New Hampshire Attractions

October 03. 2012 7:10PM

Here's hoping for a great fall:White Mountain attractions winding down for the season

By SARA YOUNG-KNOX
Special to the Union Leader

Sitting amid the trees, Stroy Land's Humpty Dumpty in Glen was not bowled over by the oak leaf that fell on - and stuck to - his egghead. (Sara Young-Knox/Union Leader Correspondent)

The foliage at Story Land in Glen is all ablaze this week, as the bright colors of the leaves mimic the attraction's color scheme. Wht mt story humpty Sitting amid the trees, Humpty Dumpty was not bowled over by the oak leaf that fell on - and stuck to - his egghead. SARA YOUNG-KNOX PHOTOS (Sara Young-Knox/Union Leader Correspondent)

Linked articles:
Columbus Day weekend could set tourism records

At Story Land on Wednesday, many of the leaves on the trees in the park were the same vivid yellow as the exterior of the Old Woman in the Shoe's home, and Humpty Dumpty, though alone on the wall in the mid-week, wet weather, sported a fallen oak leaf on his egg-shell forehead.

Those yellow leaves, maples and beech, will fall off soon, following that single oak leaf on Humpty, but not before going out in a blaze of glory.

The same could be said for Story Land, too, which will be open through one more weekend before closing the gate at the Crooked Little House to children young and old for its 59th season. It's been a good year for those going to one of the region's oldest, and most-beloved, attractions, as the number of sunny days have far exceeded the number of rainy days.

Other family attractions will follow suit as October progresses, but there is still time to bring up the family and enjoy the creativity of the homegrown tourism businesses before the last leaf falls.

Clark's Trading Post is open daily during the week through Oct. 14, with the bears making their public appearances for one show daily at 1 p.m., and the White Mountain Central Railroad offering train rides at 1:30 p.m. For visitors over the Columbus Day weekend, the bears will put on several daily shows, and the train engineers will give a “toot! toot!” for riders throughout the day.

Santa's Village, finishing out its regular season on Oct. 7, will open for a Halloween Special on Oct. 20 and 27. On Nov. 17, the village beings its popular Christmas Season hours of operation on weekends.

In Jefferson, not far from Santa's Village, Six Gun City turns into Six Gun Haunted on October weekends.

The first snow has yet to fall in the valleys of the White Mountains, but already the resorts that host skiers in the colder months and outdoor attractions enthusiasts in the summer months, are looking toward winter.

It's the last weekend for the summer attractions at Attitash, with the mountain coaster, alpine slides, and mountain biking open through Monday, Oct. 8. Lost River Gorge & Boulder caves, and the Flume Gorge are open through Oct. 21.

The Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway is open for passengers until Oct. 14, with Loon Mountain's tramway offering scenic rides until Oct. 8. The gondola at Wildcat Mountain is open until Oct. 8.

The Conway Scenic Railroad runs its excursion trains daily through Oct. 28, with it Pumpkin Patch Express chugging along the tracks on the last two weekends of the month. Check for its other special train runs for the holiday season.

The Hobo Railroad is open daily through Oct. 14, then for one more weekend until late November when Jolly Old Saint Nick makes an appearance on the Santa Trains.

The Mount Washington Cog Railway will cater to those a bit hardier. It's open daily until Dec. 2, weather permitting. It's weather permitting for the Mount Washington Auto Road, too, which should be open until Oct. 21.

syoungknox@newstote.com