Family fun in New Hampshire covers mountains, farms, museums, more

New Hampshire > State > Families and Kids > Family Activities

A range and variety of fun stuff for families and children to do in New Hampshire -- year-round, indoors and outdoors -- is mind boggling. Examples are amusement parks featuring Santa and classic nursery rhymes, zip lines, rock climbing and cave tours, working farms with animals visits and hay rides, ski mountains with year-round activities, living history villages, and more. Bring the kids, enjoy, and maybe even learn some history. Lodgings that welcome kids and families can be found all around you.

Walking the paths of Flume gorge - Family Activites in New Hampshire - Photo Credit: NH Division of Travel and Tourism Development

Great Glen Trails

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

There’s family fun to be had every season at this outdoor center at the base of Mt. Washington

Every season is family fun season at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center, at the foot of magnificent Mt. Washington. In the warmer months, you can take family bike rides across the center’s miles of well-marked carriage roads and single tracks or go on a whitewater kayaking excursion or a wildlife tour (watch for moose!). There’s great hiking through meadows and woodland. In the winter, those trails become groomed pathways for cross-country skiers and snowshoers. There’s also fat biking in winter as well as an old-fashioned walk-up snow-tubing hill (with hot cocoa and s’mores at the top). And don’t forget the Mt. Washington Auto Road, taking you up to the summit for some pretty spectacular views.

Ice Castles

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

A spectacular frozen fantasy for the young – and young at heart

Ice Castles in North Woodstock is a fun-filled winter activity that has everything a child – or a child at heart – could fantasize about: ice slides, mazes of tunnels, crawl spaces, frozen fountains, thrones and towers of cascading ice. This frozen fortress is the perfect place to make unforgettable memories as a family. But the fun doesn’t end when the sun goes down. In fact, there’s always a spectacular light show at night, as LED lights embedded inside the ice turn the castles from brilliant shades of blue, to vibrant red, purple, and green. Families are advised to buy tickets online in advance (you can spend as much time as you like once you’re inside), to dress warmly with boots, and to consider a small sled instead of a stroller for really little ones. There’s also a concession stand with hot chocolate, cider, and warm treats.

Lakes Region Tourism Association

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

Exciting activities in this family-friendly region are varied and conveniently close

Wouldn’t you like to go on a vacation where tons of family activities are all in the same area? That’s on tap in the Lakes Region, where you’ll find everything from entertainment centers with over 600 arcade games to natural science centers with 20 types of rescued animals in natural habitats to Ice Age caves kids can scramble through to horseback riding and mountain biking. Lake activities include dinner and sunset cruises, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and swimming. There’s a speedway with go-karts and mini golf, trolley tours, drive-in movies and family farms where you can meet the animals. In winter, there’s skiing, ice skating, snowboarding and snowshoeing. The region boasts a huge selection of restaurants and a variety of accommodations from camping to resorts.

Margate Resort on Winnipesaukee

76 Lake Streeet Laconia, NH, 03246 Phone: 603-524-5210 Toll-Free: 800-627-4283

Your family’s unforgettable vacation awaits at this resort right on the lake

Come join the families who make memories at the Margate on Winnipeaukee, a great home base for your New Hampshire getaway. Just steps from the lake’s calm, scenic Paugus Bay, the resort has a 400-foot private sandy beach and kayak and paddle board rentals. Glide around the bay’s islands, swim out to the raft or just relax in your beach chair. (Kids will love the complimentary popcorn and snow cone carts!) There’s a heated indoor pool and oversized whirlpool, large outdoor pool, fitness center and an arcade game room. Area activities include hiking, biking, skiing, snowmobiling, boat cruises, a scenic railroad, ice arena, Funspot (the largest arcade in the world) and fun shopping. Dine in the Gazebo Beach Bar or in one of many local restaurants.

