Only a small fraction of tourists to New Hampshire venture “north of the notches” to the northern third of the state. Those who do will find a backcountry nirvana replete with hiking, boating, camping, fishing, and seemingly dozens of other ways to get out into nature.

This is the area where the Brake for Moose signs are ubiquitous on the highways—and not just for show. The king of New England quadrupeds is commonly sighted on the highways, to say nothing about the moose tours that take visitors back to secluded ponds and wetlands where the moose come for their breakfast and evening snacks.

The human inhabitants of the region are true salt-of-the-earth Granite Staters, who wear flannel, drive pickups, and know their way around a duck blind or salmon run.

Getting to the Great North Woods

Concord Coach Lines (800/639-3317, www.concordtrailways.com) runs a daily bus from Boston to Gorham (Irving Oil/Circle K, 350 Main St.) and Berlin (Irving Gas Station, 318 Glen Ave./Rte. 16). Greyhound (800/231-2222, www.greyhound.com) also runs buses to the same locations in both towns..