FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact Information:
Karl Stone: 800-887-5464 x202
Alice Pearce: 800-887-5464 x203
Email: media@SkiNH.com
SUMMERTIME ADVENTURE AND AMBIANCE AT
SKI NH RESORTS
NORTH WOODSTOCK, NH, MAY 2010 -With winter a fading memory, New Hampshire's mountains are now seeing the green colors of summer replace the white snow of the past ski season. Vacationers can enjoy a variety of summer mountain activities, offering everything from thrilling excitement to tranquil leisure. Those who love mountaintop vistas can be whisked to a summit on a chairlift, tramway or gondola in a matter of minutes. They can choose to come down the same way, or switch to more invigorating ways to descend, such as mountain bikes, zip-lines, or alpine slides. Hikers can choose from gentle nature walks to rugged mountain trails. Horseback riding and fly-fishing are other activities that lure visitors to forest trails, sparkling streams, and hidden lakes. Summer sports enthusiasts will find tennis courts and golf courses surrounded by the breathtaking landscape of New Hampshire's majestic mountains.
Couples and families alike find there is an activity for everyone, and they come back to Ski NH mountain resorts summer after summer. Here are some of the reasons why:
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Ski NH mountain resorts take pride in transforming their winter downhill and cross country ski trails into mountain biking trails suited for all abilities. With hundreds of miles of trails ranging from gentle to steep, these mountain playgrounds offer something for anyone who wants to rent or bring their own bike to Attitash, The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel, Bretton Woods, Cannon Mountain, Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center, Gunstock, Loon Mountain, Purity Spring Resort and Waterville Valley. Novice and veteran bikers alike can rent adult bikes, junior bikes, and helmets at most of these resorts; several also offer high-performance full and front suspension bikes. Many areas, including Attitash, Bretton Woods and Waterville Valley, make the uphill climb easier by running lifts to speed riders and their bikes to the top of the mountain.
HIKING AND NATURE WALKS
At Cannon Mountain, you can hike a challenging, steep trail from base to summit or you can step aboard Cannon's world-famous 80-passenger tram and be on the summit in just a few minutes. From there, it's just a short walk to the observation tower, from which the Rim Trail opens up views across Franconia Notch to the sharp summits of the Franconia Range. At Loon Mountain, guests can ride the enclosed gondola to the area's summit, where they'll find a self-guided nature trail, glacial caves to explore, an observation tower and a playground for the kids. Waterville Valley operates its Snow's Mountain chairlift; from the summit, guests enjoy views of the valley and some of the southern White Mountain's highest peaks before setting out on a leisurely hike down the trails.
Purity Spring Resort conducts guided hikes and walks for all abilities, or guests can roam the grounds on their own. At Bretton Woods you can take a guided hike or hop on the chairlift and explore the summit while enjoying the views. Gunstock offers several self-guided hikes, including a handicap-accessible Wetlands Boardwalk where guests can get a glimpse of a beaver family hard at work. From the summit of Gunstock, hikers can spot New Hampshire's highest mountains rising in the distance beyond Lake Winnipesaukee, the state's largest lake. At The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel, guests can explore miles of well-marked and annotated trails, and the resort's staff naturalist offers a comprehensive program for all levels of interest and ability, including casual walks, exhilarating hikes, picnic tours, bird and moose watches, and stargazing.
At Attitash, the Thorne Pond Interpretive Trail Network offers several miles of trails along the Saco River, with markers that explain the local wildlife tracks. Visitors can also take the resort's Scenic Sky Ride to the summit; at the top the 30-foot Observation Tower offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains and the Mt. Washington Valley. At Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center, aspecial view of nature can be enjoyed from its smoothly graded trails in the fields and forest right at the base of Mount Washington. At Mount Sunapee you can hike to the summit of the mountain, and be rewarded with incredible views of Lake Sunapee; lift service is offered on select weekends. Wildcat Mountain offers a variety of hikes with views of Mount Washington or you can join a naturalist for a guided walk to Thompson Brook Falls. Guests can also tour the summit via the Wildcat Express, a four-passenger gondola skyride.
Sunset Hill House is home to a total of 30 kilometers of trails, featuring incredible views of Franconia Notch and wildlife.
WATER FUN
New Hampshire's mountains cradle hundreds of sparkling lakes and ponds that beckon those vacationers who like their fun in or on water, whether swimming, water skiing, canoeing, fishing, or just reading a book by the shoreline.
Cannon Mountain's Echo Lake is set beneath the rugged cliffs of Franconia Notch, and offers swimming and boat rentals. At Gunstock, guests can rent kayaks, paddleboats and fish or swim in the mountain-base pond. A brisk mountain stream flows into six-acre Corcoran's Pond at Waterville Valley, where guests can swim and sun at a bright sandy beach, or can get out on the water in rented canoes, kayaks and pedal boats. Guests at Purity Spring Resort can test their water skiing skills on the slalom course on Purity Lake where there is also canoeing, fishing, swimming and an open, sandy beach. Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center offers guided canoe and kayaking trips. And at Attitash, kids of all ages can fly down four waterslides or frolic in Buddy Bear's Playpool.
The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel offers a beautiful lake perfect for a swim or trying your hand at some fishing, as well as an outdoor heated pool. At Bretton Woods The Mount Washington Hotel & Resort has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and plenty of fishing and swimming options in the multitude of nearby mountain streams. Wildcat Mountain offers trout fishing in their own stocked trout pond.
