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

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.

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

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.

Family Biking - Lakes Region Association - New Hampshire

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.

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

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.

Curious Kids - Mount Washington Auto Road - Gorham, NH

Mt. Washington Auto Road

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

Auto road has a long history of families traveling along it to reach the grand summit

For over 160 years, families have been traveling up the Mt. Washington Auto Road, first by horse-drawn carriages and wagons, now by cars and tour vans – and SnowCoaches in the winter! Reaching the Northeast’s highest summit means looking out over the grand Presidential Range and beyond. There’s also the Mt. Washington Observatory Museum to explore, a cafeteria and gift shop. And there are other ways to travel: via ATVs on certain days, hiking and, in the winter, you can even snowshoe or Nordic ski down after traveling up to the tree line in the SnowCoach. There are sunset and sunrise tours, and the Spring Adventure Tour lets you get up close to the process of clearing the road of giant snowbanks and drifts.

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.

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.

Great Glen Trails

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

Fun all four seasons for all the members of your family at this active outdoor center

Fun for everyone in the family, every season of the year: That’s the goal at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center, at the base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road. That might mean searching for moose and eagles as you paddle along the Androscoggin River on a wildlife kayak cruise. Or, packing a picnic lunch and hiking up to the Great Angel or Cadiddlehopper Cabin. Or biking over smooth, well-marked carriage roads. In the winter, it means superior cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and, a favorite with families, snow tubing down Tubing Hill, enjoying s’mores and hot cocoa by the fire pit on weekends and holidays. The comfortable base lodge has lockers, showers and a fireplace. The Outfitters Ship has all the best in outdoor gear to buy or rent.

Family Activities Spring-Summer-Fall - 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

There really is something for everyone, all year long, in this fun mountain region

Here’s your dilemma: Everyone in the family wants to do something different on vacation. The Twin Mountain-Bretton Woods, NH region of the White Mountains says: No problem. A partial list of family activities would include the shows at Clark’s Bears and visits with Santa at Santa’s Village. There are exciting rides at Story Land, water parks, and ski resorts. Check out the lakes via pontoon boat, pedal boat, canoe or kayak. Go on a horseback ride in the summer or a dog-sled ride in the winter. Take a scenic railroad tour, moose tour or tour to the summit of Mt. Washington. Learn how to make maple syrup, hike to a waterfall, go mountain or fat biking. Ski, snowboard, snowshoe and skate. There’s something for everyone in this fun region.

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.

Santa's Village

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

Will the kids love going to an attraction named after Santa Claus? Of course!

With a name like Santa’s Village, how could the kids not have the time of their lives? There are enough rides to provide appropriate thrills for every member of the family. Soar on the Skyway Sleigh monorail or ride the Jingle Bell Express through the village. Go ‘round on the Reindeer Carousel or see the amazing views from the Ferris wheel. Slide downhill on the YouTubing ride or Yule Log Flume, drive bumper cars or antique cars. Then there’s the water park with three, three-story-high, twisty water slides, a splash pad for preschoolers and the Ho Ho H20 attraction with splashes, slides and other interactive fun. Plus, you can meet Santa, feed his reindeer and go on a park-wide elf scavenger hunt!

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 just one of 17 unique attractions. Race on the go-kart speedway, scale our Klime Walls challenge, and zip along at 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), ChucksterBall and Frantic Hoops. Need recharging? There’s ice cream, pizza, chicken wings and more.

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.

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!

Scenic RailRiders

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

Kids will love this: pedaling through woods, along the river in custom-made Rail-Bikes

Here’s an activity the kids are going to absolutely love: pedaling along railroad tracks in a Rail-Bike! Scenic RailRiders offers 6.4-mile round trips along tracks that were built for the Northern Railroad and are now abandoned and rehabbed to accommodate custom-made two- and four-seat bikes. The seats are comfortable, and there are handle bars to rest your hands (no steering required), seat belts and redundant disc brakes. The vehicles roll easily over the tracks, passing along the Merrimack River through woods and farmland and over bridges. Guides offer commentary. Kids of all ages are welcome. By age 5, most children can reach the pedals, and child seats can be buckled onto the Rail-Bikes. Bikes also can be connected to accommodate larger families or groups.

Castle in The Clouds

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

Hiking trails, fish-stocked ponds and a beautiful century-old mansion to explore

Inside and outside, there are so many things for families to do at Castle in the Clouds, that one visit will not be enough. Twenty-eight miles of hiking and walking trails (and snowshoeing/skiing trails in winter) go by seven cascading waterfalls. At Shannon Pond, rainbow trout actually jump out of the water for food.(And, there are ducks.) There’s plenty of room to run around in The Meadows, with picnic tables to enjoy lunch or ice cream from the nearby Cafe in the Clouds. The Arts-and-Crafts Lucknow mansion, built in 1914, has a basement tour so you can see how the servants lived as well as the ahead-of-their-time appliances. The mansion also has a scavenger hunt. The current Carriage House exhibit is about the lives of women in the Progressive Era.

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

The list of fun things to do in this family-friendly part of N.H. is almost endless

Make sure you have your list ready when you tell the kids you’re going to the Androscoggin Valley, NH and they ask what there is to do there. Because here’s a partial selection of activities: skiing, snowshoeing, ATV and snowmobile riding, horseback riding, hiking up mountains, biking past rivers, whitewater rafting, canoeing, zip-lining. You can visit a sugar house to see how maple syrup is made, go fat biking or watch for moose on a guided tour. There are scenic gondola rides, rock-climbing walls, nature refuges. Take a sleigh ride or go dog-sledding. Indoor activities include everything from concerts to sporting events. The busy region includes restaurants to please everyone, and lodging options range from camping and glamping sites to hotels and resorts with pools.

Bear Rock Adventures

2638 North Main Street Pittsburg, NH, 03592 Phone: Toll-Free: 866-663-9777

Your family will thank you after you take them on an outdoor adventure vacation

Racking your brain trying to come up with something for the family to do on vacation? Bear Rock Adventures can help! Rent a new, state-of-the-art Polaris ATV or snowmobile and explore the Great North Woods’ exciting trails. The Ride the Wild Trails system offers three seasons of ATV riding, with lots of places to stop and eat, shop and have fun along the way. And is there a better place in the winter than the North Country in New Hampshire, where snowmobiles can glide over pristine powder. Stay in an apartment with the rustic resort company or experience the delights of nature in a safari-style glamping tent with beds, private loos, wood stoves and other amenities. Watch the stars at night while roasting s’mores over your own fire pit.

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.

Conway Scenic Railroad

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

Kids love trains, which makes this scenic railroad’s excursions the perfect family adventure

You’re looking for a fun event for the kids? Conway Scenic Railroad to the rescue! The railroad, with a captivating 1874 departure station in historic North Conway Village, offers four fascinating excursions, all thoroughly engrossing for children, who love rumbling along in vintage train cars from one town to another, past trees and streams. The Conway Valley Train is especially great with little kids: It lasts 55 minutes, from North Conway to Conway, where you can watch the locomotive “run around the train” in preparation for the return trip. Other excursions go to Sawyer River, over rugged Crawford Notch and, in January and February, to the station at Attitash Mountain Village. You can buy snacks and beverages at the North Conway station to bring onboard.

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.

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