New Hampshire Things to See & Do Guide

New Hampshire has an extensive system of snowmobile trails that link all parts of New Hampshire and extend into neighboring states and Canada. To cross state lines, you must obtain a registration permit from each state. At the Quebec border, which is now staffed 24 hours a day, you must stop at customs, where they will ask to see a valid driver's license and proof of insurance if you don't have a Canadian trail pass. You can proceed without a Canadian trail pass only as far as Chartierville, Quebec, and obtain one there if you want to continue on. The trails are generally open November-April.

Bird-watchers are attracted to Odiorne State Park in the seacoast town of Rye. Down the coast, Hampton Beach is famous for its arcades, souvenir shops and live entertainment.

Don't forget 3,165-ft/965-m Mount Monadnock in the southwestern part of the state, reputedly the most frequently climbed peak in the U.S., and some say in the world.

Day 1—Arrive at Boston's Logan International Airport and drive north from Massachusetts on I-93. Take Highway 102 to Derry. Visit the Robert Frost Farm (open spring through fall). When ready, return to I-93 and go north through Manchester to Concord and overnight there.

Day 2—Concord.

Day 3—Take Highway 9 East to Highway 106, then go north. Take the turnoff to Canterbury Shaker Village. Tour the village, then return to Highway 106, and go north to Laconia. Pick up I-93 to Lake Winnipesaukee. Overnight in the area.

Day 4—Spend the day and night at the lake.

Day 5—Leave the lake on I-93 North. Stop in Plymouth and then continue north into the White Mountains. Plan to overnight in the North Woodstock/Lincoln area.

Day 6—Continue north on I-93, stopping at The Flume, Franconia Notch and Cannon Mountain along the way. Take Highway 3 East to Highway 302 and continue east to Bretton Woods. Overnight there.

Day 7—Go for a ride on the Mount Washington Cog Railway. When you get back, head south on Highway 302, stopping at Crawford Notch State Park and Glen. Take Highway 16 into North Conway and overnight there.

Day 8—Leave North Conway on Highway 16 South. Make a leisurely drive down to Portsmouth, taking time to enjoy the scenery as you go. See some of the town and spend the night.

Day 9—Visit Strawbery Banke in the morning, then take the cruise to the Isles of Shoals. When you get back, drive along the coast on Highway 1-A, stopping at a beach if you have time. Overnight in a bed-and-breakfast or inn near the shore.

Day 10—Make your way to I-95 and head south to Boston.

The state capital vies with Portsmouth for the greatest concentration of historic attractions. Be sure to visit the State House: Built around 1819, it's an imposing granite neoclassical structure with a gold dome and statues of Daniel Webster, Franklin Pierce and other New Hampshire notables. To get a good introduction to New Hampshire, drop in at the Museum of New Hampshire History, which is housed in a warehouse from the 1800s (look for the Concord coach, the prototype of the famous Wells Fargo stagecoach). If you like historic homes, see the Pierce Manse, home of the 14th U.S. president, complete with family-heirloom furnishings.

The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium was named after the elementary school teacher and civilian mission specialist who died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986. Among the attractions is an interactive exhibit that allows visitors to chart their course through space.

Just 10 mi/16 km north of Concord in Canterbury Center is Canterbury Shaker Village, a museum and historic site that preserves one of the settlements of the communal Shaker religious community. There are no more living Shakers in Canterbury; the last ones died in the early 1990s. A walking tour highlights the restored buildings from the 1800s and the Shaker furnishings, which are much prized for their clean lines and high-quality craftsmanship. Artisans demonstrate woodworking and other Shaker crafts. Open April-December, Shaker Village is a must-see.

Every October in Warner, about 15 mi/24 km northwest of Concord, the Fall Foliage Festival showcases the region's seasonal offerings.

Despite New Hampshire's relatively small stretch of oceanfront, its beaches differ widely. To get a taste of the varying flavors, visit the frolicking and junk-food-filled enclave of Hampton Beach, a great place for people-watching and ignoring your diet. You can also catch a national music act at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom (although there is no casino). For a decidedly quieter (and some would say, more civilized) stay, head to nearby Rye (8 mi/13 km north) for unspoiled beachfront and grand mansions on the famed Millionaires Row (Route 1-A). Rye is also home to Odiorne Point State Park, a fine place for strolling along nature trails and beachcombing for starfish. For good antiques shopping and apple-picking in the fall, visit the town of Hampton (3 mi/5 km northwest of Hampton Beach) to see stunning plantings and more than 2,000 rose bushes in bloom. While you're there, stop by Fuller Gardens, a 1920s estate garden, in North Hampton.

