New Hampshire > State > Things to Do and See > Great Things to Do in NH

Great Things To Do in New Hampshire

From mountains to seacoast to its delightful small cities, New Hampshire has a multitude of wonderful things to do, all years. Interesting places to explore like America’s Stonehenge or the shops and theaters and Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth are among many of the attractions that bring loyal visitors to the Granite State year after year, in all seasons.

A popular form of accommodations is resorts – some in the mountains, some on the seacoast – because they typically welcome families and offer a wide assortment of entertainments and access to the tools (rented kayaks, canoes, snowshoes, for instance) for outdoor adventure.

Morningside Flight Park

357 Morningside Lane Charlestown, NH, 03603 Phone: 603-542-4416

Flight park is ready when you’re ready to soar into your next great outdoor adventure

Soar into an adventure at the Morningside Flight Park, one of the country’s most complete flight parks, with hang gliding, paragliding and powered paragliding as well as zip line tours, and several fun on-land activities. The property’s gently elevating slope makes it a perfect training ground for hang gliding and paragliding beginners and pros. Go tandem gliding with an instructor, learn to paraglide or to power paraglide. The zip line course features four zip lines and a fifth taking you back to the ground and two suspension bridges designed so almost everyone can do it. One- and two-hour laser tag sessions occur in a woodsy area, and camping options include platform cabins, a summit cabin and sites for your own tent. Go swimming, fishing or just relax and enjoy the view.

Castle in The Clouds

Route 171 - 455 Old Mountain Road Moultonborough, NH, 03254 Phone: 603-476-5900

Variety of indoor and outdoor activities make this estate well worth a visit

One of the best parts of visiting Castle in the Clouds is the variety of fun, interesting things to do. It starts as soon as you get out of your car with a trolley ride up to the 1913-1914 Lucknow Mansion. It is there that you will explore our premier historical museum, including everything from the original furnishings and vintage clothing to the basement, where you will get a glimpse into servants’ lives. Step outside into the gardens or head to the Carriage House Exhibit Gallery, currently featuring “Lucknow’s Laborers: The People Who Built and Cared for Tom Plant’s Estate”. There are hiking trails, more than 200 programs and events, and a meadow available to rent for events and weddings.

Sweet Sunset - Lakes Region Association - New Hampshire

Lakes Region Tourism Association

61 Laconia Road Tilton, NH, 03276 Phone: 603-286-8008 Toll-Free: 800-605-2537

Bustling Lakes Region is a playground for every type of vacationer, every season of the. Year

Why settle for one type of vacation when you can have every type of getaway in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. You want outdoor sports? There’s skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, zip lining, golf, tennis, biking and kayaking — just for starters. You’d rather have a quiet, relaxing time? Book a cottage (with a porch) by a private beach, go on a lake sail or boat tour, have dinner aboard a train as it winds its way through the woods. There are concerts and plays, farms to visit, museums that celebrate everything from arcades to American history. There are attractions like Clark’s Bears and Santa’s Village and parks, trails and sanctuaries that bring you close to nature. The region really is a playground for all seasons.

Winter Journey - Mt. Washington Cog Railway - Bretton Woods, NH

Mount Washington Cog Railway

Off Route 302 Bretton Woods, NH, 03589 Phone: 603-278-5404 Toll-Free: 800-922-8825

Experience one of the world’s unique railways with one-hour winter excursion

Experience what P.T. Barnum called the “second greatest show on Earth” when he stepped off the Mount Washington Cog Railway at the mountain summit in 1869. Winter excursions aboard the famous railway don’t go all the way to the summit, but they do take passengers up to the 4,000-foot Waumbek Station, where the panoramic vistas are truly jaw-dropping. Passengers disembark the train for about 20 minutes to enjoy a blazing fire pit, warming huts and complimentary hot refreshments, then head back down to the Marshfield Base Camp: a one-hour round trip through a dramatic landscape, made even more mysterious in the winter. The base camp includes the free Cog Railway Museum, where you can learn the history of the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world.

Visit the White Mountains and See New Hampshire! Click here to learn more.

Naswa Resort on Lake Winnipesaukee - Award-Winning Hospitality in New Hampshire's Lakes Region

The White Mountains of New Hampshire - Making Memories Every Day!

Whitewater Rafting - Mt. Washington Valley Chamber - North Conway, NH

Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce

The seasons change, and the fun never ends, for visitors to Mt. Washington Valley

Every season is a reason to visit the mountains of New Hampshire. Surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest and home to the highest peak in the Northeast, outdoor adventure abounds with hundreds of trails to get you to a rushing waterfall or a mountain summit. Relax at a spa, museum, coffee shop, or bookstore, enjoy live theater and music, ooh and ahh at stunning vistas, and check out the great events and attractions for the whole family. When you’re hungry you be thrilled will all the options to choose from. We have cozy eateries, stylish bars, Irish pubs, elegant dining, and more. Shopping is tax-free in New Hampshire, and with over 200 name-brand outlets, boutique, and specialty stores it’s no surprise that North Conway, NH is world renowned as a shopping destination. Click above to visit our website or call our friendly concierge at 800-337-3563 for more info on first class lodging and exciting events to plan your next adventure!

