70+ for 1 day!! Plus, add in rental equipment for the kids and lessons, OH MY!

So we did some investigating. We were able to find a used pair of skis for our oldest son from a ski shop.  Fire on the Mountain in Dover, NH also offers an affordable boot club. You rent a pair of boots each ski season instead of purchasing a pair. This way you have a new pair each year that fits your child.

We live on the seacoast of New Hampshire so there is not a lot of ski areas near by. I took my son to Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, ME on a Friday night. It cost us $5 each for our lift ticket. Powderhouse Hill has a rope tow lift, and three trails (one big trail divided by the rope tow and some glade trails). This was perfect for my son to start learning to ski. This experience reminded me of growing up in Claremont, NH and learning how to ski at Arrowhead Ski Area. Another town ski area with ticket prices running at $3 and $5.

This weekend we are going to McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester, New Hampshire. The ticket prices are $29 for an adult ticket and $26 for children, which is cheaper than an adult ticket at Gunstock. I am also hoping to get a lesson for him for $35, which is the same cost as Gunstock. Now, I know that these small areas do not have the vertical height, high-speed quad chair lifts, fancy lodges or even (in some cases) snow making, but these quickly disappearing ski gems are great for teaching the young ones how to ski.

We will still visit the traditional ski areas, because after all we have some of the best skiing right here in good ol’ New Hampshire.

The following is a list of some inexpensive local ski areas:

Filed under: Discounts and savings, Family Fitness, Family fun activities, Outdoor fun, Outdoors, Quality time with kids, Sports, Winter activities | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

Winter family fun in New Hampshire

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Adrienne

Now that the weather has gotten colder, our thoughts are turning to sledding, ice skating and other fun winter activities. New Hampshire has plenty of free (or inexpensive) places to sled and skate with your kids this winter.  Bundle up the kiddos – here are some “cool” activities to try this year:

Wagon Hill Farm – Durham – Their huge hill makes it one of the best places to sled (for free) on the Seacoast.   As an added bonus, there are also beautiful paths that are perfect for snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

The Rinks in Exeter – If the weather outside is too frightful, try the indoor ice arena in Exeter, which features public skating, lessons, camps and clinics, figure skating and birthday parties. 

Dover Arena – This indoor rink offers public skating, figure skating, skating lessons, youth and adult hockey programs; pick up hockey games and special events.

Alexander Carr Park – Derry – Have a blast sledding in the park, and then visit the on-site lodge to warm up with some hot cocoa and board games.

Derryfield Park – Manchester – A popular place for (free) sledding, right in the middle of town.  The great hills make it a go-to spot for many families, so it does tend to get crowded.

McIntyre Ski Area – Manchester – Features great tubing at (relatively) low prices.  Please note that children must be at least five years old and at least 44” tall to go tubing here.  Also has skiing and snowboarding lessons for all ages.

White Park – Concord – This gem of a park has a lovely pond for ice skating and great hills for sledding – both at no charge.

James Campion Rink – Hanover – This indoor rink features public skating at reasonable daily rates (season passes are also available), skating lessons and hockey.  They also have a store that sells skating supplies.

Filed under: Family fun activities, NH mountains, Outdoor fun, Winter activities | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Wagon Hill Farm, Durham, NH

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Ray Bisson

kids-on-wagonIf you drive along Route 4 between Durham and Dover Point, you will see a picturesque old wagon sitting on top of a hill at an old farm.

If you drive this route in the winter, you can see hundreds of people sliding down the hill. Wagon Hill Farm is a 140 acre farm, which was purchased by the town of Durham to preserve this beautiful resource.  This easy hike takes you through many habitats, including a grassy field, wooded jacob-and-dakotaforest and salt water shoreline. 

You start your hike near the old farm house and walk through the field. Then you make your way along  into the mature woods, which brings you to a grassy opening with picnic tables near Great Bay. Our kids found a Horseshoe crab along the shore.

The farm also has antique equipment, an old foundation and a cemetery along the walk.

horseshoe-crabThe walk is about 1.2 miles in length, but there are many interconnecting trails, which can make for longer, shorter or varying hikes. There is a trail on the opposite side of Route 4, but we have not been on that trail. We enjoyed our hike with our new puppy. Dogs are allowed if leashed.

