SPRING TOUR OF HOMES FIVE HOMES. TWO CAMPUSES. ONE SMART NEXT STEP. JUNE 4 | 2 - 4 PM Register at RiverMead.org or call 603-924-8611
SummertheaterintheMonadnockRegion
Staycation
Copyright 2026 by the Newspapers of New England. All rights reserved.
CONCORD MONITOR
Monitor Publishing, PO Box 1177 Concord, N.H. 03302-1177
Advertising information: 369-3212. ads@cmonitor.com
Editorial comments: 369-3324, features@cmonitor.com
MONADNOCK LEDGER-TRANSCRIPT
PO Box 36, Peterborough NH 03458
Advertising information: 924-7172, ads@ledgertranscript.com
STAFF
Publishers: SteveLeone andHeatherMcKernan
Director of Sales & Marketing: SeanMcKenna
Editorial staff: HannahSampadian,RachelWachman, SydneyMcAllisterandRyannBrooks
Sales director: StevePare
In Person and Streaming Live
Sunday Mornings at 11 a.m.
Join for music at 10:30
Peterborough
Unitarian Universalist
Church
25 Main Street, Peterborough
Check our website for latest details: www.monadnocklyceum.org
JULY 19 Village Harmony
JULY 5
Robert Beck
Songs of the World:
Voices in Harmony
Moderator: Marybeth Hallinan
Music: Village Harmony
Sponsor: Waterhouse Restaurant
Why Foreign Policy Matters
Moderator: Karl Kaiser
Music: Tara Greenblatt Band
Sponsor: Peterborough International Affairs Forum
JULY 12 Tom Weiner and Dr. Amilcar Shabazz
Listen to the Abolitionists
Moderator: Michelle Stahl
Music: Gwir and Abhai Raj Llewellyn
Sponsor: Putnam Foundation
AUGUST 9
Laura Knoy
JULY 26
Michael Brownstein
Somebody Should Do Something
Moderator: Dr. Kiki Berk
Music: Eric Blackmer and the Grove Street Band
Sponsor: Belletetes, Inc.
AUGUST 16 Alex Green
AUGUST 2 Hadley Bates, Ava Cronin, Clara Wilsher
On Growing Up Today
Moderator: Eric Bowman
Music: Melissa and Emily Goodrich
Sponsor: RBC Wealth Management
A New Chapter for a New Hampshire Icon
Moderator: Mel Allen
Music: Volkert Volkersz and Ezra and Owen Landis
Sponsor: RiverMead
What Do We Do When We Discover We’ve Been Wrong?
Moderator: Elizabeth Goodhue
Music: Virginia Eskin, pianist
Sponsor: Monadnock Community Hospital
AUGUST 23
Louis P. Masur
DONATIONS
Leadership Lessons from Lincoln
Moderator: Dr. Mary Kelly
Music: Wendy Keith and Walden
Whitman
Sponsor: Runyon Law Office, PLLC
Swim spots for the whole family to enjoy
By JAMIE COSTA Concord Monitor
Whetheryou’reseekinga comfortableplacetocool off,anaturallaketoswim inoralocalpooltobringfriends andfamily,Concordandthesurroundingareasarefullofhidden gemsandnaturalwaterbodies. However,manyoftherecommendedswimmingareasinthe countydon’thavelifeguardson duty,besidesattheConcordcity swimmingpools,anddrowningsin theMerrimackRiverhaveincreased overthelastseveralyearsascity goersplungeintoacurrentinvisible tothesurface.
Whenswimminginariver,alake oranybodyofwaterthatiseither unfamiliaroranundercurrentcould bepresent,trytoswimwith friends.Ifnotastrongswimmer, havealifejacketwithyou–itwill saveyourlife.
Pools
ThoughthecityofConcordoperatessixoutdoorpoolsandasplash pad,thenumberoflifeguardsthe
recreationareawhichhastrails along5-milesoftheMerrimack River,themostpopularofwhichis atrailleadingfromtheboatlaunch areatowardtheMerrimackshorelinewhereswimmerscanfindcornersofcalmwaterstotakeadip in.
However,therearenosanctioned swimmingareasalongtheriverand therearenolifeguardsonduty monitoringthewaterway.
StateParks
recreationdepartmentcanhirewill determinethenumberofpoolsthat willbeopened.
