Top Down Drive Suggestions

[thinkxingu]

Hi All!
Long story short: last year was our first at the lake, and, though we wanted to take a top-down drive around the lake in our Jeep, it never worked out.
Fast forward to this Friday, when I trade the Jeep in for a convertible (read: much easier to open up), and now I'm beginning to plan a lake drive.
So, other than just following the roads around the lake, anyone have suggestions? Special place to eat, better road choices for scenery, etc.? We'd be starting from Moultonborough Neck Road.

Thanks!

[Knomad]

Some our favorite top down rides are:

• Kancamagus Hwy/Rte 302 loop - stop at Deleney's Hole in the Wall in North Conway for lunch
• Rte 25 west out of Plymouth into VT - go to Cabot Creamery and/or Ben & Jerry's
• Rte 25 east from Ossipee, stop at Krista's in Cornish for lunch. Take Rte 11 to the north end of Sebago Lake and take the boat ride around Long Lake.
• Anywhere along the Maine coast

[pcmc]

Going anywhere with your top down will be fun.
Just make sure the ladies in the car can cover themselves quickly in case you pass a cop.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Knomad

Some our favorite top down rides are:

• Kancamagus Hwy/Rte 302 loop - stop at Deleney's Hole in the Wall in North Conway for lunch
• Rte 25 west out of Plymouth into VT - go to Cabot Creamery and/or Ben & Jerry's
• Rte 25 east from Ossipee, stop at Krista's in Cornish for lunch. Take Rte 11 to the north end of Sebago Lake and take the boat ride around Long Lake.
• Anywhere along the Maine coast

AWESOME--thanks for these!

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by pcmc

Going anywhere with your top down will be fun.
Just make sure the ladies in the car can cover themselves quickly in case you pass a cop.

Umm, it's my sweet 38-year-old trollish self that'll be sportin' the top off! Mmmmm...

[BroadHopper]

My favorite is Rte 132 along the Rte 93. It may get a little busy though the cities but a great ride nevertheless.

Another great ride is Rte 10 along the Connecticut River. Lots of quaint little stops.

[upthesaukee]

... just about any highway that does not have an "I" in front of the number.

[Music Man]

Don't forget to check out the Loon Center. You can get to it either from 25 or 109.

There are great views from Castle In The Clouds.

There's a new soft serve yogurt place on Main Street in Wolfeboro that just opened - yum! (and when they open, there's the Strawberry Patch, Bailey's Bubble, Morrisey's Front Porch, Downtown Grille and Cafe, and north of town is the Pine Cone Cafe.

And while you're in Wolfeboro, check out the New Hampshire Boat Museum, Albee Beach on Lake Wentworth, the Wright Museum of WWII, take a stroll on the Cotton Valley Rail-Trail, or just check out the docks and Cate Park.


(did I mention that I live in Wolfeboro? )

[Dave R]

I do a lot of motorcycling on back roads all over the place. I figure a good motorcycle road is a good top down road.

Route 118 from Warren to Woodstock can be fun, there's almost no houses or side roads and little speed enforcement.
116 from 112 to Franconia is good.
Winona Road from Meredith to Ashland has some great curves.
175 from Holderness to Woodstock is good.
113 from Fryeburg, ME to route 2 is good.
Hurricane Mountain Road from Intervale to wherever it is that it comes out is awesome.
153 from Wakefield to Conway is great.
VT 232 from Groton to Marshfield is excellent

And now my favorite...

EVERY back road between 93/Everett tpk, 89, VT91, and MA2 is good to awesome. That whole south west area of NH has amazingly fun roads and no crowds. Pretty much every village you pass through is lovely too.

If you want a longer trip, upstate NY has wonderful top down roads. As does Dutchess County NY. The farm land in Dutchess County between The Hudson River and route 22 is staggeringly pretty.

[thinkxingu]

Nice suggestions, everyone--thanks!

[thinkxingu]

Anyone know of any group rides in the lakes area?

[Knomad]

Most "group rides" are sponsored by car or motorcycle clubs. What is your ride?

[thinkxingu]

Traded the Wrangler in on a Mustang convertible. I searched and see that there's a NH Mustang club--I'll check that out.

[upthesaukee]

and here is a link to the results. A couple of hits, albeit a few years old. May be a place to start looking, and maybe PM the posters.

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...archid=4230752

[chachee52]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Traded the Wrangler in on a Mustang convertible. I searched and see that there's a NH Mustang club--I'll check that out.

I'm part of the NH Mustang club. We do some rides through the year. Good way to find out is through our forum or Facebook. We also hold a cruise night every Saturday at Advanced Auto parts on Hookset. I think that starts mid May. I always enjoy driving my '67 convert down 106 and stopping at Jordan's on the way back. We also drive up to a couple shows past the Notch through the summer too.
I also saw on MeetUp that there is a Convertible group that does cruises around the lake. Can't remember the name of the group, but its something like Convertible cruise around the lake club or something.
Enjoy the Stang and hope to see you on the road.

[Cougar21300]

Try going up 175 from Holderness to either of these fun events;
The lupine festival http://franconianotch.org/things-to-...-festival.aspx
The Boogie n Blues festival http://www.whitemountainboogie.com/
When in Sugar Hill be certain to stop at Harmons Store for some of the best cheddar you'll ever taste!

