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Bethel, Maine |
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Bethel is an excellent base for visiting western Maine and New Hampshire's White Mountains. |
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A well-known preparatory school called Gould Academy (founded 1836) and several good inns and restaurants attract visitors to Bethel. Should you have an extra hour to spend in Bethel, drop in at Dr Moses Mason House, 15 Broad Street (tel 207-824-2908), on the common, open in July and August. Moses Mason was a congressman during the Jackson administration, and had this Federal-style house built in 1813. Today it's furnished in antiques of the period and also holds several murals attributed to Rufus Porter. North on ME 26, is Grafton Notch State Park, which has a pretty waterfall named Screw Auger. West on US 2 is the White Mountains National Forest. Between Gilead ME and Shelburne NH the highway is lined with the famous Shelburne birches. It is rare to see so many of these unusual, lovely trees in one spot. In winter, Bethel is lively with skiers from nearby Sunday River Ski Resort, with some of the best (and earliest!) snow of all New England ski areas. Other ski resorts nearby include Mt Abram and Black Mountain.
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Above, The
Victoria, a grand bed-and-breakfast
inn in Bethel ME.
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