Littleton, New Hampshire

SMALL TOWN, BIG ADVENTURE

PIVOT SERIES

February 22-23, 2025

SNOWMOBILING

“You don’t want to whiskey throttle.” Is that what he said? It was hard to hear with my winter hat and snowmobile helmet on. We were at Hammerdown Adventures for a 2-hour snowmobile ride. We were going to take a few laps around the parking area to get familiar with the machines. That much I understood. But what was this about whiskey? I normally wait until after my excursions to partake in any libations. After louder instructions and some hand gestures, I learned that there is a risk of unintentionally accelerating the snowmobile beyond control – and for some reason turning left increased this risk. Great.

I had never ridden on a snowmobile, much less driven one. How difficult could it be? Well, not too difficult, but harder than I thought. I had to get the feel of the throttle down. Too little, no movement. Too much, the snowmobile can get out from under you. Perhaps its because I am petite or just inexperienced or both, but I kept slipping back on the seat when I gave the throttle a good squeeze. Now, if you are slipping, your reaction is to grab onto whatever it is you are holding onto. In this case, it was the throttle. You can just imagine my initial experience with this thing. I learned quickly to lean in and squeeze my thighs while seated and eventually found squatting over the seat to be the most stable position, especially at faster speeds. It’s definitely a workout and not a passive exercise.

Once our guide was satisfied I was going to remain on the snowmobile and (probably) not whiskey throttle, we headed onto the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail, right across the street. This was a sweet way to be introduced to the sport of snowmobiling. The mostly flat trail gently winds along the Ammonoosuc River, through the towns of Littleton, Lisbon, Bath and Haverhill. The sights are a mixture of rural and pastoral. One of the landmark highlights is the Bath Covered Bridge which was built in 1832. This part of the trail is pretty much a mandatory photo spot, and we obliged.

By the time we reached the bridge I was much more comfortable with operating the snowmobile – for a beginner. The throttle isn’t the only learning curve. You need to get used to breaking, the steering and how the snowmobile handles the different type of terrain you are riding over. You have to be mindful of other riders coming in the opposite direction. We had to cross some roads, so you have to deal with some traffic. Our guide was very helpful in providing assistance and support with all these learning areas. And the drivers on the road seemed to be aware of the crossings and were very courteous. I can’t say I was never nervous, but it was the good kind of nervousness. That combination of caution, excitement, and determination.

The way out was full of taking in the wonder of our surroundings and focusing on learning. The way back was all about the speed. Our guide encouraged me to safety pick up the pace. I did and it was exhilarating! That ride was the end of an action-packed weekend in Littleton, New Hampshire. This is a popular destination town located within the White Mountains. Most of the tourist action is in or near the Main Street and River District areas. Here is where many of the shopping and dining places are located. Our Littleton snowmobile and hiking activities were only a short drive from this area.

We arrived at a coffee shop called Inkwell early Saturday morning.

This café, located in the Rail Trail Village complex, is only two minutes from Main Street by car. It’s a clean, welcome, airy, modern space. They have all your expected caffeinated offerings along with rotating seasonal concoctions. What is unexpected is their variety of toast offerings. I chose the Cheggamame which comes with Cabot cheddar, edamame hummus and sliced, hardboiled egg. I’m always on the lookout for something simple but satisfying and this fit the bill. I paired it with a Cappuccino and left to hit the trail.

HIKING

Littleton is a great jumping-off point for the nearby big mountains such as Cannon, Bretton Woods and Mount Washington. Kilburn Crags is a local hiking option, if not a mountain. At less than 1.5 miles round-trip, this easy trail brings you into nature and to a nice look-out area in about 20 minutes. From here, you can view the town of Littleton, Mt. Washington and the Presidential Range.

Total time in the snow took us approximately 45 minutes. It was a good stretch of the legs and got me warmed up to stroll Littleton’s shops and restaurants.

SHOPPING

There is an eclectic mix of retail stores and boutiques on both sides of Main Street and around the River District. I’m partial to antique stores, so I made sure to hit The Purple Peacock and Just L Modern Antiques. Revive 365 contains refurbished furniture pieces and a sumptuous assortment of home accents.  Here are some of the other places we visited:

-          Bella Funk Boutique – relaxed but stylish women’s clothing with a Boho-chic aesthetic.

-          Chutters – Fun candy and gift ship satisfies the sweet-tooth and the kid in you. Longest candy counter in the world!

-          White Mountains Canning Co. – country textiles and kitchenware along with more relishes, jams, pickled items and sauces than you can shake a wooden spoon at.

-          Lahouts Summit Shop – sporting goods and clothing.

-          Boreal Row – handmade leather creations displayed gallery-style in a large space that makes me think of a Viking Hall.   

-          Maison Boheme – a little bit of everything in upscale home décor, clothing and accessories.

DINING

Littleton, New Hampshire has an abundance of restaurants. It would take several weekend visits to try them all. On a previous day trip to this small town, our destination was pre-determined. It was Schilling Beer Co. This brewery, opened in 2013, has made quite a name for itself. It has fans throughout New Hampshire and beyond. We are now among them. They specialize in modern European-inspired beers and wood-fired pizza.

I’m a self-proclaimed pizza snob from New Haven County, Connecticut. I have scoffed at many New Hampshire establishments’ attempts at “apizza.” Not at Schilling Beer Co. They have a solid crust and simple sauce, which are crucial. But I especially appreciate their artisan choice of toppings. New Haven pizzerias stick closely to the traditional: mushroom, sausage, hot pepper, white clam. Schillings has offerings that include Chicken Maple Bacon (which also incorporates apples, spinach and cheddar) and Pastoral (pesto base, oven-roasted cherry tomatoes, chèvre, arugula and balsamic glaze). They resist the temptation to overload the toppings and go easy on the cheese – another key point in my opinion.

As for the beer, my favorite thus far is the Alexandr, a Czech-style Pilsner. This is what I enjoyed during our late afternoon respite by one of the fire pits on this weekend visit. You have quite a choice of seating options at this property, which can make for very different experiences.  There is the restaurant located in a historic mill building. This contains the wood-fired pizza oven and a pub area with counter-top seating, in addition to table service. There is also a modern taproom with a small, indoor seating area around a fireplace and a good size wrap around deck with seating overlooking the Ammonoosuk River and the historic Riverwalk Covered Bridge. In between these buildings are several other outside options from which to enjoy your beer choices.

Here is what else we enjoyed on this weekend:

-          Littleton Freehouse Taproom and Eatery – A large, lively establishment with fast and friendly service, many beers to choose from and modern pub food. The three generously sized Banh Mi Chicken Tacos were perfectly delicious. My flight favorite was Whalers Rise out of Wakefield, RI, a Pale Ale American with citrus and haze. Very smooth.

-          Sours Taverna - Elevate your dining experience at Sour’s in Littleton. Meticulously crafted cocktails, sophisticated variety of small plates and a speakeasy vibe. With a separate entrance, this new restaurant is located at Thayers Inn, the oldest, continuously operating hotel in the White Mountains.

-          The Coffee Pot – Recommended by locals, this is a small, family-run breakfast/lunch spot that delivers traditional favorites with a smile.

Once we bid goodbye and offered thanks to our snowmobile guide, we wiggled out of our outerwear and packed ourselves into the car for the ride home. It was a fun, but whirlwind weekend. We wouldn’t have it any other way….