As I detailed in a prior post, we swapped Florida beaches for the crisp mountain air at Smugglers Notch Resort in Vermont for our big spring break adventure this year. But before we hit the slopes, we made the drive from Maine to Vermont, and we had a detour planned that was sweeter than any candy store: a stop at The Rocks, a Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests property. Now, this wasn’t your average roadside attraction. This was a full-fledged maple sugar operation steeped in history (and, more importantly for my sugar-crazed crew, deliciousness!).
The Scene:
Pulling into The Rocks in Bethlehem, NH was like stepping into a New England postcard. A long winding drive up to a beautiful wooden learning center, a cozy sugar shack nestled amongst maple trees, smoke curling from the chimney, and that unmistakable scent of maple in the air – pure magic! The boys were instantly hooked, even my two-year-old who usually reserves his enthusiasm for things with flashing lights and questionable sound effects. Nature truly has a way of captivating little minds.
The Process:
The best part? We didn’t just get to witness the process, we got to be part of it! I set up a private tour for our family of 7, plus Grampa and Mimi got to come along.
Our tour guide, Nigel, a friendly gentleman with a British accent, showed us the ropes (literally!). We learned how to tap a maple tree ourselves – yes, the boys got to drill a tiny hole and hammer in a spout, which let’s just say, was a highlight for them (and maybe a tiny bit nerve-wracking for me!). Then came the coolest part: tasting the sap straight from the tree! It wasn’t sweet like syrup yet, but it had this fresh, clean flavor that was unlike anything they’d ever experienced.
And then came another treat: touring the sugarhouse itself. It was like a scene straight out of a history book, with antique sap buckets made from logs, pictures dating back ages, and a massive evaporator used to transform clear sap into that golden liquid gold we all love. Nigel explained the entire sugaring process, and the boys were mesmerized as they imagined the sap magically transforming into thick, syrupy goodness.
Exploring the property, we followed the network of maple tubing lines snaking through the trees, like a secret network of sugary goodness back to the learning center. The boys were fascinated by this whole operation, from tree to tap to tubing, and peppered the tour guide with endless questions (bless him for his patience!).
The Reward:
Of course, no trip to a sugarhouse is complete without sampling the product! We were served tiny paper cups of that yummy syrup, and let me tell you, that first bite was pure heaven. This wasn’t the artificial, overly sweet stuff you get at the store. The flavor was rich, complex, and tasted like the very essence of New Hampshire. But what truly brought out the flavor was a secret tradition… a sour pickle!
Yes, you read that right. The best way to cleanse the palate and bring out the true taste of the syrup was to first take a big bite of a pickle. And right after that, we got to dip apple cider donuts into the gooey goodness! Needless to say, the boys devoured their samples in seconds, and we left with a jug of maple syrup for a souvenir and a sugar high that lasted for days.
The Take Away:
It was a full-on educational experience. The boys learned about sustainable forestry practices, as The Rocks is dedicated to protecting these beautiful maple forests. But the maple adventure didn’t end there! Inspired by The Rocks and fueled by some serious Googling (thanks, Papi!), we decided to recreate a taste of New England right there in our own condo once we reached Smuggler’s Notch. Papi whipped out the maple syrup we had purchased, and with some careful melting and pouring onto the freshly fallen snow, he created our own batch of maple candy! The boys were ecstatic, watching the syrup transform into a taffy-like treat, and of course, devouring it in seconds.
So, if you’re ever planning a trip to New England, especially with kiddos, The Rocks is a must-do. It’s a fun, educational, and delicious experience that the whole family will enjoy. And who knows, you might just discover your new favorite maple syrup – and even inspire some backyard sugaring adventures of your own! Check them out on Facebook and Instagram!