But why not go a bit further? Story Land is more for young kids than older kids we recommend it for toddlers through elementary school-aged kids. Fall brings leaf-peepers and international visitors, and this is the busiest and most expensive time of year to visit the White Mountains. Have a Festive Christmas Season in the White Mountains, Eat All the Pancakes at Pollys Pancake Parlor, Hike the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire, Try Local Spirits at White Mountains Distilleries. Drive the Kancamagus Highway. Indeed, there are many similarities, like the wooden boardwalks that take you through the gorge, moist air and lush greenery surrounding you. There were a lot of steps but most were downhill. The train ascends the steep, 3-mile track in about an hour, and you'll have an hour to explore the summit which is often snowy even in the summer months before your visually thrilling descent. From Conway, turn west on Rt. Although it is smaller, the Hampton Inn & Suites in North Conway also has a year-round indoor water park for guests. What are the most popular things to do in White Mountains with kids? We will reiterate that the best time for fall foliage in the White Mountains is in early October though sometimes Mother Nature is fickle and this can vary. Like to get them all dolled up? It's a rural community on the edges of the White Mountain National Forest and aside from one major highway passing through, it's a quiet White Mountains town. They also offer off-road tours, a giant slide, and Thrillsville, a self-guided adventure course located right at their headquarters in downtown Lincoln. With a population of just under 6,000, Littleton packs art, nature, and a lot of fun into its downtown! This was Americas first aerial tramway and is still the only one in New Hampshire. Read More: Guide to Driving the Mount Washington Auto Road. Don't miss the L.L. But its WAY more than that! First of all, aim for the right time. The White Mountains drew hundreds of painters during the 19th century. Kate took her first New Hampshire trip at 10 days old. A guide for New Hampshire's White Mountains travel featuring lodging, outdoor activities, cultural attractions, historic sites, and more. We were prepared to laugh at the place, but found we laughed at ourselves having a great time watching families have a blast. 2023 4th of July fireworks dates, times in New Hampshire. Hop on the vintage train and soon youll be chug-chug-chugging your way up to the top. Nice restrooms, snack bar, exhibits & gift shop. And if thats not an option, you can have a really great long weekend getaway here. While we say that the White Mountains of New Hampshire are a year-round travel destination, its really more of a three-season destination. The 34 mile long scenic byway connects with the White Mountain Trail to make a loop. In the fall, ski area chairlift rides are a thrilling way to leaf peep. This narrow granite gorge was originally formed more than 200 million years ago, and today you can walk along boardwalks taking you straight through it. We love experiencing Jacksons small-town charm any time of year Jackson Falls, the Museum of White Mountain Art, White Mountain Puzzles but we especially love visiting this White Mountain town in the winter. It depends entirely on how much you want to do but generally, we find that people dont spend long enough here. There's Nothing Like A Summer Weekend In This New Hampshire Town. This is New England's most enchanting destination for families with little kids, and the region with its cozy inns and nearly 800,000-acre White Mountain NationalForest is alluring for couples and adventurers, too. Got kids? The White Mountains are a mountain range covering (800,000 acres (3,200 km2) of land) approximately one-quarter of New Hampshire, and a smaller piece of western Maine. Read More: 27 Epic Things to Do in Lincoln, NH. Tuckerman's Ravine Trail from Pinkham Notch is the most popular route to the summit. Theres nothing like seeing a moose in the wild. As you get better, prepare to tackle the harder hikes, like Mounts Adams, Jefferson, Isolation, and Lafayette. North Conway is the most popular resort town in the White Mountains and all of New Hampshire! Even as more and more ziplines have opened in New England, the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour remains one of the ultimate thrills. One of our favorite New Hampshire waterfall hikes is to Arethusa Falls, a 2.8-mile out-and-back moderate hike that makes an excellent afternoon excursion. The path was in excellent condition. (To put things in perspective, we saw our first moose in the wild by Umbagog Lake close to the Maine border, about an hours drive from Gorham, but 90 minutes from North Conway and nearly two hours from Lincoln.). Read More: Guide to Driving the Kancamagus Highway, NH. The White Mountains have been a merry place for kiddies since 1953, when Santa's Village opened with a handful of enchantments including pony rides, real reindeer and Santa and his elf entourage. And your guide will ensure not only your safety but a successful bonding experience with family or friends. My grandsons and I went yesterday and we had a lot of fun. You can take a ride in a pumpkin coach, sit with Humpty Dumpty, or climb into the shoe where the old woman lived. . The Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail winds its way . Located in the heart of the majestic White Mountains region of northern New Hampshire, Marshfield Base Station is 6 miles east of Route 302 on the western face of Mount Washington. The town of Sugar Hill, next door to Franconia, is one of the most beautiful rural towns in the White Mountains. The air smells incredibly fresh and lovely. The highest peaks would often be snow-capped, appearing white. The White Mountains are full of gorgeous waterfalls! National Forest. Here are 10 that should top your list of things to do while you're in the White Mountains. White Mountain National Forest sits near the New Hampshire and Maine border. One is in Franconia, the one you see from Artist Bluff, but Echo Lake State Park is located in Bartlett. A Beautiful Family-Owned North Conway Hotel. Kids under 5 are free. The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. In the western mountains, the Adair Country Inn has some of the most glorious grounds weve seen, and spacious rooms with jacuzzi tubs, and an excellent restaurant on site. However, Logan Airport in Boston isnt much further away and gets many more flights, especially international flights. For that reason, we went through the list with a fine-tooth comb and picked out the cabins that actually have real hot tubs. . The Whites are known for a system of alpine huts for hikers operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club. . The Franconia Mountains, as well as the Carter-Moriah and Sandwich ranges, are also subranges. