Our home is on a wooded acre, about two miles from the small village of Bondville, at the base of Stratton Mountain -- a wonderful ski and summer resort. The house is also just seven miles from Bromley Mountain, a great family ski mountain that converts to an alpine adventure park in the summer.

For cross-country skiers, Stratton offers a nordic center at its Sun Bowl area; the Wild Wings Cross Country ski center is about seven miles away in Peru. Hildene -- Robert Todd Lincoln's historic home in Manchester -- also offers ski touring in the winter.

In the town of Bondville, you will find the basics: ATM, gas, two convenience stores, several ski shops, and about another mile south, a pizza parlor and gourmet cheese and beer shop. About eight miles away in Londonderry is a well-stocked grocery store -- Clark's -- as well as gas, hardware, a diner, etc.

The town of Manchester -- about 13 miles south -- is an outlet-store mecca, and also has several worthwhile restaurants, including Gringo Jack's and The Perfect Wife. We also love Al Ducci's for Italian take-out, and Mother Myrick's for chocolate. There is also a movie theater, and one of the best independent book stores in the northeast: The Northshire.

In summer, we frequent several swimming holes: Hapgood Pond in Peru, Emerald Lake in Dorset, the Stratton snowmaking pond on the mountain, Grout Pond in the town of Stratton, and one of the area's best features: the Manchester Recreation Center, which has not only a great pool, but tennis courts, playground, baseball diamonds and a skate park. On weekends, Stratton operates its gondola to the top of the mountain, which gives you access to a short hike to the Stratton fire tower. Stratton and Bromley are part of both the Long Trail and the Appalacian Trail, and there are dozens of spectacular hikes within 15 miles of the house.

For golfers, Stratton Mountain and The Equinox in Manchester boast well-respected courses.