Oldest Country Store in New Hampshire

Who would have ever thought just a simple general country store could be a must-see place to visit in New England. Nestled in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire is among the oldest store in the country and also one of the oldest surviving businesses of any kind. The Old Country Store and Museum off Whittier Highway in Moultonborough, NH is celebrating 228 years of being the "place to go" when you need something. What makes this general store so unique is the history behind it all. In 1777, General Jonathan Moulton sold the land to Samuel Burnam "with barnframe thereon". It was sold again 2 years later then the store was publicized in the Hollands New Hampshire (printed in London, England) as the only building in town. Since that time, the Old Country Store and Museum hasn't moved and has only blossomed. The list below is just a preview of what to expect at the store:

Candy
The Candle Room
John Deere Collectables
Coffee Mugs
Wrought Iron and Brass Hardware
Maple Syrup
Molasses
Cheese
Weathervanes
Maple Candy and Products
Bean Pots
Food Items
Cast Iron Cookware
Kitchen Gadgets
Old Fashioned Popcorn Poppers
Player Guitar
Burts Bee's
Map Room
Moose Stuff
Mad Bomber Hats and Mitts
Stuff you wear

Less than 15 miles down the road westward, is the Manor on Golden Pond to rest up after a hard day shopping. 

Chapel for Dogs in Vermont

After a new death experience this Vermont artist, Stephen Huneck, had a vision to build of all things a dog chapel. It would be a place “you could go to communicate with God about your dog” stated the artist. Not just for mourning the loss of man’s best friend but this artist hopes visitors will also contemplate and commemorate our unique human to canine relationship. So what’s different about this house of worship? Staying within the traditional 19th-century church Vermont country decor with two doors, one for women and one for men, but with his the artist added a dedicated dog door by the lower center portal. Decorated with matching raised panels and carved fan above the steeple with one of his “angel dogs”—a full-bodied sculpture, winged and gilded, of his Labrador retriever Sally.

This dog chapel is a must see for the a true dog lover as the funding to build it was from the sales of his art, and time to dedicate was between commissions. “I took any downtime I had and put it into that chapel,” he confesses. It opened in 2000 and now never closes. So if you are in the Saint Johnsbury Vermont area be sure to check out the chapel and his art gallery. And when you are feeling “dog tired” the Rabbit Hill Inn is one place to rest weary bones.