Rhythm Cider

22 South Mountain Drive Lincoln, NH, 03251 Phone: 603-745-7550

Creative ways, from tours to dining with a view, for cider-lovers to sample new offerings, old favorites

At Rhythm Cider, they love to say the brand is all about creativity — new tastes, a new restaurant, and new ways to get to know how these fresh, handcrafted ciders are made. You can visit the cider and wine Tasting Room at the Seven Birches Winery in the expanded RiverWalk Resort. Or, you can book a tour of the production facility, where you’ll have a chance to talk to a winemaker or cider maker and sample their fine wares, leaving with a souvenir glass. Finally, you can enjoy a wonderful lunch or dinner at the brand new Rhythm Tap & Grille. Sip wines and ciders, sample the food offerings from shareable starters to steaks, burgers and seafood and take in the breathtaking views of the Pemigewasset River.

Granite State Rail Bikes

15 Veterans Square Laconia, NH, 03246 Phone: 904-870-4273

Fresh air, beautiful Lakes Region scenery all part of the rail bike experience

Get some fresh New Hampshire air and take in some gorgeous Lakes Region views as you pedal along the tracks at Granite State Rail Bikes. The 5-mile round trip from the Laconia, NH Railroad Station, which opened in 1892, meanders through Belmont Woods, over a trestle bridge spanning the Winnipesaukee River and Durkee Brook, and along the western shore of picturesque Lake Winnisquam. Experienced guides at the front and back of the group will spin the bikes around halfway through, giving you a chance to relax on benches on the lake shore. Riders are spread out, so you can go at your own pace along mainly flat terrain. Granite State also offers special trips for larger groups and picnic lunch trips. Trips are held early May through late October.

Huttopia - White Mountains

57 Pine Knoll Road Albany, NH, 03818 Phone: 603-447-3131 Toll-Free: 844-488-8674

With a cozy cabin as your headquarters, plan your fun day in the White Mountains

Let Huttopia White Mountains help you escape into a winter getaway that combines both relaxation and exhilaration. With one of their 10 wooden cabins as a home base, you’ll be 30 minutes away from the ski slopes of Cranmore Mountain and Attitash ski resorts. King Pine Ski Area is even closer, with its family-friendly atmosphere that includes skiing, snowboarding and skating. And, yes, there are plenty of great activities for non-skiers at ski resorts, including snow tubing, mountain coasters — even winter zip lines. Groomed, scenic trails in the area welcome snowshoers, hikers and snowmobilers. When you are done for the day, go back to your two-bedroom, two-floor cabins (comfy for up to six) with kitchen, bathroom, a wood stove and electrical heating and enjoy a little winter calm.

Great Glen Trails - Guided Kayaking in the White Mountains - Which is Your Adventure? Click Here for More Info!

America's Stonehenge

105 Haverhill Road Salem, NH, 03079 Phone: 603-893-8300

Explore America's Oldest Known Structure

In fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But was he really the first European to reach North America? At America's Stonehenge in Salem, New Hampshire, some say there's evidence others got here first, perhaps by a thousand years. The pine woods here are full of stone megaliths like those built throughout Great Britain by Druid priests. Were they the first arrivals? Or maybe some other group with knowledge of astronomy and stone construction? Wander our woodland trails with your family, and let your kids see for themselves. We're near the New Hampshire seacoast, which makes America's Stonehenge a great destination for days when clouds keep you off the beach. We're got a picnic area, a museum, and a herd of friendly alpacas to greet you.

Flume Gorge - Franconia Notch State Park - Franconia Notch, NH

Flume Gorge & Visitor Center

852 Daniel Webster Highway (Route 3) Franconia Notch, NH Phone: 603-745-8391

As you walk this loop trail, you’ll be awe-struck by massive gorge, waterfall – and a covered bridge

Visit Flume Gorge and prepare to be amazed. The natural gorge extends 800 feet at the base of Mt. Liberty, with 70-to-90-foot walls of Conway granite that began to form millions of years ago. Walk the 2-mile flume trail, a loop that takes about an hour and a half to complete, and view Table Rock, a massive section of granite; Avalanche Falls, a 45-foot waterfall that roars as Flume Brook enters the gorge; and glacial boulders that weigh over 300 tons. A boardwalk lets you get up close and personal with the area’s flowers, ferns and mosses, and the covered bridge across the scenic Pemigewasset River is one of the oldest in the state, built in 1886.

Great Glen Trails

Route 16 at Pinkham Notch Gorham, NH, 03581 Phone: 603-466-3988

It’s four seasons of fun adventures at this White Mountains outdoor center

Every season is a fun season at the Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center, at the base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road. Spring, summer and fall are perfect for kayak cruises. Take a clinic, go on a wildlife tour (keep an eye out for moose and eagles) or go on a sunset cruise. Get out the bike, or rent one of theirs, and enjoy well-marked carriage roads through the forest and meadows, past scenic rivers. Hiking is a joy, with breath-taking views everywhere. Dogs, and strollers, are welcome. In the winter, there’s cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and old-fashioned snow tubing down Tubing Hill. Or, take the Mt. Washington Snowcoach to the tree line on the auto road. The center’s base lodge has showers, lockers and a cozy fireplace.

