Sightseeing in New Hampshire's White Mountains

Beautiful all year long, the New Hampshire countryside is shown in all its colorful glory when you board the vintage cars on the Granite State Scenic Railway and embark on a fun, old-fashioned 80-minute round trip ride from Lincoln to Woodstock, NH and back again. The tracks, originally built in the 19th century by the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad, take you along a natural woodsy setting along the banks of the Pemigewasset River. Along the way, you’ll see swimmers, kayakers and fishermen enjoying the river in the spring and summer and spectacular autumn colors through fall foliage season, when there’s also a special train to the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival. When the snow falls, it’s time for the popular Santa Express trains where kids can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus.

There’s regular sightseeing, and then there is sightseeing from the summit of the highest mountain peak in the Northeast. When you drive, hike or take a tour up the Mt. Washington Auto Road, you can expect to see vistas that will take your breath away as you look out over Great Gulf Wilderness and the Presidential Mountain Range. Visitors can take their own car (and earn the “This Car Climbed Mt. Washington” bumper sticker) or, on certain days, their ATV; join a two-hour guided tour; or hike. There are a number of scenic pull-offs along the way to take pictures. You can also reserve a spot in a sunrise or sunset tour. In the winter, the SnowCoach takes you to the tree line with awe-inspiring vistas.

The scenic vistas you’ll see through the windows of the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train are perfectly complemented by the five-course gourmet meal you are served while traveling. The train, one of the nation’s premier dinner trains, features lovingly restored 1950s vintage rail cars, with elaborate woodworking, stained glass and brass throughout. Your two-hour trip takes you through the picturesque Pemigewasset River Valley, through the woods, over three trestle bridges and through the Jack-O-Lantern Golf Course and a Christmas tree farm before heading back to the North Woodstock station. In addition to the gorgeous views, you’ll enjoy a culinary delight, from creative appetizers to seasonally inspired entrees and luscious desserts. The train, which runs May to October, also offers a full bar.