New Hampshire Fall Foliage, Oct 2024
This past weekend, my aunt (xiao nian niang) and uncle (xiao gu fu) came all the way from Los Angeles to visit us, and we decided to spend the weekend up in New Hampshire, soaking in the fall colors. It was a perfect opportunity for a little leaf-peeping adventure, and though we hit a few bumps along the way (hello, leaf-peeping traffic), the weekend was filled with laughter, great food, beautiful sights, and unforgettable memories.
上周末，我的姑妈（小年娘）和姑父（小姑夫）专程从洛杉矶飞来看我们，于是我们决定一起前往新罕布什尔州度过一个赏秋的周末。这是一个欣赏秋日美景的好机会，虽然一路上遇到了一些小插曲（比如赏秋交通堵塞），但整个周末充满了欢笑、美食、美景，以及难忘的回忆。
Day 1: A Scenic Detour and a Cozy Night In
We kicked off our weekend early Saturday morning, leaving the city behind as we made our way up north. Our first destination was the famous Kancamagus Highway, known for its breathtaking views and fiery autumn foliage. But little did we know, we weren't the only ones with this bright idea. Every single lookout point was packed, with lines of cars stretching down the road. Each time we tried to pull over, it felt like we were caught in a parade of eager photographers!
Rather than stress about it, we changed course and headed to Loon Mountain for the afternoon. The gondola ride up was a game-changer! As soon as we stepped out at the top, we were met with stunning panoramic views of the White Mountains. I'd only ever been to Loon for snowboarding, so discovering the ice caves there was a total surprise. Exploring the narrow crevices and scrambling through the cool, shaded spaces was so much fun. It felt like we had stumbled into a secret world hidden beneath the slopes I knew so well.
By the time we finished, traffic on the Kancamagus was still crawling, so we decided to head straight to Madison, NH, where we had rented a cozy cabin along a quiet lake. It was the perfect place to unwind after a day of traveling and sightseeing. As soon as we unpacked and got settled, we fired up the hot pot for dinner. There’s just something about sharing a meal like that — the bubbling broth, fresh ingredients, and everyone gathered around the table — that made the evening feel extra special. The night ended on a peaceful note, with all of us unwinding in the comfort of the cabin, grateful for a quiet retreat away from the world.
第一天：风景如画的绕行和温馨的夜晚
周六一早，我们就启程离开城市，向北进发。第一站是著名的坎卡马格斯公路（Kancamagus Highway），这里以其令人叹为观止的风景和炽热的秋叶闻名。然而我们万万没想到，同样有这番想法的人太多了！每个观景点都挤满了人，车队沿着公路排成长龙。每次我们试图靠边停车时，都感觉像在一场摄影爱好者的游行中穿行！
与其因此感到压力重重，我们选择调整行程，前往隆山（Loon Mountain）度过下午。乘坐缆车上山绝对是个明智之举！当我们到达山顶时，眼前便是白山（White Mountains）壮丽的全景。我之前只在冬天来隆山滑雪，所以发现那里还有冰洞让我惊喜不已。探索那些狭窄的裂缝，穿梭在阴凉的空间中，感觉像是走进了隐藏在雪道下的一个秘密世界，非常有趣。
等我们结束探索时，坎卡马格斯公路上的交通依然缓慢，我们决定直接前往新罕布什尔州麦迪逊（Madison, NH）。我们在那里租了一间安静的湖边小木屋，是一天旅途和观光后的完美归宿。安顿好后，我们就开始准备火锅晚餐。共享一顿这样的饭菜——热气腾腾的锅底、新鲜的食材，大家围坐在一起——让整个晚上显得格外温馨。夜晚在一片宁静中结束，我们都在小木屋里放松休息，为能够远离喧嚣、享受片刻宁静而心怀感激。
Day 2: Chasing Views to Mount Washington
The next morning, we woke up to a crisp autumn breeze and a hearty breakfast at the cabin. After fueling up, we set out on our drive toward Mount Washington. Our route followed the Saco River, and we couldn’t resist stopping along the way to take in the scenery. Every bend in the road revealed another postcard-perfect view — crystal-clear waters framed by fiery red, orange, and golden trees. What was supposed to be a quick 45-minute drive stretched well over an hour as we kept pulling over to snap photos and enjoy the views.
One of our favorite stops was the historic Wiley House. The view of the lake from there was serene, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do the short loop trail behind the house. It was a peaceful walk through the woods, with the crunch of leaves underfoot and bursts of color all around us.
Eventually, we made it to the Omni Mount Washington Resort, sitting grandly at the base of the mountain. It felt like stepping into another era — the grand hotel surrounded by towering peaks, with fall colors spilling down the slopes. We decided to take a break there and sat outside on the veranda, sipping tea and nibbling on small bites. The sun was shining, and the air was just cool enough to feel refreshing without being too cold. It was one of those rare moments where time seemed to slow down, and we just enjoyed each other’s company with the mountains standing proudly in the background.
After that relaxing stop, it was, unfortunately, time for me to head back home, but my parents, aunt, and uncle stayed in Madison for another night. They spent the evening unwinding at the cabin, soaking in the stillness of the lake.
第二天：追逐美景至华盛顿山
第二天早晨，我们迎着清爽的秋风醒来，在小木屋享用了丰盛的早餐。用餐后，我们启程驱车前往华盛顿山（Mount Washington）。沿途我们沿着萨科河（Saco River）行驶，忍不住一路停车欣赏风景。每一个转弯都仿佛一张明信片——清澈的河水被火红、金黄和橙色的树木环绕。原本短短45分钟的车程，最终耗时一个多小时，因为我们不断停车拍照，享受沿途的美景。
我们最喜欢的一个停留点是历史悠久的怀利故居（Wiley House）。从那里的湖边眺望，非常宁静。我们还抓住机会走了故居后面的短环形步道。踩着满地的落叶，周围是色彩斑斓的树林，整个步行过程都格外惬意。
最终，我们抵达了坐落在山脚下的欧姆尼华盛顿山度假村（Omni Mount Washington Resort）。这座宏伟的酒店被群山环抱，秋天的颜色从山坡上倾泻而下，仿佛回到了另一个时代。我们决定在酒店的阳台上稍作休息，一边喝茶，一边品尝小点心。阳光洒满大地，空气清爽却不寒冷。那是一个难得的时刻，时间仿佛放慢了脚步，我们静静地享受彼此的陪伴，背后是巍然矗立的群山。
在这次放松的停留后，我不得不启程返回家中，而我的父母、姑妈和姑父则继续留在麦迪逊度过了另一个夜晚。他们在湖边小木屋里放松，享受着湖泊的宁静。
Day 3: A Kancamagus Do-Over
On Monday, my family made one last pass along the Kancamagus Highway — this time with much better luck! With the weekend crowds gone, they were able to stop at all the scenic overlooks we had missed on Saturday. They sent me photos of everything I wished I could have seen: waterfalls framed by vibrant leaves, rolling hills draped in fall colors, and quiet forest trails leading to hidden gems. It felt like the perfect conclusion to their trip, and I was so glad they got to experience it without the stress of traffic.
第三天：坎卡马格斯的完美重访
周一，我的家人再次驶上了坎卡马格斯公路——这次他们运气更好！随着周末的人潮散去，他们终于得以在周六错过的每一个观景点停留。他们给我发来照片，展示了那些我想看的美景：被鲜艳叶子围绕的瀑布、铺满秋色的起伏山丘，以及通向隐藏美景的幽静森林小道。这样的旅程仿佛为他们的整个行程画上了完美的句号，我很高兴他们能在没有交通压力的情况下尽情享受这次赏秋之旅。
