While the summer tourist trade won't peak until sometime after school lets out, Memorial Day weekend gives local businesses and attractions a mild forecast of things to come. NHPR's Sean Hurley visited some destination spots in the Mountain Washington Valley and sends us this report.
Standing beside the North Conway Scenic Railroad's Valley Train, Conductor Alex Schwarzmeiller gets ready to bellow in an old fashioned way at the top of his lungs.
All aboard!!!
As the train pulls away, Marketing Manager Susan Logan says ticket sales at the railroad are stronger than ever.
We grow a little bit every year. In terms of advance reservations for this year it's looking strong. So it's shaping up to be a really busy season.
Marti Mayne of the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce, says the Scenic Railroad isn't the only business in the Valley with a cheery outlook.
All indicators show that reservations are up over last year. The big story I think for the summer in the Mount Washington Valley is all of the new things that are happening at the attractions.
There's the new interactive Extreme Mount Washington experience at the summit of our extremest mountain and over at Attitash they're nearing completion of what's being billed as the longest single-span zipline in the contiguous United States.
And then there's the new rollercoaster at Story Land - Roar-o-Saurus.
It was listed as one of the top 10 insane roller coasters in the United States.
That's Story Land's Jack Mahany. Despite high expectations at the park, General Manager Eric Dziedzic says the rainy Saturday weather made for a slow opening day.
I expect tomorrow and Monday to be much better attended. But we're nowhere near what we should be doing.