Program features Sugar-on-Snow, Facebook photo contest, and maple cooking demos
Owned by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, The Rocks partners each year with area inns and other businesses to celebrate maple sugaring season. The Maple Tour includes an interactive step-by-step demonstration of crafting maple syrup, complete with a visit to the onsite sugar house. New to the program this year is the option to enjoy sugar-on-snow, where syrup is heated and drizzled over snow to create a toffee-like concoction that’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
“With the Maple Experience, we strive to provide a fun, educational program for visitors of all ages, while collaborating with other area businesses to showcase the beauty and creativity of our area,” said Nigel Manley, longtime Rocks Estate manager. “We keep the Maple Experience fresh by adding new features each season.”
A horse-drawn wagon ride through the historic 1,400-acre estate, and a syrup tasting – complete with the requisite sour pickle – make the Maple Tour a delight of the senses. In honor of the traditional pairing of sweet syrup and sour pickle – and the requisite “sour pickle face” – this year The Rocks will hold a Facebook competition featuring photos of Maple Experience visitors enjoying the delicious sweet-and-sour combination.
Also new this season is the “Taste of New Hampshire Maple,” featuring a variety of local chefs who will give cooking demonstrations at The Rocks during the Maple Experience. Each chef will prepare a recipe that incorporates maple syrup. Onlookers will be invited to sample the finished product, and each recipe will be printed and available for visitors to take home.
The New Hampshire Maple Experience is scheduled for March 17, 24, 25, and 31, April 1 and 7, with tours taking place throughout the day. Reservations are highly recommended, but walk-ins are welcome on a space available basis.
During the tour, visitors will learn how to identify the sugar maple trees that produce the sweet sap for making syrup, discover the history of maple sugaring, and see part of the process demonstrated by fourth-generation sugar maker Brad Presby.
The Maple Experience also includes a visit to the interactive maple museum and education center featuring maple sugaring artifacts from the extensive collection of legendary Sugar Hill sugar maker Charlie Stewart. The museum and sugar house are in one of the many historic Rocks Estate buildings restored for modern use.
The Rocks staff will be serving up piping hot pancakes for hungry visitors, as well as selling mixes from the famous Polly’s Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill. Maple Experience visitors will receive coupons to Polly’s, which will open early this year, on March 17. Polly’s will be open weekends through May 12, when it begins daily operation through the fall.
Kingdom Kettle Korn will be popping and selling its delicious maple kettle corn at The Rocks during Maple Tours. Local businesses Lahout’s and Chutters help sponsor the Maple Experience.
For those looking to turn the Maple Experience into a weekend-long North Country stay, The Rocks is again partnering with local inns to offer weekend vacation packages. Visit www.therocks.org/vacations.php to find participating lodging establishments.
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