The eyes of America are on New Hampshire today, but what about the stomachs? Sure, everyone is making time to vote, but what about time to dine? Ask Bobby (or his girl), dining is important. I’m actually surprised it hasn’t come up in the debates.

I’ve been to New Hampton, New Hampshire (or through it as the case may be), but I didn’t spot this diner. Too bad, I’m a sucker for cool signs, romantic gestures, and bacon.

New Hampshire is a great year-round destination for family vacations. Also, voting.

This post is part of Uptake’s Tuesday Roadside Diners & Attractions Series. If you have a photo of an odd, funny or interesting roadside attraction that you would like to see featured here please submit it via the link in the sidebar with subject line: Roadside.

The Christmas Tree at the Pub at 1785 Inn and Restaurant

Are you looking for a relaxing weekend getaway before the craziness of late December kicks in?  The Inn to Inn Cookie Tour, an event I attended last year, is the perfect way to relax, enjoy some beautiful holiday decorations, and get into the Christmas spirit.

The Inn to Inn Cookie Tour, which takes place in the White Mountains of New Hampshire on December 10th and 11th, 2011, will include 12 participating inns and bed and breakfasts.  In the self-guided tour, you can sample cookies at each inn, as well as view their specially decorated Christmas tree.  No inn is more than 15 minutes from another (and most are much closer), and you can take your time visiting each one on your own schedule.

Last year, when I attended, I loved the chance to see how each inn was decorated for the holidays – they all have their own distinct personality, and each was very different.

Special VIP packages are available for those who want to combine the cookie tour with a one- or two-night stay, and include breakfast, a keepsake ornament, discounted dining coupons, a cookbook, and other fun keepsakes.  To book a package, or learn more about the tour, visit the website.

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: Last year, we were given free tickets to the Cookie Tour, two night’s stay at the Covered Bridge House, and dinner at the 1785 Inn.

House on the Rock in Wisconsin.

Sometimes vacationers want to visit an attraction just to be able to say that they’ve been there. Some destinations are whimsical, silly, or downright odd. Others are firmly tied to the nostalgia and history of the area in which they reside. Here’s a list of the top ten(*) “novelty” destinations to visit in the United States. Consider checking them out if you’re ever in the area!

10 -The House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Unruly architecture that engages all of the senses, complete with exhibits, gardens, and displays that flow into one another with no rhyme or reason. Schedule at least three hours to do the self-tour, because the more you look the more you’ll see.

9 – The Mitchell Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. This is the Mecca for corn enthusiasts (if there is such a thing). There is an annual festival, murals made of corn that are eaten by the local birds and replaced annually, and decor consisting of over 275,000 ears of corn. The Mitchell Corn Palace is home to area stage shows and sporting events with a year-round calendar of events.

8 – The World’s Largest Yard Sale headquartered in Jamestown, Tennessee. Also known as the “127 Corridor Sale”, this yard sale extends 675 miles from Hudson, Michigan to Gadsden, Alabama. The Sale always starts on the first Thursday in August and continues through the following Sunday.

7 – America’s Stonehenge in North Salem, New Hampshire. No one knows who built the ceremonial chambers, walls, and meeting places of this 4,000 year old complex. Oddly enough, the location also boasts a growing herd of privately owned Alpacas. Visit Stonehenge, buy an Alpaca. Makes perfect sense to me!

6 – Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho. The inn… is shaped like a dog. A beagle, to be exact. It’s a full-service bed-and-breakfast, and pets are welcome (of course). And if you’re a fan of chainsaw art, this place will supply you with more wooden dogs than you can shake a stick at (har).

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The Notchland Inn in New Hampshire

Because I have little kids, I haven’t traveled to many bed and breakfasts lately.  However, this past weekend, my husband and I attended the Inn to Inn Cookie Tour sponsored by the Country Inns in the White Mountains, and we had the chance to stay in one inn and tour fourteen others.  My opinion of inns and bed and breakfasts definitely changed for the (much) better, and I can’t wait to go back.

The Inn to Inn Cookie Tour takes place every year in December (this was the 14th year).  Guests have two days (from 11am – 4pm) to tour the inns, taste cookies, view the gingerbread house creations, and vote for their favorites.

The Covered Bridge House in Glen, NH

We started our weekend at the Covered Bridge House, where we were hosted for two nights.  We were made to feel so welcome there, and absolutely loved our stay.  For the cookie tour, we headed down to Fryburg, Maine, and then drove up north, all the way through North Conway, Intervale, Glen, and Bartlett, finally ending up at the Notchland Inn (pictured here).  What I loved about the inns is that they were all different in their own way, but all equally wonderful.

On Saturday night, the 1785 Inn hosted us for a delicious dinner.  I’d heard about how wonderful it was, but I hadn’t eaten there.  The food was outstanding – definitely a must-do for any couples traveling to the North Conway area.

The Country Inns in the White Mountains also host an Inn to Inn Spring Herb tour in June.  We are really hoping to attend that, because we had such a wonderful time this weekend.

Photo credits: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: We were given free tickets to the Cookie Tour, two night’s stay at the Covered Bridge House, and dinner at the 1785 Inn.