What to See and Do
In northern New Hampshire, your biggest question will be, “What should you do first?” Year-round, this region offers gorgeous sights, outdoor adventures, and one-of-a-kind attractions. While families tend to gravitate to the area in the summer and winter, this is also one of New England's most awe-inspiring autumn destinations, and even spring — with its mud and early blossoms — holds a certain appeal, especially for those who want to see the numerous waterfalls at their most spectacular time.
Family Amusements
Generations of families have created lasting memories in the White Mountains. Enduring theme parks and roadside attractions still charm youngsters, while offering parents an opportunity to recall their own childhood vacation joys.
Clark's Trading Post
Route 3, Lincoln
603-745-8913
If you've never seen North American black bears playing bearsketball and eating ice cream, then you haven't been to Clark's Trading Post, where trained bruins have been drawing crowds since 1949. The bear show is just one of many reasons to include this eclectic attraction on your vacation itinerary. Kids will also enjoy scaling the Old Man climbing tower, riding the White Mountain Central Railroad, exploring Merlin's Mystical Mansion, and more. Clark's is open daily from mid-June through Labor Day and weekends only from Memorial Day through mid-June and from Labor Day through mid-October.
Santa's Village
528 Presidential Highway, Jefferson
603-586-4445
You'll have a merry day at this Christmas-themed amusement park, which operates daily from mid-June through August and on weekends starting Memorial Day and from Labor Day through early October. Santa's Village also reopens after Thanksgiving for exhilarating weekends filled with holiday cheer leading up to Christmas Eve. In between rides, children will enjoy feeding Santa's reindeer and playing the Elfabet game.
Six Gun City and Fort Splash Waterpark
1492 Presidential Highway, Jefferson
603-586-4592
Since 1957, this amusement park has transported visitors back to the Old West with its horse shows, carriage museum, trading post, and themed rides. Recent enhancements, including the Gold Rush Express Runaway Train Roller Coaster and an adjacent campground, make this an even more exciting destination for you and your little buckaroos.
Story Land
Route 16, Glen
603-383-4186
For the under-six set, there's no better attraction in the region than Story Land, where the pages of their favorite books spring to life. With dozens of old-fashioned rides, including swan boats, antique cars, and the dizzying Cuckoo Clockenspiel, plus the thrilling Polar Coaster and wet-and-wild raft ride, there is plenty to keep kids amused. Pause to take in a show, visit Cinderella at her castle, or cool off at the Oceans of Fun Sprayground. Story Land is open daily from mid-June through Labor Day and operates on weekends only from Memorial Day weekend through mid-June and in September and early October.
RAINY DAY FUN
The Mount Washington Valley Children's Museum (2936 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, 603-356-2992,
Whale's Tale Water Park
Route 3, Lincoln
603-745-8810
With its giant wave pool, lazy river, curvaceous slides, warm water swimming pool, hot tubs, and Beluga Boggin for the little ones, Whale's Tale is the place to be on a hot summer day. Save money by purchasing your admission tickets online.
Natural Attractions
From caverns to cascades, natural wonders abound in the region. Here are a few of nature's gifts that you might want to make a point of visiting.
TRAVEL TIP
New Hampshire is home to New England's only commercial caves, and they're cool places to visit during the hot summer months. Take an hour-long, self-guided tour of Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves (Route 112, North Woodstock, 603 745-8031,
Arethusa Falls
Crawford Notch State Park, Route 302, Harts Location
603-374-2272
Of all of New Hampshire's waterfalls, Arethusa Falls has the longest drop. The access road to the start of the 1.4-mile Arethusa Falls Trail, a fairly rocky and moderately steep hike, is off Route 302 just south of Dry River Campground. Return via the same route, or complete the three-mile loop past Frankenstein Cliff, which also brings you back to the starting point.
Flume Gorge
Franconia Notch State Park, I-93 exit 34A, Franconia
603-745-8391
Open from early May through late October, Flume Gorge is an impressive, river-carved chasm that you can see up-close as you navigate wooden stairs and walkways along the gorge's 700-foot rock walls. This geologic wonder was discovered accidentally in 1808 by a 93-year-old woman, Aunt Jess Guernsey. Her stories soon attracted tourists who traveled by stagecoach to marvel at the flume.
Scenic Touring
Whether you choose to explore on foot, in the car, on a train, or aboard a skyride, your most indelible vacation memories are likely to be of the dramatic scenery. The scenic touring possibilities are endless. Here are a few highlights.
Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway
Franconia Notch State Park, I-93 exit 34B, Franconia
603-823-8800
See the scenery from aloft aboard the eighty-passenger aerial tramway that takes you 4,180 feet up to the summit of Cannon Mountain for views of New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Canada.
Conway Scenic Railroad
Route 16, North Conway
800-232-5251
Both railroad aficionados and sightseers alike won't want to miss this stop. You can embark on your choice of three scenic excursions through the Mount Washington Valley aboard a restored antique train.
The Frost Place
Ridge Road, Franconia
603-823-5510
Robert Frost lived here from 1900 to 1909. On a limited schedule from late May until early October, you can tour the famous poet's home and wander the grounds that inspired his works, including a nature trail where excerpts from his poems are posted.
Moose Alley
Route 3, Pittsburg
If you're hoping to see a moose while you're visiting New England, one of your best bets is the stretch of Route 3 that runs north from Pittsburg, New Hampshire, to the Canadian border. Nicknamed “Moose Alley,” this highway undulates past the lakes that form the headwaters of New England's longest river, the Connecticut, so you'll enjoy picturesque views, even if you don't see any moose.
