Holiday Shopping in Northern New Hampshire

LANCASTER, NH - As holiday shopping swings into full gear, New Hampshire Grand, the official visitor information source for the Great North Woods and the Northern White Mountains, (www.nhgrand.com) invites consumers to head north, where gift options are as diverse as they are abundant.

Economic Development Director for Northern Community Investment Corporation (NCIC) Cathy Conway says, "New Hampshire's Grand North is home to many charming towns and villages offering distinctive and unusual gift options. From quirky Main Street shops to barns renovated to display the finest artwork created by local artisans, shopping in New Hampshire Grand is an adventure."

Conway adds that visitors can shop the downtowns and main streets of several interesting New Hampshire towns throughout the area, while staying at one of New Hampshire's Grand Resort Hotels, or quaint country inns.

The City of Berlin - sometimes referred to as "the city that trees built" - is particularly striking during the holiday season, and boasts several "unique boutiques" that make shopping both fun and interesting.

Chair of the Berlin Main Street Program, Sylvia Poulin says, "We invite people to shop different, shop Downtown Berlin. Shoppers will find destination locations and hidden treasures they never knew were so close to home. And this holiday season, great values and promotions are being offered by several downtown businesses." Poulin adds the city is hosting a Men's Night, Thursday December 15th, during which the guys can take advantage of special bargains, enjoy refreshments and register for prizes.

SaVoir Flare, a Certified Best Of New Hampshire Grand, is a Main Street shop where shoppers can find a healthy dose of pop culture, local history books, eye popping artwork and an intriguing collection of handbags and accessories. Also on Main Street in Berlin and a Certified Best Of New Hampshire Grand, the family owned and operated Greetings Jewelers, has its own goldsmith on the premises, and specializes in handcrafted design.

Pastries and other culinary delights make for great gifts as well; and there are countless options in the Grand North. Le Rendezvous is a little French bakery on Main Street in Colebrook, known for its selection of freshly baked baguettes, large assortment of madeleines and homemade chocolate wrapped with colorful bows.

Fuller's Sugarhouse, a year-round destination in Lancaster, N.H., has every variety of the sugary delicacy available, from the tried and true grades of maple syrup to the melt-in-your-mouth maple candy. Noted by North American Maple Producers as "Best in the World," this is a stop that simply can't be missed. For the antique lover on your holiday shopping list, it doesn't get any better than the Potato Barn in Lancaster.

Voted Best Rural Antiques Shop 2009 by New Hampshire ToDo Magazine, the Potato Barn has 7,500 square feet of everything, from vintage clothing and jewelry to lighting and old lamp repair, glass china, antique furniture and local history books.

A trip to the Main Street of Lancaster would not be complete without a walk through Simon the Tanner, which carries all the clothing needed to prepare for a trip to the North Country, from warm socks to boots, jackets, sweaters, and hats.

In Littleton, N.H., Chutters, home to the world's largest candy counter, may even make Willy Wonka jealous. Jars gleam down the entire length of the store and are full of almost every candy imaginable. Another Best of New Hampshire Grand specialty retail boutique is Fiddleheads, which recently opened a second location in Littleton. The original is still in Colebrook.

The honor of "Best Customer Service" bestowed on Fiddleheads by downtown holiday shoppers is outdone only by the quality of fine arts and gifts on display. Fiddleheads supports local artisans that capture the character of the area in their work.

The beautiful work of local artisans is also featured at Local Works Marketplace and the Gallery at WREN in Bethlehem. Products range from jewelry, pottery, specialty foods, bath and body products, candles, textiles, baskets, photography, home d�cor and fine art.

Sometimes the best gifts aren't the ones you can wear, or even wrap - like the gift of relaxation. Spa treatment gift cards are available at the Omni Mount Washington in Bretton Woods, the Mountain View Grand in Whitefield and the Carlisle Place in Jefferson.

A "get in the spirit" gift to give yourself and your family this holiday season is a visit with Santa at Santa's Village in Jefferson. Christmas Magic is an event that has become a holiday tradition in the Grand North. Every Saturday and Sunday through December 18th, children and families can enjoy the rides, the reindeer and tens of thousands of lights. Santa Claus is on duty to hear Christmas wishes.

Cathy Conway says, "Whatever shoppers are looking for this holiday season, they will find it here in the Grand North, as well as items they weren't necessarily looking for, but simply "must have!" This area is a treasure chest of beautiful gems - everything from unique clothing to locally-created crafts to home-made culinary delights to a day of personal pampering. And the added benefit is that New Hampshire is tax free!"

"Grand Resorts, Grand Adventure" is the brand of New Hampshire's North Country marketing initiative - also known as NH Grand -- and is the official visitor information source for the Great North Woods and the Northern White Mountains.

The Northern New Hampshire Marketing Project is now entering its second year of promoting Coos County to regional visitors. Over the course of the 2009-2010 year, the project created the County's first comprehensive tourism website, www.nhgrand.com; built social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube; designed and distributed 140,000 brochures in New Hampshire, Maine Coast, Massachusetts and Canada focusing on "Best of's," Adventures, and Lodging options available in the region.

For more information on NH Grand, visit www.nhgrand.com, New Hampshire Grand on Facebook, and NH Grand on Twitter.