In days gone by, many New England families made a trek along the Mohawk Trail at least once. Today the Trail has a nostalgic ’40s and ’50s feel to it, but it’s still fun. Small restaurants and little shops, including some owned by Native Americans, still line the trail and make for interesting stops. Don’t miss “Hail to the Sunrise,” a 900-lb. bronze casting of a Native American that honors the tribes whose members were the first to use the Mohawk Trail. Nearby Historic Deerfield is a must for history buffs with its 18th- and 19th-century homes and a tavern, most still on their original sites.
Why not continue up to New Hampshire and visit its magnificent lakes, including famous Squam Lake in Holderness, setting for the film On Golden Pond. Check out Lake Winnipesaukee, too, the sixth-largest naturally formed lake in the country. Its name means “Smile of the Great Spirit” and the lake is known by anglers around the world for its terrific bass fishing. With state parks and plenty of swimming holes, you’ll find plenty to do on a hot summer day.