White Mountains wonderland

"Remember that vulture we saw on the train?" Alex blurted out one evening at dinner. Huh? "You know," he insisted, "when we were on vacation in New Hampshire." There are a lot of these types of mutated snippets around our house--especially when it comes to vacation, either remembering the last one or anticipating the next.

What Alex was alluding to was our scenic ride through the White Mountains on the Conway Railroad late last summer. Watching the countryside go by became much more intriguing when this large brown hawk glided down below the tree line. Talk about a perfect view of a perfect predator!

My wife and I, going w-a-y back to our dating days, used to ride the Conway every autumn during foliage season. The burning colors of the changing leaves are nothing less than breathtaking that time of year. It's hard to imagine a more beautiful region than New England during the fall. However, we hadn't gone on the train since our first-born, Julie, now 7, was just a few months old. Her brothers (Alex, 5, and Trevor, a month shy of his fourth birthday) finally were old enough to sit still (well, at least for a little while), sc) we decided to see how the old locomotive was doing.

The summer scenery, while certainly devoid of the brilliant hues that would be evident in a matter of weeks, still had an aura all its own. The lush greens were quite soothing and the mountaintops, as always, a sight to behold.

After such rural pleasures, the kids were ready for action, which is why we were back in the Granite State in the first place. On the docket for the week were all the favorite old haunts: Story Land (in Jackson), Santa's Village (in Jefferson), Whale's Tale Water Park (in Lincoln), and Six-Gun City & Fort Splash (also Jefferson), supplemented by plenty of miniature golf at Pirate's Cove and Hobo Junction.

Story Land, like Santa's Village, has an admissions policy that makes it almost impossible to visit for just one day. Enter the park after 3 p.m. (it closes at six o'clock) and receive a pass to return any day that season. Of course, we're always back the very next morning, bright and early--and why not? The prices are reasonable, the lines for the many excellent rides and attractions rarely are long, and the staff is personable and attentive. No wonder the kids can't get enough of the place.

We were even chiding Julie and Alex that they used to be among the youngest ones in attendance, but now they are among the oldest; so, as "big kids," they probably didn't want to come back, "But we have to come back," they exclaimed. "We love it here!"

A pair of new rides caught their attention: Crazy Barn and Henrietta's Eggs-Traordinary Tractors. Trevor, though, had to see his old favorites; we must have ridden the Polar Coaster and Bamboo Chutes log flume at least a dozen times.

Santa's Village, meanwhile, exacts the same sort of reaction from our crew. Nothing beats heading for a venue where you know everyone is going to have a pleasant time. Underline the latter phrase. Instead of an atmosphere of chaos--which permeates theme parks looking to attract adolescents and thrill seekers--a sense of calmness prevails here. I really dread the day my three outgrow the simple magic of these places.

Santa's Village, while old and quaint--I look around and feel like it's 1965--has kept modern with new attractions. A couple years back it was the Great Humbug Adventure (involving laser beam pistols) and now the Hot Shot Fire Brigade (water guns) and SS Peppermint Twist (it certainly does).

Yet, it was an old classic that provided the thrills, Margaret and I are terrified of ferris wheels, and, in past years, we were able to dissuade Julie and Alex from taking a spin on the monstrously large one found here. This year, though, Trevor would not be denied. Naturally, Dad was elected to take him. The result: White knuckles and cold sweat for Father; as for Trevor--unbelievably--he fell asleep!

We wrapped the week up with wonderful stops at Six-Gun City (where Julie finally sunk her first mini-golf hole-in-one) and Whale's Tale (where the new "Eye of the Storm" slide undoubtedly qualifies as the heart-pounder of the day).

"So, we are coming back again next year, right, Daddy" Julie ventured in a sort of half-statement, half-question as we headed for the Interstate that would take us back to New York,

"Absolutely," I assured her. "After all, where else would we go?"

Wayne M. Barrett Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, USA Today

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