Santa's Village

528 Presidential Highway Jefferson, NH, 03583 Phone: 603-586-4445

Before you visit Santa’s Village, you might want to make a list – and check it twice

You might want to make a list (and check it twice) before heading to Santa’s Village, the amusement park extraordinaire in the White Mountains. There are so many rides to choose from, including a Ferris wheel, Reindeer Carousel, flume, tube slide, bumper cars, roller coasters, trains and monorails shaped like sleighs. Over on the water park side, there are three-story twisty-turny slides, a splash pad and enough interactive fun to keep the kids entertained for hours. Families can rent cabanas or tiny suite retreats. You can visit with Santa, stop by the barn to feed the reindeer, go on a scavenger hunt or visit a bakery to decorate your own gingerbread man. Stop by the blacksmith’s shop for a sized-just-for-you souvenir ring.

Seven Birches Winery

River Walk at Loon - 22 South Mountain Drive Lincoln, NH, 03251 Phone: 603-745-7550

Wine-lovers, experienced and novice, will love this winery’s tours, atmosphere

Seven Birches Winery is the perfect activity for wine-lovers, whether you’re a novice or just beginning your love affair with wine. Located inside the lovely Riverwalk Resort at Loon Mountain, the winery offers intimate meet-the-winemakers tours of its production facility, where you can see how local fruits and European grape varietals are handcrafted into very special wines. Or, just opt for a tasting off the wine menu. Knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you with a choice or order up a flight for true sampling. In the nearby Lincoln Village Shops, the winery’s Atrium Wine Bar offers tastings in a rustic atmosphere as well as easy access to the region’s finest shops and restaurants.

Ice Castles

24 Clark Farm Road North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Phone: Toll-Free: 888-407-4054

Your moment of imagination, exploration and magic awaits at Ice Castles

This immersive experience built entirely from ice enchants visitors with its captivating photogenic appeal. Escape into a world of frozen caves, maze-like tunnels, fountains and ice-carved slides. Ice Castles in North Woodstock is built by hand using hundreds of thousands of icicles that are grown, harvested, and planted every day to create the acre-sized interactive attraction. And the effect is heightened at night when LED lights frozen inside change colors in perfect synchronization to music. You don’t have to be a fan of “Frozen” to find the whole experience magical. Remember to dress warmly, but in case that's not enough there's an on-site concession stand serving up hot chocolate, apple cider, and warm treats!

Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad

154 Main Street Meredith, NH, 03253 Phone: 603-279-5253

Travel by train along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee three seasons of the year

There are many ways to enjoy Lake Winnipesaukee in the spring, summer and fall, but one of the most unusual is to see it by train. The Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad offers one- and two-hour round trips along the lake’s shore: From one side of the train, you’ll see impressive panoramic lake vistas; from the other side, you’ll see the gorgeous homes along its shores. The two-hour trip leaves from Meredith, NH; the one-hour excursion departs from the historic boardwalk at Weirs Beach, NH. Bring your own picnic lunch to enjoy on board. In the fall, the train offers four-hour foliage trains that stop in Plymouth, NH for a buffet lunch and in Ashland, NH for a tour of the restored train station. And there’s a Turkey Dinner Train with a complete catered turkey dinner.

Chuckster's Family Fun Park

Two Great Locations Chichester and Hooksett, NH Phone: 603-798-3555

Golf, zoom around a go-kart track or fly through the air!

You might not really hit a hole-in-one on the giant mini-golf courses at Chuckster’s two New Hampshire locations. But you’ll feel like you did after spending time at these fun-filled activity parks. In Hooksett, tackle the 18-hole Fire Tower or Cave courses then let the winner buy cones at the ice cream barn. In Chichester, if golf isn’t your thing, no worries: there's 16 different games & attractions to choose from! There’s the go-kart speedway, TimberTrek Aerial Adventure Park where you can zip through the trees 10-35 feet off the ground, our new & unique Klime Wallz courses, an enormous new bumper boat pond with waterfall and fountain! Or bounce and flip up to 18 feet on the Jumpster. Feeling competitive? How about ChucksterBall, Frantic Hoops, or Shoot-N-Shower (guess what happens to the loser)? It's a full day of fun, with and without water or golf!

Canterbury Shaker Village

288 Shaker Road Canterbury, NH, 03224 Phone: 603-783-9511

The simple life made extraordinary by the Shakers

The Shaker religious sect is considered by many historians to be the most successful communitarian society in American history. Throughout the 1800s some 300 members of the Shaker sect lived at the Canterbury Shaker Village site in Canterbury, NH growing their own food and supporting the community through their crafts and trades. Come see how the community thrived. Step inside 25 restored original Shaker buildings. Discover Shaker artifacts and photographs amidst 700 beautiful acres of forest, fields, gardens and mill ponds. The site offers workshops on woodworking, letterpress printing, broom making and more. Enjoy a simple lunch at the Horse Barn Cafe and shop for products made by local artisans at the Museum Store.

Brewery Tour 2019 - Woodstock Inn, Station & Brewery - North Woodstock, NH

Woodstock Inn Brewery

135 Main Street North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Phone: 603-745-3951 Toll-Free: 800-321-3985

Take a tour or just relax at this brewery’s bar, pub or patio with a good meal and a great beer

Come see why the Woodstock Inn Brewery is the place to be, four seasons of the year, in scenic North Woodstock, NH. Serving up superior craft beer for more than 25 years, the brewery offers visitors daily brewery tours seven days a week, as well as a great dining experience for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The tour offers tastings in addition to a behind-the-scenes look at how the distinctly New Hampshire beers are made. Dining at the warm, welcoming Main Bar, cozy Tap Room, lively Brew Pub or, in season, on the dog-friendly patio at the Dam Bar is an experience not to be missed. Check the website for the schedule of live music and to sign up for dining in one of the brewery’s igloos!

