New Hampshire has one-of-a-kind family fun experiences so you can look forward to making memories that will last forever. A calm, perhaps, completely unplugged family vacation. Toes in the sand. Swimming and rock collecting. Campfires, kites and stargazing. That sort of thing.
Toes in the sand. Swimming and rock collecting. Campfires, kites and stargazing.
You want a getaway where your kids can try new things and fall in love with the outdoors and one where you can all just let go of the electronics and bond with nature and, more importantly, each other!
We started our journey on Lake Sunapee. The crystal clear waters surrounded with pines makes this setting fabulous for a summer’s day. Anchor in a cove for lunch and a swim or water ski and tube all day. If you’re a graduate or have teenagers, pay a visit to Dartmouth College.
A stay at the Dexter’s Inn is ideal anytime of the year. Dexter’s Inn is a special country resort-inn, located in an idyllic setting on a 20-acre estate. Its hilltop location features panoramic views of Mount Kearsarge, Mount Sunapee and the surrounding countryside and provides a private, peaceful and relaxing backdrop for your visit. They have an outdoor pool and plenty of both indoor and outdoor games to keep the whole family entertained. Aerosmith fans? Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry spent their childhood summers in Sunapee. Bassist Tom Hamilton went to nearby New London High School and lived year round in the resort town. Tyler and Perry met at the Anchorage, a Sunapee ice cream parlor now full service restaurant, where Perry held a summer job. Tyler still has a home there and, when visiting, raises a skull and bones flag. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of him!
From Sunapee, we headed to nearby Plymouth. On our way, we paid a visit to the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center. Not only do they offer daily cruises on Squam Lake but it’s also a great way to explore New Hampshire’s natural world. They have spectacular live animal exhibits, and natural science education programs all focused on New Hampshire’s native inhabitants.
When in Plymouth, get a good night’s rest at the comfortable and quirky Common Man Inn and Spa.
The Common Man Inn & Spa instantly becomes a home away from home with its warm ambience and cosiness the moment you step foot inside. They’re just a stone’s throw from both woodsy nature and quaint downtown Main Street. There’s so much to see and do in this area. Cast a fly in the waters of Squam Lake, tube down the Pemigewasset River, explore the Quincy Bog Trail, hike Rattlesnake Mountain, bike, shop, and more. Winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy downhill or cross-country skiing, tubing at Loon Mountain and Waterville Valley or snowmobiling along the scenic corridor.
We started our morning by making a pit stop at the White Mountains Visitor Center for maps, advice and the all important, White Mountain Value Pass. Included in the price of the pass (a value of over $1200 worth of admissions, for only $379) are entrances to dozens of activities in the region from Alpine Adventures to Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway to Clark’s Trading Post to the Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves.
We really wanted to see mountains so we jumped on the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway which whisks you to the 4,100-foot Cannon Mountain summit for outstanding views of the White Mountains and into Maine, Vermont and even Canada. There’s an observation deck, cafeterias, swimming at Echo Lake, boat rentals, a free eight-mile recreation path, “Old Man of the Mountain” Museum, and the New England Ski Museum. This is a must do.
If you need more grounded adventure, head to Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves. Follow Lost River to explore jagged rock walls, glacial caves, gigantic boulders, and cascading waterfalls. Complete your experience by panning for gemstones or stroll through the gift shop. See why Lost River Gorge is one of New Hampshire’s greatest natural wonders. There are about fifteen caves to slither in and out of and a fantastic way to get the kids into nature.
That evening, we spent the night in Lincoln, NH at Mountain Club on Loon, the four-season slopeside resort hotel on Loon Mountain in the heart of the White Mountains. The renovated rooms & suites have kitchens, indoor & outdoor pools, spa, restaurants, and lounge. This place is ideal for large families or those travelling with friends. Having a kitchen is always great but our large living room also had not one, but TWO Murphy beds that were pretty large!
Woodstock, NH is a hop, skip and jump away from the Mountain Club on Loon. It’s charming Main St. is peppered with candy stores, General Stores and restaurants galore. Get a truly New Hampshire experience by meandering through Woodstock.
Make sure to dedicate at least a morning to Mount Washington. You can drive up or relax and take the Mount Washington Cog Railway to the top of Mount Washington on the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway—built in 1869. It’s a thrilling train ride to New England’s highest peak. You even get one hour at the summit, a State Park, for activities.
Mount Washington is the highest mountain in northeastern North America at 6,288 feet high. On a clear day, it’s often possible to see into five states – New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York – even into Canada.
Summer visitors find the summit a welcome retreat from the warmer temperatures below; in July the temperature averages 49°F. We went up in late spring and it was icing and snowing!
Wind down your visit to New Hampshire with a walk through the Flume Gorge, a spectacular natural chasm. Along the walk you will discover covered bridges, amazing waterfalls, a scenic pool, and incredible mountain views. Kids can crawl through and explore caves along the way.
To break up the trip back (or there), make a stop in Boston, MA. Either spend a few days exploring the historic city or just spend a night. The new Kimpton Nine Zero right in downtown Boston is ideal for families. It’s comfortable and modern and has a great location.
