May Street Smarts: A quickie guide to a few shops in Jefferson

History, beauty and craftsmanship found north of the notches

1. Looking for some new perennials to add to your victory garden? Stop in at Perennial Concerns. Located at the top of a steep drive off of Route 2, you’ll find a wonderfully diverse variety of hardy blooms and greens that will survive New Hampshire’s seasons. The nursery is open for retail from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays only. (603) 586-7973.

2. Six Gun City presents a trip into the old frontier days. Take a stroll down main street of the old west. Enjoy rides, cowboy skits and demonstrations, such as how to load and shoot a muzzle loader. Cool off in the Fort Splash water park, play a game of mini-golf or laser tag. Located at 1492 Presidential Highway, Rte. 2. Opens last weekend of May through first weekend of September.
(603) 586-4592 www.sixguncity.com

3. Stop in and visit the showroom for Cherry Pond Designs on Route 115A (716 Meadows Road). Here you’ll find high-quality solid wood Shaker-style furniture for the bedroom, dining room and more. Each piece is produced to be heirloom quality. Choose from five distinctive styles.
www.cherryponddesigns.com
(603) 586-7795

4. You may wish to stay at the Jefferson Inn, a historic bed and breakfast housed in an 1896 Victorian on Route 2. Innkeepers Eric and Gwen Higgins offer 11 guest rooms with private baths (some 2 bedroom family suites). The inn is decorated with period antiques. Sit on the wrap-around porch and experience breathtaking mountain views. It’s just a short drive to Jefferson’s two famous amusement parks (Six Gun City and Santa’s Village), antique shops and summer theatre. (603) 586-7998

5. Play a round of golf at New Hampshire’s oldest 18-hole golf course. Waumbek Golf Course, built in 1895, offers breathtaking views of the Presidential Range on every hole. Have lunch outdoors on the deck of the clubhouse. Open to the public. Route 2 (Presidential Highway), across from the Jefferson Inn.
www.playgolfne.com/wb/
(603) 586-7777

6. On the edge of the Waumbek Golf Course, a church that was built in 1868 is now the home for the Jefferson Historical Society Museum. Learn about hometown heroes, such as Thaddeus S.C. Lowe — a pioneer aeronaut during the Civil War and inventor of several important devices used in observing the atmosphere and processing metal. Hours: Tues., Thurs. and Saturday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. June through Columbus Day. For more information on upcoming exhibits contact Joe Marshall, president, at (603) 586-7021.