VISITOR’S GUIDE

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Photography by Wendy Voorhis Connecting the region Granite State Rail Trail a tourist draw and economic engine On a beautiful afternoon in June 2013, Melanie Davis and Carmel Shea were at the end of their bicycle ride on the Derry Rail Trail. Hungry and thirsty, the two friends looked around downtown Derry for some place they might be able to grab a snack and an iced coffee. And while they saw plenty of great restaurants and lunch spots in downtown Derry, Davis and Shea said they didn’t see any coffee shops, or any other downtown establishments where they would be comfortable entering clad in bike gear and carrying their helmets. Davis said at that time both she and Shea were at a crossroads in their respective careers. So in true entrepreneurial fashion, the two set out to solve the problem that they encountered. Such was the spark for the opening, nearly a year later, of The Grind Rail Trail Cafe, a community-focused, bicycle-themed specialty coffee bar in historic downtown Derry that offers organic coffee, smoothies, and protein drinks as well as healthy snacks, like granola and fruit cups, that cater to the needs of bicyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts. Since opening in the spring of 2014, however, The Grind has found it has appeal beyond the bicycling community. Indeed, the two said, winter is their busiest season, attracting crosscountry skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers who use the rail trail in colder months. The coffee shop-cum-community hub is also popular with employees at the Derry Municipal Center, as well as area residents who have never set foot on the trail. But it is the rail trail that provided, and continues to provide, economic stimulus, not just to The Grind, but to much of downtown Derry and surrounding communities. Technically speaking, the Derry Rail Trail is but a part of the larger Granite State Rail Trail, which stretches more than 100 miles, from Salem, N.H., on the Massachusetts border, north and west to Lebanon, N.H., on the Vermont border. At approximately eight miles in length, the combined Derry Rail 10 GREATER DERRY LONDONDERRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Visit us online
Trail and Windham Rail Trail is the longest paved section of the Granite State Rail Trail, and the longest section of paved abandoned rail corridor in New Hampshire. From Derry, the trail continues north into Londonderry, which currently has a one-mile section of trail paved, from North Elementary School to the North Londonderry Park & Ride, located just off I-93 Exit 5. An additional section of the trail, from the Park & Ride to Liberty Drive, stretching east toward Derry, will be paved in the spring of 2015. The greater Derry-Londonderry section of the Granite State Rail trail is located along the former Manchester and Lawrence line, built in the mid-1800s by the now-defunct Boston & Maine Railroad. The last train to operate on the branch line ran in the early 1970s, and the rails themselves were removed for salvage in the early 1980s. From that time until the early 2000s, the abandoned rail corridor operated as multi-use trail. In 2003, however, the State of New Hampshire prohibited motorized vehicles from using the trail. BICYCLISTS, WALKERS, DOG WALKERS, RUNNERS, KIDS, SENIORS, CROSS COUNTRY SKIERS, AND SNOWSHOERS - THE TRAIL HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. ” Mark Connors, Derry Rail Trail Alliance Sections of the trail then began to be paved in 2006 using, in true New Hampshire fashion, predominantly private funds to complete the paving. 2006 also saw the opening of the “kitchen” portion of the Windham Junction Country Gift Shop & Kitchen, just a stone’s throw from the trail. Kay Normington, who operates the store and restaurant with her husband Jon, said the business has certainly benefited from its proximity to the trail and the pedestrian and bicycle traffic it attracts. Trail activities • Walking • Jogging • Bicycling • Roller blading • Horse riding • Dog walking • Cross country skiing • Snowshoeing • Snowmobiling www.gdlchamber.org 096794 Access everything that counts, everywhere you go. NBT Bank Mobile Banking puts banking at your fingertips. You’ll have the ability to view transactions, transfer money, make deposits and pay bills anytime, anywhere. It’s our way of making your banking experience as convenient as possible—and now more than ever, convenience counts. Visit nbtbank.com/mobile Londonderry 68 Nashua Road 603.425.2740 Manchester 80 Canal Street 603.623.2007 Nashua 221 Main Street 603.578.2652 Member FDIC Print Local Books, comic books, catalogues, program booklets, fundraising materials, business cards, post cards, magazines.... CALL US TODAY: 603-625-1855 ext 33 Design, Print and Logistics HippoPrints. We make it easier. GREATER DERRY LONDONDERRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 11
Page 1 and 2: 2015 Greater Derry Londonderry VISI
Page 3 and 4: Dear Friends, On behalf of the Grea
Page 5 and 6: Transportation GETTING HERE BY CAR
Page 7 and 8: COMMUNITY PROFILES NOW OPEN! Red Ar
Page 9: Windham Windham is a thriving commu
Page 13 and 14: Connecticut tell her he drove all t
Page 15 and 16: Outdoor Activities A & A Balloon Ri
Page 17 and 18: 097108 A Challenging 18 Hole Execut
Page 19 and 20: Moonlight Meadery 23 Londonderry Ro
Page 21 and 22: Pubs The Halligan Tavern 32 W. Broa
Page 23 and 24: Derry Medical Center 6 Buttrick Roa
Page 25 and 26: TLCM Environmental Engineering, LLC
Page 27 and 28: BPW / Greater Londonderry www.bpwgr
Page 29 and 30: Thousands of things to do at your f
Page 31 and 32: Benway-Johnston Insurance, Inc. (60
Page 33 and 34: Marcia Dolgin Fine Images (781) 784
Page 35 and 36: No matter what your medical needs a

VISITOR’S GUIDE

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?