Bethlehem consists of Main Street and a handful of side streets. Several antiques stores clustered in what passes for downtown are worth browsing. Bethlehem once was home to 38 resort hotels; little evidence of them remains. For a better understanding of the town's history, pick up a copy of An Illustrated Tour of Bethlehem, Past and Present, available at shops around town. This informative guide brings to life many of the graceful old homes and buildings of the past.
Harking back to its more genteel era, Bethlehem still offers two well-maintained 18-hole golf courses amid beautiful North Country scenery. Call for hours and greens fees. Both the municipal Bethlehem Country Club (tel. 603/869-2176) and private Maplewood Country Club (tel. 603/869-3335) are on Route 302 (Main St.) in Bethlehem.
West of Bethlehem on Route 302 is The Rocks (tel. 603/444-6228; www.therocks.org), a classic Victorian gentleman's farm that today is the headquarters for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. This 1883 estate on 1,200 acres has a well-preserved shingled house, a handsome barn, and hiking trails that meander through meadows and woodlands. It's a peaceful spot, perfect for a picnic. The society also operates a Christmas-tree farm. Admission is free; open daily from dawn to dusk.
