Story Land Tips & Tricks (from Long-Time Season Pass Holders) - New Hampshire

We’ve been going to Story Land for forever it seems - I went yearly as a child back in the 80’s and 90’s, and now we’ve been season pass holders for the last 10 years. This may be our last year as season pass holders as our kids are getting too old to make Story Land trips a regular occurrence, but we’ve learned a lot over the years and I thought I would share some of our tips, tricks, and hacks with you. | This post is not sponsored. Contains personal opinion/reviews and affiliate links |

Disclaimer: This post shares opinions and tips based on our personal experiences. Please be aware that you may encounter things differently and things are subject to change. Please do your own research.

Story Land is a family-focused story book themed amusement park in Glen, NH.

Consider Season Passes

If you’re a New Hampshire local (like us), or come up to the area at least 2-3x a year, Season Passes are definitely the way to go! They can pay for themselves in just two visits. Make sure to pay attention to levels of passes when purchasing as some have blackout dates and some have different perks - like discounts for food, merchandise, free “Buddy Passes,” or tickets to Living Shores Aquarium next door. It’s also really nice not feel pressure to do or see it all when we’re at Story Land because we know we can catch something next time; it gives us a lot of flexibility to just come for a few hours when we want.
PRO TIP: Buy season passes ahead of time for the following season on Black Friday! That’s typically when prices are lowest.

Buy Day Tickets Ahead (if not Season Pass Holders)

If possible, NEVER buy tickets at the gate - always buy ahead online. Buying ahead gives you the best deal on day tickets. Sometimes they can be be 50% or more off depending on current offers, though you may have to buy a week or more in advance to get the best deal.

“Final Three = Next Day Free!”**

Story Land often has a promotion where if you first enter the park in the final 3 hours of operation you can come back the next day for free! This is a great way to get some extra time in the park, especially if you’re from out of the area and staying in a hotel locally.
**NOTE: We have seen this offer come and go over the years — some years they offer it, some years they don’t. Do your research and confirm with customer service in writing if they are currently honoring that offer and how best to use it with dated tickets before you try to use it.

Paid Parking

New last year, Story Land is now asking you pay to park in certain lots (namely the ones surrounding the park), though free parking is included with Season Passes. Parking across the street in the dirt lot is still free and there is a pedestrian tunnel under the road to safely cross. (Personal note: I am really disappointed about this change - I don’t think they should be charging for parking.)

Bag Policy

Make sure to check Story Land’s bag policy before coming. It’s new in the last few years, but be prepared for security to check your bags on the way in and limitations on the size of bags brought in (exceptions can be made for diaper bags or medical supplies). And just like before, Story Land still does not allow glass bottles/containers or hard sided coolers brought in.

Now that I don't need a diaper bag these days I pack light and simple - a Lululemon Belt Bag with wallet, phone, keys, and hand sanitizer. That's really all you need and it's small enough to wear on almost all rides.

Story Land is Cash-Free

Starting a few years ago Story Land became a cash-free park. This means they ONLY accept credit card/debit cards for payments at all places (food, gift shops, concession stands, etc) in the park - so make sure to bring your plastic with you ;) If you forget or don’t have a credit card, there are machines in the parks that can transfer cash onto pre-paid gift cards that can be used instead.

Pack a Lunch

This is an easy way to save big if you come frequently - make sure to pack your lunch to avoid paying for over priced food and drinks in the park. You can leave your lunch cooler in your car and go out* and have a “parking lot picnic” (*don’t forget to get your hand stamped on the way out so you can re-enter the park!) or you can bring your lunch into the park with you as long as it fits in with Story Land’s bag policy and doesn’t contain glass containers. When our youngest was a baby we used to always eat our lunch on the train - that way the baby could take her time finishing her bottle while my oldest ate her sandwich and no one felt like we were missing out on anything - we’d just ride the train in circles until everyone was done.

Consider Baby Wearing Over a Stroller

I have been doing Story Land for years - with babies, pregnant, not pregnant, with toddlers, with pre-teens, etc. - and I am solidly in the camp “no stroller.” Personally I find it so much easier to just have everything on my person and not have to worry about watching a stroller or coming back for a stroller if we decide to get off at a different train stop, etc - and not to mention it’s much easier navigating crowds and the giant hill in the middle of the park (which is avoidable if you choose to go around - but it’s a nice shortcut) without a stroller. Story Land also isn’t a huge park, it’s very walkable and doable without a stroller for most people. I always wore our baby/toddler in a front carrier and then carried a backpack as a diaper bag that had all the essentials - diapers, lunch, bottles, etc. Obviously everyone has their own preferences and if you decide to use a stroller or wagon that’s totally fine but this is what I found to be the best for our family in this park.