Climb NH's Mount Washington by train! The Mt. Washington Cog Railway

Hobo Railroad

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

Travel back into the country’s railroad past in vintage cars, along a winding river

All aboard the Hobo Railroad for a relaxing journey into America’s railroad past. Climb into restored vintage coaches, breathe in that crisp White Mountains air, sit back and enjoy the scenery through the woods and banks along the winding Pemigewasset River. During the 80-minute, 15-mile round trip, you’ll see swimmers, kayakers and fishermen in and along this picturesque waterway. The rail system dates back to the late 1800s, when trains pulled by steam locomotives moved tourists from Boston, Hartford and New York north to the pristine lakes and mountains of New Hampshire. The family owned and operated train runs late May through October, then Thanksgiving through mid-December. At the Hobo Junction Gift Shop, grab snacks, ice cream and soda – or bring your own picnic lunch.

Chuckster's Family Fun Park

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

True fun and games for everyone at these New Hampshire play parks

Fun for all ages is an understatement at New Hampshire’s two Chuckster’s locations. At Chuckster’s Ice Cream & Miniature Golf in Hooksett, you can tee off from inside a fire tower on a multi-level mini golf course (one of two huge courses) and, after 18 amazing holes, adjourn to the ice cream barn. At Chuckster’s Family Fun Park in Chichester, mini golf is one of 17 unique attractions, including a go-kart speedway, a 27-foot climbing wall, and Timbertrek where you go from tree to tree on everything from a horse saddle to a snowboard. Fun games include Balloon Blast, Shoot-N-Shower (foul-shot loser gets a watery surprise) and Light Frenzy. Need recharging? There’s ice cream, pizza, chicken wings and more.

Face Painted Kids 500x250 - Clark's Trading Post - Lincoln, NH

Clark's Bears

110 Daniel Webster Highway (Route 3) Lincoln, NH, 03251 Phone: 603-745-8913

See a show, ride a train, try out a Segway - So much to do at this family amusement park

Clark's Bears has closed for 2021 - See you again in 2022!
There’s so much to see and do at Clark’s Bears. On the seeing front, there’s the famous trained bear show, or Yandong's Chinese Circus with amazing acrobats, or the Pemigewasset hook-and-ladder fire station with its antique horse-drawn fire engines. On the doing side, there’s the White Mountain Central Railroad trip, the Anaconda Escape water raft ride, a rock-climbing wall, water blaster boats for those who don’t mind getting soaked, Merlin's Mansion for those with a mystical mind, and places to mine for gemstones and fossils. Food ranges from burgers, subs and pizzas to a dish of something special at the Peppermint Saloon ice cream parlor. Tickets include all rides, all shows, all day.

Hampton Beach Village District

115 Ocean Boulevard Hampton Beach, NH, 03843 Phone: 603-926-8717

Come see why families have flocked to this vibrant, fun beach area for decades and decades

Hampton Beach has been a splendid place to spend vacations on the seacoast for coming up to two centuries, and your family will quickly see why. Assorted beach and water activities include swimming, fishing, boating, tidal-pool wading, whale-watching, sunset strolling and just relaxing under an umbrella. Add to that mix events like fireworks shows, Monday night movies, nightly music at the Seashell, talent contests and special treats like sand-sculpture competitions, a seafood festival and a children’s week. And don’t forget tax-free shopping in unique stores (don’t go home without homemade fudge), arcade games and mini golf, parasailing, bikes and scooters to rent, an oceanarium with touch tanks – and casinos. Casual dining is around every corner, from oceanfront restaurants to cantinas, pizza places and ice cream parlors.

Androscoggin Valley Chamber of Commerce

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

Here’s a guarantee: No one in the family will have time to be bored in this attraction-filled valley

There is simply no time to be bored in the Androscoggin Valley! A summer day might include whitewater kayaking, a dip in a swimming hole by a waterfall, zip lining through the trees or fishing for trout in the Androscoggin River. Fall foliage is spectacular as you bike or hike the area’s hundreds of miles of trails, many with spectacular mountain views, go on an ATV tour or horseback ride. Winter means downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, snow-tubing and snowmobiling (and Santa’s Village and Storyland!). When spring comes, it’s time for golf, fly fishing and canoeing. Whether your family opts for a moose tour, an outdoor concert or tax-free shopping, there really is an activity for everyone in this exciting valley.

