Satisfying the Need for Speed . . . in New Hampshire?? -- It takes a certain sort of traveler to enjoy auto racing, but if you do -- or you want to learn about it -- central New Hampshire is actually a great place. The New Hampshire International Speedway (www.nhis.com) in Loudon, about 20 minutes' drive north from Concord near Canterbury Shaker Village, has become a wildly successful mile-long oval venue, hosting two important races each year. (It's been dubbed the "Magic Mile".) The races take place in July and mid-September, and they're competitive, exciting, and close-to-the-edge. Sometimes there are big crashes -- though the 2007 sale of the speedway raised fears that one of these two annual races will be moved to Las Vegas, depriving the region of substantial tourist income.
In case you don't know NASCAR from NASA, here's a quick primer. Race events are usually structured with three major races (sometimes two) over the course of a weekend. First there's truck racing (yes, pickup trucks racing around in circles). Next, NASCAR's Nationwide Series -- a sort of triple-A level of stock-car racing, one notch below the top tier -- takes over the track for a 200-lap race. Finally, on Sunday afternoon, the Sprint Cup Series big boys (guys like Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Jeff Gordon) strap in and go hard for 300 laps. Interested? Tickets are tight, but sometimes available; check the track's website for details about ordering and booking a room locally.
A Road Trip to Canterbury Shaker Village -- About a 20-minute drive north of Concord in Canterbury (take I-93 to exit 18, then follow the signs) is one of the best-preserved Shaker communities of the 18 that once existed in the eastern U.S., from Kentucky to Maine. Canterbury's Shaker village was founded in 1792. At its heyday in the late 19th century, 300 or so Shakers communally owned 4,000 acres and more than 100 buildings, supporting themselves by selling herbs, making furniture, and growing most of their own food.
Today, a graceful outdoor museum features about two dozen buildings. Tours are offered on the hour and last about 90 minutes; you'll view active herb gardens, the apiary, an impressive laundry facility, and an intriguing schoolhouse. You'll also learn a lot about this fascinating group of people who not only believed in equality of the sexes, but practiced it. They also practiced celibacy and pacifism, though they are perhaps best remembered today for the beguiling grace with which they crafted chairs, baskets, storage boxes, brooms, and buildings. After the tour, wander the trails that lace the property and enjoy the simple pleasures of the country air, check out the farm stand (open daily during the growing season), or browse the extensive gift shop for Shaker reproduction furniture, books, and New Hampshire handicrafts.
Call tel. 603/783-9511 or check online at www.shakers.org for additional information. Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $7 for children ages 6 to 17, and $37 for a family. It's open daily from mid-May through October, 10am to 5pm; in November, it's open Friday through Sunday only from 10am to 4pm.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