Hanover is home to Dartmouth College, a member of the elite Ivy League. We think the Dartmouth campus is worth investigating to see Hopkins Center, architect Wallace Harrison's prototype for the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. A reservoir of culture, Hopkins Center presents works of music, dance and theater by students and professionals alike. Art galleries abound at the university. In particular, be sure to visit the Hood Museum of Art—a fine collection ranging from centuries-old Asian art to the 20th-century works of Frank Stella. And take an hour or so to see the impressive murals by Mexican artist Jose Clemente Orozco (1883-1949) in the Baker Memorial Library.

The Dartmouth Winter Carnival (snow sculptures, musical performances) is held in Hanover every February. Hanover is also a convenient departure point for those hiking the Appalachian Trail, which extends 2,050 mi/3,300 km along the entire Appalachian range from Georgia to Maine and bisects central New Hampshire.

While in the area, visit the St.-Gaudens Historic Site in Cornish, which contains the house and estate of sculptor Augustus St.-Gaudens. His Shaw Memorial, depicting an all-black Union regiment in the Civil War (subject of the 1989 movie Glory), can be seen in Boston; the Farragut Monument is in New York; and his Seated Lincoln is installed in Chicago. St.-Gaudens established a colony of writers and artists in Cornish. Surrounded by lovely formal gardens, the artist's studios contain many of his works, from cameos to monuments. Take time to visit the Cornish Colony Museum to view more works by local artists, including Maxfield Parrish.

Those interested in colonial life will want to visit the Fort at No. 4 Living History Museum in Charlestown, a reconstructed fort from the 1700s that now houses exhibits and demonstrations of colonial crafts. Hanover is 55 mi/90 km northwest of Concord.

This spectacular lake in east-central New Hampshire covers 72 sq mi/190 sq km and has more than 200 islands. We recommend taking one of the many sightseeing boats to view the scenery along the shoreline, the islands, and the magnificent backdrop of the White Mountains and Mount Washington.

Be sure to visit the Castle in the Clouds (southeast of Moultonborough), a 6,000-acre/2,430-hectare estate with waterfalls, forests, an impressive mansion and a spring-water bottling plant (tours available). Do make a stop at the Old Country Store and Museum, in business since 1781, to stock up on maple and cheese goods. Nature enthusiasts will want to visit the Loon Center to learn about these beloved birds; you can hear their haunting calls on the lake. We also suggest stopping in Wolfeboro, a charming community that's been a summer resort since the 1700s. It's a great place to walk around. The E. Stanley Wright Museum in Wolfeboro documents the history of the U.S. home front during World War II with artifacts, memorabilia, costumes and films. Weirs Beach is a fun but tacky town full of amusement arcades and vacationers. Stick around for fireworks on summer evenings. Climb aboard the Hobo Railroad for a variety of scenic trips in the area—an especially good option during fall foliage season. Shoppers in search of arts and crafts will find much to peruse in nearby Meredith.

Don't neglect the other lakes in the vicinity. We particularly enjoyed the boat tour of Squam Lake, a lovely place featured in the movie On Golden Pond. In Holderness, visit the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center of New Hampshire—visitors to its 200-acre/80-hectare wildlife sanctuary can observe native animals (black bears, eagles and otters) in natural enclosures. There are also numerous excellent hiking and exploring trails around the Squam Lake area. If outlet shopping is what you're after, try the Lakes Region Factory Stores in Tilton. Lake Winnipesaukee is 25 mi/40 km north of Concord.

New Hampshire's largest city, Manchester was a major textile-mill town in the 1800s, like its namesake in England. The Amoskeag mills were once the world's leading cloth producers. The mills closed in 1936, but the handsome redbrick buildings along the river are again humming with the sounds of production by several smaller manufacturers and high-tech industries, including Velcro and Bendos.