Great Waters

54 N. Main Street Wolfeboro, NH, 03894 Phone: 603-569-7710

Great music, great venue, great family atmosphere make these concerts a must

A second season of exciting Concerts in the Clouds at spectacular Castle in the Clouds has been announced by Great Waters, which has been entertaining visitors to the New Hampshire Lake Region for over 25 years. Opening night kicks off a stellar season with “1964: The Tribute,” a popular Beatles performance. The summer lineup continues with Electric Light Orchestra tribute band and then ultra classic sound of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours.” Michael Cavanaugh will play the songs of Billy Joel & Elton John. Act fast if you want tickets to “One Night of Queen: Gary Mullen and The Works.” Jaw-dropping mountain views, hiking trails, a duck pond and historic Lucknow Mansion add to this not-to-to-missed family event.

White Mountains Attractions

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

Every day in the White Mountains brings a new adventure or activity for fun-seeking families

You know what people who bring their families to the White Mountains never hear? The words “I’m bored.” There is simply too much to do! Shoot down North America’s longest alpine slide, visit a park where fairy tales come to life, explore the area in a Side X Side vehicle or on a cog railway. Let the kids poke their way through glacial caves, go mountain biking at a ski resort, slide and splash their way through a world-class water park. Learn about loons at a wildlife center or about rural living at a country doctor museum. Visit an aquarium, the largest arcade in the world or a sled dog kennel. From disc golf to gondola rides, there’s a thrilling family experience around every corner in the White Mountains. To find out more, follow our link above or call us today at 1-800-346-3687.

Santa's Village

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

Pure Joy, Family Style.

Santa’s Village is Santa’s summer home in the White Mountains, and named by TripAdvisor's Travelers’ Choice Awards as one of the Top 25 Amusement Parks in the USA - and number one in New England for straight years in a row. With reindeer and elves, cookies and ice cream, a roller coaster, a log flume, a monorail, and plenty of other rides and activities, it’s everything you’d imagine Santa’s favorite theme park to be. Admission covers an entire day of memory-making for families with young children. For nearly 70 years and three generations, from our family to yours – Santa’s Village is pure joy, family style.

Kids on the Slopes - Mt. Washington Valley Chamber - North Conway, NH

Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce

So many activities in this popular N.H. region, everyone in the family will have a good time

It’s a paradise for families, four seasons of the year: In the Mt. Washington Valley, there are so many things to do, everyone will go home happy! There are water sports in the summer, from kayaking to finding the perfect swimming hole; winter means exceptional alpine and cross-country skiing, fat biking, tubing and snowshoeing – and Santa’s Village. Spring is a good time to hit the bike trails, break out the canoe or visit a museum. And fall, of course, means leaf-peeping, whether you drive the Kancamagus Highway or take a trip on the Conway Scenic Railroad. Kids will love the fun shops in the valley’s villages, and adults will love comfortable lodgings with pools and on-site restaurants. 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!

Winter Station View - Cog Railway - Mount Washington, NH

Mount Washington Cog Railway

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

Thrill ride up Mt. Washington continues to delight railroad fans of all ages

Families from all over the world come to the majestic White Mountains of New Hampshire to be thrilled by the ride up Mt. Washington on the historic Cog Railway. The dramatic ascent to the summit of the Northeast’s highest peak features amazing views of lush forests, deep chasms and the steepest railroad trestle in the world in Jacob’s Ladder. (Yes, the trees are straight: It’s you who are at an angle!) Kids will love the commentary of the entertaining and knowledgeable engineer and brakeman or brakewoman. The journey begins at a base station with a great interactive museum and observation deck and, at the summit, there’s an interactive weather exhibit as well as a summit post office to mail postcards direct from the mountain. Trains run from late April through November.

