5 Things To Do Before Summer Ends
Aug 02, 2023 04:00PM ● By Rose TeramiHere is a list of five things to do before the summer ends to help you get started:
Enjoy a Water Activity
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
Have a picnic
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.
Some of the best spots for a local picnic are community parks and greens (which usually have shady spots), local lakes or rivers (often have shade or picnic tables), state parks (often have designated picnicking areas), or your own yard