ThepoolsarefreeforuseforConcordandPenacookresidentswith proofofidentificationwhilenonresidentscanbuyaseason-long poolpassfor$175ora48-hourpass for$25.Bothpassescanbepurchasedattherecreationofficeor
thecitywidecommunitycenter. MerrimackRiver&SewallsFalls
Amovingbodyofwater,likethe MerrimackRiver,isoneofthemost dangerousplacestoswim,especiallyforchildrenorinadequate swimmers.
Still,thereareseveralsmallareas ofcalmwateratoff-the-beaten-path beachesthroughoutthe214-acre
Thougheasytoaccess,parks acrossthestaterequireanentrance feeofaround$4peradultand$2 forchildrenbetweentheagesofsix and11whileadmittanceisfreefor childrenundertheageoffiveand seniorsovertheageof65.Thefees maydifferperpark.
CloughStatePark,whichislocatedabout20minutesfromConcord,sitsonapublicreservation areaontheeastsideofEverettLake aboutfivemileseastofthetownof Weare.Thelakeisformedbyadam onthePiscataquogRiverandis openweekendsbeginningMemo-
COURTESY
Sunbathers and swimmers enjoy the warmweather on the beach along the Merrimack River in Canterbury on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
rialDayweekendanddailyfrom lateJunethroughLaborDay.
About30minuteseastofClough StateParksitsBearBrookStatePark inAllenstownwhereresidentscan enjoyhikingover10,000acresof conservationland.Throughoutthe property,thereareseverallakesand pondswhereresidentscanswim, specificallyCatamountandBear Hillponds.BearHillPondcanbe accessedtothesouthofthepropertybyBearHillPondRoadwhile CatamountPond,whichoffers boatingandkayaking,isaccessed throughthenorthentranceofthe statepark.
TothewestofConcordbyabout 15minutesisElmBrookParkwhich ispartoftheHopkinton-Everett LakesReservoirandmaintainedby theU.S.ArmyCorps.Onceinside thereservoir,whichmayrequirea smallfeepervehicle,visitorscan swiminHopkintonLakeandwill haveaccesstopicnicareaswith grillsandaplayground,recreational boatingandkayakingandsporting fieldsforsoccer,basketballand baseball.
TuckedawaybehindtheOpechee PeninsulainLaconiaalongthe shoresofLakeWinnepesaukeeare twoswimmingareas–Opechee
CoveandOpecheePoint–40minutesnorthofthecity.Becausethe waterinthecovedoesn’tmoveas oftenasotherbeaches,itcanoften testhighine.coliwhilethepoint testsbetterthanthecove.Lookfor signsbeforeenteringeitherwater bodies.Thereisnofeeforparking.
Beaches
LocatedclosesttoConcordare GriffinandLagacebeachesin FranklinwhichbothsitonWebster Lake.Thebeacheshaveasandy shorelineandagreenlawnspacefor picnicking,accordingtothecity’s website.Parkingpermitsarerequiredbyresidentsandallnon-residentscanpurchasepermitsfora smallfeefromthebeachattendants attheentranceorthroughtheParks andRecreationDepartment.Tothe northofConcordbyabout45minutesisWeirsBeachinthenorthern cornerofLaconiaonLakeWinnipesaukeeinEndicottLakePark. Therearenolifeguardsondutyand patronsmustpayattheparking kiosksbeforeusingthebeach. Andifyouprefersaltwaterabove all,theoceanisonlyaboutanhour totheeastfromConcord,in Portsmouth,RyeandHamptonor acrossthebridgetoMaineinOgunquitandYork.
JOY Connection Wonder
2026 Special Events
Member Solstice 6/24
Movie Night 7/22
Nature for Everyone Barn Bash 7/16
Animal Birthday Bash 8/12
Annual Meeting & Summer Social 8/6
Raptor Migration Celebration 9/19
Grandparents Day 10/3
Howl O Ween 10/24
New Hampshire Day 11/1
August BioBlitz events weekly!
Science Lecture Series
Scan or visit nhnature.org for tickets & events!
Where to spend time outdoors
Staff Report
NewHampshirehasnodearth offuntrailsonwhichtowalk runorhike.Weaskedthe Monitorstaffwheretheyenjoy spendingtime,especiallyinthelocal area.
Here’swhatsomeofourreporters said!