Mountain Club on Loon

90 Loon Mountain Road Lincoln, NH, 03251 Phone: 800-229-7829

Every season at this mountain resort comes with fun, exciting activities for all ages

You want to have some peak experiences when you’re on vacation? Then you’ll want to stay and play at the Mountain Club on Loon, the year-round resort and spa where every season has exciting activities. In the winter, of course, there’s skiing, snowboarding and tubing at New Hampshire’s largest ski resort — right outside your door. Spring means mountain biking, fishing, hiking and ATV riding. Summer brings kayaking, canoeing, swimming, tubing, boating and golf. And spectacular autumn means hitting foliage trails by hiking and biking – and perhaps taking a moose safari! There’s great shopping and dining year-round. And you’ll come back every day to comfortable, spacious accommodations from rooms with hot tubs to suites with full kitchens and everything in between.

White Mountains Attractions

200 Kancamagus Highway North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Phone: 603-745-8720 Toll-Free: 800-346-3687

New Hampshire's White Mountains boast a colorful array of activities for visitors of all ages

Soaring through a forest, skiing down a snowy slope, riding the rails on a vintage train, conquering a corn maze, marveling at trained bears, saying hello to Santa and his reindeer: That’s just a partial list of all the activities awaiting visitors to New Hampshire’s breathtaking White Mountains. Whether you’re taking the kids to old favorites Clark’s Bears, Santa’s Village or Story Land, or arranging a friends weekend at one of several luxurious mountain resorts, you’ll have the time of your life in this fun-filled region, one of New England’s most scenic spots. Explore a glacial cave, nature center or a gallery-dotted Main Street. Go fishing, golfing or zip lining. See live theater, take a moose safari, visit a sled-dog kennel. Your adventure awaits. To find out more, follow our link above or call us today at 1-800-346-3687.

Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train

3 Crossing at Riverplace North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Phone: 603-745-3500

Scenic train ride aboard vintage cars serves up another memorable experience: a five-course meal

The only thing better than traveling on a vintage, restored 1950s rail car as it rumbles through the scenic Pemigewassset River Valley would be if they served meals on board. And on the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train, they do just that – in great style. As you are served your five-course gourmet meal in elegant surroundings, you’ll travel south from the charming North Woodstock station through woods, over three trestle bridges, through the Jack-O-Lantern Golf Course and a Christmas tree farm. And your meal (the menu changes regularly) is not to be forgotten, with appetizers like cold-smoked salmon and stuffed dates and entrees like chicken Florentine and grilled pork tenderloin. There’s also a full bar. The two-hour train excursion is offered May through October.

Hiking & Waterfall - Twin Mountain-Bretton Woods Chamber - New Hampshire

Twin Mountain-Bretton Woods Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 194 Twin Mountain, NH, 03595 Phone: Toll-Free: 800-245-8946

In this fun-filled region of the White Mountains, there is no such thing as being bored

You know what no one ever says when visiting the Twin Mountain-Bretton Woods, NH area? “I’m bored.” That’s because there are so many amazing activities and attractions, four seasons of the year. In the winter, there’s alpine and cross-country skiing, snow-tubing, skating, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. Spring means horseback riding, bird-watching, driving up or taking a tour up to the Mt. Washington summit. In the summer, there’s kayaking, canoeing, swimming, golfing, fishing and boating excursions. Then fall, with all its fabulous colors, means hiking to waterfalls, biking along rivers and along mountain trails. Whether your idea of fun is taking a drive along the Kancamagus Scenic Byway, zip-lining through the forest, snowboarding in a ski resort or engaging in some tax-free shopping, your adventure awaits in the White Mountains.

Conway Scenic Railroad

38 Norcross Circle North Conway, NH, 03860 Phone: 603-356-5251 Toll-Free: 800-232-5251

Choose from heritage rail excursions or scenic train rides through picturesque valley

Learn some history and admire the spectacular scenery of the Mt. Washington Valley when you travel one of the vintage passenger cars of the Conway Scenic Railroad, all boarding at the 1874 station in North Conway, NH. Take a 55-minute trip to Conway, NH (particularly great for little kids), a two-hour excursion to the Sawyer River over several bridges, a Snow Train to Attitash, NH or the magnificent Mountaineer, a five-hour journey through the valley and over rugged Crawford Notch (ask about seats in the dome cars for truly amazing views). Lunch can be pre-ordered for some trains; all have snack bars. Train trips also feature a historical narrative from crew members. Dogs under 20 pounds are permitted on the Conway and Sawyer River trains.

NHSCOT

There are endless ways to experience Scottish culture in New Hampshire

Did you know Scottish culture is alive and thriving in New Hampshire!? NHSCOT, is a nonprofit organization is dedicated to preserving and promoting Scottish culture for future generations and offers plenty of ways to Get Your Scot On and celebrate Scottish culture. You can ring in the New Year, Scottish style, at NHSCOT’s Hogmanay celebration. Celebrate Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns during an evening of poetry and dancing the Ceilidh. March in the New York City Tartan Day Parade with the Pipes & Drums of NHSCOT. And you can’t miss their signature event, the annual NH Highland Games & Festival, a 3 day event filled with fun – Scottish style!

