Top 11 Best Places To Go In New Hampshire

Best Places To Go In New Hampshire: exact spots only—Mount Washington summit, Flume Gorge at Franconia Notch, White Mountains ridge walks, and Lake Winnipesaukee islands. Expect quick highlights, typical temps, and one personal tip (e.g., pack a wind shell above treeline). Scroll for maps and best months.

1. White Mountains: Nature's Cathedral

The White Mountains transform visitors into believers. Standing beneath these ancient peaks, you'll understand why Native Americans considered this sacred ground. Mount Washington anchors this wilderness empire, but the entire range offers hiking trails from gentle family walks to challenging alpine ascents.

Have you ever felt completely dwarfed by nature's grandeur? That's the White Mountains experience. I remember my first sunrise from Mount Washington's summit—watching New England spread below like a quilted masterpiece while temperatures dropped to freezing in July. The weather station here recorded the highest surface wind speed on Earth: 231 mph in 1934.

The Presidential Traverse challenges serious hikers with a 23-mile ridge walk connecting multiple peaks named for U.S. presidents. But families shouldn't feel excluded. The Mount Washington Cog Railway, operating since 1869, carries visitors to the summit without the physical demands of hiking.

2. Mount Washington: The Beast of the East

Mount Washington demands respect. This 6,288-foot peak creates its own weather system, with conditions changing from summer to arctic within hours. The mountain has claimed over 150 lives since record-keeping began, earning its reputation as one of North America's most dangerous peaks.

I've witnessed seasoned hikers turn back at Tuckerman Ravine, humbled by sudden whiteout conditions in summer. The mountain teaches patience and preparation. Weather reports become sacred texts here—ignore them at your peril.

The auto road to the summit opened in 1861, offering a less risky alternative to hiking. However, the drive tests both nerves and brake systems with its 12% grades and lack of guardrails. Your car's cooling system will work overtime, and your passengers might prefer closing their eyes during the ascent.

3. Franconia Notch: Nature's Sculpture Garden

Franconia Notch State Park concentrates New Hampshire's natural wonders into eight spectacular miles. Though the famous Old Man of the Mountain collapsed in 2003, the notch continues inspiring visitors with its dramatic granite walls and cascading waterfalls.

The Flume Gorge walkway guides you through a natural granite corridor where walls rise 90 feet overhead while spanning just 20 feet apart. Walking this 800-foot boardwalk feels like entering Earth's secret chamber. The sound of rushing water echoes off ancient stone, creating nature's own symphony hall.

Cannon Mountain's aerial tramway lifts visitors 2,022 feet above sea level in just eight minutes. From the summit, you can see Vermont, Maine, and Canada on clear days. The view that once included the Old Man of the Mountain now offers perspective on geological forces that continue reshaping these mountains.

4. Lake Winnipesaukee: The Golden Pond

Lake Winnipesaukee stretches across 72 square miles with 288 miles of shoreline dotted with 264 islands. This glacier-carved lake becomes New Hampshire's summer playground, where families create memories that span generations.

You'll discover why locals call it “The Golden Pond” during sunset cruises when the water reflects surrounding hills like liquid amber. The MS Mount Washington, a 230-foot cruise ship, has been carrying passengers since 1940. Evening dinner cruises offer dining with views that no restaurant can match.

Meredith and Laconia anchor the lake's southern shore with beaches, marinas, and family attractions. The northern bays offer quieter retreats where loons call across morning mist. Each season transforms the lake's character—summer brings boating festivals, fall delivers foliage reflections, and winter creates a 44-square-mile skating rink.

5. Portsmouth: Where History Meets the Sea

Portsmouth preserves 400 years of American history within a walkable downtown that feels like stepping into a living museum. The Piscataqua River connects this seaport to the Atlantic Ocean, creating tidal flows that have powered mills and welcomed ships for centuries.

Have you ever wondered what colonial America actually looked like? Portsmouth's Strawbery Banke Museum answers that question with 37 historic buildings spanning four centuries. Each structure tells stories of families who lived, worked, and dreamed within these walls.

The Portsmouth Harbor Trail guides visitors through 10 historic sites, including the 1716 Warner House with its original wall murals. But Portsmouth isn't trapped in the past. The downtown brewery scene rivals cities ten times its size, and restaurants serve cuisine that would impress Boston diners.

6. North Conway: Gateway to Adventure

North Conway serves as base camp for White Mountain adventures while offering attractions that satisfy non-hikers. The Conway Scenic Railroad brings the golden age of rail travel to life with vintage cars pulled by steam locomotives through mountain valleys.