FAST FACT
At the summit of Mount Washington sits the Mount Washington Observatory (603-356-2137,
Mount Washington Auto Road
Route 16, Gorham
603-466-3988
You really should get to the top of Mount Washington, the Northeast's tallest peak, while you're in the neighborhood. The good news is that even though folks have been climbing the mountain since explorer Darby Field first did it in 1642, you don't have to. The 7.6-mile Mount Washington Auto Road was opened to travelers in 1861. Once the snow is cleared away sometime in May, the toll road is open daily through mid-October. Be forewarned that the narrow, cliff-hugging road makes for a rather stressful drive, so you may want to opt for a guided tour aboard an Auto Road van.
Mount Washington Cog Railway
Off Route 302, Bretton Woods
800-922-8825
Another way to see Mount Washington is aboard the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway. The Mount Washington Cog Railway makes the steep, three-mile climb up the mountain in about an hour and a half, May through late November. It's a good idea to call ahead for schedule information and to purchase your ticket in advance, particularly during leaf-peeping season. Snowflake Express winter trains take passengers as far as Upper Waumbek weekends only from late November through April.
Northern Extremes
Routes 16 and 302, North Conway
877-722-6748
Explore New Hampshire's snowy beauty. In addition to snowmobile rentals, Northern Extremes also offers guided one-, two-, or three-hour snowmobile tours for novices. Children five and under ride free with an adult; teenagers sixteen to eighteen can operate their own snowmobiles if accompanied on the tour by a parent or legal guardian.
White Mountains Trail/Kancamagus Highway
603-528-8721
This 100-mile loop is the most scenic drive in New Hampshire and perhaps all of New England. Begin at the White Mountains Visitor Center at the intersection of Route 112 and I-93 in North Woodstock, and proceed north on I-93. Travel east on Route 3 to Twin Mountain; then follow Route 302 southeast to North Conway. Travel north on Route 16 to Conway, where you will pick up the Kancamagus Highway/Route 112. Drive west on “the Kanc” to complete the loop. Along this route, you'll see waterfalls, covered bridges, and some of the region's most popular natural and human-made attractions. There are also abundant opportunities to park and hike.
Skiing
New Hampshire has more than twenty alpine ski areas that lure downhill skiers every winter, and many of the most exhilarating peaks are in the northern part of the state. Call one toll-free number, 800 88 SKI-NH, for information on ski areas and conditions statewide. Here's a quick look at the region's largest ski resorts.
Attitash (Route 302, Bartlett, 603-374-2368 or 800-223-7669,
www.attitash.com Bretton Woods Mountain Resort (Route 302, Bretton Woods, 603-278-3300,
www.brettonwoods.com Cannon Mountain (Franconia Notch State Park, I-93 exit 34C, Franconia, 603-823-8800,
www.cannonmt.com Loon Mountain (Route 112, Lincoln, 603-745-8111 or 800-229 LOON,
www.loonmtn.com Waterville Valley Resort (1 Ski Area Road, Waterville Valley, 603-236-8311 or 800-GO-VALLEY,
www.waterville.com Wildcat Ski Area (Route 16, Pinkham Notch, 603-466-3326 or 888-SKI-WILD,
www.skiwildcat.com
FAST FACT
In the summer, Attitash is transformed into a family playground. A one-day, two-day, or afternoon ticket entitles guests to unlimited use of the alpine slides, lift-serviced mountain biking trails, skate park, water slides, Buddy Bear's Playpool, the EuroBungy Trampoline and the climbing wall. Additional fees apply for guided horseback tours, scenic sky rides, and use of the golf driving range.
Shopping
Looking for an old-fashioned Main Street shopping district? You'll find craft shops, gift boutiques, antiques stores, gourmet food purveyors, and other retail treasures along Main Streets in Lincoln, North Woodstock, and Littleton. Here are some additional retail highlights you won't want to miss.
Garnet Hill Firsts and Seconds Store
279 Main Street, Franconia
603-823-5545
Grant and Pegge Dowse began selling flannel sheets from their tiny Franconia sugarhouse turned home in 1976; when they placed a one-inch ad in
The Handcrafters Barn
Main Street / Route 16, North Conway
603-356-8996
For one-stop shopping for American-made crafts, visit this eighteenth-century barn filled with the works of more than 300 artisans.
Harman's Cheese and Country Store
1400 Route 17, Sugar Hill
603-823-8000
Don't let this quintessential New England country store fool you with its petite size and quaint atmosphere. It's just a “front” for a family-run business that sells more than ten tons of really-aged cheddar cheese each year to mail-order customers across the nation. You'll enjoy exploring the store's eclectic selection of unique food and gift items.
Outlet Shopping in North Conway
Route 16, North Conway
North Conway is the outlet-shopping capital of New Hampshire. In fact, the outlets along Route 16 are some vacationers' primary reason for visiting the region! Remember, the savings are multiplied here because New Hampshire has no state sales tax. The largest outlet center along Route 16 is Settlers' Green Outlet Village (888-667-9636,
The Wooden Soldier Catalog Outlet
24 Kearsarge Road, North Conway
800-375-6002
This outlet store is tucked away on a North Conway side street, but you won't want to miss it if you have little children you just adore outfitting in gorgeous dress-up clothes. While this retailer's catalogs feature hefty prices, the outlet shop has some reasonable buys on fanciful, heirloom-quality special — occasion clothing.
Zeb's General Store
Main Street, North Conway
800-676-9294
All of the more than 5,000 products stocked at Zeb's were made in New England, including an incredible variety of specialty foods. If you're looking for gifts for the folks back home, this is the place to shop.