DavidBrooks:
Twentyyearsago,thestatebought whathadbeenTempleMountainSki areaonRoute101,aboutanhour southofConcord.Thefamilyownedareaclosedin2001aftersix decades,victimofthecostofinsuranceandsnowmaking,andthe equipmentwassoldoff.Nowitis TempleMountainRecreationArea, crossedbytheWapackTrail,which runs21milesfromNorthPackMon-
MARC DAVIS / COURTESY
Morrill Marsh from a trail and vista created during a timber harvest in 2004.
adnockinGreenfielddowntoMount WataticinMassachusetts.TheWapackisan easy-to-moderatehike withanumberofparkingareasalong theway,perfectforadayjaunt.You canfindamapontheFriendsofthe Wapackwebsite.Incidentally,it’s oneofascoreorsooflong-distance hikingtrailsthroughoutNewHampshirethataren’tintheWhiteMountains.Eveniftheylackthegrandeur oftheFranconiaLooptheyareaccessibletofamilieswithoutbeing tooboringforexperiencedhikers.A littleonlinesearchingwillfindpossibilitiesnearyou;checkitout.
CatherineMcLaughlin:
Honestly,Ireallylikegoingfora runthroughthedowntownarea–butearlyinthemorning.Downtown isalwayspretty,butit’squite peacefulandstatelyinthemorning hours.I’llgoforalaportwoaround thepondatWhitePark,weave throughthegranitebuildings,and getsome(andblissfullyflat)milesin theSouthEnd.Attheriskof soundingcranky,itreallyisbetter
beforeeveryonewakesupand there’scarsbuzzingby.
RebecaPereira:
Everymorning,Iwalkaloop aroundmyneighborhoodthat bringsmepastConcordHighSchool anddownthelengthofClinton Street.Theabandonedgasstation acrossfromtheschoolshuttersto lifewithaslowtrickleofcars,and plentyofstudentsmoseytowardthe schoolonfoot,backpacksslungover theirshoulders.Thecurrentof peoplegathersspeedasthemorning rollsalong.Icountlittlefreelibraries anddelightinamusingyardsigns;I readthesameoneseverymorning, buttheynevergetold.Onereminds passersbythat,thankfully,‘PresidentsareTemporary,Wu-Tangis Forever.’Thatalonegetsmyshoulderstorelaxandmyjawtounclench.
Attheintersectionbeforethefederalcourthouse,carswaittheirturn withsurprisingcourtesy.Itrynotto rollmyanklesontheunevensidewalkafterthecrosswalk,andIdefi-
nitelymakeanefforttoavoidawkwardeyecontactwiththedriversof oncomingcars,butit’safuntrek backtomyapartment,anditalways makesmereflectonthewonderful accessibilityofwalking.Youdon’t needtheperfectshoesortheideal weatherorthepristinetrail.Just openyourdoorandstepoutside.
AlexRapp: AsaUNHalum,Ilovedexploring theseacoastwhenIlivedoutthere. Yes,Iknowthetopicis“Staycation” butreally,it’snotthatfarofadrive.I lovegoingtoRyeBeachinthe summer,lyingoutonthesand,going foraswimandreadingagoodbook. Thefoodoptions,thewalksupand downthecoast,thewater It’s toughtobeatagoodbeachdayout there.Afterwards,goingto Portsmouthfordinner,whetherit’s somethingquickandeasylikea burgerandsomeicecreamorsomethingabitmoreupscale,isn’tabad waytoendtheday.Iknowthereare plentyofthingstodoaroundhere, too,butthosewholivedoutthere
“The earth has music for those who listen.”
William Shakespeare
knowwhatit’slikeinthesummer. OnehoureachwayfromConcord andafulldayoffun.
RachelWachman: IhaveafriendwhomovedtoBow lastyear,andwe’vespenttimethis springexploringthelovelynetwork oftrailsnearherhouse.There’shilly slopes,afewstreamcrossingsand lotsoflushtreesbloomingwithnew greeneryatthistimeofyear.I’ve alsoenjoyedwalkingaroundthe pondbytheBowParksandRecreationDepartment,andI’vefound thatallthetrailsinthearealend themselveswelltostrolling,brisk walkingandevenrunning.I’mnew totrailrunningsoit’sbeenagreat placetoexploreandgetmorecomfortablenavigatingrocks,roots,tree stumpsandsuch.Thebeautyofthe Bowforestsisthatthey’reclose,accessibleandfullofbirdsandother wildlife.Thenexttimeyou’re lookingforanewplacetoexploreor justsomewherenearbytospend timeafterwork,Ihighlyrecommend checkingitout!
