Growing up, we made a lot of family vacations to New Hampshire. In fact as I’ve been writing these last few posts I’ve opened an itch I need to scratch by going back. We used to ski in New Hampshire in the winter, camp in the summer and in this recent trip, leaf peep in the fall. New Hampshire is a great place to visit. Yet on every vacation we took to New Hampshire there was one thing I wanted to do that never happened – ride the Mt. Washington Cog Railway.

Isn’t that a great shot? I love the greens and red of the train under the bright blue sky. It’s the kind of photo that describes the day, perfect. The Cog Railway is a trip up Mount Washington in New Hampshire. It takes you from the bottom all the way to the top. It is my preferred route over hiking it and driving it. Who doesn’t like a train?

At the bottom of the mountain you board the train and it chugs up to the top. The seats aren’t that comfortable, but that’s okay. The ride takes about an hour. The fall is a perfect time to visit, because you can admire the leaves as you journey up the first mountain-climbing train.

One of the best moments is the track switch. there is only one track up and down. Passing trains need to carefully schedule their ascent and descent to meet at the track switch and pass each other. Essentially one train stays to the right, while the other stays to the left as they pass the water tower. The tracks merge again to the single track.

Be prepared for a climate change at the top. You are on a mountain after all. And this mountain has the record of the highest recorded wind speed. There’s an observatory with some small exhibits and displays, and a cafeteria with snacks. If you’re dressed appropriately, make an attempt to climb the rocky peak and take the official photo. It’s cold and windy so bundle up.

The trip back down is just as great as the trip up. The track is steep and one can only hope that the brakes have been inspected recently.

The price is a bit steep for the trip. As of this writing, it’s about $59.00. Is it worth it? For a one-time weekend activity sure. Remember, you’re on an adventure so save your pennies for a memorable trip in the mountains.

**********

Don’t forget, Ben and Brian are applicants in the Ultimate Thailand Explorers Contest. Please follow us on twitter@benandbrianthaiand share our Ultimate Thailand Explorers Application Video to Pattaya, Thailand with your friends and family.

I grew up in Massachusetts. I went to school in the middle of the mountains in Central, Massachusetts. At this time of year, the foliage was gorgeous. Did I notice? Absolutely not. That’s why the first Autumn I had the chance, I flew back home to go leaf peeping and, for the first time, appreciate the natural beauty of mother earth.

Leaf peeping is the term used for people who travel to watch the Autumn Leaves change color. A successful trip requires the following:

1. The Right Time of Year
2. The Right Location

The Right Time of Year

The chart below indicates the best time of year (on average) to watch the leaves change color. Notice the further North you travel, the earlier you need to go. Stay away from the areas in grey. Florida is not the state to visit to see falling leaves, neither is the desert of Nevada.

The Right Location

Research the location you’d like to visit beforehand. New England is the quintessential spot that I’m partial towards. But you may have some luck in other parts of the country. The key to selecting your location is to make sure there are great activities to make an adventure out of it, especially if you have young children with you. Some may become easily bored with admiring the leaves, so pad your weekend with traditional fall activities. Here are some highlights from my trip.

Our family trip began with a trip to North Conway, New Hampshire. It’s a quaint, little town in the middle of the White Mountains. It’s just as popular during ski season as it is during the fall. There are plenty of hotels, restaurants and shopping locations. In fact, bargain shoppers may enjoy the plentiful outlets scattered throughout the town. We happened to stay at the Eastern Inns. It’s a small, motel just beyond downtown. It’s not full on amenities, but it has a lot of family history with us. We’ve been staying there ever since I was a little kid.

Beyond the shopping, dining and casual atmosphere this resort town has to offer, there are lots of attractions for people of all ages. You’ll read later this week about our trip to Mt. Washington. But for all of you Leaf Peepers, the Kancamangus Highway is the reason why you came here in the first place.

Can’t pronounce the name? Don’t worry about it. All that matters is that you are about to embark on a breathtaking road trip across the state. The highway is about 34 miles long and travels east-west. The highway runs alongside a mountain river. There are plenty of stops along the way to step out, take some photographs, have a picnic and enjoy the scenery.

Don’t you want to run your fingers through the waterfall? Or maybe you’d rather go rock hopping?

Why not try something different and challenge your nature photography skills?

The Kancamangus Highway is a great drive for a Saturday afternoon. And the surrounding attractions complete the weekend. Now what will you do?

Step outside and take a moment to reflect on the natural beauty the seasons bring to your neighborhood. Appreciate the color, Listen to the crunch of leaves under your feet. And if you live in a tropical climate like I do, relish in the cooler, night air that fall brings.

Now think about what you will do to celebrate the season. It only comes once-a-year after all. There’s plenty of magic out there if you choose to find it.

**********

Don’t forget, Ben and Brian are applicants in the Ultimate Thailand Explorers Contest. Please follow us on twitter@benandbrianthaiand share our Ultimate Thailand Explorers Application Video to Pattaya, Thailand with your friends and family.

Whoops! In last week’s sign post I promised a trip to the Olympic Park in Park City, Utah. I missed the boat on that one. I’ll post my trip there tomorrow. Also as promised, this week you’ll find stories about leaf peeping in New Hampshire. Today’s sign reflects a great adventure you can do with your family and friends while leaf peeping. Details will come later this week.

You’ll also notice a new title today, “Sign Spotting Sunday”. It turns out taking photos of signs while traveling has an official name. To be consistent with what’s out there, I’ve changed the name of these weekly posts.

**********

Don’t forget, Ben and Brian are applicants in the Ultimate Thailand Explorers Contest. Please follow us on twitter@benandbrianthaiand share our Ultimate Thailand Explorers Application Video to Puttaya, Thailand with your friends and family.