Visiting the northeastern of The United States was never in my travel list; and if you ask me why, I don’t think I have an answer. Perhaps living in the southern states had been so comfortable that the need to explore outside those boundaries was unnecessary.
Freshly arrived from Asia, my wife and I ventured to explore New England. The experience had left us in awe, as we made our way to the state of New Hampshire. The trees with their leaves with wonderful colors had left us wondering why we hadn’t visited this place before.
The drive through the highways and small state roads made us feel relaxed and loving the place at first sight. We could feel the cooling breeze as we walked out and about; it was a sure signal that the unknown winter was nearby. Stories of past winters seemed scary, but we were focused on the beauty of the moment.
Less than an hour drive from the city of Boston in Massachusetts direction northwest a different world awaited us. The traffic and crowds seemed to fade after each mile inching along Interstate 93.
A Large Pile of Horseshoes and Sunbathing by the Kimball Lake
The plan had been simple. The idea was to visit a few places of interest in one day. Our intentions were to visit the Large Pile of Horseshoes in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. We could not find the location, and after searching the area we had spotted it. What was described as “Large” in our opinion wasn’t big at all. The pile was almost invisible as it was covered with weeds in the front yard of a house. It was then that by reading at signs on a post that indicated the location of cabins by the lake. The search for the unattractive pile of horseshoes had led us to beautiful small cabins by the Kimball Lake. There we took the opportunity to enjoy a little of sunrays.
The oldest covered railroad bridge in the world
For a short lesson on history, visiting the historical village of Contoocook in the town of Hopkinton, New Hampshire was a perfect. There, we had the opportunity to walk around and learn about its history, visit a local arts and crafts market, walk through, and take pictures of the Contoocook covered railroad bridge, the oldest in the world, built in 1889 and still holding strong above the flowing waters of the Contoocook River.
An alpaca farm
At wanting to do something in the open air we headed to the famous Contoocook Alpaca Farm. We were curious to know how these animals so far from their original lands in South America could live here. There, we found many alpacas living a quiet, comfortable and free range life. You can also find many products made from their fiber, such as gloves, scarves, socks and much more. We were impressed to see that Alpacas are quite curious and approachable when trying to take a picture of them.
Apple cider and lunch with a fantastic view
After enjoying the Alpacas, we headed for lunch a few miles away at Contoocook Cider Company. The view of the far away forest with their colorful leaves once more caught our attention. If looking for a refreshment and food, the Contoocook Cider Company is a perfect choice for everyone. You can choose from their homemade pizzas and wide variety of apple cider flavors with and without alcohol. You can eat in or sit outside at the benches to enjoy your meal with a great view. After our meal and a short nap on a bench, we headed to our last place to visit.
A readers paradise
A few miles away we arrived at the place that many claim is the best place for readers. The Old Number Six Book Depot in Henniker NH was a place like we had never been before. From outside, the old house with its small sign did not look like much, but we were very wrong. At entering, we discovered a new world, the place that if you like reading, you do not want to leave. Since the 1970’s, the Old Number Six has been the home for more than 160,000 books to read, touch, and discover their magic; not to mention the smell of books that envelops you from the moment you open the door.
Time had passed while we had searched and read for hours at The Old Number Six Book Depot. Since then we have returned to search for the works of our favorite writers, and read by the fireplace. If you love books as much as we do, we guarantee you will love The Old Number Six.
The daylight was dimming and it was time to return home with another wonderful travel experience to remember and share.
Keep traveling, keep learning!