THE AMIABLE TRAVELER - GUIDE TO SEEING THE LUPINES IN SUGAR HILL, NH
June is lupine season in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and every year we head to Sugar Hill to walk in the lupine fields. A small community of flower devotees, the people of Sugar Hill have planted sweeping vistas of blooming lupines and welcome visitors to come see them, photograph them, and enjoy the beauty for themselves. From nestled meadows of lupines to mountaintop views, a pilgrimage to Sugar Hill is a June tradition that will delight young and old alike.
“The Amiable Traveler Guides - Follow along with the Amiable Traveler Guides, if you, like me, enjoy pleasant travel with companionable people, the comfort of distinctive lodgings with thoughtful touches, seek out good baked goods and restaurants with quiet views, enjoy spending the day in nature but want a good meal and a comfortable bed at the end of it, like carefully curated shops run by cheerful shopkeepers, and like knowing the inside tips before you travel. Based in New England. Explore my day trip and getaway guides to the New England states. Exploring farther whenever possible!”
GETTING TO THE LUPINES IN SUGAR HILL
Sugar Hill, New Hampshire is less than a three-hour drive from Boston, and an easy day trip from the surrounding New England states. You will drive up the center of the state and into the White Mountain National Forest, with its rugged, granite mountains and towering pines. There’s something sweetly simple in the purpose of the trip being the sheer enjoyment of flowers, so relax and enjoy the surrounding beauty and every moment.
As you come into Sugar Hill along Route 117, start to watch for the lupine fields. Most fields are open for visitors, and you will find a cluster of cars parked at the popular fields. Take your place among them and walk out into the fields, among the towering blue, pink purple, and white lupine spires waving in the late-spring breezes.
WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU TO SEE THE LUPINES?
snacks for the car ride
jacket
sunscreen
bug repellent (It is tick season, and I highly recommend bug repellent.)
camera
picnic lunch
I don’t like to have much of an agenda when I visit the lupines at Sugar Hill. Part of the enjoyment of the day is the thrill of discovery, so follow your instinct and turn down unknown roads and pause and admire new fields as you find them. Chat with other flower-peepers to find out where they’ve seen some good ones. But do be respectful of private property, where you walk and park, and how you treat the flowers.
WHAT ELSE TO DO NEAR SUGAR HILL, NEW HAMPSHIRE
While you are in this part of the White Mountains, there are a few other favorites that are always on my radar:
St. Matthew’s Chapel. In Sugar Hill, a good photo opportunity is the very charming St. Matthew’s Chapel…a sweet, white-steepled church. (My daughter and I once had a bear run right across the road in front of us just adjacent to this church. That was a very memorable moment!) You will find it at the corner of Route 117 and The Birches Rd.
Polly’s Pancake Parlor. If you are not picnicking or tailgating, the go-to destination for a meal is Polly’s Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill. It is an institution in the state of New Hampshire (since 1938), and many flock here every year for their fluffy, fully-customizable pancakes.
Garnet Hill Outlet. If you’d like to do a bit of shopping, the nearby Garnet Hill Outlet in Franconia is your place for women’s clothing and home textiles.
Chutters. If you have a sweet tooth or want to make your kids really, really happy, visit Chutters in Littleton, NH (about a 15 minute drive from Sugar Hill). Its claim to fame is that it has “The World’s Longest Candy Counter”.
Omni Mount Washington Resort. This grand, historic hotel (c. 1902) is my favorite place in my state of New Hampshire. Stop in for a stroll around its iconic, wrap-around porch. Grab a spot in one of the wicker chairs with a view of Mount Washington and order a cocktail and a bite to eat before heading home. Or better yet…make a weekend of it, and get a room! Their spa and breakfast buffet are superb!
