I am not a very good hiker. I am slow. I stop more often than I should. Before I go hiking with a new friend, I always warn them of this. The estimated hiking completion time? Add at least a half-hour to it.
In the year since I have set my sights on trails in the Upper Valley and beyond, I have continued to repeat this to my hiking partners, but they always laugh it off. The point, I have been told, is that I keep going until I reach the top.
In this edition of the Valley Guide, Valley News staff writers have written about free — and low-cost — activities to sample during the Upper Valley summer.
Matt Hongoltz-Hetling starts the guide off with a list of roadside attractions to photograph while on the way to other destinations.
David Corriveau, one of the most disciplined runners in our newsroom, has written about the Northern Rail Trail and the peace that he finds on it.
Sports and recreation reporter (and avid hiker) Jared Pendak tells readers about his favorite places to watch the sunset in the area.
In conjunction with Vital Communities, there are lists of farmers markets and places to pick your own produce, along with a Valley Quest, the nonprofit’s scavenger hunt program.
The Upper Valley Trails Alliance has pulled together a list of hikes throughout the region for all hikers, from novice to expert.
Aimee Caruso writes about bike paths she loves as well as ones she would like to try out this summer and John Lippman has updated his list of favorite swimming spots.
There’s also a list of area museums and historical societies, many of which are open only for the summer months.
The guide concludes with a calendar of events through the end of August.
There’s a lot to do in the Upper Valley this summer. Get out and go exploring!
