Global travel is an experience and an opportunity to learn. The Lakes Region Chamber is offering its fourth travel mission to China in April 2018 featuring Beijing and Shanghai with an optional tour to Xi’an to see the Terra-Cotta Warriors. Many people have the desire to travel and have not considered China on their bucket list of places to explore. Flying trans-Pacific for Beijing, China, departure date will be April 2, 2018 returning April 10, 2018. Travelers immerse themselves into a cultural experience starting with ancient tombs in Beijing to Shanghai’s modern growing economic business along The Bund and one of the largest shipping ports in China. Each day is led with a local guide including climbing The Great Wall, one of the seven wonders of the world, walking through Tiananman Square and the Forbidden City, visiting a Pearl Market, Jade Factory and Silk Factory, exploring the Summer Palace along Kunmig Lake, being amazed by the silk embroidery craft, visiting a green tea plantation, exploring temples, boat rides, wandering through pavilions and gardens and more. The cost is $2,199 per person including airfare, hotel, and meals. To learn more about this trip, there will be a free informational meeting on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, 383 S. Main St., in Laconia. Learn more about our China adventure. Call the chamber at 524-5531 to reserve your seat! If you can’t make this meeting and would like more information, email kgifford@LakesRegionChamber.org . The public is welcome. Your adventure awaits you!
Pat Clarke, vice president of the Gilmanton Historical Society, will present a program on the numerous summer hotels and boarding houses that flourished in Gilmanton in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Both business travelers and vacation visitors were welcomed. It is reported that at least one hotel provided accommodation for women of the “oldest profession.” The illustrated talk will include photos of the hotels and boarding houses as well as key railroad stations and the first lake boats. The program, Tuesday evening, at Old Town Hall in Gilmanton Iron Works begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. Social hour and refreshments begin at 7 p.m. The Gilmanton Historical Society’s 2017 summer programs are offered on the fourth Tuesday of each month, May through September. The final program, Sept. 26, addresses the hurricane of 1938. The programs are free and open to the public. Donations to support the work of the society are always welcome.