If you’re visiting New Hampshire and looking for White Mountains attractions, you’re in for a treat. The infamous New Hampshire White Mountains has tons of awesome activities for everyone to enjoy. During the Spring, Summer and Fall months, when the weather is great for outdoor activity, there is just so much to see and do. Of course, during the Winter months, there are also lots of winter activities. But this post is for White Mountains Attractions and activities during the warmer season.
White Mountains Attractions
Railway Tours
Conway Scenic Railway
A great way to see the beautiful landscape of New Hampshire’s White Mountains is to take a scenic train ride. The Conway Scenic Railway has several different trains that tour the vast expanse of Mount Washington. Each train explores a different area and can range from 1.5 hours up to 6-hours. If you plan your trip during late September into October, you’ll be rewarded with the most beautiful fall foliage as far as the eye can see.
We splurged and got tickets for the upper deck seats with open 360-degree views. It also included lunch in the dining cart where you are seated at a dining table and served a delicious lunch with open viewing windows so you can enjoy the view while you dine. The Conway Scenic Railway is a super relaxing, fun and family-friendly White Mountains attraction for anyone that visits New Hampshire. Check their website for the most updated schedule and pricing. (Note that they do not operate during the Winter months.)
Cog Railway White Mountains Attraction
“The Mount Washington Cog Railway is a narrated 3-Hour-Round Trip train ride to the summit of Mount Washington on a historic and awe-inspiring railway. Averaging around 1 hour each way, you have 60 minutes to explore and take in the Summit of Mount Washington, including the Sherman Adams Visitor Center. Inside the Visitor Center is a museum, post office, small snack bar and 360° views of the surrounding areas including up to 5 states, Canada and the Atlantic Ocean! Below, you will learn all about the Mt Washington Cog Railway, including what to expect on your journey and what other fun and excitement you and your family can have!” – The Cog Railway
Just check out the amazing views! We didn’t get a chance to ride the Cog on this particular trip. But we definitely will next time!
Amusement Parks & Resorts
Attitash Mountain Resort Park
If you’re looking for some fun and family-friendly White Mountains Attractions and Activities, check out the below. These tours and excursions are all located in the heart of the White Mountains at the Attitash Mountain Resort. Enjoy the scenery and wildlife, all while exploring the outdoors with these fun-filled White Mountain New Hampshire activities.
Attitash Zip Lining & Mountain Coaster
The Alpine Slide & Wildlife Kayaking
Mount Washington Hotel & Resort
A totally free and lovely White Mountains attraction is to visit the famous historical Mount Washington Hotel & Resort. It is located in the center of the White Mountains, aka Mount Washington. In fact, on our Conway Railway tour, we rode right past it and the above photo is the view we got of the resort in the distance.
You can book a room and stay at the resort, but it’ll cost a pretty penny. However, you can visit the public property for free and tour the interior of the hotel. It is quite beautiful. We enjoyed a quick stop for lunch here. It is full of history and supposedly very haunted.
Hiking & Nature Therapy
Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway
Looking for a relaxing hike that is so high up in the mountains, you can practically see Canada in the distance? Then the Cannon Mountain Peak is a perfect destination. If you’re an experienced avid hiker, then you can hike up to the peak on foot using the various marked trails. Or….. you can take the Aerial Tramway, which is what we did because we are NOT experienced hikers. Or maybe we’re just lazy.
The views are amaze-balls! You can see for miles and miles and on a super clear day, you can totally see Canada…so we were told. Tickets for the Tramway cost about $20 for an adult. Or purchase a Discovery Pass that includes access to both the Aerial Tramway and the Flume Gorge.
Flume Gorge
Mother Nature is calling and she wants you to join her on a quiet and relaxing hike at the Flume Gorge. A stunning natural wonder in Franconia Notch State Park, this White Mountains attraction is surrounded by an abundance of green, green and more green! It’s a spellbinding hike “as you stroll the path from the Visitors Center to the Flume and back. Walk the entire 2 mile loop and you’ll see towering moss-covered granite walls, cascading waterfalls, historic covered bridges, glacial pools & boulders and much more. A shorter 1/2 mile walk brings you to The Flume Gorge itself.
– The Flume is a natural granite gorge extending 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty.
– Towering granite walls rise to a spectacular height of 90 feet
– The Flume Gorge was discovered in 1808“
Flume Covered Bridge
This beautiful covered bridge is located within the Flume Gorge hike. Its picturesque and historical significance makes it eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Visit it during the right time of year with the fall foliage colors, and you will get get amazing photos.
Mushroom Hunting – White Mountains Attraction
I was pleasantly surprised by how many different varieties of random mushrooms we came across during our multiple hikes around the White Mountains of New Hampshire. There were so many different kinds just growing among the foliage on the trails. Of course, I have no knowledge about the type of mushrooms or which ones are safe to touch or eat. So I left them alone and gave them a photo shoot instead. If you’re looking for something fun to do with young kids while on a hike, Mushroom Hunting is a neat way to entertain them so they don’t get too bored on the trek.
Have you ever visited the White Mountains of New Hampshire? Comment below and let me know what were you favorite things to do there.
XOXO – Patti & Ilya
After our weekend in New Hampshire, we took a mini road trip and headed into Portland, Maine. Make sure to check out my post about our trip to Portland, Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park!
That train is amaaazing with the giant windows! It’s even more amazing that there were so few passengers!
I love the sound of the mountain roller coaster, the zip lines and of course all those hikes! You have made me keen to explore New Hampshire.
Great post! I live in the northeast and honestly have only been to New Hampshire a handful of times. I’d love to go on one of those scenic railway rides! It looks amazing. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Krystianna @ Volumes and Voyages
New Hampshire looks like such a fun adventure, there’s so much to do there! Saved for later, hopefully I’ll make a trip there this summer 🙂