Summer theater in the Monadnock Region
By JESSECA TIMMONS
Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
TheMonadnockregionisadestinationforsummertheater, witheverythingfromShakespearetobrand-newplaysand emergingcompanies.
Andy’sSummerPlayhousein Wiltonhasbeenperformingchildren’stheatersince1985.Andy’sisa magicalexperience,fromtheoriginal1859meetinghousewhich servesathetheater,totheprofessionalchoreography,music,costumesandtheexuberanceofyoung actors.
Andy’s2026summerplaysinclude“NancyDrewandtheHidden Staircase,”whichwillbeperformed onselectdatesbetweenJuly11to18, and“TheForestKnows,”a“folkmusical”byMarinaPires.Formoreinformationortopurchaseticketsfora performance,gotoandyssummerplayhouse.org.
ThePeterboroughPlayers,oneof theoldestsummertheatersinthe country,willpresentfivefull-length professionalperformancesthis
summer,includingthemusical“MillionDollarQuartet,”withactor-musicianswhohavetouredthecountry performingintheshow.Quartetand classicmystery“Baskerville”areappropriateforallages.Formoreinformation,gotopeterboroughplayers.org.
Jaffrey-basedProjectShakespeare, theaterbychildrenandteens,will perform“TwelfthNight”Thursday, July30throughMonday,Aug.10. Formoreticketsandinformation,go toprojectshakespeare.org.
Peterborough’sinnovativeFirelightTheater,winnerofBestDrama attheN.H.TheaterAwards,willpresent“SmallMouthSounds”from May9toJune7.Gotofirelighttheatreworkshop.com/projects1/seasonformoreinformation.
TheDreamer’sEnsembleinPeterboroughisanew,grassrootstheater companythatperformsnewtwists inclassicplays.Dreamerswillpresent“Hamletinsummer2026.”For informationgotofacebook.com/people/The-DreamersEnsemble.
COURTESY
Project Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’
Explore Local History in the Monadnock Region at the Historical Society of Cheshire County
Hands on History Center
Independance Day Celebration~ July 4th
Local History Resources
Revolutionary r War Era Lectures
Exhibits - “Beyond the Battlefield” and “Grounded in History”
Tavern Talks on Patriots and Loyalists
Wyman Tavern Brew Fest
Museum Store
For more information and tickets, visit our website at www hsccnh org
Wyman Tavern Museum 339 Main Street Keene, NH
Historical Society t of Cheshire County t 246 Main Street Keene, NH
Bruder House 346 Main Street Keene, NH
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Hiking, blooms at Rhododendron State Park
By ASHLEY SAARI Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
Whetheryou’relookingfora nicehikingspot,orhavea loveofflowers,summertimeisthebesttimeofyeartoexplorethemorethan2,700acresof RhododendronStatePark.
In1901,inresponsetothecurrentowner’splanstoconducta lumberoperationontheproperty, MaryLeeWare,aresidentof Boston,Mass.andRindge,purchasedthelandandgiftedittothe AppalachianMountainClubin 1903,withthestipulationthatthe rhododendrongroveandpine forestbeprotectedandopentothe public“forever.”
TheAMCheldthepropertyuntil 1946,whenitwastransferredtothe N.H.DivisionofParksandRecreation,whenitbeganoperatingas thestate’sonlydesignatedbotanical statepark.
Asitsnamesuggests,thepark’s mainfeatureisa16-acreRhododen-
dronMaximumgrove,whichisthe largestinnorthernNewEngland. ThegrovewasdesignatedaNationalNaturalLandmarkin1982.If youenjoyhikingorscenicwalks, thereisashorttrail justoverhalf amile thatisuniversallyaccessibleandtravelsaroundthegrove. Thebesttimetoexperienceis duringtheheightoftheblooming season,fromlateJunetoJuly.
Thereisalsoawildflowertrail, whichtraversestheforestedarea nearthegrove,thatmakesalovely walkfromearlyspringalltheway untilthefall.
