Even though we live in New England, we almost never go up to Vermont for some odd reason.  That changed when we received a gift certificate to “Rabbit Hill Inn”(http://www.rabbithillinn.com/) in Lower Waterford.  Located just a few miles over the New Hampshire border, the inn was a perfect homebase to go and try something we had done before: ziplining and a ropes course at Loon Mountain (http://www.loonmtn.com/) with their Adventure Pass! (http://www.loonmtn.com/experience/summer-activities/summer-adventure-passes)

Jocelyn’s take:

I’m not the most athletic person in the world, but I was really excited about the day at Loon since it had a complete package. For about $70 per person, you could ride the zipline twice, rock climb, borrow a bike and helmet for two hours, ride the gondola unlimited times, skulk around in the caves, and do the ropes course. Even though we only did a few of the options, it still worked out to only $15 per activity which was totally worthwhile. If you did everything, you would be there all day and totally get your money’s worth.

I knew one one level that we would be up high above the ground, but it didn’t really hit me until we got up there! Walking along the wires and cables was terrifying, quite honestly. I think I told Eric that I was out of my comfort zone about three times and had to have him stand behind me before I went on the zipline for the first time. BUT, it was wicked fun. The course made you use your whole body and mind, I have bruises all over my arms 🙂 And the pictures are pretty awesome too.

Overall, I would definitely go back to Loon Mountain again! The ropes course was great and we had a ton of fun doing that.  Also, the staff were incredibly nice and friendly, helping out when a visitor got scared or stuck.

Eric’s Take:

I was very excited for the trip to Loon.  I hadn’t been on a ropes course in a long time, and I had never been on a zip line, so the entire trip sounded like it would be active and different.  I thought the price for the full adventure pack was very reasonable considering the number of possible activities.  The zip line was fun, though quick.  We took the gondola ride to the summit at the end of the day, and it was restful after all the day’s activity.  I thought the ropes course was the highlight of the Adventure Pack; we spent most of our time there, and it offered the greatest range of activity for a variety of skill levels.  Visitors must work through leveled courses, and we ran out of time before I could complete all of them since some of the courses can bottleneck as people work through the obstacles.

I love that region of New Hampshire, and the inn and the general scenery around the mountains were breathtaking per usual.  The drive takes you through White Mountain National Forest and other typically northern New England areas that are wonderful to behold.  The location of the inn and Loon both would allow you to take trips to experience other mountains in New Hampshire and the food culture around Vermont.

How to get there:

Loon Mountain is in Lincoln, NH just beyond the main area of town.  Take I-93 to Exit 32 and follow the signs about 3 miles down Rt. 112. It will be on your right with an entry marked by a collection of international flags.

What to bring:

• Closed toe shoes!
• A small camera that can fit in your pocket (big cameras will get damaged by the wires or could be dropped)
• Clothes that you don’t mind getting a little dirty
• A great attitude. There were a lot of people getting angry at their spouses, parents, or children because they were stressed out. Don’t be those people!

Where to eat:

Loon provides picnic tables, so you could bring your own food if you like.  They do have a small hamburger and ice cream stand right by the zipline, as well as a cafe near the train tracks. The food wasn’t too expensive, but could get pricey if you have a large group.

What else is in the area:

http://www.visitnh.gov/

http://www.visit-vermont.com/state/