Things to Do in Berlin

Tucked away in New Hampshire’s picturesque White Mountains, SledVentures Snowmobile Rentals takes full advantage of its scenic perch. The outdoor adventure emporium beckons visitors to explore the paths at its back door, encouraging them to zoom across the Appalachian Trail, coast through mountainous state parks, and burst through the front door of any log cabin they encounter. The snowmobiles themselves come equipped with useful amenities such as hand warmers and electric starters, and are easily navigable for beginning, intermediate, and advanced riders.

It seemed inevitable that the owners would found Northeast Mountaineering, as both grew up in central Massachusetts and both have ascended an array of local and faraway mountains, including Mt. McKinley. With another experienced climber in tow, Northeast Mountaineering's trio of climbers share their passion for the outdoors with pupils during climbs up Mt. Adams, Mt. Washington, or custom trails forged by their pet mountain goats. They also orchestrate trips to Ecuador to climb the second-highest mountain in the country, the 19,347-foot Mt. Cotopaxi. As certified Wilderness First Responders, each guide is dedicated to safe climbing techniques, which they instill in students during courses that are tailored to all skill levels.

Absolute Adventure Tours' seasoned guides outfit riders in gloves, goggles, and helmets before waving small groups of Polaris ATVs onto the paths that wind through Jericho Mountain State Park. Excursions begin daily at 8:30 a.m. at Absolute PowerSports and RV with a discourse about safety before patrons caravan to the park and take a spin on four-wheel-drive, automatic ATVs with windshields and storage bins for personal items or miniature conscience doppelgängers. Adventurers as young as 6 cling to parent chaperones while roadsters prowl through moss-laden bogs and take in panoramic mountain views for three hours. Frequent pit stops, including a lunch break, foster opportunities for exploration on foot. Tours wind down by 2 p.m., dispatching riders to enjoy the park by taking a dip in the lake or panning for gold.

For nine years running, New England Brewfest has assembled a coterie of craft breweries to get more than 100 taps flowing with their unique creations. This year, the event includes 30 breweries, and each of them will treat every guest through the gates with complimentary samples of small-batch beverages and reasonably priced high-fives. Exhibitors range from Magic Hat and Peak Organic Brewing Company to Angry Orchard Hard Cider and Twisted Tea. You can also take in brewing demonstrations and learn about the creation of items such as beer-infused jelly.

Organizers require that guests present ID at the entrance, and recommend bringing a folding chair and comfortable dancing shoes. These items come in handy when absorbing the sweet rhythms of live music acts such as the Rustic Overtones and Air Traffic Controller.

At Glazey Days, shelves upon shelves of unembellished ceramic pieces await colorful brushstrokes to help them reach their aesthetic potential. The robust collection ranges from bowls, plates, and mugs to picture frames and vases. Free to follow their own creative instincts, the shop's visitors personalize and decorate chosen pieces using an arsenal of painting tools, such as stencils, brushes, and sponges. Afterward, the Glazey Days staff finalizes the process by firing and glazing finished pieces and has them ready for pickup within a week. For further inspiration, Glazey Days keeps its selection stocked with themed pieces for different seasons and holidays and hosts special events, such as couples nights and BYOB nights.

Continuously operated by the Lahout family since 1920, Lahout’s Country Clothing and Ski Shop has supplied four generations of shoppers with winter-sports gear and backcountry apparel. Patagonia, North Face, and Columbia clothing highlights their collection of seasonal apparel, while their on-site ski shop rents out skis and snowboards and offers fast turn-around on tune-ups.