Entrancetotheparkis$4,or$2 forchildrenaged6to11,andfree forchildrenunder5.Theparkislocatedat424RockwoodPondRoad inFitzwilliam.Thisparkisopenfor recreationyear-round,thoughit maynotbestaffedduringoff-hours oroff-season.Formoreinformation,visitnhstateparks.org.Petsare permittedinselectareasofthe park.
Hop on the bus! You won’t regret it.
By KELLY COOKE
For the Insider
Travelingisagreatway toexplore,learn,and enjoylife,butplanningavacationcanbe daunting.Itcanbechallengingtonavigateallof theoptions,anditcan leaveyouscouringtheinternetfordays,weeksor evenmonths!
Thegoodnewsisthatit doesn’tneedtobethat hard!Choosingagroup tourcantakethestressout oftravel.It’seasy:You makeyourreservation, packyourbagsandare readytogo!Theold-school mentalitythatgrouptours arefor“old”peopleis passé,whereasthenew grouptravelerislookingfor fun,adventureandtravelingcompanionsthat makethetripenjoyable withoutallofthehassle. Timesarechanging,and companiesthatarekeeping uparecraftingtoursthat
meettheneedsofthe moderngrouptraveler.Just becauseyouwanttobeable tositback,relax,andleave thedrivingtosomeoneelse doesn’tmeanthatitneeds tobeboring!Traveling keepsyouactiveandcan leaveyoufeelingrefreshed andrecharged.Plus,travelingonagrouptourcan openthedoortonew friendships.
WhetheryouwanttoexperienceaBroadwayshow, takeascenicorculturalregionaltrip,orifyouare lookingforabucket-listadventure thepossibilities areendless!Inorderto choosetherighttourfor you,itisimportanttolearn moreaboutthedifferences betweenthevariouscompaniesandthetoursthat theyoffer.(AndIamhere tohelp!)
Ifyouarehesitantto “hoponthebus,”itmaybe agoodideatotestthewaterswithadaytriptoa
nearbydestination.Itisa greatwaytolearnmore aboutalocaltourcompany, meetothertravelers,and getasenseofwhatitislike totravelonagrouptour withoutcommittingtoa longertour.
Ifyouaren’tsurewhich companytochoose,justrememberthatalltoursare notcreatedequal.Today’s grouptravelersaremore active,moreadventurous, andsavvierwhenitcomes totravel.Therearealotof differencesbetweentour companies,anditisimportanttochoosetheonethat isrightforyou.
Whenchoosingatrip, comfortmatters.Sodoes pacing.Awell-planned outingshouldfeelenjoyable,notrushed.Itshould leaveenoughtimetotake inthescenery,enjoythe companyofyourfellow travelersandappreciatethe moment.Thatkindof thoughtfultravelcanbees-
peciallyrewardingaswe getolder.
Anotherthingtoconsideristhatthebrochure priceisn’talwaysaclear pictureoftheoverallcost orvalueofthetrip.How manymealsareincluded? Arealloftheactivitiesand admissionstoattractions included,orwillyoube diggingintoyourpocket everytimeyouhopoffthe bus? Takeacloselookat whatisincludedinthe priceofthetour atthe endoftheday,alower priceonthebrochure doesn’talwaysmeanlower costtoyou.
Thereisalsoadifference betweenbudgettoursand higher-endtourofferings learnmoreabouttheaccommodations,inclusions, andpacebeforedeciding whichisbestforyou.
Keytakeaways:Choosea companythatmatchesyour travelstyleandfeelslikea tripthatyouwouldplan
yourself.Arethehotelsthe styleandlocationthatyou wouldchoose?Willyoube upatdawnandbusyallday, orareyoutakingamore leisurelyapproach?Areyou lookingforabudget-consciousoption,aluxury travelexperienceorsomethinginbetween?
Andmostimportantly: knowthedifferencebetweenprice,overallcost, andvalue.Attheendofthe day,travelingisaverypersonalexperience.Agroup tourcanbeagreatoption foryou afteryoutake that“firststep”andgeton thebus,youareinfora fun-filledadventure so HOPONTHEBUS!You won’tregretit!
KellyCookeistheownerof TerrapinTours,lovestravelingandhas30yearsexperienceinthetravelindustry. LearnmoreatTerrapinTours.comorbycalling603348-7141.
COMMUNITYINNOVATIONHISTORY
CANTERBURY SHAKER VILLAGE
