APRIL PLEASURES ABOUND AT ADAIR

As chocolate is one of our passions, we’re eager to share Chef Orlo’s secret chocolate truffles recipe with our Easter Getaway guests at Adair Country Inn & Restaurant in Bethlehem. Yummmm… we can already taste that melt in your mouth chocolate goodness. What could be better than a romantic weekend away and the richness of chocolate, unless it’s the Easter Bunny Treats Basket and Spring Flower Bouquet in each of our guest rooms? Oh, what fun!

We’re also preparing for our annual Easter Brunch Buffet on Sunday, April 24, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Along with the delicious foods that Chef Orlo is preparing — a Smoked Seafood Platter, Sticky Bun French Toast, Made-to-order Omelets, Glazed Smoked Ham, Luscious Desserts, and much, much more, guests can take part in an Easter Egg Hunt for Grownups (remember how much fun this was as a child!), along with great prizes and live music. It’ll be a hoppin’ event, so be sure to make your reservation today at (888/603) 444-2600.

Spring has taken its time this year, but we’re slowly seeing signs that it’s truly arrived here in the White Mountains. The sun is warmer, the days are longer, and the buds on the trees are popping. Drive along any country road here in the North Country, including the Adair Country Inn & Restaurant’s long driveway, and you can’t but notice the beautiful spring greens everywhere. And, don’t overlook the crocus and daffodils. These strong and sturdy flowers are among the true harbingers of spring — those clumps of purple and white crocus and the waving stems of brilliant yellow daffodils are a welcome sight for winter weary eyes.

If you decide to come to the Adair Country Inn & Restaurant in late April, you’ll find there’s lots to do, from shopping to hiking to culture. Littleton is a great place to spend a couple of hours browsing in the many small specialty shops on Main Street. Littleton also has Chutters (it holds the Guinness Book of World Records’ record for the longest candy counter in the world), and the Village Book Store one of those rare-these-days independent booksellers. Check out the toy department for fun gifts for you and the grandkids.

Littleton also boasts a wonderful pedestrian covered bridge over the Ammonoosuc River, and a nearby walking path that takes you over a long (and bouncy!) suspension bridge. This being New Hampshire, there are loads of covered bridges to choose from. A couple of our favorites are the Mechanic Street and Mt. Orne bridges in Lancaster, the Bath-Haverhill, Bath and Swiftwater bridges in Bath, and the Sentinel Pine (pedestrian only) and Flume bridges in Lincoln, all within easy driving distance of the Adair Country Inn & Restaurant. If you want to go further afield, check out New Hampshire’s listing of covered bridges. Spring is the perfect time to roam around and check out these wooden beauties (many built in the 1800s). The rivers are running swift and high with snow melt, and it’s quite a thrill to drive across the wooden floorboards just a short ways above the rushing water!

In late April we also have a hankering for some of Polly’s Pancakes with real maple syrup, and a side of smoked bacon. Polly's Pancake Parlor, in Sugar Hill, is a North Country staple (since 1938), which relies on traditional recipes along with a dose of good North Country friendliness for its popularity. And, just up the road, check out the Sugar Hill Sampler, housed in the big red barn, for décor and gifts for the home, along with a museum, photo display and some of the best views around. And, just down the road apiece, there’s Harman's Cheese & Country Store which offers a large selection of delicious cheeses.

Looking for a little exercise to work off those Easter Brunch calories? Hike one of the many trails on the 200-acre Adair Country Inn & Restaurant property, at the nearby Rocks Estate or head on down into Franconia Notch State Park and take a stroll or a longer hike along one of the many trails there.

When you’ve finished exploring, a relaxing evening and a comfortable feather bed await you back at the Adair Country Inn & Restaurant. (80 Guider Lane, Bethlehem, New Hampshire ~ http://www.adairinn.com/)