Curious Kids - Mount Washington Auto Road - Gorham, NH

Mt. Washington Auto Road

Route 16, Pinkham Notch Gorham, NH, 03581 Phone: 603-466-3988

All year long, special adventures, and awe-inspiring tours, are offered on this mountain road

Every season of the year offers a new adventure for visitors to the Mt. Washington Auto Road. In the summer and fall, load the audio tour app and drive yourself up to the summit of the highest peak in the Northeast. Or, take a two-hour guided tour, a curated mountain experience with knowledgeable guides. On specific days, you can drive your four-wheel ATV. Take a special sunrise or sunset tour for awe-inspiring views. A hiker shuttle offers one-way shuttle service, either up or down from the summit. Customized group tours also are available. In the spring, there’s the additional Spring Adventure Tour to see how the road is cleared. And in the winter, don’t miss the narrated Mt. Washington SnowCoach tour to the sub-arctic tree line.

Scenic RailRiders

188 Sewalls Falls Road Concord, NH, 03301 Phone: 603-931-1700

Check this off your bucket list: riding the rails along the Merrimack in a custom-built “bike”

At Scenic Railriders, they ask this question: When’s the last time you did something for the first time? You have the opportunity to do just that when you reserve a trip on the custom-built Rail-Bikes of Scenic Railriders. You’ll pedal along 6.2 miles of scenic abandoned railroad tracks, passing over bridges and along the Merrimack River. The two- and four-seat “bikes” are custom-built, for all ages, and can be joined together for larger groups. No helmets are required, and child seats can be strapped right onto the Rail-Bike seats for little ones. The trip, which lasts about an hour and 45 minutes and is led by guides at the beginning and end of the “bikes,” includes two turn-around points where you can stretch your legs and admire the scenery.

Sunset over the Lake - Androscoggin Valley Chamber - Berlin, NH

Androscoggin Valley Chamber of Commerce

961 Main Street Berlin, NH, 03570 Phone: 603-228-0836

Every single season in the Androscoggin Valley offers exciting things to do and see

Every season is the perfect season in the Androscoggin Valley, NH, where the north side of Mt. Washington and the Upper Androscoggin River meet. In the winter, this wonderland is a celebration of alpine and cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. You can go snow-tubing, sleigh-riding and dog-sledding. Spring means fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Summer brings golf, scenic gondola rides whitewater rafting, local theater and live music. And, in the fall, it’s time to hike or bike or zip line through the trees bursting with color. Don’t miss RiverFire in October, with bonfires along the river and hundreds of carved and lit pumpkins. Horseback riding, moose tours, camping and glamping and quaint New England towns to stroll through: It’s all happening in this place where adventures never end.

Granite State Scenic Railway

64 Railroad Street Lincoln, NH, 03251 Phone: 603-745-2135

Scenic train excursions provide special fun for passengers each season of the year

The Granite State Scenic Railway offers fun things to do each season of the year. From late May through October, the train’s popular 80-minute round trip from Lincoln, NH, the southern entrance to the gorgeous White Mountains region, takes passengers in vintage train cars through the woods and along the meandering Pemigewasset River, spying kayakers, swimmers and fishermen enjoying the waterway. In fall foliage season, sit back and marvel at the explosion of colors — or take the special train to the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 26. When the snow flakes begin to fall, it’s time for the Santa Express, which runs weekends beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving through mid-December. Kids get a gift, families get cookies and everyone can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus on board the festive train.

General Store Celebrates Inspired Nonsense

Zeb’s General Store in the mountain village of North Conway is the place to find New England products of all imaginable kinds – and some you might not easily imagine, like Nantucket Sea Clay Soap, Maine Maple Champagne Mustard, or Out on a Limb Blueberry Pie Filling. Some products are eccentric and all are worth a ride home in your shopping satchel. There are plenty of New England specialty foods and classic favorites like penny candy. You can even design your own gift basket from crates, baskets, or boxes (one of them a replica of the store itself), which you then fill with Zeb’s goodies.

Lemon Tree Gifts - Gift Shops in Hanover, NH

Gift Shopping in Hanover

You can almost always rely on a college town for fun shopping for new or consigned items. In Hanover, for instance, fans love the the Pink Alligator consignment shop of South Main, where you can easily find top-shelf brands at reasonable prices. Color-obsessed shoppers will enjoy the store’s arrangement, by color. Also for gifts, be sure to visit Lemon Tree Gifts of Hanover on South Main. Again, there’s no way to characterize the stock: think of baby gifts, candles, lamps, cute serving ware.

Currier & Ives Trail Is a Peaceful Meander

The 30-mile Currier and Ives Scenic Byway displays the beauties of small-town New England along its entire length, through or near the towns of Hopkinton, Warner, Henniker, and Webster. The trail follows Route 127 from Salisbury at its northern end down to Contoocook and Hopkinton, and from there along Routes 103 and 202 towards Hillsborough. Hopkinton has its historic covered bridges and grand colonial houses along Main Street. Downtown is split by the Contoocook River runs shimmering through the heart of Hopkinton. Henniker is rich in the arts and culture of the region. Warner is the home of Rollins State Park and Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum. Webster is filled with old farms and fields.

