All our drives are setup so they can be Self-Guided. As I mentioned last week our FFO2023 Guide will have, turn by turn directions, maps, and GPX files for each drive/activity. We recognize that not everyone wants to drive in a group or they simply miss the start time.
Everyone will receive a printed copy of the FFO2023 Guide in their welcome pack. A PDF of the FFO2023 Guide will be available to download from our website, fiatclubnne.com as well. There will be times when cell service isn’t available, having your printed copy or PDF downloaded to your phone will be helpful.
We will have Guided Drives available for drives/activities with time restraints controlled by the activity. At this time, our Guided Drives are, Conway Scenic Railroad, Cog Railway, Club Motorsports, Auto Road Sunset Drive and the Concorso.
We have a host of volunteers, as we get closer to FreakOut we will post when a drive/activity has a Guided Drive available. For example, I see a Guided Drive leaving the hotel at 9:00 AM on Wednesday with a stop at the Wright Museum for those interested in driving as a group.
We Added the Self-Guided, Cathedral ledge drive, from last week and the Hurricane Mountain Road drive below to Wednesday’s schedule. Our thought is members arriving throughout the day on Wednesday can still fit in a drive and enjoy some of the local scenery. Both drives are relatively short and lead you to or near food. Remember Wednesday is a Dinner on own night.
Hurricane Mountain Road is a great Self-Guided drive.
The drive is 26.3 miles and 45 minutes from the hotel to Settlers Green Outlet Village. Settlers Green Outlet Village is in the heart of North Conway’s tax-free shopping and many restaurants. Your welcome bags will have information on shopping and local fare.
I believe, Hurricane Mountain Road is our Chapter President, Jim Custeau’s favorite road. He and his wife Kathy follow it to go back and forth between Maine and New Hampshire. I asked him, how he would describe Hurricane Mountain Road. He wrote, “Four miles of narrow twisting turns and knolls with an elevation change of 1150 feet. Hurricane Mountain makes 30 mph feel exhilarating!”
You’ll want to stay in your lane and keep an eye out for, bicyclists trying to conquer the mountain and the occasional motorhome that didn’t heed the warnings. Maybe give them a wave because they made it up and over despite the 10% average grade and 1150’ elevation change.
You’ll turn right from Hurricane Mountain Road and as you leave the mountain behind you enter the flat farm lands of Conway. Another right and your headed for Settlers Green Outlet Village in North Conway. Settlersgreen.com
I’m not much of a shopper but tax free is nice and the gardens and views throughout are beautiful. It’s not often you have a mountain for a backdrop at an outlet mall.
When you’re ready to go, take a right, out the front entrance of Settlers Green, onto routes 302 and 16. Follow 302 all the way to the hotel, where you can join in on the parking lot activities.
I’m including this video of Hurricane Mountain Road. He’s not in a Fiat but fun to watch.