The Magic of Nature
‘Karen and Jay celebrate the great outdoors and all that New Hampshire has to offer.'
There is certain magic in the great outdoors. The opportunity to take a walk in the woods, enjoy a beautiful lake or even take a day and climb one of our state’s majestic mountains. Especially, as the good weather is now upon us, let’s throw off the last vestiges of Covid and embrace all that nature has to offer!
9,000 miles of land area. 5,900 miles of shoreline and riverfront. 1,000 lakes and ponds. 4,000 miles of hiking trails. These are just a few of the breathtaking numbers at the heart of New Hampshire’s great outdoors. After a year of social distancing that required each of us to stay indoors more than we’d all probably have liked to, we can shake off the physical and mental challenges this past year has presented over the next few months simply by reconnecting with the outdoors.
The famed American naturalist Henry David Thoreau once said, “I took a walk in the woods, and came out taller than the trees.” Thoreau, a native New Englander, is known best for his book Walden which championed the outdoors and reconnecting with nature as means of connecting with oneself. The quote from Thoreau highlights an important point about what taking a few minutes to be outdoors can do for us. By simply taking a walk in the woods, he came out feeling a better man, a more grounded man, “taller” than the trees he’d been before.
What’s more though is that there’s even research that supports this. A study released by Nature magazine showed evidence that spending just 120 minutes a week outdoors is directly tied to good health and well-being. Another study demonstrated that even just a 20 minute walk in a local park can dramatically improve mental health. Our bodies physically become calmer, our heart rate, muscle tension, and production of stress hormones are reduced—meaning we’re able to process our surroundings in a less agitated state, and in turn feel more at ease. This sense of calm as a result of experiencing nature is especially helpful during today’s widespread sense of collective hardship.
So, while it may be no secret that spending time outdoors can have an incredibly positive impact on one’s well-being, it’s important in these uncertain times we recognize that sometimes the things that can help us the most are also the simplest. So, whether it’s hiking or boating, surfing or sunbathing, be sure to take some important time for yourself this summer in the outdoors, and reconnect with all that New Hampshire, New England, and this great land of ours has to offer.
‘NH48’ - New Hampshire’s Greatest Challenge
At first glance, the NH48 may sound like it’s a lesser known highway. Instead, it is the name given to 48 mountain peaks in New Hampshire that stand at over 4,000 feet as defined by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). The list was founded back in 1957 to draw focus to New Hampshire’s lesser-known mountains that sometimes sit in the proverbial shadow of Mount Washington. The AMC defines these mountains as being not only 4000’ tall but also have a peak with a prominence of 200’ which further guarantees great views! This concerted effort to showcase New Hampshire’s natural beauty has paid dividends for the State over the past half century, bringing more and more tourists, along with their economic impact into a traditionally underserved part of the Granite State.
The views from the NH48 are nothing short of miraculous and every single one of them has a well-traveled hiking trail which helps keep the journey safer and provides plenty of opportunity to make some new friends along the way. If the NH48 is a little too tame for you, you could also try the “Terrifying Twenty-five” which provides some less frequented peaks that are much harder to navigate.
Finding Refreshment in the North Country – Schilling Beer Company
While enjoying the great outdoors, it’s important to find a good spot to relax, refresh and reinvigorate for the next chapter of the adventure. Fortunately, there are a number of great spots in the Granite State to do so, including some of the best brew pubs in the United States.
Case in point: The Schilling Beer Company, located just off the main street in Littleton. Starting out as only a dream more than fifteen years ago, this wonderful concept is today a reality and a ‘must visit’ if you are considering a trip to the North Country.
It’s the brainchild and passion of the Cozzens family and close friends and today is a fixture of the great Littleton community. There is a positive spirit about this place, a commitment to contribute to the good of the community – and beyond that some truly outstanding craft brew that is widely praised throughout New England and beyond. Moreover, their wood fired oven cooks up some awesome pizza for the traveler who is just coming off a big mountain climb or getting ready to go out on the next adventure.
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive in the North Country, and it’s so gratifying to see such an exciting vision become a reality. Congratulations to the team at the Schilling Beer Company. Please put it on your list for a visit this summer.
Positive Profile of the Week: Jeb Bradley
This week we are delighted to highlight a great friend and tireless public servant, Senator Jeb Bradley. Jeb is truly a master of ‘getting things done’ – with great success and efficiency. That’s probably why he’s been able to manage multiple businesses while being a champion of the outdoors and also serving in public office decade after decade. Jeb is an outstanding role model!
Jeb was elected and then served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives on the Budget Committee representing Wolfeboro. Then, served two terms in Congress representing New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. Today, Jeb serves as Majority Leader of the New Hampshire State Senate. And, while Jeb has moved around the New Hampshire political landscape and has had multiple different titles, he’s always been a dedicated and passionate advocate for the great outdoors. He is a year-round hiker who has climbed multiple peaks not just in New Hampshire, not just in New England, but across the country and even around the world.
We’re proud of Jeb and his many accomplishments. We are also comforted in knowing that he continues to serve our great state with energy, enthusiasm and creativity – while always with a passion for the people he represents.
Quotes of the Week: The Great Outdoors
“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I could never resist the call of the trail." - Buffalo Bill
We shall not cease from exploration, and then end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." - T.S Eliot
"For an occurrence to become an adventure it is necessary and sufficient for one to recount it." - Jean-Paul Sartre
"The idea of wilderness needs no defense, it only needs defenders." - Edward Abbey