Even in Outdoorsy New Hampshire, Tea Time Has Its Place

New Hampshire is famous for its magnificent mountains and rugged outdoor sports. But, come on, some of us enjoy a moment of dainty pleasure on vacation, and there’s no better way to do that than with a visit to a tea shop for afternoon tea. The tea houses listed below offer English-inspired tea service, usually with sandwiches or pastries, and other nice touches like fine china and flowers. Get out of your hiking boots, dress up for the afternoon, and enjoy! Silver Fountain Inn & Tea Parlor in Dover. Map. The Cozy Tea Cart in Brookline. Map. The Barn at Harrisville Inn in Harrisville. Map.

Candy, Old-Fashioned Style, and LOTS of It

Do you adore candy, especially old-fashioned penny candy? Do you yearn for mile-high and ludicrously candy-enhanced ice cream shakes? How about a fantasy land rich with “harry Potter” and “Lord of the Rings” visuals? All of these pleasures await at Lickee’s & Chewy’s Candies & Creamery, located in the historic Cocheco Mills at 53 Washington Street in downtown Dover. The over-the-top store is the creation of Chris Guerrette, lover of candy and fantasy and excess. Shipping and curbside pickup available.

Fabric Artistry Like You’re Never Seen

People interested in unique ((intended, here, to truly mean one-of-a-kind) fabric art will be charmed by Nancy Morgan Art, a working studio and gallery at 238 State Street in Portsmouth. Using very basic machine sewing gear and techniques, Nancy Morgan, artist and gallery owner, creates images, including many showing Portsmouth town and seaside views, with cloth, embroidery and quilting techniques, and finely detailed stitchery. She is happy to show and demonstrate her techniques, and her books, “Shades of Tulle” and “The Fabric of Bow Street,” offer insights. The gallery is open to the public Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Polly Want a Pancake!

All people who hold an appropriate reverence for pancakes need to trek to Polly’s Pancake Parlor on Route 117 in Sugar Hill, a third-generation family business that has been making and serving pancakes since 1938. All day long, Polly's serves whole wheat, buckwheat, and cornmeal pancakes, sausage or bacon, and maple toppings. Visit the gift shop and take home the pancake mixes and maple syrup to hold you over until your next visit.

Explore the Rocks

The Rocks Estate at 4 Christmas Lane in Bethlehem is famous for its Christmas trees, but this former summer home of the wealthy Glessner family also hosts lots of other seasonal outdoor activity for visitors. This site of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, the 1,400-acre property offers guided and individual exploration and learning programs. Guests may hike and explore through the spring, summer, and fall. The property has short, easy strolls or longer hikes, past magnificent views of the Presidential Range. Northern wildlife abounds at the estate. Phone: 603-444-6228.

Unique Riverside Shop for Candles and Gifts

Der Markt at Marklin at 28 Riverside Drive in Contoocook sells interesting and high-quality products from skilled artisans. At this fine-quality shop you will find candles, jewelry, honey, Simon Pierce glass, felt slippers, Himalayan salt, wooden ggifts , cards, books, women's and children's clothing. . The gift shop is associated with the neighboring M G Marklin, which creates candles, wooden products and liturgical goods onsite at this riverside location.

A New Hampshire Country Store, from Aged Cheese to Pewter Gifts

Calef’s Country Store, at Routes 9 and 125 in the Seacoast town of Barrington, has been dispensing welcome, hospitality, and good food since the horse-and-buggy days. Stop in for a deli sandwich during your explorations of the area, and, if you can, pick up some great food gifts to charm the people you left back home. These include Caleb’s Snappy Old Cheese, maple foods, jams, jellies, butter, pickles, relishes, olives, chutney, salsa and pretzel dips, soup mixes, and more. Caleb’s also carries beautiful artwork by the New Hampshire Pewter Company. Open daily.

Hanover Offers Outdoor Fun & Food for the Intellect

The town of Hanover – home to Dartmouth College – offers a mix of New England beauty and lots of interesting cultural activity, as befits a top-drawer college town. Hanover is in the Upper Valley, a swath along the Connecticut River that includes Hanover and Lebanon, NH, and Norwich and White River Junction, VT. Hanover’s downtown offers shopping, cool restaurants, and attractions like the Hood Museum of Art, Left Bank Books, Ledyard Canoe Club, among many other intellectual and outdoors hot spots. Outdoor sports and activities are abundant in the region, in all seasons. Find plenty of day hikes and great bike riding.

Candy, Candles, Collectibles

Wintry weather, family holidays, and candy. These three go together like two horses and a carriage. Since 1906, Kellerhaus on Endicott Street North in Weirs Beach has been delighting customers year-round with homemade candies, unique gifts, and awesome views, not to mention the candle and collectible showrooms. Visitors can watch the candy being made by hand in the candy shop. Bring your appetite to the ice cream sundae and waffle buffets. Your taste buds will thank you.

Moose Tours from Adventure Photography - Great Things To Do

Awake Your Inner Shooter with Adventure Photography Tours

Outdoor Escapes New Hampshire, based in the town of Freedom offers outdoor and wildlife photography tours in New Hampshire all year. Half-day and full-day guided day trips may be customized for you and your group, depending on your photographic interest. Moose? Foliage? Landscapes? Escapes can be geared for beginning photographers all the way to experts. Design your outdoor photographic objective and this company can help you make it happen. Phone: Lucie Villeneuve at 603-528-0136 or Jeff Barrie at 603-867-3778.

little harbor trail from Wentworth coolidge mansion

Little Harbor Loop Trail Wanders Shoreline & Gardens

A really easy and pleasant 1.5-mile Little Harbor Trail now wanders through the the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion grounds, at 375 Little Harbor Road in Portsmouth and Portsmouth Conservation Land. The trail is flat and fine for little ones or elderly people. Views of the Piscataqua River just south of Portsmouth and tidal pools and gardens are delightful. There is free parking & trail access at the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion at 375 Little Harbor Road. Trail map.

