Spring        Link to Local Events

Spring: The Mt. Washington Valley bursts full of life in the spring. The melting snow swells the rivers and streams, which thunder over rocks and falls with a sound that seems to say, "It's finally here!" Overhead, migrating birds return from their winter feeding grounds. The floor of the woodland smells musty and full of life. Bright green fiddleheads unfurl. Delicate ladyslipes, trillium, and other early bloomers flower in a forest yet to display its laves. Springtime in the valley's alpine tundra reaches its peak in June when the gardens begin to show their blossoms.

Spring is an ideal, slower paced time of year to visit. Roads bustle with bicyclists, joggers, and walkers as residents and visitors alike welcome the return of warmer weather. Some people even consider spring to be the best season of all for skiing. While golfers may be teeing off on the valley floor, snowmaking allows many slopes and trails to remain open long after the daffodils have flowered to the south. Spring is prime time to ski Tuckerman Ravine on Mt. Washington.

It's also a time to leisurely explore the valley's nooks and crannies. Some of the shops that are closed in the winter now reopen with a flourish and often even a sale. From antiques and crafts to specialty shops, each offers a variety of items, many of which are unique to the valley. Additionally, there are the tax-free outlet shops, stocking everything from clothes to china to kitchenware on their shelves. You name it and you'll find it in one of the valley's outlet stores.

All in all, spring is a relaxing, easy-paced season which reaches its climax with the opening of most of the area attractions during weekends in May.