Wine and Chocolate New Hampshire tour 2nd story written for Travel Marketing Experts and soon-to-be issued by New Hampshire tourism

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Granite State Pairs Chocolate and Martinis
New New Hampshire Trail is Shaking And Stirring Tourists’
Road Trip Imagination with Chocolate Martini Tour

Toronto– In New Hampshire the pairing of martinis and chocolate make for an original, tasty and fantastic getaway. For those who like their vacation shaken but not stirred, the Chocolate and Martini Tour has a licence to thrill.
You could spend many nights sampling a delightfully-varied array of crème de cacao and vodka combinations in the great bars of New Hampshire’s Seacoast – from Roosevelt’s at Wentworth (their signature Stoli and Kahlua martini and the molten chocolate cake dripping with Valhrona are out of this world) to the Espresso Hazelnut and the rest of the martini menu at Green Monkey on Pleasant Street in downtown Portsmouth. Just around the corner on State Street, sample exceptional chocolates at Byrne & Carlson, produced in small batches using the finest ingredients.
Driving your Aston Martin DBS V12, or hitting the road in a family van, follow this tasty tour as it heads west from the coast along Route 101. First stop is Cotton in Manchester, the perennial “best martini” winner of the annual readers’ survey from New Hampshire Magazine. The New York Times and Bon Appétit have already discovered this gem, thanks to Chef Jeff Paige’s perfect blend of comfort food and retro décor. If the Spector of embarking on a chocolate based adventure approaches, make plans to spy in on Manchester’s Van Otis Chocolate Factory for a glimpse of their award-winning Swiss fudge and other candies.
Continue west on Route 101 and head north on Route 12 to reach Walpole, home to L.A. Burdick. Come hungry and check out the restaurant attached to the chocolate shop on Main Street. Don’t worry, there is never a Q(ueue) at the historic Walpole Inn, where the innkeeper serves great martinis in the lounge and is open to non-staying guests for lunch and dinner. While in Walpole, also stop at Bellows House Bakery for one of their famous Whoopie Pies.
True agents of the open road don’t mind backtracking when there is a treasure at stake. The Chocolate Martini Tour traces its steps backwards towards Keene, home to terrific tax-free shopping, a great arts scene and Twenty-One Bar & Grill specializing in a tasty variety of martinis. Finally, make your way back east on Route 101 and stop at Unbridled Chocolates in Marlborough. Be sure to taste the rich, handmade Belgian chocolate bonbons (don’t worry they won’t explode!), and browse their selection of natural herbal chocolates.
If you have time for a longer trip, don’t miss the world’s longest candy counter at Chuttersin Littleton, Swan Chocolates in Nashua, Ava Marie’s in Peterborough, Granite State Candies in Concord and Kellerhaus, New Hampshire’s oldest candy and ice cream maker, in Weirs Beach. Make a long weekend of it, drink responsibly, drive safely and taste your way through New Hampshire! And, if you think you are being followed relax, you aren’t the only one to download the Chocolate and Martini Tour flyer from the visitnh.gov website.
To find out more about New Hampshire or to receive the new free visitor’s guide, call 1-800-FUN-IN-NH (386-4664) or visit www.visitnh.gov. Canadian travel trade and media may call 1-888-423-3995, or email visitnh@travelmarketingexperts.com.