Life in New Hampshire

Over April Break, my parents and I went up to New Hampshire for the week,

and — as always — it brought back so many memories from when we lived in the White Mountain Valley. If you’ve never been, you’re probably wondering what’s so great about it, but coming from a kid who had some of the best years of his life living there, I can see why New Hampshire is ranked the sixth best state in the country.

Before I moved back to Rhode Island and went to Mount, I lived in Bartlett, New Hampshire for a few years. Bartlett is a small, rural town just outside of North Conway. The area is a popular tourist spot, especially in the fall, when people head there to see the beautiful foliage in the mountains. There are things to do at any time of the year, like skiing in the winter or tubing down the river in the summer. Plus, there’s plenty of hiking trails, whether you just want to go on a calm walk through the woods or you’re a more adventurous type of person. Who knows, maybe you’d even dare to hike up Mount Washington! I guess what I’m trying to say is there’s a lot to do in a place that seems like it’s in the middle of nowhere.

In New Hampshire, our house was literally on top of a mountain. Well, a small mountain, but it still sounds cool, right? It was a beautiful house with a beautiful view, and words can’t describe how much I miss it. I spent a lot of time outside in the woods behind my house, building little houses out of sticks and trying to balance on logs. I loved my school too. Skiing lessons and hiking were incorporated into the curriculum. We learned a lot about New Hampshire’s wildlife and how great the great outdoors truly are, which I personally think is one of the most valuable lessons for children to grow up learning. Life was so simple there. Go to school or work, come home, take a walk in the woods or head into town, and when the day ends fall asleep to the sounds of the forest. There was no hustle and bustle, no rush to get anywhere. Anyone who isn’t a city person— which I am not in the least bit— would appreciate it.

So, yeah, that’s my rant about New Hampshire. Trust me, there’s so much more I could say, but for your sake I’ll keep it short. If you've never been, you should check it out. I may be biased, but it really is a great place. Like I said, I had some of the best years of my life there, and now everytime I leave I can feel tears in my eyes.