The air has turned crisp, the office attire now consists primarily of flannels, and the pumpkin-flavored beer and coffee are flowing here in Dover, New Hampshire. As the leaves change to their vibrant oranges, yellows, and reds outside the historic mill building that houses our headquarters, our small team knows that Fall is the best time of the year to get outside, support local businesses, and spend time with friends and family. (And we may be biased, but we arguably have the best backdrop of Fall foliage in the nation.)

So, this leaf-peeping season, we're sharing our favorite Fall adventures with you and providing a guide for our favorite activities and places to be around New England.

 

The Season of Eating

White Mt. Cider Company, Bartlett, NH

Travis from the Warranty team spends every chance he gets in the White Mountains where he was a former AMC guide. During his time as a guide, he discovered the White Mt. Cider Company, which quickly became his favorite place to inhale apple cider donuts after a long day of hiking.

"I discovered the White Mountain Cider Company during my first Fall in New Hampshire. In the Fall, they operate a food truck outside their main facility. Their apple cider donuts are the best I’ve had, and the cider is second to none!"

 

Garrison City Beerworks, Dover, NH

A local favorite, Garrison City Beerworks provides unique seasonal beers, including this month’s favorite: a pumpkin spice white stout aptly named "Basic." Charles from our Customer Service team has occupied a seat at Garrison City since his days at the University of New Hampshire. The cozy atmosphere and great brews have also made Garrison the perfect location for office board game nights.

“There's nothing better than opening the door to your favorite hole in the wall, where everybody knows your name. Garrison is the blend of Dover regulars and ramblers enjoying the art of conversation, connecting over our favorite hazy beverage.”

 

North Country Hard Cider, Rollinsford, NH

About 15 minutes from our office, North Country's tasting room is a favorite for flights of delicious, crisp cider. Lauren our Digital Director loves bringing her dogs for a relaxed weekend outing.

"There are so many great varieties on tap that it's hard to choose just one! I particularly love the Honey Badger, made from Maine grown Honeycrisp apples, and the Squashed, which is a cider blend with fire-roasted squash, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger — sounds weird, but sooo good!"

 

North Country Cider is known for the Sampler Flight, allowing you to try several varieties.

Getting Spooky

The Salem Witch Museum, Salem, MA

The site of the Salem Witch Trials and all things spooky in New England, Salem is at the top of the list for Lorcan, our Chief Financial Officer. Every Fall, he takes time from his busy schedule to travel to Salem for a long weekend stay at the Hawthorne Hotel, to visit the Salem Witch Museum, and the House of Seven Gables.

“I’ve been going to Salem since I was about 9 years old. My favorite place to go is the Salem Witch Museum — it never gets old, there’s just so much rich history and I’m fascinated with the old houses. I try to go a few times a year, it’s a place that really feels like home to me.“

 

Haunted Overload, Lee, NH

For those that enjoy the thrill of a classic haunted house, DeMeritt Hill Farms runs one of the best on the East Coast. Theresa, our Supply Chain Sustainability Manager, traditionally visits Haunted Overload each year for the best scares.

“The team in Lee works all year to create a new haunted walk, with incredible attention to detail and artistry. I try to go every year and drag along a couple of co-workers. And since it’s on a working farm, there’s fresh donuts and cider!“

 

The team at Haunted Overload has mastered their craft over the years.

Portsmouth Halloween Parade, Portsmouth, NH

Kendall, our Customer Service Manager, grew up locally and has been attending the Portsmouth Halloween Parade for years. A fun time for family and friends, the parade is a great time to show off your clever and spooky costumes, dogs included. Kendall’s most memorable costumes in the past included a time he went to the parade as spaghetti.

“The parade is a huge community effort every year. There’s so many creative costumes, people get really into dressing up and all-around it’s a fun time for everyone to celebrate Halloween!“

 

Kendall's costume was "al dente."

Adventuring Made Better by a Canopy of Colors

White Mountain National Forest, Jennings Peak, NH

Emily, our Key Accounts Manager, grew up hiking in the Whites, and later working a few seasons in the AMC Huts. Her favorite peak is a quick, one-hour drive from the seacoast and is tucked away just enough for it to not be a popular tourist location (so keep it under wraps).

“You can either take the Sandwhich Mountain Trail, or the gentler Drakes Brook Trail. The summit boasts spectacular views into the Sandwhich Range Wilderness — Fall foliage abounding!”

 

Climbing in Rumney, Rumney, NH

New Hampshire, the granite state, is known for its great climbing locations. Brittany, our Test Engineer and in-house climbing expert has been climbing in Rumney for about 5 years now and makes an effort to climb as much as possible every Fall above the New England canopy. Her favorite climb, the “Clippity-Do-Da,” brings you up the exposed part of Rattlesnake Mountain that offers the best views of Fall foliage.

“Clippity-Do-Da is a super easy climb, so it’s great for beginners. Rumney in general is a great location for climbing — there’s a campground right across the street from the mountain which makes for a great base-camp spot. The Rumney climbing community is really supportive and friendly too!”

 

New Hampshire's Maples are often the most colorful trees on the mountain.

Kayaking on Great Bay, Newmarket, NH

Most underrated way to see fall colors? From a boat! Fall colors here along the seacoast tend to hit peak toward mid to late October depending on the weather. Sam from the warranty team discovered all that Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve has to offer from her kayak, including great views of the changing of seasons. The bald eagles and ospreys that frequent the area are also a plus.

“I usually put my boat in the water in downtown Newmarket on the Lamprey River, which feeds into Great Bay. The landscape is just breathtaking in the Fall, the colors along the water can be marveled at for hours. Just don’t float around for too long, as a girl from upstate New York that doesn’t understand tide changes, getting stuck on the mudflats at low tide is not fun. Ask me how I know.”

 

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Sam Rokos manages Warranty and Repair at NEMO, loves to x-country ski and is an aspiring triathlete.