January 3, 2014:
Shopping and Eating and Playing, Oh My!

North Conway, NH: The snow has been falling like crazy here in the mountain towns of Mt. Washington Valley! North Conway Village has been packed with shoppers, diners and families riding the Polar Express or Santa trains of the Conway Scenic Railroad. Jackson has been all aglow with their fabulous holiday lights. Nestlenook is lit up like a storybook as usual. This time of year means many things to many people; but to me it means that winter is in full swing! It’s time to have some winter fun! Be sure to layer on the winter clothes and break out the winter toys for playing in the snow. But just as I pull out my tubs of clothes I quickly realize; I’m sick of last year’s fashion. There’s only one solution to this problem. It’s time to SHOP! Just writing this phrase excites me. I used to hate buying new clothes until I moved to the shopping mecca of the universe; North Conway, NH and Mt. Washington Valley. With more than two hundred and fifty factory outlet and specialty shops to choose from, there are literally stores or outlets for EVERYONE!  Lucky for me I have my handy dandy Shopping in Mount Washington Valley Map and Guide and the North Conway Village Map. Feeling jealous? Pick up your own copy at more than 400 locations worldwide or by going to: www.shopmtwashingtonvalley.com, www.hospitalitymaps.com, www.NorthConwayVillage.com, or NorthConwayCoupons.com . And if you need a great hotel or B&B, be sure to check out the lodging options on all of these websites’ homepages.

If you’re not a shopper…(but why would you be reading this if you weren’t?) let me give you a few words of advice. “It’s all about the strategy!” Check out my shopping tips in the ShopMtWashingtonValley.com website. My plan of attack is to start at one end of the strip and work my way to the other. My first stop is always, It's My Girlfriends Consignment Boutique. This shop features great designer labels and you can find anything from leather shoes and boots to ball gowns and jeans. Not that I like furs but they have a huge selection of vintage fur coats. If you are going to buy a fur coat, please by a used one. It’ll save an animal’s life.  After that I will swing into Bob & Terry’s Sports Outlet to pick up some new Smith goggles, (maybe one of their flashy new colors), and check out their huge new lines skis and snowboards….and winter gear from brands like Nordica, Atomic, North Face, etc. I could really use a new ski coat and some fresh base layers; Gore-Tex IS a girl’s best friend you know? ! Next, I’ll head over to International Mountain Equipment and Climbing School (IME) with my old gear to drop it off in their consignment shop. (The owners of this store are world famous for having summitted Mt. Everest multiple times!) Their consignment section is a great way to earn a little money to purchase my new gear. They have all the best in high tech clothing like Marmot, Patagonia and Mountain Hardwear! Ragged Mountain Equipment just up the road also has great gear and clothing options and is also the headquarters for The Mt. Washington Valley Cross Country and Snowshoe Center. Regardless of whether I’m shopping or not, I can’t walk past the Mount Washington Observatory without stopping in to check out the Weather Discovery Center. This place is great for kids and weather geeks like me. And admission is FREE !!! If this isn’t enough White Mountain fun for you, there are amazing photos of the White Mountains at the White Mountain Photography Studio in Jackson or the White Mountain Art Gallery in North Conway.

Now, my sweet tooth is tempting me to stop into Zeb’s General Store. They have a 67-foot long candy counter! In fact, everything in there is made in New England and there are thousands of items to choose from. The best part is they do free food tastings almost daily. Be sure to check them out to see what you can get a nibble of. I also strongly suggest the pastry and cookie options at the Valley best bakeries, Old Village Bakery and McKaella’s Bakery, both in the Village and both addicting!

So far, I’ve picked up some new outdoor gear and clothing so now it’s time to take care of my feet. I love to shop at Beggar’s Pouch in North Conway Village. Not only can I find great leather shoes from brands like: Dansko, and Ugg, I can also pick up some beautiful assessories like handmade belts, pocketbooks and vests. Regardless of what I’m looking for, I can count on finding something unique and one of a kind; especially leather and suede outerwear.

