If you really want to understand what makes a region tick then I suggest experiencing its food culture. When I travel, I like to find the landmark restaurants, gourmet shops, bakeries, farmers markets, wineries, breweries, cheese stores etc. Yesterday while visiting at the local book store I found the perfect guide book. “Food Lover’s Guide to Vermont & New Hampshire” by Patricia Harris and David Lyon. The book is available from both Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Every town has discoveries to uncover. In Sugar Hill visit Harman’s Cheese, Poly’s Pancakes and The Sugar Hill Inn. In Littleton (ten minutes north of the inn) enjoy Shillings Brewery (too new for the book), cake and coffee with the French Sisters, a classic old fashion diner and The World’s Longest Candy Counter. Millers is a great pick for a simple lunch.
Make sure that you buy local maple syrup to bring home. We buy it by the case from Fuller’s Sugar House in Lancaster.
Historic country stores seem to be everywhere. My favorite is the Brick Store, in Bath next to the old covered bridge. They claim to be oldest continuously operating general store in the United States. They are known for their home made fudge.
If you like to bake then the King Author store in Norwich, Vermont is a must see. You can also sign up for a class. Across the river from Norwich is Hanover, New
Hampshire, the home of Dartmouth College. Hanover is full of small restaurants serving everything from Indian to Korean. Karen and I recommend Murphy’s On the Green and the Canoe Club. Go to Molly’s for their carrot and cheese cakes. Morano makes the best Gelato outside of Italy. They learned the art of Gelato making in Italy and imported their equipment to insure an authentic product.
In the summer visit Four Corner Farms in Vermont for Strawberries and Windy Ridge Orchard in the fall for apples.
At the Sugar Hill Inn we love to showcase made in New Hampshire products.
