New Hampshire > White Mountains > Things to Do and See > Great Things to Do in NH

Great Things To Do in NH - White Mountains Region

In the White Mountains some things are given like majestic scenery, year round outdoor recreation and memorable family vacations. Check out the New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival, Waterville Valley, NH’s complete resort and Santa's Village. Great attractions include old fashioned railroads the Cog Railway and Conway Scenic Railroad that the climb up Mount Washington. You can also drive up the mountain on the scenic Auto Road. There are brewery and moose viewing tours, glider flying and much more.

Mount Washington Cog Railway

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

Exciting ride aboard a cog railway culminates in breathtaking views atop Mt. Washington

Fun, educational – and thrilling – the historic Cog Railway up to the summit of majestic Mt. Washington, NH is a great adventure for passengers of all ages. The colorful trains are powered by biodiesel or steam locomotives, traveling 5 mph past forests, ravines, wildlife (including the occasional moose or bear) and through three climate zones to reach the breathtaking summit. There, on top of the Northeast’s tallest peak, you can explore an interactive weather exhibit or look out over the mountains from the rooftop observation deck. You can also send a post card from the summit post office. Travelers will enjoy the commentary from train engineers and brakemen and brakewomen. Parking is free, and there are food courts or cafeterias at both ends of your exciting journey. Trains operate from late April through November.

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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.

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Flag Boy - NH Highland Games - Lincoln, NH

NHSCOT & NH Highland Games Festival

Loon Mountain Resort - 60 Loon Mountain Road Lincoln, NH Phone:

Get Your SCOT On!

Don’t miss NHSCOT’s signature event, the NH Highland Games & Festival – always the third weekend in September! Held at Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln, NH, this three-day celebration is one of the largest cultural events in the Northeast and showcases the traditions and history of Scotland through heavy athletics, cultural activities, music and entertainment, food and drink, and more! Participate in a Try-It class like street curling or learn something new at one of our seminars. Fun for all ages with kids programming and opportunities to shop in Vendor Village. You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy this signature event presented by NHSCOT – visit our website for details and to purchase tickets today!
The 2025 NH Highland Games & Festival is on September 19-21 - Check the website for tickets & more info!

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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.

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

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

New Hampshire's Androscoggin Valley - Your Adventure Starts Here! Click here to explore.

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.

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Kid's Ticket - Granite State Scenic Railway - Lincoln, NH

Granite State 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.

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Mount 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.

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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!

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2-Hour Guided Tours from Mt. Washington Auto Road - Learn about the unique history, flora and fauna of Mt. Washington - Click here to book your trip now!

Conway Scenic Railroad

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

Conway Scenic Railroad offers a choice of excursions recreating mid-twentieth century railroad travel

Since 1974, Conway Scenic Railroad delighted visitors by recreating the thrill of rail travel in its golden age. The railroad’s classic excursion is the one-hour round trip on the Valley Train that traverses the former Boston & Maine Conway Branch between North Conway and Conway, NH. For a longer, more scenic adventure take the Mountaineer for its 4-4.5 hour journey on the historic Mountain Division through the Mt. Washington Valley and over New Hampshire’s Crawford Notch. Trains board at the unique Victorian railroad station built in 1874, which is located at the center of North Conway Village. Trains offer three classes of travel each featuring distinct experiences aboard vintage rail passenger cars. In the winter take a trip on the Snow Train, or travel over Crawford Notch on the Winter Mountaineer.

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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.

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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.

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

Androscoggin Valley Chamber of Commerce

961 Main Street Berline, 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.

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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.

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Town of Bethlehem

Whatever your favorite activity is, you’ll find it in and around Bethlehem

Are you ready to hit the slopes — or the antique shops? Are you up for a hike through forests – or would you rather experience a mountain journey on a cog railway? Is your idea of great riding on board a bike – or a snowboard? Whatever your favorite activity is, you’ll find it in the Bethlehem, NH region of the White Mountains. You’re close to ski resorts, Nordic skiing and snowmobiling trails, two scenic golf courses, networks of hiking and biking trails and so much more. Visit Santa’s Village or Story Land, a water park or picturesque gorge. Take in a film at one of the country’s oldest continuously running movie theaters, choose from a variety of restaurants and cafes, have fun at an old-fashioned festival or fair.

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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.

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Flume Gorge

852 Daniel Webster Highway (Route 3) Franconia Notch, NH, 03251 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.

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Town of Bethlehem

Discover Bethlehem’s breathtaking views, endless adventure and thriving arts & culture

Discover Bethlehem, N.H., a place that beckons and welcomes. Whether you’re an empty nester or a family of five, there’s something here for everyone! Spend a day on the mountains skiing and snowboarding or go hiking, fat tire biking, snowshoeing on scenic trails around town. In the summer, play golf at one of two championship courses, ride our extensive mountain bike trails or scenic roads, hike trails throughout the White Mountains, or head to a live performance, outdoor concert, movie, or local art opening. Bethlehem’s quaint Main Street offers artisan craft, vintage finds, locally-made products, and much more. Enjoy a delicious meal at local restaurants or a beer at the brewpub before relaxing at a local hotel, inn, campground or cottage. Conveniently located near iconic attractions including Bretton Woods, Franconia Notch and The Cog Railway.

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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!

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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.

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Ice Castles

24 Clark Farm Road North Woodstock, NH, 03262 Phone: Toll-Free: 866-201-1726

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!

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

State

Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee

Great North Woods

Lakes

Merrimack Valley

Monadnock

Seacoast

Great Things To Do in NH - White Mountains Region

Mount Washington Cog Railway

Rhythm Cider

NHSCOT & NH Highland Games Festival

Twin Mountain-Bretton Woods Chamber of Commerce

Great Glen Trails

Granite State Railway

Mount Washington Auto Road

Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce

Conway Scenic Railroad

Seven Birches Winery

Mountain Club on Loon

Androscoggin Valley Chamber of Commerce

White Mountains Attractions

Town of Bethlehem

Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train

Flume Gorge

Town of Bethlehem

Woodstock Inn Brewery

Santa's Village

Ice Castles

Polly Want a Pancake!

Awake Your Inner Shooter with Adventure Photography Tours

General Store Celebrates Inspired Nonsense

Explore the Rocks

Apple Cider Is Ingredient #1 at This Restaurant

Arethusa Falls Near Bartlett