summit of Mount Washinhton, from this place,
is accomplished on horseback. The distance to
the summit is 9 miles, about 5 of which are over
a comparatively smooth and level road, to the
base of the mountain.

These routes, particularly the latter, are very
inviting. The journey from Boston to Portland
may be made either by the Eastern Railroad,
which passes along the coast, through the beauti-
ful towns of Lynn, Salem, Newburyport, Ports-
mouth, and Saco; or by the Boston and Maine
Railroad, which runs a great part of the distance
upon a neaidy parallel route, a few miles in the
interior, passing by Andover, Lawrence, and
Haverhill, in Ms., Exeter, Dover, and Salmon
Falls, in N. H., and uniting with the eastern route
at South Berwick, Me.

From Portland, the route to Gorham, N. H.,
north of Mount Washington, has the recommen-
dation of being direct and expeditious, being all
the way by the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Rail-
road ; and when this road shall have been carried
through, to connect with the railroad already
opened upon the other end of the route, from
where it strikes the Connecticut River to Mon-
treal, this route will accommodate a great number
of visitors, especially those who have not the
time to spare for a visit to the Notch.

But the route from Portland by way of Sebago
Lake will be preferred, of course, by those who
wish to pass through the Notch, as well as to as-
cend the mountains. This is truly a delightful
route, presenting every variety of scenery which
these romantic regions afford. The passage of
30 miles through the lakes and the winding
streams which connect them, in a pleasant day,
is almost enchanting. At Bridgeton, too, the
traveller is in the vicinity of Pleasant Mountain,
described on p. 280, which, with its fine hotel,
and prospect upon the summit, offers a delightful
resting-place for any time which the tourist may
have to spare. After passing through the Notch,
this route continues to Littleton, on Connecticut
River, which is only 18 miles beyarcid Fabyan's
White Mountain House, and is the point to
which travellers are brought upon two or three
other favorite routes to this alpine region of the
north. One of these is that from Boston through
the Franconia Notch; and the distance from Lit-
tleton to the Lafayette House, near the Old Man
of the Mountain, in the passage through this Notch,
is only 12 miles. See p. 266.

2. From Boston, via, Dover, N. H., and Lake
Winnipiseogee.—From Boston, by the Boston
and Maine Railroad, or upper route to Portland,
as it is called, as far as Dover, N. H., 68 miles ;
thence by the Cocheco Railroad, through Roch-
ester, to Alton Bay, at the south-east extremity
of Lake Winnipiseogee, 28 miles, where passen-
gers take the elegant little steamboat which runs
upon the lake for Wolfboro', a distance of 10
miles; whence they pass by stage coaches to
Conway, 32 miles; and thence onward to the
White Mountains, by the remainder of the route,
as described in No. 1.

This is the shortest route between Boston and
the White Mountains, the whole distance to the
White Mountain House being only 174 miles.
It is likewise a very pleasant route, passing
through the fine towns of Andover, Lawrence,
Haverhill, Exeter, and Dover, on the upper route
to Portland, and then, after leaving that route,
furnishing the agreeable variety of a sail upon
the beautiful waters of the Winnipiseogee. At
Wolfboro' a spacious hotel has lately been erect-
ed, for the accommodation of travellers upon this
route.

3. From Boston, via Concord, N. H., and Lake
Winnipiseogee..— By railroad to Concord, 76
miles; thence by railroad to Weir's Station, on
the south-western shore of Lake Winnipiseogee,
33 miles from Concord; thence on the lake, 10
miles, to Centre Harbor; and thence by stage to
Fabyan's New House at Conway, 30 miles. From
Conway, by stage, the route is the same as de-
scribed in No. 1. The distance from Boston to
the White Mountain House, by this route, is 185
miles.

This route is one of great interest to the trav-
eller in all its parts. The section between Boston
and Concord passes through some of the finest
cultivated portions of Ms. and N. H., lying chiefly
along the valley of the Merrimack, on which are
situated the great manufacturing towns of Lowell,
Nashua, and Manchester. Concord, which is the
capital of N. H., is one of the handsomest places
in New England. From Concord, northward,
through the Merrimack and the Pemigewasset
valleys, the features of the route approach more
to wildness, but are, at the same time, picturesque
and lovely in a high degree.

The trip over the lake is also very agreeable in
a different way, affording a most delightful ex-
cursion upon the clear waters and among the
fairy islands of this miniature Archipelago, and
bringing up at the pleasantly-situated and well-
kept hotel of Mr. Coe, at Centre Harbor. Be-
tween this place and Conway, the route lies by
Red Hill and Chocorua Mountain, the former of
which is easily ascended from Centre Harbor,
and affords a delightful view of the Winnipiseo-
gee and the surrounding country. The travel-
ling public are much indebted to the enterprise
of Captain William Walker, formerly of Con-
cord, who was the first to make the experiment
of placing upon this lovely sheet of water a
steamboat, fitted up and furnished in such a style
as to be worthy of their patronage.

4. From Boston, via Concord, N. H., and the
Franconia Notch. — To Concord by railroad, 76
miles ; thence by railroad, on the same route as
in No. 3, to Meredith Bridge, 27 miles from Con-
cord; to Weir's Station, on Lake Winnipiseogee,
6 miles ; to Plymouth, 18 miles. From Plymouth
the route is north by stage up the Pemigewasset
valley, to the Flume House, 24 miles; thence
through the Franconia Notch, by the Old Man
of the Mountain, to the Lafayette House, 5 miles.
From this place, the stage route is to Littleton,
12 miles, and from Littleton to the White Moun-
tain House, as described in other routes, 18 miles ;
making the whole distance from Boston 186
miles.

Some time and travel may be saved, when at
the Lafayette House, by taking a private convey-
ance direct to Bethlem and the White Mountain
House, ouly 16 miles—reducing the distance
from Boston to 172 miles.

This route, besides the part which is common
to this and No. 3, is much admired on account
of the ride which it affords through the Franco-
nia Notch. This should certainly be enjoyed,
either in going or returning, by all visitors to the
White Mountains. The whole country has scarce-
ly any excursion to offer more agreeably exciting
than the trip from Plymouth to Littleton, through