As I move down Main Street in the village, I pop into the Bavarian Chocolate Haus. While here I can save $1 if I spend $10 or more, using a coupon from www.northconwaycoupons.com. What a deal! It’s even better because all their chocolates and fudge are handmade! My fav is their ginormous peanut butter puck. I just got one with a Bruin’s logo on it; it was love at first bite! My second favorite is their dark chocolate dipped apricot! OMG…..soooo good.

Done with munching, and now on to feeding my brain. White Birch Book Store is, by far, one of the best book stores I have ever been in! They not only feature the latest in bestsellers, I can get a 10% discount on them with my coupon from www.northconwaycoupons.com. They review nearly every book in their store and even have monthly book readings. Many from famous authors who actually come in and do readings! Now it’s time to add a little flash to the brainpower. I am heading next door to Assets Jean Company. They have one of the largest selections of jeans north of Boston, the cutest tops, and functional outerwear. The best part is their knowledgeable staff will help me pick out the perfect jeans for my body. The the really good best part is they have a $10.00 OFF coupon in NorthConwayCoupons.com!

Whew, all this shopping has made me hungry. This is where my decisions get really tough! There are so many delicious places to eat in the Mount Washington Valley! (Check out www.foodinthemountains.com to see ALL the choices!) I originally thought I was in the mood for a burrito. I LOVE the chicken burritos at Kearsarge Café. PLUS, with their coupon ad in the Foodinthemountains.com map, I can save $2! It’s the best meal deal in town! For a beer and a burger I know I can find one of the best ½ lb burgers in town at McGrath’s Tavern. They also have a delicious pot roast, 10 local and national microbrews on tap and live entertainment! McGrath’s is where it’s at! On second thought, I’m thinking I really want a lobster roll. Merlino’s has THE BEST one I have EVER eaten in my life. Clearly, you can tell I love to eat!

Moving on to my best four footed friends, I need to head to Four Your Paw’s Only to pick up Keeper and Ziva’s dog food and treats. Did you know they have a huge pet BAKERY? ! It’s the biggest pet bakery I have ever seen! Boy, are there going to be two excited puppies when I get home! I am happy too, because with my ad from www.shopmtwashingtonvalley.com I can save 15% on Frontline & other flea/tick treatments, pet treats, and toys. Pet Parade in Conway also has a great stock of pet food, gear, and toys and they, too, have a 15% off coupon! This is a big savings for our furry friends.

And BTW, you can bring your pets with you next time because Karla’s Pet Rendezvous in Conway is a daycare/playcare facility and even cares for birds! They are amazing and even have a Vet on the premises.

My last shopping stop of the day will be to pick up a few birthday gifts. I can always find something for my mom at The Christmas Loft. That woman could celebrate Christmas ALL year long! The best part is that I can get a free ornament with my purchase with the coupon ad from my shopping guide! A new shop in town is Lochcarron of Scotland  for fine quality wool and cashmere clothing and outerwear. And kilts and tartans, too. For that really special gift there’s the Wedgwood & Waterford store that has greatly reduced outlet prices. I think mom is going to be very happy this year!

Phew, I’m exhausted! My final stops will be my “reward” stops, because shopping is hard work for a girl! I am first going to stop in for a specialty martini at The Stonehurst Manor, and then I will head to Tuckerman’s Tavern at the New England Inn and get a FREE potato skins appetizer, one of their amazing salads and pizza and finish off at the 1785 Inn & Restaurant and have a delicious dessert. I’ll be writing more soon in the FoodintheMountains.com website about all the amazing foody finds to be had in the Valley. Be sure to check that out, too.

As you can see, there are a LOT of choices to make when you shop and eat in the Mt. Washington Valley; today’s stops are just the TIP of the retail and food iceberg! North Conway, New Hampshire…it’s where it’s at! See you on the slopes, in the shops, or at the pub. Just get here and have fun! Oh, and bring your appetite! www.northconwaycoupons.com and NorthConwayVillage.com will show you the way!