On our road trip last week, we spent part of a morning in Walpole, New Hampshire, 17 miles north of Keene. It was settled in the 1700’s and named in honor of Sir Robert Walpole, the first prime Minister of Great Britain.
It is truly a quaint little New England town with winding roads and beautiful homes everywhere you look. It’s a small town. How small you might be thinking, well, the business area is one short block long.
You know it is a small town when we found ourselves looking for doors and passed Ken Burns walking on the road twice. I thought it would be quite gauche of me to hang out the window with my phone and take his photo so I didn’t, but I was tempted.
While I never tire of looking at the gorgeous historic homes, the one door I’m always headed to is L.A. Burdick’s because there I’m either going to find a fantastic meal or a treat from their chocolate and pastry area.
This time we were a little too early for lunch so had to settle for pastries and coffee. Poor us.
Don’t want a meal or coffee and snack? How about a pastry or a chocolate mouse to go?
I love the charm of Walpole from its picturesque
homes to the amazing food at Burdicks.
I am always in awe of the big old houses meticulously maintained, but there was one rather small one, at least by Walpole standards, that caught my eye because of its dark green door and the porch decorations. The green doesn’t show up well in the photo, but it is a gem.
Welcome back to Norm Frampton, our fearless Thursday Doors leader. This post is linked to his August 9, 2018, post. 🚪
I visited New Hampshire once about 20 years ago and wish I could get back. This post makes me wish it even more.
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If you were to visit again, I’m sure we could find some fresh fruit, construct some dessert, and have a wonderful conversation. 🙂
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Thank you! I’m so grateful that you take us on your road trips with you! I send buckets of sympathy on your hardship of having to settle for coffee and pastries; I am sure you endured bravely, though. I love the houses and am especially drawn to that very first one. Maybe it’s the shade dappled over it. All this and Ken Burns too? Wow.
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That’s why I love stopping in Walpole whenever we are in the area – beautiful homes and countryside, delicious food opportunity, and a national celebrity. Win-Win. 🙂
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I really need to poke around New Hampshire at some point. Those houses are beautiful (including the little one). I never think about green doors, but they always impress me when I see one.
I had to laugh at “…had to settle for pastries and coffee.” Oh the humanity, Judy.
I hope you get some decent weather this weekend. It’s good to be back sharing doors.
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The sacrifices we door followers make is just unbelievable. 🙂 You should have some decent DIY weather this weekend and Maddie should have some good sitting and walking opportunities.
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We’re supposed to get heavy rain Sat-tue 🙁
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I’ve only been through NH on my way from MA to ME. It needs to be a destination in and of itself. I like the little last house with the green door. It’s sweet.
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You poor kids….having to settle for those pastries and coffee. The sacrifices you make to put together a blog is commendable!!
Just love all these homes. Wish we could peek inside. I imagine they are breathtaking. Doors, windows, wrap-around porches…fabulous!
🔹 Ginger 🔹
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When I hear people talk about where they are going to stop when they are in NH, I always want to say don’t forget Walpole when you’re fighting for parking space in Portsmouth. 🙂
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What a delicious post, Judy! The houses of all sizes are glorious and I’d be content to “settle” for your snack. Thanks for letting me ride along and virtual calories are the best!!
janet
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A small town with beautiful houses and a coffee shop with pastries. Sounds like a wonderful day!
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Lovely tour! Thank you!
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Like the door, I am a green, but I am green with envy. :} Son of a biscuit! Ken Burns, lovely houses, and L.A. Burdick’s. The town might be small, but who could ask for anything more?
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I just bet you may have seen one or two of his productions through the years. 🙂
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I certainly have! My favorite was of the Lewis and Clark expedition. I can’t remember which one was the exquisite writer—and extensively quoted—but I will borrow from him: Oh, the joy!
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I love the beautiful architecture of those homes, but the coffee and pastries caught my attention!
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This is the New Hampshire that I love so much. Peaceful quiet streets and big old family homes with enormous wrap-around porches just perfect for sitting out and watching the world go by.
That chocolate croissant looks delicious too 🙂
Thanks for sharing this.
