DARTMOUTH/LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
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The Fort at Number 4
www.fortat4.com/
Exit 7 off I-91, N.H. Rt. 11, Charlestown • (603) 826-5700
The original stockade was built here in 1744. This replica is a soup-to-nuts education in Colonial dress, language and crafts. In addition to the stockade are barns, nine outbuildings and a watchtower. This settlement was vital during the French and Indian War. At that time, Charlestown and The Fort at Number 4 were the most northerly New England settlements on the Connecticut River. In addition to the fort, there are 63 buildings on Charlestown's Main Street listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.
Hours: The Fort at Number 4 is open every day from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from May 12th until October 31st.
Price: The cost is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $4.50 for children ages 6 to 12. Children younger than 6 get in free.
Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum
www.indianmuseum.org
Kearsarge Mountain Rd., Warner • (603) 456-3244
This treasure trove of Native American artifacts is a must-see in the region. Besides seeing such local cultural artifacts as a birch canoe and sweet-grass baskets, you will also find artifacts of the Anasazi Indians of New Mexico. To get there take Exit 8 off I-89 N. or Exit 9 from I-89 S. Knowledgeable tour guides lead you through exhibits featuring hundreds of artifacts representing 15,000 years of the history of native peoples. The tours leave every hour on the hour, and you must be part of a tour. If you arrive early, enjoy the 2-acre outdoor display that includes a tepee as well as plants used by Native Americans for food, medicine and dyes. Craft demonstrations, lectures and films are featured throughout the season. Call ahead to see what's planned during your stay in the region. The Dreamcatcher gift shop has books, music, jewelry and crafts.
Hours: The museum is open 7 days a week from May 1 - October 31. Throughout the season, hours are: Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sundays 12 - 5 p.m., from November 1 to the weekend before Christmas the museum is open on weekends only. Guided tours of the exhibits run on the hour with the last tour at 4 PM each day.
Prices: Museum tours are $5.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors, $3.50 for children up to grade 8, $4.50 for teens and college students.
M/V Mount Sunapee
Sunapee Harbor • (603) 763-4030
Enjoy a lively one-and-a-half-hour tour of Lake Sunapee on this 150-seat tour boat. You'll enjoy Captain Dave Hargbol's live narration throughout the cruise as he tells you about the lake's history. You'll learn about early steamships as well as the first lakeside Native American settlements. Kids always enjoy the attention given them by the Captain. He might ask them up to the helm and takes time to answer all their questions. You can sit in one of 55 seats on the upper deck or enjoy the cruise from the shaded lower deck. Soft drinks and snacks are sold on board.
Hours: The ship leaves port daily at 2:30 p.m., Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Prices: The cost is $12 for adults and $7 for children younger than 12.
M/V Kearsarge
Sunapee Harbor • (603) 763-5477
This genuine re-creation of a 19th-century steamer cruises the lake for one hour and 45 minutes. Enjoy dinner as you listen to Captain Steve McGrath explain the history of the Lake Sunapee steamer. The vessel seats 70 in bentwood cane chairs at mahogany tables. A dinner buffet is included in the ticket price. Expect to dine on hot and cold sliced roasted meat, a hot casserole side dish, such as ratatouille or shrimp Creole, and a wide variety of fresh summer salads. Soft drinks and iced tea are included in the price, but dessert, tax and gratuities are extra.
Hours: The M/V Kearsarge sets sail every day from mid-June through Labor Day. Cruises are at 6 p.m. only Sun - Thurs. and at 5:30 and 7:45 p.m. on Friday through Saturday.
Price: The cost is $26 for adults and $16 for children 3-11. Kids younger than 2 sail free. The cost is $26 for both adults and children on Friday and Saturdays. Reservations are required.