Plenty to Do and See with Infants or While Pregnant

If you’re pregnant or have an infant it will limit what you can do - no rollercoasters or thrill rides for example. However there is still a reasonable amount of things to see and do - make sure to check the ride information boards at each ride to see if it’s suitable for infants or pregnant women and obviously use your best judgement and advice from your doctors on what you can/can’t do. It’s better to play it safe.

Walk Up to Cinderella’s Castle, Then Ride Down

This is a simple tip I’ve realized over the years - WALK UP to Cinderella’s Castle, and then ride the Pumpkin Coach DOWN. Most people feel the need to ride up to Cinderella’s Castle to get the full effect, but if you don’t mind doing it a little backwards you can walk up to the Castle (over a really pretty bridge, mind you), meet Cinderella, and then get in line to ride the Pumpkin Coach back down. The line at the top to ride back down is almost always considerably shorter than the line at the bottom to ride up - and often there isn’t even a line at the top at all!

Take Your Own Picture with Cinderella

At Cinderella’s Castle you can stand in line to meet her and get your photo taken by a staff photographer, which is available for purchase afterwards at a little desk by the exit. Thankfully though you can take your own cell phone photo while you’re there and aren’t obligated to buy the Story Land photo which is rather expensive.

The Roar-O-Saurus is ROUGH

The Roar-O-Saurus is the wooden rollercoaster in the back of the park; it has highest height requirement of all the rides at Story Land and is meant for older kids and adults. It’s a great wooden roller coaster and quite thrilling - but be warned it’s ROUGH riding it. The ride is very jolting and “jittery.” There are signs on the loading dock warning you to take everything out of your pockets and leave it in cubbies on the platform because they will be shaken out (my husband can attest to that… his wallet shook right out of his pants pocket once!). They even have a white board tally behind the operator logging how many items have been lost so far that season on the ride.
(Personal Note: Unfortunately this ride hurts my neck so I don’t ride it.)

Pack Your Swimsuit for Moo Lagoon

New in the last few years is Moo Lagoon - a splash pad/water slide park located where the old Oceans of Fun splash pad was. If you’d like to take advantage of Moo Lagoon make sure to wear or bring your swimsuit to change into. Appropriate swim wear without buckles or anything that can “catch” is needed to use the water slides - and they don’t allow you to wear glasses of any kind on the waterslides, including eyeglasses.
One thing to note is that the entrance stairs to the three tallest slides is outside of the main Moo Lagoon area. This makes it tricky to always have eyes on your little ones so keep that in mind.

Don’t Sleep on the Live Shows!

The live shows at Story Land are always fun too - there’s usually several different shows a day, throughout the day. They have musical shows with live singing, a farm follies show with characters and animatronics, Daniel Tiger shows, and more. In past years they used to have a magician show which we really enjoyed (and I hope they’ll bring back again). Make sure to check the schedule to see what shows are when. The shows can be great for downtime and cooling off in the AC on hot days too!

Add-On Experiences

Story Land also offers some add-on experiences like a Character Breakfast or Tea with Cinderella. These are booked and paid for in addition to your day ticket or Season Pass. We’ve done the Cinderella Tea with both of our kids and even packed play dress-up princess dresses for them to put on over their clothes for the tea party. It was definitely a cute experience to give them when they were younger and the Cinderella Tea was pretty reasonably priced in my opinion. (We haven’t done the Character Breakfast yet.)

Be Wary of Rain Park Closure

Years ago Story Land would sometimes close the park early for really bad weather - I’m talking like lighting and hail kind of weather. These days they seem to close the park a lot more often due to weather - sometimes just for what seems like moderate rain. This is something to keep in mind when you make your trip there - if it’s a rainy day there is the possibility the park will close early. The good news is that if the park does close early you should be able to request a rain check ticket to come back another day - make sure to stop into Customer Service and ask.

Happy Hauntings

New last year was Happy Hauntings which are special themed weekends in October. They offer trick-or-treating, seasonal food offerings for purchase at the concession stands, seasonal decor, a new themed live show, and some rides open. We went once last year during Happy Hauntings and it was very cute and our kids had fun but we felt as though the ride offerings were extremely limited — personally I don’t think I would buy day tickets to the event because you’d miss out on so many rides that are closed for the season, but as a Season Pass Holder it was a fun way to end our season.

Disclaimer: This post shares opinions and tips based on our personal experiences. Please be aware that you may encounter things differently and things are subject to change. Please do your own research.

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Summer Sale!