Be sure to see the Currier Gallery of Art, which displays American and European art, as well as a collection of furniture made by hand in New Hampshire. The gallery owns Frank Lloyd Wright's Zimmerman House, one of the smaller, less-expensive Usonian homes he designed. Tours are available.

Many Quebecois migrated to Manchester to work in the mills, and they gave the city a French-Canadian flavor. Their culture is the focus of the Franco-American Center, which maintains archives about the immigrants' history.

The Manchester Historic Association Millyard Museum focuses in on Manchester's industrial past and present with other exhibits about local history, as well as Native-American artifacts, period costumes, firefighting equipment, furniture and a library. At Camp Carpenter, the Lawrence T. Lee Scouting Museum and Library has artifacts and memorabilia related to the Boy Scouts, including a flag carried to the moon by astronaut Alan Shepard, who grew up in nearby Derry. At Rindge, 50 mi/80 km southwest of Manchester, you can visit the Cathedral in the Pines—a memorial for a soldier lost in World War II. His parents built the breathtaking outdoor cathedral on the site the man had selected for his future home. Don't miss The Women's Memorial Bell Tower with four bas reliefs designed by Norman Rockwell and sculpted by his son, Peter.

Manchester also has the new Verizon Wireless Arena (also known by its former name, the Civic Arena), which features live entertainment and sporting events year-round and is home to the Manchester Monarchs hockey team. Manchester's new minor-league baseball team, the Fisher Cats, plays through the season at Merchantsauto.com Stadium. 15 mi/25 km south of Concord.

Named for Gen. James Miller, who played a prominent role in the War of 1812, this is New Hampshire's oldest state park. Located near Peterborough in the southwestern part of the state, the park has fine hiking trails leading to the summit of Pack Monadnock Mountain. This very popular climb (don't plan on communing with nature) offers classic New England views of rolling hills and white-steepled churches. On a very clear day, hikers or those who choose the auto road can see Mount Monadnock, the 3,165-ft-/981-km-high peak due west of the park. Rhododendron State Park, in nearby Fitzwilliam, has acres and acres of—as you might expect—rhododendrons. July's the best time to see them in bloom. Miller State Park is 43 mi/69 km southwest of Concord.

Just north of the Massachusetts border, Nashua is a former textile-manufacturing city with a recently revitalized main street that boats dozens of ethnic and gourmet restaurants, clubs with live entertainment and boutique shopping. It's also home to Holman Stadium, where the Nashua Pride minor-league baseball team plays.

Nearby sites of interest include the farm where Robert Frost lived and Mystery Hill, also called "America's Stonehenge."

The state-run Robert Frost Farm, located in Derry, is where the poet wrote some of his most famous work, including West-Running Brook and The Mending Wall. Frost's farm has been restored as it was when he lived there with his family 1900-11. There's a small museum in the barn and a magnificent nature trail out back. The farm is usually open mid-May to mid-October, but check the hours prior to your visit.

Mystery Hill in North Salem is an array of stone structures encircled by a ring of stones that some believe had some astronomical function—an arrangement similar to Stonehenge in England. These monoliths may date to 2,000 BC, and some experts believe they are of Celtic origin, suggesting that the European Celts somehow made their way to North America thousands of years before Columbus.

A short drive north of Nashua, in Merrimack, is an Anheuser-Busch brewery, where you can tour historical exhibits, learn about brewing techniques and visit the famous Clydesdale horses. Nashua is 35 mi/55 km south of Concord.

New Hampshire's one-time capital and only major seaport is a pleasantly small, low-key city. Start your visit with a stroll through Strawbery Banke, a 10-acre/4-hectare open-air museum. Wander around the collection of more than 40 structures, some of them dating back to 1695. Many of them have resident artisans demonstrating cabinetmaking, boatbuilding and other crafts.

There's plenty more vintage architecture outside Strawbery Banke. Among the choices are the 1784 Governor John Langdon House, the Rundlett-May House from 1807 (with a secret underground passage that was used to get to the mills), the 1763 Moffatt-Ladd House, the 1758 John Paul Jones House (where the famous naval hero once lived), the 1716 Warner House and the 1760 Wentworth Gardner House. Be aware that these homes are typically open only late spring-autumn. St. John's Church is a stately edifice with many appointments from the 1700s (including the Brattle Organ, said to be the oldest pipe organ in the country). Depending on your interests, there are several good walking tours throughout the city, highlighting impressive architecture and places of historical interest; maps of the self-guided tours are available at various venues in the city. Don't miss the magnificent flower gardens at Prescott Park across the street from the entrance to Strawbery Banke; in the summer, various live entertainments are staged there.

