Hiking Black Cap Mountain

During my stay in North Conway my family and I discovered the Black Cap Mountain hiking trail, which lead to a breathtaking summit, and a view of Maine and the White Mountains. 

The Black Cap Mountain summit trail is a very steep 2.5 mile trial. The trail head starts in a spruce and beech forest, with a root covered walking path. The summit however is bare, with beautiful views. The trail is marked, and managed by the Nature Conservancy in NH.

My family and I made the hike on a beautiful, cool, and sunny day. The hike was made rigorous by the steep rocky incline of the trail, despite its total length being fairly short. The reward at the top however, was entirely worth it. The sky was clear and open, exposing the budding trees. Round trip, we caught photos of a vole, chipmunk, and an irritated red squirrel. However, in the right season many more interesting animals such as the Red Tanager and the White Tail deer can be spotted.

Overall, this was a wonderful place to hike. If your up for a fairly intense workout and some beautiful scenery, Black Cap Mountain is a wonderful place to do it.

Would you hike Black Cap?

Enigma

7 Things to do in Conway New Hampshire

North Conway NH is essentially a ghost town until Memorial Day hits. The streets are quiet, with low traffic and a mild population of locals. However when the long weekend Holiday arrives, then the streets turn into swarming tourist crowds. Although many businesses shut down for the off season, Conway is still a great place to visit. And personally, the off season can be even more desirable since you don't have to compete with the hordes of people. There are many fun places to explore and experience in North Conway, special hidden gems that get easily overlooked in the bustle of summer. These are seven things to do in Conway New Hampshire.

1: Local Shops- Conway has a strip of unique shops down main street. Zebb's, The Penguin, and Fields of Ambrosia to name a few. These buildings have great gifts, quirky style, and interesting architectural history.

2: Swimming- If your staying at Attitsh or another resort with amenities, then you'll have easy access to indoor/outdoor pools and hot tubs. Otherwise, there are many natural
water pools such as Dian's Bath and Echo Lake that are easy on the wallet to access.

3: Playground- If you're in Conway with a family, the local park is a perfect spot for lunch, and some fun. Conveniently, a large field sits across from this playground, a perfect spot for a game of Frisbee or tag.

4: Settler's Green- The ultimate one stop shop in North Conway. With clothing stores, gadgets, gifts, and food, you'll find everything you need in this plaza.

5: Black Cap Trail- Off some back roads in North Conway is the Black Cap Trail. It's a steep, but moderate hike leading to a breath taking summit. If your lucky, you may even glimpse some local birds such as the Red Tanager. Make sure your prepared with water and bugs spray.

6: The Met- A family favorite,The Met is a unique coffee shop. Renovated from an aging bank building, The Met offers delicious food; including GF/DF options, as well as incredible local photography and art.

7: Recreation- North Conway offers many outdoor recreational activities. My family and I love the biking and hiking trails in the area, however there are also many spots to kayak, and multiple zip lines available.

What would be your Conway destination?

Enigma

Attitash Mountain Village

Attitash  Mountain Village is a ski resort located in Bartlett New Hampshire. Every year in May, my family spends a week in one of Attitash's condo units while we explore the Bartlett, Conway area. Although the ski slopes are bare, we still find plenty of fun adventures. Since its the off season, the traffic is low, the parks peaceful, and the outdoors quiet.

Most of the summer activities don't start until memorial day. So we get extra creative with finding simple, but fun things to do. Some of our long running traditions include, shopping the local stores, having lunch at the Met Coffee House, and playing games at the Attitash pool arcade.

This year we explored some new things in Conway. We hiked a trail up Black Cap Mountain, and took part in a local ukulele club.

Finding time to get away is important, it lets you relax and stimulate your mind with a new schedule and environment. But you don't have to spend tons of money to have a good time, finding simple, cheap, and interesting activities can give you full pockets, and invaluable memories.

FUN FACTS ABOUT ATTITASH MOUNTAIN VILLAGE

The Attitash Mountain Resort was constructed in 1938, opening with a special use permit from the White Mountain National Forest; and was operated by Peak Resort.

The word Attitash, actually means "blueberry" in the Abenaki language.

While Attitash is known mostly as a ski resort, they have plenty to do in the hotter months such as: go swimming at the water park, race down the alpine slide, and horseback ride.

 Attitash Mountain Resort- https://www.attitash.com/



What's your favorite tip for cheap vacations?

Enigma

7 Things to do Before Vacation

Having arrived in North Conway for my annual spring vacation on Saturday, it got me thinking about all the preparation that can go into a vacation. International or otherwise, a successful trip requires some forethought. These are seven things I do to help prepare for vacation.

1: Make a List- One of the most common ways to prepare for anything is to make a list. Having a list of everything that needs to be done before hand, as well as a packing list will ensure that nothing is forgotten.

2: Game Plan- Making a game plan for the days leading up to your trip, especially if your flying, will reduce the stress of preparation. It also ensure you know what to expect, and you get where you need to go without fuss or delay.

3: Schedule- It may seem anal to plan out your whole vacation, but a lot of activities require reservation or some degree of preparation. Having a form of schedule for your vacation will help you get the most out of your time.

4: Clean- Cleaning may not be the first thing that pops into your head when you think of vacation. However doing a quick (or long) spring clean before you leave is a great way to make the homecoming easier. There's nothing like coming home form a trip to a clean house.

5: Clear out- Besides just cleaning, getting rid of things you no longer need is a great thing to do before a trip. Right before vacation is the perfect time to clear old junk out of the house. You'll be too busy to miss it, and when you get back, you'll have a more spacious home to welcome you.

