New Hampshire is situated in the northeastern part of the United States and is better known as the ”Granite State”. The state of New Hampshire was originally a colony which was founded on a land grant given to Captain John Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges by the Council for New England in 1622. Its first settlement was at Odiorne’s Point near Portsmouth and was called Pannaway Plantation. The first settlers were a group of English fishermen under David Thompson in 1623 who built a fort, a manor house and some other buildings mainly for fish processing.

Settlers of Pannaway later moved to the Portsmouth region and named their new settlement Strawberry Banke. Cocheco at Dover Neck was the other plantation set up at the time. Religious leaders founded the seacoast plantations of Hampton and Exeter in 1638. In 1631 Captain Thomas Wiggin was appointed the governor of the Upper Plantation which comprised of present-day Dover, Durham and Stratham. Most of the settlers turned to fish and timber as a source of livelihood. After the death of John Mason, New Hampshire’s four plantations were forced to accept Massachusetts’ rule for a period of 40 years. Meanwhile the ownership title bounced from owner to owner. This region was witness to continuous strife between Native Americans and white settlers. By the middle of the 1700s white settlers’ supremacy had been established.

By 1760 there were 61 New Hampshire towns, most named nostalgically after British towns. Eighty-six more New Hampshire towns came into being by 1775. New Hampshire was a British colony for 150 years. It revolted against the British rule during the American Revolution. The raid on Fort William and Mary in 1774 in Portsmouth Harbor was the only battle fought here. This raid is also referred to as the first battle of the Revolutionary War.

New Hampshire’s colonial history is ridden with tales of greed, fear and survival on one hand and honor, spirit and invention on the other.New Hampshire has the distinction of having been home to America’s 14th President- Franklin Pierce. The election of 1852 saw this New Hampshire lawyer reach the White House. Since 1952 New Hampshire has been the holding the presidential primary in every presidential election year. New Hampshire had been a textile stronghold till the late 1950s. However, with the collapse of the textile industry New Hampshire changed focus to technology.

Some of the important cities in the state are Manchester, Concord, Derry, Rochester, Salem and Hudson. Portsmouth is the only port and it serves as an important commercial center. Known as “The Granite State” both on account of its geology and history of self-sufficiency, New Hampshire is a fantastic holiday location all year round. Historically a state which has based its economy around textiles and other manufacturing, the last 50 years have seen a significant shift towards tourism, offering visitors all the quintessential New England pleasures, such as historical sights, museums and nature centres, and with winter just around the corner.

As winter approaches, the brilliant leaves begin to fall from the trees, and the days begin to get cold.This is the time that many yearn for, ski season. The New Hampshire mountain areas are plentiful in ski resorts, hotels, and chalets that draw snow lovers to the slopes. New Hampshire has a rich history of downhill skiing. These days, the Granite State hosts some of the best ski areas in New England. Just a short drive up I-93 from Boston, central New Hampshire and the White Mountains offer a wide variety of terrain for all types of skiers and snow boarders. Here is a quick guide to three great ski resorts for a fun winter getaway.

Loon Mountain:

With three detachable quads, one four-passenger gondola and a combined total of twelve serviceable ski lifts, Loon Mountain Ski Resort sees more
visitors than any other resort in New Hampshire. While the mountain hosts a large number of skiers, is has more than enough terrain to disperse the crowds. At nearly 3,070 feet tall, Loon Mountain has over 50 trails with 324 acres of skiing terrain. This ski resort truly has something for everybody. The Loon Terrain Park offers freestyle jumps, slide rails and half pipes if the kids want to practice their tricks. There is a decent variety of beginner trails with names like Snubber, Little Sister and The Link. For the true beginners check out Sarsaparilla with its carpet lift. When it comes to experts, Loon is a real treat. On powder days, you might want to think twice about going to the office and head up to Loon Mountain instead. The entire North Peak offers superb expert trails with great vertical and a skier’s choice of mogul runs. Once you get to North Peak, stick to the North Peak Express Quad and you are sure to get enough runs under your belt to last you a long time. After a day of fun, be sure to visit the Common Man Restaurant in Lincoln for some wholesome food and a great apres ski atmosphere.

Waterville Valley:

Situated on Mount Tecumseh in the White Mountains, Waterville Valley Ski Resort offers an astounding 2,020 foot vertical drop. If you are looking for long runs and you don’t mind a decent incline, then Waterville is the mountain for you. While the surrounding town is quieter than Loon, the mountain generally has fewer skiers clogging up the excellent variety of trails. The valley run with its detachable quad offers a challenging day of fun for any beginner. With most trails classified as blue squares, intermediate skiers will have full range of the mountain. For the experts out there, the great vertical drop makes most of the intermediate runs quite enjoyable and on good powder days, the Sunnyside Lift offers access to some of the best expert terrain in the state.

Gunstock Ski Area:

Gunstock is a great choice for anybody who enjoys a relaxed mountain with great views. The Gunstock Ski Area is perched on the edge of Lake Winnipesaukee. With fantastic panoramic views of the lake, a decent variety of runs and more affordable tickets, Gunstock is a great choice for a quick day trip to hit the slopes. For anybody traveling with kids, the Gunstock Ski School is one of the best in the business. If you live anywhere near this mountain be sure to consider it if you want to get your kids ready for the bigger slopes. New Hampshire winters are long, and for those who don’t partake in winter activities, spring is highly anticipated. This season of rebirth, marked by budding flowers and the return of warm weather, is a most welcome time of year in New England.