Living Shores Aquarium

850 New Hampshire Route 16 Glen, NH, 03838 Phone: 603-383-4186

Otters, touch tanks with sharks, an aviary with lorikeets: Kids will love this aquarium

The Living Shores Aquarium, next door to Story Land, represents the best sort of family activity: where the kids learn something and have a great time. They will love the touch pools, interacting with sting rays, urchins, shrimp, horseshoe crabs – and friendly sharks! In the walk-through aviary, tropical lorikeets will fly from perch to perch overhead, and you might spot a red-foot tortoise or two. And everyone will enjoy watching the otters entertain with their mischievous antics. There’s a digital sandbox where kids can dig and discover marine life, a drawing station and exhibits showcasing colorful clownfish, lake trout and denizens of Caribbean reefs. The Bistro restaurant offers breakfast and lunch items, snacks – and Dunkin’ coffee.

Curious Kids - Mount Washington Auto Road - Gorham, NH

Mt. Washington Auto Road

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

From top to bottom, and in between, there’s plenty to do on Mt. Washington

There are all kinds of fun things for families at the summit and the base of Mt. Washington, and connecting them is a terrific attraction all on its own: the legendary Mt. Washington Auto Road. Take your own vehicle to the summit or go on a two-hour guided tour to learn about the mountain’s history and wildlife. At the summit, there’s an observatory museum, and, on a clear day, you can see the Presidential Mountain Range and beyond, all the way to Canada and the Atlantic. At the mountain base, there’s the Douglas A. Philbrook Red Barn Museum, with memorabilia and vehicles from the road’s long history. At the Great Glen Trails Outdoors Center, you can book a kayaking cruise or mountain biking trip.

Conway Scenic Railroad

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

Come aboard for family fun as you travel through mountain valleys on this scenic railroad

Everyone in the family will enjoy the classic train excursions offered by the Conway Scenic Railroad. Check out the Victorian-style 1874 station in North Conway Village and pick up some snacks in the gift shop. Then board a 1950s-era passenger car and sit back to enjoy the scenery, including a trip over Crawford Notch, on the Mountaineer excursion train. Or, choose the Conway and Sawyer River Valley trains, classic heritage train rides with vintage passenger cars from the 1920s. There’s also a winter Snow Train to Attitash. At just under an hour, the Conway Valley train is best for small children. Kids under 4 can ride free in coach. Come see why families rave about this old-fashioned railroading experience.

Family Downhill Skiing - 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

Variety of exciting activities, attractions every season of the year in this mountain region

Twin Mountain-Bretton Woods has fun activities and attractions for every member of the family! In the winter, enjoy alpine and cross-country skiing, snow-tubing, snowmobiling and plenty of s’mores around the fire. In warmer months, go golfing at one of five courses in the area or go for a ride up world-famous Mount Washington. Summer also brings horseback riding, helicopter tours, hiking, biking, and scenic tours. Try to spy a beaver along the trails in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge or maybe even spot a moose. And don’t forget the bear shows at Clark’s Bears! Special events, fairs, & festivals are happening throughout the year in this lively region.

Morningside Flight Park

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

Flight fun for every age and skill level

This is family fun on a grand scale with activities and excitement to create memories that last a lifetime. This amazing flight park in the Connecticut River Valley in New Hampshire is your launching point to enjoy scenery you can see from the ground or high up on hang gliders, paragliders and zip lines. Bring the gang and stay in a variety of camping options from small cabins and platform tents to your own plot of ground with restrooms and shower facilities available to all campers. Get into a game of laser tag, kayak together, go fishing or swimming, light up a barbecue and have a picnic. Great for day long adventures or weekend getaways, birthday parties and family events.

America's Stonehenge

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

Let your kids explore the mysteries of America's history

Kids love mysteries, and that's what makes a visit to America's Stonehenge in Salem, New Hampshire, a great trip for your family. A half-mile trail through the pine woods leads to megaliths, stone chambers, a rock altar, and other strange artifacts. Were they built by colonial farmers or Native Americans? Or constructed by ancient people -- Druid priests, perhaps -- who left similar monuments all over great Britain. Adding to the mystery is the fact that you'll find megaliths of the same type scattered around New England. Our site, however, is one of the largest collections. What's more, many other sites are on private property, and off limits to visitors. So come visit our woods, and find out why they've left scholars confused for decades.

