New Hampshire Offers Yankee Frugality and Fun

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. October 14, 2008

CONCORD, NH, May 26, 2007. With gas prices edging ever higher, New Hampshire's Division of Travel and Tourism Development has surveyed the lodgings and attractions throughout the state to find special deals and discounts to help ease the pain at the pump.

Known for both its Yankee frugality and classic summer vacation fun on the state's lakes, ocean beaches and forested trails, New Hampshire is a green backyard for most of the major metropolitan areas of the Northeast and packed with diversions for those who park their cars to explore on foot, mountain bike or kayak.

Many of the state's visitor attractions and seasonal lodgings are just opening for Memorial Day weekend, with full operation planned by mid-June, so the list of deals and packages posted at www.VisitNH.gov will continue to grow. Here are a few:

The Colonel Spencer Inn in Campton offers a "Gas-Savings Special" mid-week. Guests who stay two consecutive nights, Sunday through Thursday, receive a 10 percent discount to defray the cost of their gas. Those who stay four consecutive nights receive a 15 percent discount. Guests who book two rooms for two nights can receive the 10 percent discount on weekend nights; and receive the 15 percent discount for two nights midweek. The historic inn is located in the White Mountains region, affording multiple nearby options that reduce gas consumption even further. Rates, starting at $100 per night per room, include accommodations and full country breakfast each morning. Contact: 603-536-1755 or www.colonelspencerbb.com

The Inn at Ellis River in Jackson puts fuel in guests' rooms (a gas-fired fireplace) as well as their gas tanks. The Inn pays guests for the gas it took to get there, no matter what the price at the pump. They calculate the distance to the Inn from home (anywhere in New England) and apply a refund to the room rate based on the price at the pump in Jackson (regular unleaded, 25 miles per gallon). The discount is offered for fireplace rooms only (rates starting at $139) and minimum stay is two nights, May 1 through July 31, 2007. May not be combined with other discount packages, not valid on prior reservations or holiday weekends, must be requested at time of booking. Contact: 800-233-8309 or www.innatellisriver.com

Channel Cottages at Weirs Beach gives first time guests a $5 gasoline voucher at the Weirs Beach Citgo for each night spent at Channel Cottages. Contact: 603-366-4673 or www.channelcottages.com

The Candlelite Inn in Bradford's Gas Friendly Package deducts $25 from the rate of a two-night, midweek stay (Sunday through Thursday). Stay more than two nights and the discount is $10 per night. Package also includes a refreshing melon tray and complimentary afternoon snacks and cool drinks. For further gas-savings, the Inn recommends local shops that are within walking distance, as is the Bradford Pines for a light hike. The offer can not be combined with any other offer and also not valid on any holiday weekends. Contact: 888-812-5571 or www.candleliteinn.com

And try one-horsepower instead of hundreds at The Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy. Horseback riding is one of many things families enjoy on this working farm. Rates, starting at $96 per night per adult ($76 per night for children aged 5-17; $38 per child aged 2-4, children under 2, free) include three meals daily, full children's recreation program, a barnyard full of animals, cow milking and egg collecting, tennis and shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pit, boating and fishing on Perkin's Pond, horse-drawn hayrides, hiking trails, indoor and outdoor pools and whirlpool, and from mid-June through August, waterskiing instruction twice a week. Contact: 800-242-6495 or www.east-hill-farm.com

Choice Hotels International - of which there are eight in New Hampshire -- is giving guests $50 in free gasoline this summer in a promotion available to Choice Privileges members. The offer is available to members who book at 800 CHOICE or choicehotels.com and stay at any of the more than 3,000 Choice brand hotels in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean between June 1 and Aug. 16. Members will earn enough points to redeem a $50 gas card after three separate stays. The New Hampshire properties include: Comfort Inn in Dover, Portsmouth, Concord, Manchester and North Conway; EconoLodge in Manchester; SleepInn in Londonderry and Rodeway in Moultonborough.

New Hampshire's welcoming shops (no sales tax!) and attractions are doing their part to make vacations fuel efficient, too. Among the early responders to the Tourism office's request for details:

Antiques Alley offers nearly two dozen good quality antiques shops in an 8 mile stretch along Route 4 in Northwood, Lee and Epsom. As shop owner, Colleen Pingree of RS Butler's Trading Co. commented, "There is certainly more than a day's worth of antiquing to be done here--for less than a gallon of gasoline!" Contact: www.nhantiquealley.com

The White Mountain Boogie 'n Blues Fest, at the Sugar Shack Campground August 17-19, will discount the $25 daily admission by $5 for visitors who present a gas receipt at the gate. Contact: 603-726-3867 or www.nhblues.com

For more ideas and sample itineraries for exploring New Hampshire, go to www.VisitNH.gov/summer or call 800-386-4664 for a copy of the New Hampshire Travel Guide.