Monthly Archives: November 2011

MWV Photo Contest Winners!!

Special Thanks to the Conway Daily Sun for sharing their article!!

The winners of the Mount Washington Valley photo contest, “There’s No Place Like Home were announced Sunday, Nov. 6, at M&D Productions — Your Community Theatre in North Conway.

More than 60 people attended the event, at which contest creator and host Bernadette Friberg of Badger Realty and production assistant Alicia Leavitt announced the winners.

First place winnings went to semi-pro Joshua Greenblatt for “Jackson Falls,” amateur Peter Eastman for “Moose in the Morning,” and student Lisa Carper for “Shadows on a White Birch.”

The second place winners were: semi-pro Mike Dana for “Freedom,” amateur Jim Connors for “Loon” and student Madi Doucette for “Bemis Falls.”

Congratulations to all our 2011 winners for some really fabulous photos. In addition to cash prizes, all six winners also receive a calendar page in the 2012 “Calendars for Charity.” Calendars are now on sale for $10 apiece, with all net proceeds going to benefit the three charities supported by the sales: Starting Point Services, The Mother Seton House and The Miranda Leavitt Diabetes Fund.

In addition to the six winners, there were six honorable mentions that have also received a calendar page for their photos. This year, calendar pages went to amateurs Sue Rose for “Crystal Blue Morning,” Linda Fairchild for “Who gives a Hoot about Winter,” Kim Mathison for “Caught by Surprise,” Rachel Damon for “Draft Horses at the Fryeburg Fair,” and semi-pros Ed Harrigan for “A New Generation” and Albert Martin for “Steam in the Snow.” Twenty other honorable mention recognitions were given to amateurs Jeb Eastman, Chip Diamond, Aliana Lanciaux, Keith Force, Carl Saccone, Nicholas Doak, Kathleen Heggie Frati, Dawn Garza, Donna Wilson, Virginia Moore, Saralyn Smith and Lis Boucher and semi-pros Megan Stuart, Andrew Kohn, Brian Irwin, Lisa Dufault and pro Stephen Pannone as well as to students Megan MacGillivray, Bjorn Myhre and Austin Perry. All honorable mention photographs also appear in the calendar.

Friberg and Leavitt thanked the many sponsors who made this year’s contest and calendar another success, and said they were grateful to supporters for their contributions of money, time and/or services.

M&D Productions will be hosting the contest winning photographs as their artist of the month in December, displayed in their main theatre lobby, located at 1857 White Mountain Highway.

The contest has a Facebook page with information on this year’s calendar and next year’s (fifth anniversary) event. There is also a survey/raffle being offered for photographers, sponsors and charities who fill out a questionnaire and drop it back to Bernie before March 1, 2012. The winning prize is a guaranteed placement of one of your photos in our 2013 calendar. Email Bernie@Badgerrealty.com or stop by Badger Realty to pick up a form.

Calendars will be on sale at locations throughout the Mt Washington Valley while they last, including: Zebs, White Birch Books, North Country Fair Jewelers, Flossie’s General Store, The Bernerhof Inn Bed & Breakfast, Curves of Fryeburg and North Conway, Settler’s Green OVP main office, Weston’s Farm store and of course Badger Realty’s North Conway and Jackson offices. Any business willing to help with calendar sales can contact Friberg about consignments.

“Bemis Falls,” by Madi Doucette was second place in the student competition. It is the photo for April.

“Moose in the Morning,” by Peter Eastman, was first place in the amateur class. It is the photo for May.

“Loon B,” by Jim Connors is second place in the amateur class. It is the photo for July.

“Shadows on a White Birch,” by Lisa Carper, was first place in the student class. It is the photo for August.

“Jackson Falls,” by Joshua Greenblatt, won first place semi-professional class. It is the photo for October.

“Freedom” by Mike Dana, won second place in the semi-professional class. It is the photo for November.

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Myths and Facts about B&Bs

Our good friends over at bedandbreakfast.com included this article on their site and we knew the info. here would be helpful to our guests as well!!   Enjoy!