Town of Bethlehem

From skiing to shopping, there’s something fun for every member of the family

Bring the family to Bethlehem, N.H., and be prepared to be entertained, White Mountains-style. There’s fantastic alpine skiing and snowboarding, of course, at six nearby mountains: Cannon, Bretton Woods, Attitash, Loon, Waterville Valley and Wildcat. Miles of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing trails, snowmobile trails, and fat biking trails wind through the area. In the warmer months, those trails are great for biking and hiking for all ages. There’s also tennis and basketball on public courts, two golf courses, a movie theater, town pool, pristine rivers to cool yourself down and a lively downtown area with all sorts of shops and cafes. It’s a short drive to a variety of attractions including Santa’s Village, Story Land, Whale’s Tale Waterpark, the Flume Gorge and the Mount Washington Cog Railway.

Story Land

850 New Hampshire Route 16 Glen, NH, 03838 Phone: 603-383-4186

Every day is an unforgettable adventure!

Write your own tale of adventure with a day at Story Land! Every moment is an exciting chapter in your book of fun family memories. You’ll find your favorite Nursery Rhymes come to life along the pathways of Story Land. Experience an eye-popping kid friendly magic show at Loopy Lab and sing along with Daniel Tiger during his NEW Grr-ific Stage Show. Make a splash on the Bamboo Chutes, meet real-life storybook characters and scream aboard our thrilling roller coaster, Roar-O-Saurus. Have dinner with Humpty Dumpty and friends or sit with Cinderella at Tea Time. Uncover prehistoric fossils and enjoy an exciting array of games, shows and rides! There’s even a free kennel for your pooch. Then snuggle up together in one of the great family lodgings nestled among the scenic White Mountains.

Castle in The Clouds

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

From exploring mansions to feeding pond fish, there’s a lot for kids to do at Castle in the Clouds

There are so many things for kids to explore at Castle in the Clouds, they’ll want to visit more than once! At the 1914 Lucknow Mansion, they can check out vintage clothing and, on the basement tour, see how the servants lived, or go on a scavenger hunt. (Check the website for other interactive activities.) Outside, there are 28 miles of hiking trails and carriage roads, many of them going past cascading waterfalls. In the winter, the trails are perfect for skiing and snowshoeing. After grabbing a snack and an ice cream at the Cafe in the Clouds, it’s a guarantee that your children will want to buy some fish food there to toss to the trout in Shannon Pond, who jump out of the water for the food.

Bear Rock Adventures

545 Beach Road Pittsburg, NH, 03592 Phone: Toll-Free: 866-663-9777

Win parent-of-the-year honors by booking an ATV or snowmobile for an exciting adventure

You want to be called the best parent on the planet? Book an ATV or snowmobile experience at Bear Rock Adventures. They rent new-every-season, fully equipped Polaris vehicles and will give you a customized itinerary, guided or unguided, to help you get the most out of your day riding through fields, forests, by waterways and up mountain trails. Spot wildlife in its natural habitat, go past an 80-foot waterfall, walk underneath giant turbines in a wind farm, picnic by a pond. Ask about Play and Stay packages where discounted multiple-day rentals are combined with accommodations at a fully furnished lodge apartment or at a relaxing glamping site on top of a mountain. (And, yes, well-behaved family dogs are allowed on vehicles.)

Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves

1712 Lost River Road -- Route 112W North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Phone: 603-745-8031

Trek through a White Mountain wonderland at Lost River Gorge

Take your family on a journey beneath the earth at Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves in New Hampshire's White Mountains. You'll find yourself exploring a spectacular wilderness wonderland formed millions of years ago by glaciers, water, and wild weather. Located on a preserve owned by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Lost River Gorge is home to granite cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, rugged caves, and a river that plays hide-and-seek amid the rocks. Hike along a three-quarter mile boardwalk, or step off and explore the boulder caves, including the Sun Altar, Thor's Workshop, the Devil's Kitchen, the Lemon Squeezer, and the Judgment Hall of Pluto. Sturdy footwear and outdoor clothing are recommended. Open early May to mid-October.

Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee

Great North Woods

Lakes

Merrimack Valley

Monadnock

Seacoast

White Mountains