Marty and I decided to take a “mini” trip to New Hampshire and left our Connecticut home on June 25. After a leisurely drive to New Hampshire, our first stop was the Wolfeboro Trolley Company. This was a great way to tour the town of Wolfeboro as we took a 45-minute narrated tram ride. We saw the views of Lake Winnipesaukee, and the water looked so peaceful and refreshing.
(Photos courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)
We got to see the many museums and the shops that sold different wares. One museum, the Wright Museum of World War II, housed WWII equipment, uniforms and memorabilia. We also learned the history of Lake Winnipesaukee.
You were allowed to hop on and off the trolley all day. If you saw a store that looked intriguing, you just got off and took another trolley when you wished to continue.
After the trolley ride, we went on the Winnipesaukee Belle for a relaxing, narrated cruise. We saw beautiful houses that looked like mansions. The ride was lovely and the narration, very informative.
Next, we traveled to the New Hampshire Boat Museum, where we saw vintage boats, lake memorabilia and more. There were also hands-on activities for the kids. It started with a video about the early life on the lake from the Native Americans until today.
It was now dinnertime and while I usually do not mention where we ate, I will this time. We ate at Hart’s Turkey Farm, and I mention it because there is a little story about its history. In the late 1940s, brothers Russ and Larry Hart and their wives left New Jersey to begin farming in New Hampshire. Helen and Geda helped their husbands in growing vegetables and apples. The two couples sold chickens, eggs and turkeys from a delivery truck. In 1953, they raised turkeys exclusively, and that is when the business started to grow.
After dinner, it was back to our motel to plan for the next day.
In the morning, we went to the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. We boarded the train for a pleasant two-hour ride with unsurpassed scenery along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. We enjoyed the nostalgic elegance of the past, as we traveled over the historic tracks that were part of the Boston and Maine railroad system. We traveled in restored coaches that reflected the vintage of the past. This was where memories were created one ride at a time. Passengers can catch this ride either at Meredith or Weirs Beach.
After the train ride, we headed to Lucknow, formerly known as Castle in the Clouds. We had gone there many years ago and enjoyed it so thoroughly we decided to make a return visit. Once again, we had a marvelous time.
During our visit we learned the history of this beautiful place. We heard the rags-to-riches story of the owner, Thomas Plant. The castle was built of stone and oak, intended to stand for centuries. We strolled through the gardens and saw the many waterfalls. Some people went on horseback rides or rode in carriages.
It is a unique country home and gentleman’s estate, built in 1914 on a mountaintop high over Lake Winnipesaukee. Originally comprised of 6,300 acres, the estate features 16 rooms and consists of a stable/garage, two gatehouses, a 100-foot greenhouse, farm buildings, an 18-hole golf course, tennis court and a lake for swimming. This was some site, and after completing our tour, we went to the Loon Center.
We started off the tour of the center by viewing a video, and in the video we got to see how protective the parents are of their newborn. The center offered much information and a great view of the lake.
Next, it was back to our motel to prepare for the final day of our trip.
In the morning, we got up early to go back to Wolfeboro for a classic boat ride.
We went for a ride on a 28-foot wooden speedboat. We’d taken this ride many years ago and were happy to take the ride again. We had the time of our lives, and while on the speeding boat, we saw lakefront homes and boathouses.
We heard fascinating stories of lake history, geography and wildlife. One story explained how to tell if a house was recently built or built many years ago. You can tell, according to the story, by where the house is situated and also their boathouses. If the house is farther away from the water, you know that it was recently built. By the same token, if a boathouse extends over the water, it was not built recently. The 45-minute trip ended all too soon, and we took a ride to our final destination, which was Klickety Klack Railroad.
The Klickety Klack Railroad is a beautiful layout of miniature trains, trees, waterfalls and so on. It is all in one room, but there’s so much to see.
We saw so much during our trip, but like always, it sure felt good to get home.
By Helene Rubenstein
Published July 15, 2015
