Interstate Eats and Adventures

While spending a week in New Hampshire in July, I found it strange that it feels relatively quiet in the White Mountains this season. Yes, I saw the line of cars waiting to get into Diana’s Baths a few weeks ago. Even so, the fact that we could easily make our usual last minute travel plans was unusual compared to last year at this time when everything was booked up.

We did not have any problems securing a lakeside spot for 2 nights and making same-day hotel reservations, or extending our stay at the Eagle Mountain Inn. We also did not have any wait dining at any of the area restaurants that in the past would have required reservations.

Our Canadian neighbors, cousins for some of us, are all staying up north for the summer. According to Forbes, June 2025 saw a 33% decline in Canadian visitors to the U.S. compared to June 2024. New Hampshire state officials as recent as 5 days ago reported a 30% drop in tourism to the state compared to this time last year.

This absence of French speakers in New England this season is noticeable to me and unfortunate for us as a country.

It is not surprising to hear speculation related to why, such as troubles at the border crossing between the U.S. and Canada, tariffs, and becoming our 51st state. While we were in Ottawa this March we saw it first hand.

We did come across two groups of Quebecois visitors in Vermont at Killington Mountain a couple of weeks ago. I made sure to say bienvenue and engage in friendly French banter about traveling in the U.S. by camper. When we asked one couple directly what motivated them to travel here this year, they said they were getting older and did not have 4 years to wait to visit this beautiful country. We exchanged contact information. Travel is down but friendship is hopefully not lost. I’d take crowds and having to make more advanced planning over the loss of tourism and good will between our two neighboring nations.