January 10 , 2009:
Shopping in the Mt. Washington Valley - North Conway, NH

Winter '09 is in full swing here and once again all the locals and our many visitors are taking full advantage of the Valley's offerings. Besides the awesome local ski and board conditions and numerous other outdoor activities, one of the many benefits of our area is the SHOPPING! We are SO lucky to be surrounded by many one-of-a-kind shops where you can find anything from North Conway tee shirts to locally made goods. But if you're looking for national name brands, we can help with that too, look no further than the more than 200 name brand factory outlet stores that call Mt. Washington Valley home.

OK, lets get serious and start our day of shopping in North Conway Village! My first stop has to be Wild Things! for some new Smartwool socks in the newest and coolest styles. These socks will keep your toes warm on the chilliest of slopes and they won't stretch or fade. I also couldn't resist getting that cute, white and black striped Spider ski hat, it goes perfect with my new ski pants from Eastern Mountain Sports! I'm going with a black and white themed winter ensemble this year!

Next, I stopped by Mt. Cranmore to say hi to some friends and then go pick up a pair of Burton mittens from the Wildcat Ski Area ski shop These are the best mittens you could want to hit the slopes in style, and with the sherpa and fleece on the inside, my hands will never get cold and of course, they give me some cred on the mountains with the cool and cute snowboarders dudes.

Next, I'm off to the Red Jersey to get that pair of Oakley goggles I've been eyeing. These are an absolute must have! You need to look good on the slopes while you're enjoying the local mountains with your friends! If they don't have the style I like I can always head over to The Bike Shop. They too have a good selection of cool eyewear.

Whoa, I need a little break. So I stop by Teeny Bean to get a cup of dark brewed coffee and read The Conway Daily Sun; a lady must always be up-to-date on local and world issues! While I enjoy this cup of joe, I plot my next move ... hmmm, where to go next?! I decide to head down the strip to Ski & Snowboard Liquidators to look at the new twin tip skis and boards and pick up a discounted ski ticket to Mt. Cranmore or Wildcat. After that I'm heading across the street to the newly relocated L.L.Bean outlet, where I invest in some fleece pants and new slippers to keep warm at night after a long day on the slopes. And just in case they don't have what I want, I'll call IME, International Mountain Equipment or Ragged Mountain to see what they have for fleece deals. There is always a good buy and great deals at all of these outdoor recreation shops.

All right, my ski attire is all set and matched perfectly; I give myself an A+ for style! Next I need the perfect outfit for date night with that cute skier I met at Zip's Pub at Cranmore. Hmmm... what says I am fun loving, have a great sense of humor and love adventure more than a stylish outfit to impress my suitor! Lets see, I'll start out in Banana Republic and pick up that cute, silky green v-neck tank that will go perfectly with that pair of dark rinse jeans from Labonville I just got. Now, I really need that wide, low-slung leather belt from J.Crew to complete this outfit AND how about that cute 3-4 sleeved cardigan hanging in the corner to pull it all together! It's a match! I know I saw this outfit on the pages of Elle! OK, now for shoes ... or even better boots! I head over to Super Shoes to see what kind of stylish, yet practical, winter boots they have. And there they are, staring right back at me as I walk in the front door, my dream boots! Tall, yet shapely and fit me to a T, Perfect to tuck my new jeans into! The leather in the belt and these boots are a perfect match! Finally, I am going to go to Aaron Hats "Get a Hat On" where I will be able to chose from more than 200 hat styles to "cap" off and make my perfect date outfit complete, But wait a minute. A girl can't go out without be-dazzling in jewelry! And for that I head over to find the perfect long necklace at The Penguin. I love the simple look of the silk and beaded necklace. Not too flashy but it definitely makes a statement. Now I'm ready!

After all that shopping, I realize that this body needs some lunch. Hmm ... what am I in the mood for? ... That's it! I need a fresh-made pizza from the Upcountry Saloon, they and Elvio's and Brandli's have daily specials and they're the freshest around! and rinse it down with a locally brewed Tuckerman's Ale. Better yet, I'll made the drive over to the New England Inn and chose from more then 25 beer on tap at their Tuckerman's Tavern. Awww, what could be better? Dessert! Yup, that'll do it for me...and is so worth the drive back to town for the ...ewwww...so delicious homemade chocolates at the Bavarian Chocolate Haus.

After a long day of shopping and feasting, I'm ready for anything, whether be hitting the slopes or a fun dinner date. That's what's so great about North Conway and Mt. Washington Valley, no matter what you need or want, you can find it here! Happy shopping! And to be sure you don't miss any shopping or adventure or food fun while you are here...be sure to check out hospitalitymaps.com for all the latest in fashion, food and fun in the White Mountains.