I recently visited Pickity Place in Mason NH. The core of Pickity Place is an antique red cottage built in 1786 in the foothills of New Hampshire at the end of a long and winding dirt road…a VERY long and winding dirt road - I was grateful for the signage indicating we were, in fact, headed the right way!
And while there is a small dirt parking lot near the house with a couple of handicapped spaces, the majority of the parking is just an assortment of random cleared spots in the surrounding woods.
The building was used as the inspiration for the Elizabeth Orton Jones illustrations of Little Red Riding Hood (Little Golden Books 1948). And I must say it is a very “through the woods” experience to arrive there!
Since its historic fame, it has expanded to include English gardens, an expansive herb garden, a garden shop, and a gift shop as well as a lovely restaurant that offers 3 seatings a day with a prix fixe menu featuring items made and garnished with the herbs and flowers from the garden.
It is especially beautiful in May/June when the gardens are in full bloom - I have been there before during peak garden months. This early in the year, the gardens are less spectacular, but the place oozes charm nonetheless.
Early spring flower gardens art Pickity Place
Early spring herb gardens at Pickity Place
The iconic tree in front of the cottage was damaged in a winter storm in 2020 and had to be taken down, but the stump was preserved and turned into a stunning rendition of a Free Book Library.
The main building had, until recently, also featured a replica of “grandmother’s bedroom” from the fairy tale, but they seem to be using that space as another dining room now. The dining rooms are all rather intimate, each with only a few tables as they are in original rooms of the cottage, which just adds to the ambience.
The food is delicious and beautifully presented. The menu changes monthly to accommodate whatever is blooming in the garden. DO call ahead for reservations if you are planning to eat there.
Lunch includes a special dip/spread and crackers, a soup, salad, specialty bread, a choice of entree (one is always vegetarian), a dessert, and an assortment of iced and hot beverages.
The beverages are included in the price and they are most generous - offering as many refills and varieties as you wish to try. I tried both the raspberry peach iced tea and the hot cinnamon mocha.
The waitstaff is efficient and friendly. Dishes are carried out to the dining room on antique wooden trays. Dining is timed to take an hour since the seatings are 1 and 1/4 hours apart, so lingering in the dining room is not encouraged, but roaming around the beautiful grounds is.
In addition to a tiny museum gift shop with books and stuffed animals in the main building next to the former grandmother’s bedroom, there is a separate larger gift shop in the carriage house with a lovely array of items - beautiful hand-crafted cards, kitchen accessories, toys, soaps and laundry items, decor, and packaged food items including teas, mixes, candy, and spices.
Down a series of stone steps alongside the gift shop are the herb gardens and a garden shop and greenhouse with plants and herbs for sale and assorted garden and gift items.
The garden shop had these unique motion garden sculptures made from spoons and forks, bird themed decor, and amusing garden stakes…I may need the one that says “not dead yet” LOL.
It is a lovely place to spend a couple of hours in a fairy tale setting in the middle of nowhere. Definitely worth the journey through the woods, red hooded cape not required :).
You can check out all the details on the Pickity Place website
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