One of the precious gifts of summer is spending time outdoors in the water. Whether enjoying the cool solitude of a peaceful pond or soaking up the sun at the beach or community pool, there’s plenty of water to go around in the Upper Valley.

Chances are your community might have a town pool or other water body for public use, like the Lebanon Veteran’s Memorial Pool, Storrs Pond in Hanover, or the Woodstock Recreation Center. Both Vermont and New Hampshire are also home to a number of state parks with outdoor water bodies. Locally, you can pay a visit to a few crowd favorites: Silver Lake in Barnard, Vermont; Quechee State Park and Lake Tarleton State Park in Piermont, New Hampshire; or Wadleigh State Park in New London, New Hampshire.

When in doubt, the Connecticut River that runs through the Upper Valley is also a great spot to do some local (and free) swimming, boating, or kayaking. There are endless spots to access the river from, some better known than others. A few popular local spots to try are Wilson’s Landing or Kendal Riverfront Park (84 Lyme Road) in Hanover, Kilowatt Park in Wilder, and East Widler Boat Launch (East Wilder Road) in West Lebanon.

Get ice cream from a scoop shop

Locally scooped and served ice cream is one summer luxury that beats eating out of the pint any day. Lucky for you there are a few local spots to choose from, or choose them all if you’d like. Pay a visit to Ice Cream Fore U in West Lebanon, Dairy Twirl in Lebanon, or Hanover/Woodstock Scoops.

Dine outdoors and enjoy a local meal

Outdoor dining is an aspect of restaurant culture that’s unique to the summertime, along with fresher local ingredients that many local food spots incorporate into their menus. While our favorite restaurants keep serving up amazing dishes all year round, it’s always a special night out when you get to enjoy your meal alfresco and have the option to try some local farm-to-table summer recipes.

A few restaurants that offer alfresco dining in the Upper Valley:

Salt hill Pub – Lebanon

Three Tomatoes – Lebanon

Tuckerbox – White River Junction

Lou’s Restaurant & Bakery – Hanover

Murphy’s on the Green – Hanover

Molly’s Restaurant & Bar – Hanover

Jesse’s Steakhouse – Hanover

Big Fatty’s BBQ – White River Junction

Trail Break Taps + Tacos – White River Junction

Lui Lui – West Lebanon

Restaurants with a focus on farm-to-table dining:

Cloudland Farm – Woodstock

PINE – Hanover

Thyme – White River Junction

Murphy’s on the Green – Hanover

The Nest Kitchen & Cafe – Hanover

Red Rooster at the Woodstock Inn & Resort – Woodstock

Worthy Kitchen – Woodstock

Simon Pearce – Quechee

Pick local fruit

Many farms throughout the Upper Valley offer pick-your-own fruit and/or flowers. The flavor of locally picked fruit is unmatched to store-bought, and picking your own can make a fun day trip or family outing too!

Common pick-your-own fruits that are still in season or about to be including blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and peaches. You can pick and eat fresh, bake the fruit into recipes, or freeze for later. Here’s a list of a few local farms offering pick-your-own:

●     Darling’s Berries – Caanan

●     Super Acres – Lyme

●     Clay Hill Corners – Hartland

●     Beaver Pond Farm – Newport

●     Cedar Circle Farm – Thetford

●     Ward’s Berry Farm – Strafford

●     Moore’s Orchards – Pomfret

Outdoor picnics are a treasured summer tradition that has been around for years and never gets old. Picnics are perfect for any circumstance, whether you’re munching solo, watching the clouds go by with a friend, or entertaining a group of people.