The town of Durham has many recreational facilities, which can be viewed on their website. The site includes descriptions and trail maps.

Filed under: Fall activities, Family Fitness, Family fun activities, NH hikes, Outdoor fun, Quality time with kids, Spring activities, Summer activities, Summer attractions, Traveling with kids, Winter activities | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Exploring the Gonic Trails along the Isinglass River in Rochester, NH

Posted on June 30, 2009 by Ray Bisson

WM Islinglass River Trail 5-25-09bRecently, we learned about the Gonic Trails at Mount Isinglass Recreational Area in Rochester, NH. This facility is located a short distance from Route 125 in Gonic; a village of Rochester. The facility is part of the Waste Management Turnkey Recycling & Environmental Enterprises.

On our first visit, we stopped at the nature trails. The trail head has ample parking. There are three trails from this parking lot, Watson’s Way, a 1.4 mile loop, Locke’s Local Loop, a 1.3 mile loop and Luanne’s Lane, a 3.5 mile one way trail. There was a mailbox for trail maps, but there were no maps when we were there.

WM Islinglass River Trail 5-25-09eWe took the trail for Locke Falls on the Isinglass River. The beginning part of the trail was very nice. The trail was fairly wide and easy as it winded along a slight rolling terrain. The trails are well marked with different color paint for each trail.  As we approached the river, we saw old granite abutments for the former Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad. Once we reached the river we could see people fishing and wading in the currents.

We continued on, took a right and followed the trail, which quickly narrowed. There were portions of the trail that had debris, which at times made it difficult to walk. I am not sure if the debris was remnants from this past winter’s ice storm.

Open year-round, the recreational park is used for hiking, WM Islinglass River Trail 5-25-09hbiking, fishing, swimming, and picnicking in the summer and ice skating, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing in the winter. Dogs are also allowed.

Directions to the trailhead:
From Rochester, follow Route 125 south to Rochester Neck Road. Take a left onto Rochester Neck Road. The trails are 1/2 mile up on the right. Follow this link to Google Maps for Directions.

This is the trail map displayed at the parking lot. If I am able to get a better image, then I will post it.

Filed under: Fall activities, Family Fitness, Family fun activities, NH hikes, Outdoor fun, Quality time with kids, Spring activities, Summer activities, Summer attractions, Wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , | 10 Comments »

Shaw’s Rewards Card Summer Offers

Posted on June 10, 2009 by The Mom Entrepreneur

I recently discovered that Shaw’s Supermarket lists local tourist destinations on its website where the Shaw’s Rewards Card can be used to earn discounts. This includes popular spots in ME, NH, MA, VT and CT like the Seacoast Science Center, Strawberry Banke, Fisher Cats Baseball, Water Country, York’s Wild Kingdom and many more. Most offers are only available for the summer of 2009. To view participating destinations, click here…>

If you do not have a Shaw’s Rewards Card, you can sign up here.

Filed under: Discounts and savings, Educational, Family fun activities, Museums, Outdoor fun, Quality time with kids, Summer activities, Summer attractions, Traveling with kids | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Visit the Polar Caves for free until June 19th

Posted on May 20, 2009 by The Mom Entrepreneur

The Polar Caves in Plymouth, NH is a great family tourist stop. It includes a series of caves and passages formed by the falling of massive boulders nearly 50,000 years ago as the third continental glacier moved southward over New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

You can explore the Rock Garden, a jumble of glacially deposited granite boulders and take a self-guided tour of the caves. Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., early May to late October, weather permitting.

They also offer gemstone and fossil mining for the kids, a gift shop and ample picnic spots. Kids can also visit with the animals, which include Fallow Deer, Pheasants from around the world, Peacocks, Swans and a wide variety of ducks. We try to visit every year.

For a limited time, the Polar Caves in Plymouth, NH is offering a “buy one, get one admission for free”. The offer is valid Monday – Friday only and expires June 19, 2009. 

To print your coupon, click here…>

Filed under: Discounts and savings, Educational, Family fun activities, NH farms, NH hikes, NH mountains, Outdoor fun, Quality time with kids, Summer activities, Summer attractions, Wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

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