The Town That Stole Our Afternoon: A New Hampshire Detour
The road wound through the New Hampshire countryside, where hills dressed in autumn colours seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance.
Every bend offered another postcard-perfect view.
We were enjoying the drive when two little towns, Littleton and Bethlehem, decided to steal our afternoon… and we were more than happy to let them.
Littleton was meant to be a brief stop.
Instead, its charming streets, colourful murals, and beautifully preserved buildings drew us in.
The Ammonoosuc River flowed through town, its unusual name catching our curiosity.
It comes from the language of the Abenaki, the Native American people of this region, and means ‘small, narrow fishing place’.
Apparently, the river had a story to tell long before tourists discovered its charms.
The Riverwalk Covered Bridge was another attraction.
With its traditional wooden design, it looked as though it had been transported from another century.
In reality, it was completed in 2004, built to connect downtown with riverside walking trails and provide easier access to the senior centre.
Its 352-foot structure was a reminder that even a modern bridge can wear history rather beautifully.
By now, our brief stop in Littleton had become a leisurely exploration.
But there was another town waiting along our route.
A short drive through the autumn-coloured countryside brought us to Bethlehem, a place with a very different character.
Once a stagecoach stop, it later became a popular summer retreat for visitors seeking fresh mountain air.
And then we discovered Super Secret Ice Cream.
In a village that seemed so quiet and unassuming, we were surprised to find an ice-cream establishment attracting a healthy crowd.
There was a wonderful sense of pride about the place—not just in its ice cream, but in its products, its story and its history.
It clearly wasn’t just somewhere to grab a quick cone; it was a local institution with a following.
The moment we took our first lick, we understood why!
What began as a quick detour became one of the most delightful afternoons of our trip.
Perhaps that is the magic of travel.
The best discoveries are not always famous landmarks.
Sometimes they are little towns with unusual river names, bridges with stories to tell, and an ice-cream parlour that takes its craft seriously.
All we need to do is leave a little room in our plans for the unexpected.
