Though they were recently shy about traveling to the Upper Valley due to safety issues raised by the Sept. 11 tragedy, tourists known as "leaf peepers" are once again roaming the streets of Hanover.
The throngs are taking advantage of the fall foliage season, which usually peaks around Columbus Day weekend throughout central New Hampshire.
"The visitors come here because of the scenic beauty," Clint Bean, president of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, said. "There are also a lot of sights and attractions, and it's Dartmouth that attracts some of the visitors."
New Hampshire "is a safe place to be in. It's quiet [and] calm," Bean said.
Bean, who also serves as Hanover's representative to the Governor's Advisory Committee on Travel and Tourism, noted that in the wake of the terrorist attacks, New Hampshire has been promoting its tourism industry by highlighting the state's safety.
A recent New Hampshire print campaign entitled "This Land is Your Land" is "a counter to the Sept. 11 tragedy," Bean explained. The campaign features a photograph of a New Hampshire countryside scene and a paragraph lauding the safety of the state.
Although there was some decline in bus tours and international visitors to Hanover this September, Bean said that the foliage season has prompted a significant recovery during the last two weeks.
Tourists "made a strong showing, particularly over the past weekend," he said, adding that he fully expects to see the international market recover.
The Stewarts, a self-anointed "leaf-peeper couple" from California, spent Wednesday in Hanover, visiting the College and the Hood Museum.
"With Sept. 11, I was a little dubious about traveling," Mrs. Stewart admitted.Her husband, however, seemed less worried. "I think we're safe here," he said. "I don't think Osama bin Laden is following me."
Mrs. Stewart was glad that they decided to make the trip. "Everywhere you drive, the scenery is beautiful," she said.
Matt Marshall, General Manager of the Hanover Inn, noted that business for the Inn has recovered since the attacks. Many leaf peepers and tour groups stop at the Hanover Inn for lunch, and some even stay overnight. "Columbus Day weekend is the busiest time of the year," he said. "Reservations fill up well over a year in advance."
Many leaf peepers hail from California and overseas countries, particularly Great Britain and Germany. Domestic visitors typically pay day trips to the region, while international visitors tend to spend 10 days to two weeks, journeying beyond Hanover to spots in Vermont such as Killington, Rutland and Woodstock, Bean said.
Contrary to popular belief, leaf peepers are not just the retired. According to Bean, "There is a good mix of the elderly" with younger adults.
The Hanover Inn accommodates the leaf peepers by serving traditional New England fare, including Yankee pot roast and hot cider. "Today we served the most lobster clubs sold ever at lunch," Marshall said on Tuesday.
"The tourists are always nice, and they have a lot of questions," Marshall said. Following the Sept. 11 tragedy, however, he noticed some changes in the tourists' attitudes.
"They have a little more extra time. They're not in as much of a rush. I think people are appreciating Mother Nature a little more," he said.
Leaf peepers beware -- there is not much more time to enjoy New Hampshire's foliage season. According to meteorologist Gary Sadowsky of Burlington's WCAX-TV, "Hanover experiences peak foliage conditions during the first two weeks of October." The peak depends on elevation, he said, and Hanover should expect another week or so of vibrant fall colors.
