Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Savoring Autumn

Fall is one of the best times of the year to visit the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire and we are always pleased to welcome guests here at the romantic Adair Country Inn & Restaurant in Bethlehem to experience all the sights, sounds and flavors of the autumn season.

Enjoy the crisp air of a fall day -- perfect for a morning walk, an afternoon hike or a day trip along inviting back roads and byways to see the spectacular fall foliage: all those reds, yellows, oranges and purples just take our breath away! Check the development of the foliage here.

Fun Fact: Did you know that the color of autumn leaves is determined by several factors, chiefly length of day, rainfall, sugar accumulation in the leaves, little to no wind, and days of cool bright weather without a killing frost? Sunny and cool days and chilly -- but not freezing -- nights produce the brightest colors! Scientifically speaking, fall is when the tree’s production of chlorophyll, created by sunlight during photosynthesis, slows down. During fall’s shorter days, the green gradually disappears, and the leaves change color.

In fall, we like to stroll around the Adair grounds or sit on the stone patio and watch the birds. They are flocking now, getting ready for their fall migration to warmer climates. It’s fun to watch them flit from tree to tree, from branch to ground, or splash around in a puddle after a rainstorm. Their antics remind us of a family with a lot of kids getting ready to go on vacation – lots of bickering, a few tussles, but luckily for the birds -- no luggage!

For serious birders or for anyone who would like an especially nice walk, we recommend a trip to the nearby Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge. From the parking area near the Whitefield airport, it’s an easy 1.5-mile walk along the wide, flat trail -- an old railroad bed -- to the viewing platform at Big Cherry Pond. Over 40 species of birds have been recorded during migratory periods, and it’s also not unusual to spot moose, deer and beaver. The views across the pond toward the Presidential Range of the White Mountains are spectacular, particularly at this time of year.

In September and October we love to go apple picking, from the trees on the Adair Country Inn & Restaurant's 200-acre property or at a nearby pick-your-own orchard. Pick an apple – or two – right off the tree and eat it or take some home to make apple pies, applesauce or apple butter. If you are a guest at the Inn or stop by for dinner in our restaurant, we know you’ll want to try one of Chef Orlo’s apple dishes, like the Vermont Country Farms Pork Chop that’s prepared with cider-braised onions and bourbon-spiked applesauce or the Apple-Popover Bread Pudding, a simply sinful Adair popover blended with apples and served warm with Jack Daniel’s custard sauce and cranberry compote. Chef Orlo has prepared a spectacular fall menu of seasonal dishes to tempt you after a day of birding, hiking, antiquing, or apple picking!

We hope to see you soon!

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