[Knomad]

You can also check out this site for cruises and car shows in NH:
http://cruisenh.net/webcal/month.php?date=20150401

[ultrarider]

When getting the convertibles ready for the summer, you can sometimes run across a problems with the convertible top operation. If you need to replace the Convertible Top Cylinders, keep us in mind. We are the manufacturer, and have been making them since 1975. We have the lowest prices, best warrenty, and best of all Made in America, right here in Wolfeboro. Please check out our Website, or find us on E-bay Thank you,
ultrarider,

www.convertiblecylindersdirect.com

http://stores.ebay.com/convertiblecylinderdirect/

[Kamper]

Until you know the area, stick to the numbered routes. You may not know where you are but you'll eventually get somewhere!

Or get a GPS.

[Misty Blue]

You guys must be up to something good!
The other day I got passed by Thelma and Louise!

Misty Blue

[chaseisland]

Top down or up, if you want a challenge Sandwich Notch Road from Center Sandwich to Waterville Valley early June when the lady slippers are in bloom, but be careful a 9 mile slow drive. If you really have guts there is an off shoot taking one to Upper Hall Pond, but for that maybe keep the Jeep.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by chaseisland

Top down or up, if you want a challenge Sandwich Notch Road from Center Sandwich to Waterville Valley early June when the lady slippers are in bloom, but be careful a 9 mile slow drive. If you really have guts there is an off shoot taking one to Upper Hall Pond, but for that maybe keep the Jeep.

Yeah, I drove that before with an F150, though we always planned to go back with the Jeep. Wasn't as...interesting as I thought it would be, though.

[jeffatsquam]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Yeah, I drove that before with an F150, though we always planned to go back with the Jeep. Wasn't as...interesting as I thought it would be, though.

Actually Sandwich Notch is so interesting their have been books written about it.

[Lakeboater]

Originally Posted by ultrarider

When getting the convertibles ready for the summer, you can sometimes run across a problems with the convertible top operation. If you need to replace the Convertible Top Cylinders, keep us in mind. We are the manufacturer, and have been making them since 1975. We have the lowest prices, best warrenty, and best of all Made in America, right here in Wolfeboro. Please check out our Website, or find us on E-bay Thank you,
ultrarider,

www.convertiblecylindersdirect.com

http://stores.ebay.com/convertiblecylinderdirect/

Some people have no shame

[ultrarider]

Originally Posted by Lakeboater

Some people have no shame

I'm not the only one that did some type of Advertising on this forum. Just look above at Cougar 2130, or Music Man. They both inserted links to some merchant. Yes, I probably should have used better judgment than to use this forum, but I only wanted to let Convertible owners in the area know, that they don't have to buy top lifts from India or China for their classic cars.

[SIKSUKR]

Pretty sure this is acceptable by the webmaster.

[mcdude]

I'd never heard of the Sandwich Notch Road before. It's on my "to do" list for this summer for sure....THANKS!

[Nagigator]

McDude, stop on the way up the Notch Rd and take the short hike to Beede Falls. Really cool spot, especially if the weather is hot. Dogs love it!

[BroadHopper]

I usually take the Sandwich Notch Road to Campton and head to Waterville to Tripoli Road. This is definitely the roads less traveled by. Take you time as Tripoli Road ends up on I-93 for the trip home.

And don't forget the 'Kanc' and Bear Notch Road!

[mcdude]

Originally Posted by Nagigator

McDude, stop on the way up the Notch Rd and take the short hike to Beede Falls. Really cool spot, especially if the weather is hot. Dogs love it!

Jake says, "Thanks!"...he can't wait to go!

[Nagigator]

What a handsome fellow! He looks like he loves the water.

[Rich]

There are too many places to mention!

But I found, quite by accident, that Rt 107 south of rt 11 bypass is quite a nice ride. There are some very nice views as you gain some altitude. Do it when things are nice and green, or again in the fall as the leaves change.

[mcdude]

Originally Posted by Nagigator

McDude, stop on the way up the Notch Rd and take the short hike to Beede Falls. Really cool spot, especially if the weather is hot. Dogs love it!

Nagigator: Jake and I would like to thank you once again for your suggestion. We had a blast! I rarely get over to the Moultonboro side of the lake all the way from Alton. I'd never see the Village Kitchen before and was so tempted to stop for lunch after all the good things I've read here on the forum......but I doubt if Jake would have been welcome!!

[Nagigator]

So glad you guys found it........perfect weather for it too! Love the photo. Come back up in cooler weather and let Jake wait for you while you check out the VK. Another great spot out that way.

[dpg]

Wait...Where's that pic from is that Moultonborough?? Where again???

[Nagigator]

Its called Beede Falls off the Sandwich Notch Rd. I'm not sure if it is in Sandwich, but you access the area from Center Sandwich. You can also get to it from the Mead base along a trail by the Boy Scout camp.

[SIKSUKR]

Its in Sandwich.

[LadyJane]

All those roads around Sandwich are very pretty. There is a covered bridge, and also the the Sandwich Creamery, stop at The Pot Hole for gorgeous scenery and a nice dip in cold, clear water. Go over towards Holderness for a hike on Rattlesnake trail.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

I went to the Sandwich Creamery today. Very much off the beaten path. Next time I will just buy it at Heath's.

[jbolty]

They don't have this at Heath's though.