Myths and Facts about B&Bs

B&Bs lack privacy.
While meeting the many wonderful innkeepers and inngoers are a big reason travelers choose B&Bs, most are also more than accommodating when it comes to guest privacy. With almost all B&Bs offering rooms with private bathrooms and many providing flexible dining hours and private or semi-private dining options, staying in a B&B provides an exceptional experience for guests seeking a relaxing weekend getaway. Guests respect one another’s privacy and innkeepers work hard to provide gracious hospitality and give you as much privacy as you need. Many B&Bs have private entrances, separate cottages or carriage houses, for those want an option to the main house.

B&B means sharing a bathroom with others.
Back in the day, B&Bs were practically defined as places where you could rent out a room quite affordably with shared bathroom facilities. However, today’s modern B&B industry has evolved to where nearly all B&Bs, inns, and boutique hotels offer rooms with private bathrooms. In fact, according to the Professional Association of Innkeepers International, more than 97 percent of B&Bs offer private baths in some, if not all rooms. For those looking to economize on rates, a shared bath option is available in approximately 12 percent of B&Bs.

B&Bs are expensive and don’t offer hotel-like services.
Room rates for B&Bs vary widely, depending upon location, the property itself, and its amenities. B&Bs, however, are attractive to many travelers because of the great value for your dollar including such as free breakfast and other amenities, usually at no extra charge, like refreshments, Internet, onsite parking, afternoon teas, wine and cheese hours, and more. Many B&Bs also offer free Internet, flexible check-in, private pools, spas and spa services, bars, private balconies, luxury soaps/shampoos, high thread count linens, and much more, providing 5-star accommodations and service. Travelers are guaranteed to get these and other amenities at BedandBreakfast.com™ Diamond Collection™ properties, which are professionally inspected and maintain top consumer reviews.

Finally, B&Bs offer a level of personal customer service often unmatched by many other lodging alternatives. Innkeepers serve as not only managers, but as “personal concierges,” offering tips on restaurants, nearby attractions, and info only locals would know.

B&Bs are mostly older inns in rural areas.
Hardly! Many B&Bs are beautiful Victorian homes and/or listed on the National Register of Historic Places (many impeccably restored) – providing unmatched charm and elegance.

At the same time, however, there are über-modern inns located in large cities. You can find everything at BedandBreakfast.com – from beachside B&B cottages and quaint mountaintop inns to boutique B&Bs in the wine country and rustic ranch lodges. Many offer spas, restaurants, and other services suited for the local area, such as hiking, horseback riding, or skiing. What you can count on is that B&Bs offer undiscovered and surprising experiences for the perfect getaway.

B&B Traveler Trends
*March 2011 surveys of B&B travelers

  • Almost 80 percent (78.9%) of B&B travelers are between the ages of 35-65.
  • Nine out of 10 travelers (90.2%) say they will take at least one weekend getaway this summer, and nearly two-thirds (62.3%) say they will take two or more weekend getaways this summer.
    • Nearly two-thirds (62.1%) of travelers say they will take two or more long weekend getaways this summer
  • Besides price and location, when deciding where to stay, B&B travelers rank photos as the highest influencer (74.9%), followed by consumer reviews (62.4%), ability to book online (47.8%), friends’ recommendations (46.3%), and professional recommendations (43.4%).
  • During their summer leisure travel, three out of four (76%) B&B travelers are most likely to stay in a B&B or inn this summer, followed by a moderate, three-star hotel (49%) and friends or family (41.4%).
  • The majority of B&B travelers drive less than 250 miles for their getaway.
  • B&B travelers report B&Bs enable them to get away from masses staying at hotels, while offering unique, interesting and intimate accommodations that are adult/couple-oriented.
  • B&B travelers view themselves as romantic, travelers (not tourists), pampered, unique, adventurous and special.
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Great Things to Do in White Mountains New Hampshire

Special thanks to our friends at Visit New Hampshire for providing us with this great list of activities and attractions around the White Mountains!

America’s Oldest Continuously Operated General Store  America’s Oldest Continuously Operated General Store

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The Brick Store is a genuine old-fashioned general store that dates back as far as 1790 – in fact, the store calls itself America’s oldest continuously operated general story. It is located on the main street – Route 302 – in the delightful town of Bath. Customers include some old-timers in their 90s who tell the owners, Mike and Nancy Lusby, that they remember buying penny candy there as kids. How authentic is that? At the Brick Store, visitors can buy distinctive New England specialties — including smokehouse meats and cheese, homemade fudge, gift packs and gift baskets, maple syrup, weathervanes, and much more. It is open daily. Phone: 800-964-2074

Are We There Yet?  Are We There Yet?