Prospect Hill Antiques Barn - Sunapee, NH

Elegant Antiques; Discerning Taste

Prospect Hill Antiques Barn, off Prospect Hill Road in Sunapee, is three floors of antique furniture and fine furnishings representing years of expertise and collections. The 12,000 square feet of display shows of items of mid-century household goods and art, with more items constantly under acquisition from over the world. Also, original work from the best local artists. Check website for hours of operation; this is a gem you won’t want to miss.

Portsmouth Harbor Trail Walking Tours

Portsmouth is a delightful riverside city today, with a low-profile downtown, lots of dining and shopping, and a gorgeous park on the Piscataqua River. Its history reaches to Colonial times, when it served as a deep-water port for fishing and shipping timber from inland to the sea. This history is on display through three walking tours of the Portsmouth Harbor Trail. Guided tours are offered from June through October (call 603-610-5518). Three walks take you through or past Market Square, the heart of downtown; Prescott Park on the river; Strawbery Banke, a living history museum encompassing 400 years of the town's story; tug boats at the docks; views of the river; and several historic churches and mansions.

The Old Country Store; Old History Stage

You can buy treats and trinkets of all kinds at the Old Country Store on Whittier Hwy. in Moultonborough. And if you have all your senses tuned up, you might feel the stories of long ago in this place, built in 1781 on land given to Jonathan Moulton for his service during the Revolutionary War. The place also has served as a library and a post office and has hosted town meetings. Today, go there for candles, toys, shoes, local products, kitchenware, and penny candy, with a pickle barrel, maple syrup, and a good dose of John Deere merchandise. Kids will love it. 603-476-5750

Apple Cider Is Ingredient #1 at This Restaurant

Fine dining, café, market and apple pressing – apples are the thing, but not the only thing, at White Mountain Cider Co. at 207 Route 302 in Bartlett. Owner Teresa Stearns, a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef, presents fine dinners with a Cidertini cocktail, cider-braised pork and ice cream-topped cider doughnuts for dessert. Try the cider slushy and watch cider-making in progress on fall weekends. A fall pleasure, any time of the year. 603-383-9061

I, Whirlygig

Here’s a chance to get the fun of flying without the fear of flying. SkyVenture , located on Poisson Road in Nashua, is a vertical wind tunnel where visitors can experience the freedom of flight. There is no falling sensation. You just float above the trampoline floor with ease. The indoor vertical wind tunnel is not only used by the world’s best skydivers to train in but it was also designed for the general public to experience the sport of body flight. No experience necessary! Also: indoor rock climbing, indoor surfing. and water slides. Open Wednesdays through Sundays. 603-897-0002.

Stop to Shop

The Seacoast region has wonderful shopping for beautiful and unusual items. The Fox Run Mall in Newington is a place to start for national names, followed by a trip to Boardwalk Strip at Hampton Beach. The cream of the shopping experience has to be Portsmouth's Market Street, crammed with art, toys, home decorations, clothing, hardware, jewelry, flowers, and more. Voted one of New England's Best Shopping Streets by Travel and Leisure Magazine.

Biking Alongside Winnipesaukee History

The Winnipesaukee River Trail is just right for people interested in taking a walk or bike ride on a scenic historic trail -- yet with the feel of wilderness -- close to the downtowns of Franklin and Northfield. This five -mile trail connects Tilton, Northfield and Franklin along the Winnipesaukee River and passes the historic Sulphite upside-down covered bridge. Walkers on the trail can view mill ruins and remaining portions of dams that tell the history of the five mills that operated on this river in the mid-19th century. Access points: Central Street in Franklin (under the railroad trestle); Cross Mill Road in Northfield; Old Surrette Battery property off from Park Street in Northfield (across the street from the library); 142 East Main Street off Route 3 in Tilton; Route 140 at Railroad right-of-way just past McDonalds. Email: innirivertrail@gmail.com. Trail brochure and map.

Byway, Not the Highway, By the Lakes

So, what’s so great about traveling by car? To take in great sweeps of Lakes region scenery, get in your vehicle and tap into the Lakes region scenic driving tours. Several self-guided driving and walking tours are described by the people who know the area best -- the Lakes region tourism association. Scenic drives take you along Lake Winnipesaukee and around the general region, presenting grand views, lakeside villages and fun places to eat and shop. [ photo: NH Dept.of Resources and Economic Development ]

Art in Pewter Evokes New England's History

Few artistic materials are more evocative of New England than pewter. Hampshire Pewter at 9 Railroad Avenue in Wolfeboro, practices the Colonial pewterer's craft in a modern environment. The company welcomes guests to tour its workshops and watch the creation of its pewter tableware and ornaments. Watch pewter artists mix pure tin with other fine metals and then cast this liquid pewter into shapes using bronze molds. Then, workers join these castings to create classically shaped goblets, tankards, and candlesticks. After joining, they cut away all of the rough gray metal and carve the fine details. After your tour, browse through the Gift Shop to choose a piece of Hampshire Pewter as a remembrance of your visit. Open daily except Sunday. 866-282-7384

