Rainy Day Activities in the White Mountains

Rain or shine, plan a visit to New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Valley where the Conway Scenic Railroad offers a choice of excursions weekends in all seasons and daily from Memorial Day through the end of October. A great rainy day trip is the four-hour Mountaineer that travels over Crawford Notch on the famed Mountain Division, which opened way back in August 1875. Relax, enjoy a drink and take in the rolling panorama that passes by your window as Conway Scenic’s train crews get you safely up the mountain and back again. Alternatively, consider a short excursion down the old Conway Branch on the railroad’s classic Valley Train. This one-hour trip has up to six departures daily during the summer and autumn. For more than 50 years this run has been a favorite for families with children. Even if you don’t have time for train ride, please stop in to see Conway Scenic’s iconic North Conway Station station that was built back in 1874 and now features a museum and gift shop.

The day may be gray and rainy, but it’s all about the product of the sun at the Seven Birches Winery, located within the grand new Riverwalk Resort at Loon Mountain. Take a tour and see how locally sourced fruits and European grape varietals are transformed into wines of distinction. Chat with winemakers to see how the wines are handcrafted on-site. At the winery’s Tasting Room and Wine Bar, the staff will provide tasting notes, serve and discuss the wines. Over at the Lincoln Village Shops in the center of town, head to the Atrium Wine Bar and ask for a flight to sample a variety of wines. Grab a bite from a special selection of crackers, cheese, chorizo and chocolate.

Here’s an idea for a great rainy day: Head over to the RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain and start with the Tasting Room at the Seven Birches Winery, where you can sample the freshest ciders from Rhythm Cider as well as Seven Birches wines. Then prepare for a delightful lunch at the brand new Rhythm Tap & Grille, where you can sample ciders and wines and enjoy an upscale food menu while marveling at breathtaking views of the Pemigewasset River. Or, if it’s a Wednesday or Saturday, perhaps you signed up in advance for a tour of the winery and cidery production facility, where you can chat with a winemaker or cidermaker and sample their wares. Then, after the tour, dine at the Tap & Grille.