We particularly recommend taking a sightseeing cruise (some include a picnic lunch) through Portsmouth Harbor to the Isles of Shoals about 10 mi/16 km off the coast; you'll sail on the MV Thomas Laighton, a replica of a steamship from the 1800s (mid-June to Labor Day). In many ways, this is a magical location. Nineteenth-century writer Celia Thaxter lived and worked on Appledore Island, and the island called Smuttynose reputedly has been haunted since a gruesome murder there in 1873. Another nautical option is the whale-watching cruise on the Oceanic (late May-early January). If there's time, see the Piscataqua River Gundalow, a reproduction of a traditional river barge on the Piscataqua River, and the USS Albacore, a 1952 submarine that set numerous underwater speed records.

If you're traveling with kids, you may want to visit the Children's Museum of Portsmouth. It has performances, workshops and hands-on exhibits.

Just 3 mi/5 km from Portsmouth is the tiny but impressive island of New Castle (accessed via bridge), home to the impeccably restored (and saved from near-ruin) Wentworth by the Sea. Built in 1874, this was one of 19th-century New England's grandest oceanfront resorts, catering to the well-heeled. It was also the site of the signing of the 1905 Russo-Japanese Treaty (for which President Theodore Roosevelt gets credit in the history books, even though he was at home in New York at the time). This old beauty stood neglected and abandoned for years until the Marriott Hotel chain rescued and completely refurbished it in 2003. It's a great spot to spend the night (no bargain, but worth the extra cash in our opinion) or have lunch by the sea. The tiny island is also good for walking. Notice the wealth of colonial architecture, distant views and the remnants of a 17th-century military fort.

Annual events in Portsmouth include Market Square Weekend (street fair, food, crafts—June); Seacoast Jazz Weekend (jazz performances and a jazz cruise—June); and the Candlelight Tour of Historic Homes (nighttime tour of homes—mid-August). 40 mi/65 km east of Concord.

White Mountain National Forest holds the highest concentration of New Hampshire's scenic beauty. This preserve is huge—763,000 acres/308,900 hectares in New Hampshire and 45,000 acres/18,220 hectares in Maine—and includes several of the northeast's highest peaks. Below the summits lie hiking trails (1,200 mi/1,930 km worth), lakes and ponds, streams for fishing, and thundering waterfalls (including Glen Ellis Falls and the Crystal Cascade). Wildlife includes bears, moose and deer. Campsites are available.

Clustered in White Mountain National Forest are some of New England's finest ski resorts. Although they're not as extensive as resorts in the western U.S., they are popular with New Englanders who don't want to travel far from home (especially Bostonians). Waterville Valley has 52 trails carved out of two adjacent mountains (Snow Mountain and Mount Tecumseh). More than half of the runs are geared for the beginner or intermediate skier. Some of the favorites include the 3-mi-/5-km-long Mount Tecumseh Trail and Bobby's Run, a challenging trail with a steep slope. At the base of the mountain, skiers can take the free shuttle bus back to the village, where lodges, condominiums, restaurants and shops are available.

North of Waterville Valley is Loon Mountain, a busy resort set on the east branch of the Pemigewasset River at the edge of a spectacular wilderness region. Its 45 trails are wide and well-groomed. Except on a few expert runs, most of the moguls have been carved away, creating great skiing for the intermediate and novice. The North Peak, with its more challenging terrain, is served by a 7,000-ft/2,134-m four-passenger gondola that shuttles skiers to the summit in record time. There is also a large equestrian center, offering a variety of horseback rides throughout the area.

You can see many of the White Mountain area's other popular scenic attractions by taking a driving tour. Heading north for an hour on Interstate 93 from Concord will get you to the edge of the forest (though you may want to stop in Plymouth for a visit to the Polar Caves and Hanging Boulder, a rock that seems to be suspended in air). Continue on to North Woodstock, where you can take the half-hour ride on the White Mountain Central Railroad geared toward children, with its 2.5-mi-/4-km-long scenic excursion that leaves from Clark's Trading Post. If you're traveling with children, you may want to hang around at the Trading Post to see one of the trained-bear shows, several quirky museums, amusements and odd characters such as the Wolfman—who will likely appear along the train route.