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. This traditional train became the worlds first mountain-climbing railway when it was built in 1868, and to this day its the most unique journey you can take in the White Mountains! The Mount Washington Auto Road is a 7.6-mile journey, taking about 30 minutes to get to the summit, and around 30-45 to get down (its smart to take a few breaks to enjoy the scenery and give your car a rest). You can spend a day at the lake, which is a gorgeous shade of green, but we think it makes more sense as a shorter stop during a day of adventuring. Stick around after the tour to enjoy another glass and beautiful views over the landscape. Forum posts were selected by looking for forum titles asking specific questions and taking the top showtopic page by total pageviews as the optimal topic. Required fields are marked *. Take in the Riverwalk Bridge and the views along the Ammonoosuc River, and if youre staying for longer, you cant beat a nice meal at Tim-Bir Alley or fresh pancakes at the Littleton Diner the next morning! Then there's Tuckerman Ravine: in a daredevil class all its own. 71 White Mountain Drive
Adams. White Mountain National Forest - Camping & Cabins:Campground Camping Were especially fans of the Christmas Farm Inn, with a wonderful restaurant and a spa on site; and the Inn at Thorn Hill, a luxurious option with decadent suites, restaurants, a tavern, and its own spa. So sad to hear that the reindeer coaster is being retired! Feel like taking a ride to the top of the White Mountains? Distilleries have been popping up all over the Granite State in recent years, and we love how there are so many new spirits to try! We went through the complete list of New Hampshire cabins with hot tubs and realized that a lot of rentals claim a bathtub with jets is a hot tub. On this tour, youll chat with local winemakers, learn about what goes into making wines in this unorthodox environment, and then do some tasting both young wines and finished wines. The REALLY beautiful ride, however, is the Mountaineer, taking you all the way up into Crawford Notch through some of the most spectacular White Mountain scenery youll ever see, especially if you go during peak foliage. If youve gone through this entire post and still arent sure whether the White Mountains are for you, let me assure you once more this is a very, very special destination. Youll pass Profile Rock, evoking the Old Man of the Mountain, and ascend the 37.41% grade Jacobs Ladder, the second steepest mountain railway in the world. From May through September, you can go searching for moose in the wilderness, thanks to a specially outfitted bus and guides that live for tracking them down! Often called the most dangerous small mountain in the world, Mount Washington is recommended for experienced hikers and climbers who can handle significant elevation gain. Read More: Hiking the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire. You have an excellent view of Cathedral Ledge rising above the lake, and reflecting perfectly if it happens to be a still day. For more cave fun, be sure to visit the Polar Caves in Rumney. The Red Hill Syenite, a rock unit of the White Mountains, found in central New Hampshire, is of interest to researchers due to the fact that it contains feldspathoids as well as quartz-bearing rocks. They will deliver a thousand times over. Thank you! Across the Granite State, there are so many innovative breweries churning out far more than just New England IPAs! Youre ready to take on a few of the harder ones. Explore the breathtaking scenery, clear mountain lakes and streams, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities year-round. Kim Knox Beckius is a Connecticut-based travel writer, author, photographer, and editor. Don't miss North Conway Village, the prettiest part of town with a . Caves are narrow in places and adventuruous. It is a good family activity. Some of them are tight spaces but if you don't like that just don't go through that cave. Discovered more than a century ago, this natural wonder is open seasonally for self-guided tours by day and guided lantern tours at night. (Not a cave fan? Take time to grab a to-go lunch at the J Town Deli and take your picnic here by the falls. Once youre at the summit, get that photo in front of the Mount Washington sign and take in the views. Read More: 23 Fun Things to Do in Littleton, NH. Another option is Franconia Falls, a longer but mostly flat 6.8-mile out-and-back hike with a natural swimming hole that is beautifully framed by fall foliage in early October. Visit Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, and enjoy all of the shows and activities for one ticket price. The White Mountains of New Hampshire have 733 named mountains. Find attractions from fine art to historic forts; with maps Yeah, its chilly in the White Mountains for most of the year so we have some indoor water parks! [5] Leavitt drew several versions of his map, beginning in 1852. Youll have enough time to take in the views, pose with the Mount Washington Summit sign, and have a nose through the Extreme Mount Washington Museum. Jerry and Marcy Monkman for The Boston Globe. Get your VNH swag on! Read More: 27 New Hampshire Cabins with Hot Tubs. Were big fans of the Little Village Toy and Book Shop, with tons to browse for both kids and adults; Chutters Candy Shop is home to the Guinness record-breaking longest candy shop in the world, and Schilling Beer Company brews up fantastic European-style beers. Compare types of forestry and wildlife . What are the best outdoor activities in White Mountains? Caves are still a ton of fun. We consider this trail to be moderately difficult, and doable for older kids who are experienced hikers. Park was clean and friendly staff. White Mountain National Forest. Both the Conway Scenic Railroad and the Hobo Railroad offer Christmas trains. Wonderful drive with several different places to pull over for great views! On a clear day, you can see all the way to Maine, New York, and Canada! Kancamagus Scenic Byway Photo Opp (Route 112 Lincoln to Conway) Stunning scenery in the fall, this . The White Mountains region is also home to numerous hiking attractions through the various river gorges, ravines, and caves in the area.