6: Pack- An obvious part of preparing for a trip is packing. Having a packing routine or habit will help things go smoothly. And double checking your packing list will make sure you don't bring more than you need.

7: Relax- The last thing to do before you head off for paradise, is relax. All you preparations are complete, your ready to go, it's time to have some fun.

What's the most important thing to do before vacation?

Enigma

7 Thoughts About Getting a New Job

Everyone takes a job at some point in their lives. We may take jobs because of pay, schedule, interest, etc. But there comes a time to re-evaluate your career situation. Sometimes its easy to gloss over the issues and suck up the rough spots of a job, but other times they can be signs that it's time for a job change. Evaluating what you want out of a job can help you decide whether its time for a change.

1: Schedule-While an inconvenient schedule might be worth putting up with short term, a schedule that causes problems is sure to be a thorn in the side.

2: Long-Term Goal- If your job isn't in a field you enjoy, or helping you get to a career you love, it may be time to evaluate your long term goals.

3: Coworkers- While coworkers should rarely be the single reason for leaving a job, if the people you work with add stress and negativity to your work experience, its a point to consider.

4: Reward- Although sometimes personal enjoyment has to take a back seat when it comes to a job, the emotional reward and fulfillment of your work are an important factor.

5: Respect- It's hard to perform and enjoy your work if your opinion is not respected. False promises and general abrasiveness are red flags for a long term job.

6: Well-Being- Besides a job that appeals to your interests, its good to consider a job that positively affects your well being. If you love the outdoors, an indoor office job would get old quick.

7: Priority- Overall, the value and thought you put into a job depends on the job priority. Everyone takes a job at least once in there life that they dislike. However, for any job, its good to weigh the priority it will take in your life.

Accepting any job is a personal choice that affects multiple aspects of our lives, considering all the changes a job will have on your life is a smart way to ensure you find something you like.

What's your best advice for finding an enjoyable job?

Enigma

7 Art Mediums to Explore

Art is a truly beautiful aspect of human culture. Drawing and painting have been around since the beginning of time, proving our need for artistic expression. While foundation mediums such as pencil drawing, paint, and colored pencils, are impressive in their own right, this list takes a look at some out of the box ways to create art.

1: Ink- An ancient and humble medium, ink can be used for more than just simple pen drawings. Using brushes to paint with ink, or even colored ball point pens gives ink more diversity. Ink is a versatile medium with its own unique style. Experimenting with ink can give art a bolder signature look.

2: Gold Leaf- Gold leaf is gold tightly pressed into paper thin sheets. While it has been traditionally used for decoration, some have turned Gold Leaf into art. Whether on canvas or wood board, gold leaf creates an eye catching masterpiece.

3: Paper- Paper Art is a collection of art forms using paper as the primary material in three dimensional creations. Its cheap, readily available, and easy to use compared to other three dimensional art forms. Some artists have truly mastered this art form, creating detailed and delicate pictures.

4: Dirt- Perhaps one of the more bizarre art forms, Dirt Art is created mostly on the canvas of dirt covered cars. Using brushes and fingers, artist use negative space to create astonishing masterpieces. The value of this art form is how thorough and detailed it can be with such simple tools.

5: Crayon- Crayon is generally seen as a child's art medium, however this diverse tool can be used for multiple high quality art forms. Two common styles are melted crayon art, and crayon carving. For melted crayon art, crayons are glued to a sturdy platform, usually canvas. The crayons are arranged for interesting designs or color combinations. They are then melted to produce bright textured images. For crayon carving, the wax of the crayon is peeled and carved using needles or X-acto knives. The finished product is fascinating crayon sized sculptures.

6: Avocado Pits- Most would not turn to food for artistic expression. One artist however, did. Struck by the intrigue of the avocado pit, she decided to carve it. After much experimenting, the result was magical creatures carved from the small unassuming feature of the avocado pit. Proof, that anything can be turned into art.

7: Animation- While not existing in the same realm as more standard art mediums, animation still requires versatile artistic skill. For those who enjoy digital or more action and movement oriented art, animation may be an interesting art medium to explore.

Art comes in all forms, solid, liquid, 3-D, 2-D, physical and digital. Art is abstract, reflecting the human experience in a way that words cannot convey. This list only scratches the surface of out of the box art mediums. Exploration is the heart of creativity, it encompasses the essence of art. Be adventurous, don't be afraid to break the rules. The result may be a fascinating and entirely unique creation.



Which out of the box art medium would you give a try?

Enigma

7 Reasons to Love a Bookworm

There is something magical about curling up with tea and a good book, the weight of pages in your purse, and the fluttering feeling you get in your stomach when you get a new book. Bookworms are a social class of their own. Possessing powerful minds and keen watchful eyes, bookworms are a force to be reckoned with. These are seven reasons to love a bookworm.

1: Silence- Bookworms are rarely afraid of silence, always with a book on hand they will simply pull it out and stuff their nose in it.

2: Imagination- Bookworms often have bursting imaginations from years of internal adventures.

3: Smarts- Whether your a fact or fiction lover, bookworms have broad knowledge from all sorts of obscure topics.

4: Libraries- Any self proclaimed bookworm will have a solid library that you can borrow from. Permitted you return the book in perfect condition!

5: Understanding- Most bookworms are reserved but very caring people, especially those who read fiction. After spending so much time in other peoples heads, its easy to slip into anther's shoes.

6: Bookish Humor- With quirky wit bookworms have a wonderful and sometimes surprising sense of humor.

7: Easy to Please- A bookworm is rarely difficult to please. Whether its gifts, entertainment, or conversation, books are the answer to everything.


What do you love about bookworms?

Enigma