Most items in our Etsy Shop are 10-15% off for the month of July - help us clear out some inventory! I will be adding some new items this month too, including new sticker designs and prints - stay tuned :)

Easy Chopped Greek Salad

Whew, where is the summer going? It seems like just last week school got out - but here we are with just a few precious weeks of summer vacation left. We’re trying to squeeze in what fun we can with family hikes, day trips, visiting friends, - and of course enjoying some of our favorite summertime foods. One of my favorites is this Easy Chopped Greek Salad which can make a perfect dinner on a hot night or a side dish to bring to the neighborhood BBQ. | This post contains affiliate links |

Ingredients:

• 2 cucumbers
• 2 large tomatoes (or a bunch of cherry tomatoes)
• half a red onion (I love red onions and tend to put in a lot... feel free to adjust the amount of red onion to your taste)
• 4 oz canned black olives, rinsed and drained
• 1 lemon
• olive oil (California Olive Ranch Brand is my favorite)
• oregano
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 package of feta cheese
• fresh chives for garnish

This recipe is a great way to use up tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs from your garden too!

How-to:

1. Chop cucumbers and tomatoes into bite sized chunks (remove seeds from tomatoes if they’re too “sloppy”).

2. Dice up to half a red onion (adjust amount of onion to taste).

3. In a separate bowl, make the dressing: juice one lemon, and add a splash of olive oil. Add about a tsp of dried oregano, and salt and pepper. Whisk together and add more olive oil or herbs/spices to taste.

4. Combine veggies, black olives, and dressing in bowl and mix well.

5. Add feta cheese and chives to garnish before serving.

6. Enjoy!

I make this salad just by “winging it” each time and don’t have exact amounts for olive oil or spices - really it’s up to you and your personal taste. Just experiment and see what tastes good to you.

| Plates are "Mikasa - Italian Countryside" |

Summer Fun Found on Amazon!

Summer vacation is here, now let’s have some fun!
I’ve scoured Amazon for fun yard games, beach toys, car games, and activities for kids of all ages - even some indoor activities for those rainy days. There’s no excuse for boredom this summer, let’s have some fun! | This post contains affiliate links |

Bathing Suit Drying Hack

Living by the lake, we constantly have wet bathing suits all summer that need to be hung to dry, At first we used a drying rack in our shower but it was rather cumbersome and a pain to constantly set it up and take it out, until I had a revelation and found these awesome plastic hooks that hang from our glass shower walls. | This post contains affiliate links |

These plastic hooks fit perfectly over our shower wall, won’t rust, are easy to clean, and are perfect for hanging wet bathing suits from to drip dry into the shower. They have been the perfect bathing suit drying solution for us!

Bonus tip: Always rinse your bathing suits out in the sink with fresh water before hanging to drip dry. You don’t want them to sit and dry with dirty lake water or harsh chlorine from the pool on them. Rinsing them out with clean water helps keep your bathing suits looking good and lasting longer.

| Over-Door Plastic Hooks (Pictured) | Different Style Plastic Hooks |

L.L. Bean Spring/Summer Round Up

Warmer weather is coming and it’s time for a wardrobe and gear refresh! Here I’m sharing some of my favorite warmer weather and outdoor picks from L.L. Bean for Spring and Summer.
| This post contains affiliate links |

L.L. Bean Spring/Summer Round Up

Scroll to the right to see more ->

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Porch and Garden Farmhouse Finds on Amazon

I don't know about you, but I'm obsessed with HGTV's Fixer Upper and Joanna Gaines' Industrial Farmhouse Style.  Summer has me dreaming about redoing our outdoor spaces so I thought I'd put together a collection of great Amazon finds to bring you some farmhouse inspiration on a budget.  | This post contains affiliate links |

My Porch + Garden Farmhouse Picks

Click text for direct link to item on Amazon

| Westinghouse Watts Creek Wall Lantern | Mason Jar Wild Bird Waterer | Coca Cola Bottle Opener |
| Zinc Pitcher | White Porch Rocker |
| Red Enamelware Mug | Rustic Tin Planters |
| English Garden Trowel | Country Church Birdhouse | Rustic Wooden Crates |
| Game of Horseshoes |
| Chicken Wire Jar Lantern | Galvanized Beverage Tub | Trellis Panel |

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Things to Do in New Hampshire This Summer

I'm a New Hampshire native, born and raised.  I love this state and all the great things it has to offer.  I thought I'd share some of our favorites - from the city, mountains, ocean, and countryside, New Hampshire has it all!  

Things to Do in New Hampshire This Summer

- This list will be continually added to, so be sure to check back often for more ideas -

The Flume  

Located in the White Mountains, The Flume is a fairly short loop trail that brings you right through a narrow gorge with a rushing river and several waterfalls.  There is a covered bridge, stairs, and deck walkways to help you through the tricky parts with ease.  

