Fall in New England means plenty of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows throughout the rolling hills, but this season one town in New Hampshire has way more orange than any other color. That’s because citizens of Keene are all about pumpkins this month, and their Pumpkin Festival next weekend is ready to set all kinds of jack-o-lanterns records.

This fall festival has special stuff for the kiddos, tasty food options, and plenty of live entertainment. However, the stars of the show are the pumpkins. Whether you carve your pumpkin at home or at the festival, be sure to remember to bring a votive candle with your orange gourd. There’s no charge to visit on October 16, but remember to bring $10 for parking. ]]> kjb 2010-10-07T14:00:00-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/2/9/102513/7932

Do you feel like you've looked everywhere for your soul mate but haven't found them yet? Maybe you're just not looking in the right place. Forget bars, parties or the grocery store, why not try a ski lift? Black Mountain in Jackson, NH is hosting the 4th Annual Chairlift Speed Dating event this weekend.

Registration for the event begins at 12:30 pm on Saturday, Feb. 13 in the Lostbo Pub. Speed dating runs from 2 pm to 4 pm and is followed by music, drinks and contests. While you're looking for the mate of your dreams, you can also enjoy 'Love Potions' from the bar and a special aphrodisiac menu to get you in the mood. And for the ladies, the deal is even sweeter since you'll get to ski for free (not to mention the fact that men find women more attractive in scary situations thanks to the adrenaline rush). ]]> cmb 2010-02-09T13:00:14-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/21/151146/498

Curious about where the Man in the Yellow Hat hails from? Visit his home this summer and sate your curiosity safely in New Hampshire at the new Margret and H.A. Rey Center.

Home of the Curious George Cottage, a publisher-endorsed arts and science center for local kids, at Waterville Valley was the Reys' summer home for many years. They traveled here from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where there is still a Curious George bookstore in their honor. During the Curious George Cottage Family Festival (Aug. 7-9), parents and kids can share banana pancakes, take a nature discovery walk around the new center, or enjoy an old-fashioned story hour. Make sure not to leave without getting your picture taken with the guests of honor, as shown above!

The Reys were pretty big travelers themselves: European émigrés who met in Brazil, they made a daring escape from occupied Paris during World War II. Having seen the world undoubtedly helped them to infuse their beloved character with his zest for the unknown.

Related Stories:
· 2009 Curious George Cottage Family Festival [ReyCenter.org]
· The Four Seasons Chicago Will Read Your Kids Bedtime Stories [HC]
· Literary Travel coverage [Jaunted] ]]> egw 2009-07-21T16:04:22-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/4/84255/5774

Today is the great nailbiter for people on both sides of the aisle. By tomorrow we'll know who will be our next president... Or will we? Anyone who still remembers falling asleep in front of the TV in 2000 is wary of any pat resolution.

Of course, for the tiny town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, there's nothing else to do but wait: The traditional first place in the nation to vote went for Barack Obama in the first rush of ballots. Polls opened at 6 am in most East Coast states

Want to celebrate or cry with your candidate of choice tonight? Obama supporters are amassing in Chicago's Grant Park tonight to count returns. It's ticketed to the tune of about 78,000, but the Sun-Times estimates 250,000 could rush the waterfront, so if you don't like crowds, stay home.

For John McCain, head to the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, in the shade of the gorgeous Camelback Mountains. There seems to be a little confusion over whether McCain will be outside on the lawn or in the grand ballroom, so make sure to arrive plenty early. The Biltmore has hosted every president since Herbert Hoover, and the hotel told the Arizona Republic they've got plenty of bubbly in reserve.

Related Stories:
· What to Expect for Obama's Grant Park Bash [Chicago Sun-Times]
· Obama Wins in Earliest Vote in Tiny Dixville, NH [AP, via Google]
· McCain to Shake Up Election Night Party at the Biltmore [HC]
· Resort Hosts McCain Camp, Prepares for Global Publicity [Arizona Republic]
· Scary, Scary Close [Jaunted]

[Photo: walknboston]]]> egw 2008-11-04T09:10:55-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/18/153752/79

Even though they're a little early, the residents of New Hampshire are ready to celebrate Halloween this weekend at the Keene Pumpkin Festival.

Things start at 10 am on Saturday with a craft fair and all kinds of food, but the real fun starts at noon with the pumpkin seed spitting contest. More entertainment kicks off in the afternoon with musicians spread out across three stages. If you're up for more eating, or were impressed by Joey Chestnut's recent feat, then get a good spot for the pumpkin pie eating contest.

The day's events culminate when the official count of lighted jack-o-lanterns takes place. That's right, the whole festival is centered on trying to break the world record for the most candle-filled pumpkins in one place: Last year the festival got close with 25,644, but nearby Boston still holds the record with more than 30,000!

Related Stories:
· The Keene Pumpkin Festival [Official Site]
· Fall Festivals coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: jmwests]]]> kjb 2008-10-23T12:30:49-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/2/12/11733/4214

For all the haters out there, Skybus has also inspired some true believers. And whether the airline is profitable or not, officials at Portsmouth International are dumping $5 million into airport improvements, hoping to lure Skybus into making it a focus city.

The carrier now runs six flights a day out of PSM, up from two last summer. With the increase in passenger traffic, security lanes, the baggage claim and even the bathrooms have been overwhelmed. Putting in new facilities would ease that stress and set the airport up for future expansion. (All improvements aside, it'll still be 63 miles from Boston.)

Still, some board members are worried about making improvements that will essentially benefit one airline. But one airport bigwig who should know says it's a good carrier to invest in:

There's been an extremely high level of conversation within Skybus about international flights.

$10 flights to the Bahamas, anyone?

Related Stories:
· Pease Plans $5 Million Terminal Expansion [Seacoast Online]
· Skybus Going International [Jaunted]
· Skybus coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: msmail]]]> pbb 2008-02-12T11:09:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/8/141031/3549

Check out our Candidates Travel Map to chase down those last undecided primary votes.

Today's the first primary in the nation in warmer-than-usual New Hampshire. The seventeen voters who showed up to the polls in Dixville Notch, the city which began voting after midnight, picked Barack Obama and John McCain. McCain is the big surprise of that pairing after a less than stellar showing in Iowa.

Much has been made of the fact that Hillary Clinton received none of those 17 votes, but maybe a town of 74 isn't a super sample.

Since 1952, the winner of the New Hampshire primary for his party has gone on to be president 85 percent of the time. (McCain is one of those exceptions, having taken the state in the 2000 primary.) Mitt Romney may have had that stat in mind when he stood outside a Manchester polling place trying to catch some of the 45 percent of registered independents, who are free to vote in either primary.

Current polls indicate that Romney's running second, ahead of Iowa champion Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul and Rudy Giuliani. Next week, it's off to Michigan, where the candidates of both parties will genuflect to Big Auto on Michael Moore territory. You can bet we'll be following them west.

Related Stories:
· Obama, McCain get early win in Dixville Notch [Reuters]
· 2008 Candidates Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Candidates Travel Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: yorkd]]]> egw 2008-01-08T16:00:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/