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If you drive regularly in any New England town, it’s only a matter of time before you spot a car bedecked with a bumper sticker that reads “This car climbed Mt. Washington.” In 2011, the famous Mt. Washington Auto Road on Route 16 in Pinkham Notch is celebrating its sesquicentennial–that’s 150 years of family trips, road races, and bicycle climbs to the summit and its impressive view. The Auto Road plans to celebrate with a number of special activities all summer long, including motorcycle weekend, a road race, and a special sesquicentennial black tie gala. The Road is open from March through November. Phone: 603-466-3988.

Call of the Moose  Call of the Moose

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Northern New Hampshire hosts an abundance of wildlife, including that gentle giant, the moose. Many guests travel to the White Mountains and Great North Woods regions of New Hampshire to see moose in their natural habitat. Moose Path Trail starts at Route 16 north from Gorham to Errol. Take Route 26 to Dixville Notch to Route 3 north to Pittsburg. This wilderness byway is ideal for the outdoor enthusiast as moose are often spotted along the drive. If you see a moose, keep your distance! They are large, wild animals, and it is important to give them wide berth.

Come See the Birth Place of Pig’s Ear Brown  Come See the Birth Place of Pig’s Ear Brown

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Warm up your visit to the White Mountains with a pop-in visit to the Woodstock Inn Brewery at 135 Main Street in Woodstock. Brews with names like Red Rack, Pig’s Ear, and Loon Golden Ale are produced through a traditional seven-barrel system using premium hops and English grains. The prize-winning brews are on display during a free tour of the brewery every day at noon. Woodstock Inn Brewery has won several national awards for its ales; Pig’s Ear Brown that has won the National Beer Tasting Championships two years in a row. Come by and get acquainted. Phone: 800-321-3985.

Come Shop With Me  Come Shop With Me

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There are over 100 factory outlet stores in Conway, most of them located at Settlers’ Green Outlet Village and Settlers’ Crossing, located adjacent to each other off Route 16. The original outlet destination resort, North Conway is home to Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren, Under Armour, Banana Republic and many more. Antiques, specialty ski shops, art galleries, craft shops, boutiques and gourmet food shops abound. And…no sales tax is charged here. Both Settlers’ Green and Settlers’ Crossing offer a variety of dining options including Black Cap Grille, Starbucks, Brandli’s Pasta Grille, Wrapsody’s ‘N Greens, Kaity’s Big Chill and the Lodge Café. Phone: 888-667-9636.

Craftsmen in the White Mountains  Craftsmen in the White Mountains

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Founded in 1932, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen is one of the oldest craft organizations in the country. The League was formed during the Depression to help New Hampshire craftspeople make a living through difficult financial times by building an audience and market for fine handmade craft. The League operates seven retail galleries throughout New Hampshire. The galleries present the work of juried craftspeople, along with demonstrations, exhibits and educational programs.

Galleries in the White Mountains region are Littleton Retail Gallery, 81 Main Street, Littleton, 603-444-1099; and North Conway Retail Galler, Main Street/Route 16, North Conway, 603-356-2441.

Curious About George  Curious About George

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Margret and H.A. Rey, authors of the Curious George children’s books, were artists and adventurers, historians and naturalists. Their spirit lives on in the Margret and H.A. Rey Center and Curious George Cottage at 35 Village Road in Waterville Valley, their former home and a place of art, science, and nature programs for children. On Saturdays, the Rey Center is open and filled with Curious George exhibits. Two storytimes will fill up the little ones with George adventures. At the Curious George Cottage, visitors may read books, try drawing in the style of H.A. Rey, and enjoy the view of Mount Tecumseh. Call ahead for hours. Phone: 603-236-3308

Pollyanna Was Here  Pollyanna Was Here

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One of the last classic Main Streets in New England, downtown Littleton is a vibrant community on the bank of the Ammonoosuc River. Downtown offers a nice variety of restaurants, a historic inn, a 100-year old opera house, specialty shops, a majestic post office, a working gristmill, the world’s longest candy counter, and a sculpture of the original “glad girl” herself: Pollyanna.

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