Umbagog, Errol and Other New Hampshire Spots for Great Dates in the Middle of Nowhere

I grew up in Maine, and in high school, soon after I got my license, my stomping grounds consisted of the White Mountains around Bethel, Maine - home of the Sunday River Ski Resort, and parts of New Hampshire. Whether you're a tourist or a local, the farmland, mountains and notch-roads create a beautiful backdrop, and I spent a lot of time exploring the region. When I got a girlfriend, she joined me on these excursions, and a happy accident turned into one of the best dates of my life. If you're in the area, you may want to pretend to "discover" this sequence of events, too - you'll have an unforgettable day.

Route 26 crosses the Maine/New Hampshire border near Umbagog Lake. The mountainous road, while narrow and quaint, is well-maintained and frequented by logging trucks. I'd avoid it if you're in a hurry, as the road turns frequently, and there's no way to get past one of these lumbering behemoths - if you're following my advice, though, you're not on the road in a hurry, but for the drive. Craggy outcroppings and scenic vistas abound. Take the time to get out and explore one of the many overlooks or trailheads along the road. Perhaps you'll want to pack a snack or a bottle of wine to enjoy here int eh great outdoors - don't pack a lunch, though, I've got that covered. The signs regarding moose don't lie - people die when they hit these beasts, so drive carefully and keep a sharp eye out.

Umbagog is well-known by boaters, campers, and hunters as a wilderness paradise, and 26 follows the shoreline and abuts the Umbagog State Park. Campers might want to consider spending a couple days here, where deer, bear, and moose abound. If you have time, a short detour along the Mountain Pond Road will bring you right up to the edge of this pristine lake, and is a beautiful diversion.

After you leave Umbagog, continue north on 26. The next town you come to will be the tiny berg of Errol. It's truly one of those towns that you'll miss if you blink, consisting of just a few dozen houses and municipal buildings. Errol is typically a place where you stop to get gas on the way somewhere else. Today, Errol is the destination. About halfway through town, on the left-hand side, you'll see the cinderblock hangar and grass runway that make up the Errol International Airport (International because you could throw a rock into Canada from Errol). Believe it or not, this is where you're headed. On the edge of the runway sits a small red shack surrounded by picnic tables, selling hot-dogs, fried food, and steamed lobsters. They have a small lobster tank and get in live crustaceans regularly. You can sit and enjoy a lobster meal in the New England summer sun in the middle of the phenomenal White Mountains. If you've never eaten lobster, picnic-style, you're clearly not from Maine, and you're missing out. This alone is worth the trip. You'll see. We're not done, though, the best is yet to come.

Most summer days throughout tourist season, there's a fellow hanging around, either at the food shack or over by the hanger. For twenty-five bucks, this man will roll out his plane and take you for a ride. After a smooth takeoff, you'll spend the next fifteen or twenty minutes circling rocky peaks, gliding over wetlands, and soaring over the vast Umbagog. During our first trip up, my girlfriend and I saw a moose eating vegetation in the wetland, a bald eagle circling a mountaintop, and a bear wading in the shallows of the lake. It was breathtaking.

It may seem like there's not much to do up there, but even the middle of nowhere holds treasures and surprises. If you're fortunate enough to spend time in the untamed wilds of northern New Hampshire during the summer, this is an experience to remember, and a magical and unforgettable date.