I still remember my first ride on the Conway Scenic Railroad's “Notch Train”—five hours of mountain scenery so stunning that passengers pressed against windows like excited children. The train climbs through Crawford Notch, where passengers spot wildlife and waterfalls invisible from hiking trails.

The Mt. Washington Valley offers tax-free shopping at over 200 outlet stores, making it a popular destination for visitors seeking bargains on outdoor gear and designer brands. After a day of hiking Mount Washington, nothing beats exploring these stores while your muscles recover.

7. Hanover: Ivy League in the Mountains

Hanover embodies the quintessential New England college town where Dartmouth College students have gathered since 1769. The town green, anchored by the college's Georgian buildings, creates a scene that belongs on postcards advertising American higher education.

The Hopkins Center for the Arts brings world-class performances to this mountain town. I've attended concerts here that would sell out in major cities, yet tickets remain accessible to locals and visitors alike. The venue's intimate setting means every seat offers excellent views and acoustics.

Dartmouth's Baker-Berry Library houses over 2.9 million volumes, including the papers of Robert Frost, who taught here for two decades. The library's tower offers panoramic views of the Connecticut River Valley, though access requires advance permission.

8. Keene: Small City, Big Character

Keene balances small-town charm with cultural sophistication that surprises first-time visitors. The city's downtown historic district features 19th-century architecture surrounding Central Square, one of New Hampshire's most photographed public spaces.

Keene State College brings youthful energy to this community of 23,000 residents. The annual Pumpkin Festival, before its hiatus in 2014, set world records for jack-o'-lantern displays. Though the large-scale festival ended, smaller community celebrations continue the tradition.

The Ashuelot River Trail offers 8.5 miles of paved walking and cycling paths through Keene's heart. This rail-trail conversion connects downtown to surrounding farmland, providing exercise opportunities that showcase the city's commitment to outdoor recreation.

9. Manchester: The Queen City

Manchester, New Hampshire's largest city, successfully reinvented itself from industrial powerhouse to modern urban center. The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company once employed 17,000 workers in the world's largest textile complex. Today, those red brick mills house restaurants, art galleries, and technology companies.

The Currier Museum of Art houses works by Picasso, Monet, and O'Keeffe alongside the only Frank Lloyd Wright house in New Hampshire open for tours. The Zimmerman House, built in 1950, showcases Wright's Usonian design philosophy with guided tours available by advance reservation.

Downtown Manchester's restaurant scene rivals cities twice its size. The Millyard offers dining options from casual gastropubs to fine dining establishments, many occupying converted mill buildings that blend industrial architecture with contemporary design.

10. Concord: Capital Charm

Concord serves as New Hampshire's capital while maintaining the accessibility of a small city. The State House, built in 1819, features the oldest legislative chamber in the nation still used for its original purpose. Free tours reveal the building's history and New Hampshire's unique political culture.

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center honors New Hampshire's connection to space exploration. Christa McAuliffe, who perished in the Challenger disaster, taught at Concord High School. The center combines space science education with planetarium shows that transport visitors beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Canterbury Shaker Village, just outside Concord, preserves the history of the Shaker religious community. The village's 25 historic buildings demonstrate Shaker craftsmanship and philosophy through guided tours and artisan demonstrations.

11. Kancamagus Highway: The Most Beautiful Drive

The Kancamagus Highway earns recognition as one of America's most scenic drives, winding 34.5 miles through the White Mountain National Forest without a single commercial establishment. This National Scenic Byway connects Conway to Lincoln through wilderness that appears unchanged since Native American times.

You'll understand why locals call it “The Kanc” after experiencing its pull-offs that reveal mountain vistas photographers dream of capturing. The highway climbs to 2,855 feet at Kancamagus Pass, offering views that justify the winding, sometimes white-knuckle drive.

Fall foliage season transforms the Kancamagus Highway into New England's most photographed road. Traffic moves slowly as leaf-peepers stop frequently, but the delays become part of the experience. The changing maples, birches, and oaks create a natural cathedral that makes every delay worthwhile.

The Best Places To Go In New Hampshire offer adventures that satisfy every type of traveler, from mountain climbers seeking Mount Washington's challenge to families enjoying Lake Winnipesaukee's gentle shores. Each destination reveals different facets of the Granite State's personality.

Your New Hampshire adventure awaits, whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a week-long exploration. Pack layers for changing mountain weather, bring your camera for Portsmouth's colonial architecture, and prepare your taste buds for Manchester's surprising culinary scene.

The memories you'll create in New Hampshire will call you back season after season. Start planning your journey now—the White Mountains, historic seaports, and scenic highways are ready to welcome you home.