Castle in the Clouds

I confess I'm biased to this place - afterall it's where my husband popped the question and where we got married :)  But Castle in the Clouds does offer some of the most breathtaking views of the Lakes Region from the lawn of the Lucknow Estate (aka "The Castle"), where you can also explore the rooms of the mansion during your-self guided tour.  There are also miles of hiking trails, horseback riding, and a restaurant on site.  

Polly's Pancake Parlor + Lupine Festival

Pancakes - do we really have to say more..?  But seriously folks, Polly's has amazing pancakes, delicious hearty breakfasts, and great views of the mountains.  We recommend making the trip up there in June for the Lupine Festival and checking out the gorgeous fields of lupines in bloom after your hearty breakfast.  

Strawberry Banke

Strawberry Banke, a 10-acre historic collection of buildings along the seaside in Portsmouth is rich in history and historic architecture.  The buildings on the property span 300 years and costumed guides and artisans fill you in on interesting stories and facts from an era gone by.  I especially love seeing all the quirky features of the buildings there.  

4th of July Parade in Wolfeboro

As "The Oldest Summer Resort in America," Wolfeboro does the Fourth like no one else with the largest parade in the state complete with their traditional Precision Lawn Chair Drill Team, Antique Tractor Brigade, and Presidential hopefuls.  Jimmy Fallon and Mitt Romney are frequent attendees of the parade.  

Isles of Shoals

The Isles of Shoals is a group of islands off the coast of NH is known for it's rugged coastal beauty and it's historical significance.  Guided tours are available through the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company.  (Taking a tour of the islands is something we haven't done ourselves yet but have been meaning to for years - this year we plan to change that though and finally go!)  

Paddleboard Yoga

There are various places around NH that offer this new trend, one being Full Moon Paddleboard in Wolfeboro.  It's a lot of fun and adds a whole other level to your yoga practice.  Whether you're a yogi master or just a beginner, you'll have a fun (yet challenging) time.  

Zip-Lining

There are many places throughout the state that offer zip line tours and obstacle courses.  We've gone with Alpine Adventures in Lincoln before and highly recommend them - great staff, great views, and a lot of fun.  

Go Hiking

There are countless mountains and great hiking trails in New Hampshire (this website is a great resource for trail info), but Mount Monadnock is definitely the most popular.  After all it's one of the most-hiked mountains in the world, and with good reason - a moderately difficult hike rewards you with great 360-degree views atop it's rocky peak.  If you hike Mt. Monadnock we recommend getting there early to beat the crowds, then getting lunch and ice cream at Kimball's in Jaffrey after.  

Cog Railway

A must-do, the Cog Railway brings you up Mount Washington (the tallest mountain in the Northeast) on the first mountain-climbing train in the world!  Make sure to bring extra clothes for the summit since Mt. Washington is also home to some of the world's worst weather.  

Go Camping

There are countless campgrounds across the state, with varying degrees of amenities.  Two of our personal favorite campgrounds are Fransted Campground in Franconia and Crawford Notch Campground in Hart's Location - both are family friendly, well-kept, and convenient to hiking trails.  

Canoe Trip

There are also many canoe tour companies throughout the state, but we really love Contoocook River Canoe Company in Concord, NH.  They offer many choices for rentals, shuttles, and tours of surrounding rivers and lakes.  I've done the 9-mile Contoocook River Tour a few times and can't say enough great things about it.  

Clark's Trading Post

A true NH novelty, Clark's Trading Post is a little theme park tucked away in the White Mountains.  It's best known for it's trained black bear act and "The Wolfman," an ornery prospector who chases the train ride to keep visitors away from his mine.  

A day in Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a gem of a city tucked away along the seacoast - there are countless amazing restaurants to eat at, unique shops to explore, and historic buildings to see.  Get into downtown before 11AM to best ensure finding a parking spot in the downtown parking garage, then spend the rest of the day eating and shopping your way through town.  

Fisher Cats Game

The Fisher Cats is NH's own Minor League baseball team - their beautiful new ballpark is located conveniently in Manchester where affordable tickets ensure everyone can enjoy America's favorite pastime.  

Storyland

Storyland is a wonderful theme park where kids of all ages will find rides and attractions to enjoy.  I have so many great memories of going to Storyland with my parents and exploring the different themed areas.  Our young daughter really loves Storyland as well and I'm so excited to share the experience with her too.    

A Day Out with Thomas

If you have a Thomas fan in your family, going to A Day Out with Thomas in North Conway is a must.  You'll not only be able to meet Thomas, Percy, and Sir Topham Hatt but you'll also be able to go for a ride on the famous trains!