Head to the Hood

People with every taste and preference in world art will find something wonderful to savor at the Hood Museum of Art on East Wheelock Street on the campus of Dartmouth College in Hanover. The Hood is home to an outstanding collection of European, American, Middle Eastern, African, and Asian art and artifacts. The collections are especially strong in American art, with portraits and landscapes by noted Americans. An app uses augmented reality technology to let viewers discover these and other hidden details in two of Dartmouth's most prized works of art. What's going on in the landscape behind the throne in Perugino's painting "Virgin and Child with Saints"?

great bay national wildlife refuge newington nh

Meet Our Fabulous Wetlands

Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge at 4 Arboretum Drive in Newingtonis a beautiful estuary and woodlands protected by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The refuge is open every day to the public for hiking, bird watching, photography, and other outdoor activities. Visitors will find two trails, parking lot, restroom, and an interpretive kiosk. Interpretive programs are regularly offered at the refuge. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing on these same trails are popular activities during the winter.

Fruit Wines, Apple Brandy, and Vodka to Taste Year-Round

Flag Hill Vineyard and Winery at 297 North River Road in Lee has ground in 20 years from a family-operated vineyard to an established winery in this picturesque seacoast region. The winery produces more than 15 varieties of red and white wines. Flag Hill produces distilled spirits such as General John Stark Vodka and Josiah Bartlett Apple Brandy. A tasting room and gift store, offering events, tours, sales, is in a post-and-beam building that once served as a barn. Open year round, Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. except for major holidays. 603-659-2949.

Bamboo Shawls at Concord Crafts - Photo Credit Doug Masury

Craftsmen in Merrimack

36 North Main Street Concord, NH, 03301 Phone: 603-228-8171

Founded in 1932, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen is one of the oldest craft organizations in the country. The League was formed during the Depression to help New Hampshire craftspeople make a living through difficult financial times by building an audience and market for fine handmade craft. The League operates seven retail galleries throughout New Hampshire. The galleries present the work of juried craftspeople, along with demonstrations, exhibits and educational programs. Visit their gallery in Concord to see new collections and exhibits or to join in one of the crating classes that are offered.

Hanover Region Is Full of Interesting Things to See and Do

Hanover is home to Dartmouth College and it has a fun business district of good, casual dining and cool shopping for books, clothing, and art. If you love fine furnishings, Simon Pearce in Hanover designs elegant glassware, handcrafted by artisans. Saint Gaudens National Historical Site in Cornish will school you in the work of one of America’s greatest sculptors. Theater is live at the 800-seat, historic Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon. Regional artists display work at Gilded Edge, a gallery in Lebanon. The Enfield Shaker Museum in Enfield welcomes you to explore a society of people living a unique and low-tech way of life for hundreds of years.

Lay Your Hands on NH’s Military History

New Hampshire’s military history dates to the 1600s; one in every ten citizens has served in our nation’s military. The concept led to the creation of the Veterans Heritage Learning Center on the grounds of the NH State Veterans Cemetery at 110 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Boscawen. The center will house exhibits of NH heroes, a multi-media Foot Locker theater with hands-on exhibits and military items from various wars and services, a Journey of the NH Soldier time line, and an interactive Hallowed Grounds touch table. Through the 20 Points of History constructed in 2000, and updated in 2015, along with the Memorial Walkway, visitors gain knowledge of New Hampshire veterans who have served our country. Open weekdays, concurrently with the cemetery.

History Along a River Trail

New Hampshire Heritage Trail is a 230-mile walking trail across New Hampshire from Massachusetts to Canada. Plymouth’s portion of the Heritage Trail, a 5.6-mile loop with 16 points of interest, begins at the Railroad Depot, constructed in 1909 for the Boston and Maine Railroad. Other highlights are a cottage where Robert Frost lived while teaching at Plymouth Normal School and Silver Cultural Arts Center, once a stop on the underground railroad. Park at the Plymouth Regional Senior Center on Green Street. The trail begins north of the Senior Center, past the District Courthouse. Follow the brown Heritage Trail directional signs. 603- 536-1001.

Drive and Nibble; Drive and Sip

There’s no reason to be craving fine chocolate, cheese, or wine on a visit to the Granite State. The state’s tourism and farming people have creating a marvelously helpful and also beautiful brochure -- available as a pdf -- of New Hampshire’s Wine, Cheese, and Chocolate Trails. A simple and useful map heading the brochure is followed up by detailed listings of wineries, vineyards, cheese makers and chocolatiers. Drive and taste, drive and nibble, year-round. Fall brings bright foliage but all the seasons have great visuals from the car.

Arethusa Falls Near Bartlett

Arethusa Falls, near Bartlett, is the highest single drop in New Hampshire and by far the most spectacular. Bemis Brook makes a leap of 176 feet down an orange ledge of granite, capping a 1.5-mile hike along Bemis Brook. As you approach the falls, you'll see tantalizing glimpses of white falling water high through the treetops. To find it: Arethusa Falls is a well-signed side road off of Route 302 about halfway between Bartlett and the Gates of the Notch. Park in the lot and the falls are about two miles and 900 vertical feet away. Shortly after you leave the parking log, you'll see a trail junction leading towards Bemis Brook. The Arethusa Falls trail is a very steep climb over root ladders and erosion.

Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee

Great North Woods

Lakes

Merrimack Valley

Monadnock

Seacoast

White Mountains