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Such simple, peaceful beauty lines those streets – and extravagant exciting beauty lines those pastry display cases!
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Haha, I know what you mean, there are a few towns around here that size! Except for that this one is much more taken care of. Love the house with the wrap around veranda on the right – awesome:)
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Ken Burns is pertneer a national treasure! Scratch seeing him off your bucket list?? 🙂
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The funniest thing was I was talking to my husband about him living there and wondering where exactly his house was, and there he was walking towards us on the road. He waved as we passed, and then we went down several other roads lined with gorgeous houses, and he was walking there. It boggles my mind to think of all the amazing documentaries he has created, and he lives in that very small rural community. It must be a good place to write, and, of course, he can get great coffee and pastries whenever he wants. 🙂
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I’m impressed you were able to choose just one pastry from that wonderful selection. The homes are so beautiful and so well-maintained. That must be an ongoing job. Thank you for sharing this pretty little town, Judy.
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The pastries and coffee have us all drooling! Lovely little town!
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What a charming little town! I wonder if Ken Burns was scouting out the area for another wonderful documentary (maybe it will be about doors!). Or, maybe he just heard about the yummies at L.A. Burdick’s.
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What a lovely little town … The houses are gorgeous, it must be a challenge to keep them freshly painted and looking so charming. And the pastries… Divine! I guess there are many tourists passing through in summer?
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The downtown is a mere one block long with Burdicks right in the middle. There is plenty of parking around the area, and it is always fun to look at the plates because there are as many NH plates as out of state ones. I think people who find out about the location come back time and again because it is a perfect little stop. We never miss it when in the area. 🙂
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It’s been too long since I’ve been to Burdick’s and it really isn’t that far from me. Walpole is an iconic and charming New England village. I love white clapboard with green trim, so perfect!
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When I think iconic New England village, Walpole is the first town that pops into my mind. Plus, great food never hurts, right? 🙂
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Right you are!
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Obviously the success of Ken Burns is deeply rooted in the sustenance and joy found in his local coffee and pastry. Good mercy, I wanna eat that. Is that cranberry or cherry? It doesn’t even matter. I’ll just have a nibble of the croissant, but Imma need a mousse du chocolat to go, merci. Maybe I’ll stop and sit a spell on that porch above?
That little white house is charming as all get out, I love it. I’m a small house person. Not a tiny house, but a small house 🙂
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That pastry was raspberry, and it was divine. I had a maple latte, and my husband had a carmel one. They were perfect for folks who really savor good coffee, and I know you do. The solid chocolate mice are a hoot with their colorful tails. They sell a lot of them for wedding favors because you can buy them individually boxes. They also sell penguins and bees. 🙂
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Chocolate any small animal would be a pleasure from their shop, I’m sure!
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I’m always impressed when a very small town can be such a treasure–so many small towns, at least in upstate New York, are struggling and kind of sad. Walpole is a gem!
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What treats! Those coffees were looking quite wonderful to me.
I love a quaint village of beautiful homes. I always look forward to your Thursday Doors post.
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I sometimes get confused because we have the same names for our towns as you have for YOUR towns. Our Walpole is not especially charming. Mostly, it’s crowded and close to Boston. Once I got past that, I was okay. Phew.
Beautiful home and doors and oh my, those desserts!
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The homes are beautiful and those pastries!! WOW! Especially that one with the fruit on top…all that I have for dessert is a semi stale cookie / I really feel deprived seeing this post lol
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When I started reading your post, I knew that Walpole sounded familiar but I didn’t know why. Then you mentioned Burdicks and knew why. Definitely a place to stop…great chocolate treats.
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Ken Burns—-very cool! He is truly the master. And you had my very fav, chocolate croissant- it simply doesn’t get any better IMHO. Fun post!
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Yummy and nice homes! =)
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Beautiful architecture – love seeing these old structures. Standing the test of time. Okay Judy, you got me with those fantastic looking deserts – I need to tell my husband about this place so the next time we are in NH we’ll be sure to stop in! I can smell the chocolate from TX ~
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Yum!!!! A delicious invitation to Walpole! (… another spot to add to the list). Thanks!
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