If you have time, drive 6 mi/10 km west to Kinsman Notch. There, the Lost River meanders through the glacial depressions and caverns and ends at Paradise Falls (walk the trail that takes you through some of the caves). If panning for gold is your thing, follow Route 112 to the Wild Ammonoosuc River.

Back in North Woodstock, head north again on I-93 to The Flume, an impressive natural gorge (open May-November only) reached via a short bus ride and walk (there is some stair climbing involved). A hiking trail is available. The area is at its most beautiful during the fall.

As you head north, your next stop is at Franconia Notch, which has a number of scenic areas. Be sure to see The Basin (a deep glacial depression) and Indian Head (a rocky formation that has seen renewed interest since the demise of the Old Man of the Mountain). Franconia Notch State Park offers hiking, swimming, boating, camping, fishing, picnicking, a scenic road and (in winter) downhill skiing. A little farther north is the site of the famous natural granite formation, the Old Man of the Mountain, which collapsed in May 2003. The outcropping inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story The Great Stone Face. Nearby, the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway ascends through remarkable mountain and valley scenery. There's also the state-run Cannon Mountain Ski Resort, where Olympic medalist Bode Miller learned on the slopes, as well as the New England Ski Museum.

Continuing north on I-93, you'll head out of the national forest and reach the town of Franconia. There, you can see the home that Robert Frost lived in after his return from England just before World War I. There are displays of Frost's poetry along with memorabilia and a tour of the farmhouse, which dates to the 1800s. A visit there makes a good companion to the Frost Farm in Derry.

Your next major stop is Mount Washington, the tallest mountain in the northeastern U.S. and a peak known for its extreme weather: Winds of 231 mph/372 kph have been recorded at the summit. To get there, drive I-93 South from Franconia to Highway 3 and go northeast. Pick up Highway 302 heading toward Bretton Woods. Nearby is the starting point for the Mount Washington Cog Railway, which operates mid-May to early November (when it's called The Snowflake Express). The world's first cog railway (the steam-driven locomotives have a cogged center wheel) was built in 1866 and climbs a steep, 37-degree grade. It's not a quick trip (about three hours), but it is scenic.

If you want to drive up Mount Washington rather than ride the cog railway, you'll have to approach on a different route. At the intersection of Highways 3 and 302, go north on 3, then pick up Highway 115 to Highway 2. Go east to Gorham, and a few miles/kilometers to the south you'll find the Mount Washington Auto Road. Be aware that it's slow going, and the driving is a little tricky. Put your car in a low gear when driving down the mountain: The road is so steep, you can burn up your brakes if you don't use the gears to slow the car—but at the end you will get a bumper sticker that tells the world "This Car Climbed Mt. Washington."

Those who opted for the cog railway should head south on Highway 302 to Crawford Notch. It was the scene of an 1826 landslide that killed a family but left their house standing, an event that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's story The Ambitious Guest. While you're in the area, be sure to see Arethusa Falls, one of the state's highest, and the Silver and Flume Cascades, which tumble impressively down Webster Mountain.

Highway 302 takes a bend to the east at Bartlett and takes you close to Echo Lake State Park, a mountain-rimmed body of water that's famous—as you might guess—for its echoes. Skiers may want to stay at Attitash Bear Peak, a large winter resort with challenging terrain. Those who prefer fantasy to natural history can head to Story Land (open Memorial Day-Columbus Day), an amusement park where children can meet Cinderella, Heidi's grandfather and other famous fairy-tale characters. Nearby Jackson is New Hampshire's finest cross-country skiing destination, with many, many miles/kilometers of scenic trails. The town itself is lovely—and a favorite spot for antiques shoppers and covered-bridge enthusiasts.

Head south on Highway 16 to North Conway. If you haven't already had your fill of train trips, consider taking the Conway Scenic Railroad—it's a fun, 11-mi/18-km ride through the Mount Washington Valley on a full-size vintage steam or diesel train (running April-December).