GOLF
Ski NH resorts provide scenic settings for golf courses with some of the most spectacular views in New England. The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel is a recipient of Golf Magazine's silver medal for excellence; it is the only resort to receive this designation in New England and only one of four in the northeastern United States. The BALSAMS combines striking scenery and posh elegance with the challenging Donald Ross-designed par 72 Panorama Golf Course, with mountain views stretching from New
Hampshire to Vermont and Canada. An executive, 9-hole, par 32 course is perfect for a quick warm-up round or a just-right challenge for beginners and high handicappers. There are golf shops and PGA professional staff at each course location as well as seasonal golf schools, individual instruction throughout the summer, cart and club rentals, practice greens, and a magnificent full-service clubhouse.
Ragged Mountain boasts an 18-hole, par 72 golf course with rolling fairways, elevated tees, and undulating greens enhanced by the spectacular backdrop of the White Mountains. Golfers rise to the challenge of the variety of shots offered by this course, as well as its rustic New England flavor with untouched stone walls, barn foundations and more than 40 bridges. At Bretton Woods, The Mount Washington Hotel & Resortfeatures a newly restored 18-hole, par 71 and a 9-hole, par 35 championship golf course. Golfers are sure to be challenged by the course's impressive layouts while taking in the unsurpassed beauty of the Presidential Range rising beyond the fairways. Sunset Hill House is home to New Hampshire's longest operating 9-hole golf course. The course sits atop Sugar Hill with 360 degree views of the Franconia and Presidential mountain ranges. Waterville Valley offers a 9-hole, par 32 golf course with pro shop, club and cart rentals, snack shop and lounge. Eastman Recreation Center features an 18-hole course set among towering pines with picturesque views. Lessons, weekly programs and club rentals are available.
For those who prefer just an hour on the course, Gunstock offers mini-golf.
TENNIS
Designated by Tennis Magazine as one of the top 50 U.S. tennis resorts, Waterville Valley maintains 18 outdoor red-clay championship tennis courts, two indoor tennis courts, professional instruction, and a
tennis pro shop. The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel tennis offerings include three red clay courts and three all-weather plexi-cushion courts, tennis clinics, private instruction, and a full-service shop. Tennis enthusiasts can also swing a racquet on courts at Purity Spring Resort and The Mount Washington Hotel at Bretton Woods.
HORSEBACK RIDING
New Hampshire's mountain scenery takes on a special character when seen astride a reliable saddle horse moving at your choice of pace through fields and forest. Trained guides lead trail rides suitable for the whole family at Attitash, The BALSAMS, Black Mountain, Bretton Woods, Gunstock and Loon Mountain.
OUTDOOR SKATE AND BIKE PARKS
For the past several summers, many of Ski NH's mountain resorts including GunstockandWaterville Valley have been expanding their outdoor skate parks to provide a greater assortment of entertaining challenges for in-line skaters, skateboarders, and bike riders.
CHILDREN'S AND TEEN PROGRAMS
Kids can vacation in a special world all their own, as more Ski NH mountain resorts create supervised full day and half day programs just for youngsters. The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel hosts Camp Wind Whistle for hotel guests ages 5+ with supervised activities. Black Mountain in Jackson offersa horseback riding day camp during July. The Mount Washington Hotel & Resort has Kids Kamp for ages 4-12, including tennis, biking, swimming, horseback riding, mountain biking, chairlift rides, fishing and hiking. Waterville Valley offers skateboard camps as well as a sports camp including tennis, golf, hiking, mountain biking and swimming.
CAMPING
Families who prefer their evenings around a campfire can choose from a long list of scenic and comfortable campsites throughout New Hampshire, including those owned by Ski NH mountain resorts - lakeside at Cannon Mountain's Echo Lake, nestled in the woods at Gunstock, or wooded sites with beachfront facilities at the Danforth Bay Camping Resort owned and operated by Purity Spring Resort.
OTHER RECREATION
New this summer, Loon Mountain has added a zip-line ride spanning the Pemigewasset River. Wildcat is home to the ZipRider, a half-mile zip-line cable that reaches over 45 miles per hour. Bretton Woods also has the Williwaw Racing Zip as well as Canopy Tours through the woods. At Waterville Valley, there's indoor ice skating. Attitash, Gunstock, Loon MountainandPurity Spring Resort offer climbing walls. Attitash and Loon Mountain offer Bungy Trampolines. Attitash offers its brand-new Mountain Coaster, bringing guests down the mountain through banked turns, dips and straight-aways, and North America's longest alpine slides - each nearly a mile long. At Cannon Mountain, the New England Ski Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into New Hampshire's skiing heritage. Bretton Woodsand Wildcat Mountain offer lift-serviced disc golf courses.
Ski NH is the statewide association representing 36 alpine and cross country resorts and more than 200 lodging and guest service properties in New Hampshire. For more information on recreation facilities, lodging packages, and updated summer and autumn events at Ski NH mountain resorts, call Ski NH at (800) 88-SKI-NH (800-887-5464) or visit the Ski NH website at www.SkiNH.com. For statewide media relations assistance, visit the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism's media room at http://visitnh.gov/media/ or contact Mr. Tai Freligh at 603-271-2343, option #2.