Summer is a great time to be a Granite Stater.
While our love for Concord and all there is to do in the state capital is well documented, it turns out there’s tons of great places to visit, things to do and new experiences to be had outside the city limits.
Shocking, we know.
And even though the summer season isn’t officially here yet, it’s never too early to start the planning process – you want to get the most out of the warmest months of the year, don’t you?
So thanks to being longtime residents of New Hampsha, we’ve gained quite a bit of knowledge when it comes to the happenings around the state.
Of course, we’d love to give you every possible option for fun in the sun, but there’s only so much you can fit on two pages with ads, so chalk this up to what equates to a starting list. And who knows, maybe one of these day trip ideas will lead to discovering another potential great adventure down the road.
Only time will tell – and happy exploring.
Storyland
It’s the place where stories and fairy tales come to life.
You can take a ride in Cinderella’s pumpkin coach or Alice’s tea cups. Meet your favorite characters like Mother Goose and the Woman in the Show, and enjoy storybook animals like the three little pigs.
Enjoy amusement park classics like roller coasters, carousels and water rides that are sure make the kids ooh and aah.
Take a ride on the Huff Puff & Whistle Railroad, which gives you a whistle-stop tour of the entire park. In addition to all the rides, there are spots to play all over the park and games to try out. And you won’t want to miss the shows or dinners with the characters.
For more, including operating hours and pricing, visit storylandnh.com.
Mount Washington
If you’ve never visited New Hampshire’s tallest mountain, which stands at 6,288 feet, we must ask: what have you been doing all these years?
It’s a breathtaking sight from the bottom and it gets remarkably better at the top.
Now if you’re a fit person and love the burn of walking uphill for a long period of time, by all means, take a day and hike to the summit.
But not everyone enjoys that kind of physical exertion. So there are a few ways you can enjoy the sights without having to walk.
You can either take a guided-tour up the Mount Washington Auto Road or drive it yourself. The guided tours have two- and three-hour options, while if you take your own car to the top, you can spend all day at the summit. You can even get one of those cool bumper stickers for your car.
If you’d rather leave the family minivan at the bottom, take the Cog Railway for a three-hour roundtrip visit to the top.
For more, visit mtwashingtonautoroad.com or thecog.com.
League of N.H. Craftsmen Fair
Set every year at the Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury, crafters from all over the state and beyond come together for the League’s annual fair.
This year it will be held Aug. 5-13, and there will be a lot going on – so much so, we don’t even know where to begin.
You can watch crafters work through a project as they make one of their intricate and extensive works of art. There will be opportunities where you can also try your hands at the creative process.
As you wander around, take in the three fine craft exhibition spaces, while also perusing the individual crafters booths.
There will be live music and you’re invited to wear your best steampunk attire on Aug. 11, which according to Google is “a style of design and fashion that combines historical elements with anachronistic technological features inspired by science fiction.”
For more, visit nhcrafts.org/craftsmens-fair-overview.php.
Clark’s Trading Post
Have you ever seen a bear eat ice cream? What about dunk a basketball? Well, if your answer was no, then that in itself is a reason to visit Clark’s.
But the half-hour bear show, where you see real live bears doing some pretty impressive feats, is only one of the many things that have kept people visiting Clark’s for many years.
It’s a destination for White Mountain visitors, and it’s easy to see why. Take a ride on the steam-powered train that brings you deep into the North Country woods – just be aware of the Wolfman.
Jump in the Blaster Boats and spray your friends and family with water guns, or test your abilities on the Old Man of the Mountain climbing tower.
You can mind for gemstones, fossils and crystals, and don’t forget to check out the circus show.
Add in the shops and museums, and this is a spot to spend an entire day.
Visit clarkstradingpost.com for more.
Hampton Beach Fireworks
Nothing says summer like a sweet fireworks display. Every Wednesday throughout the summer, there will be free shows on Hampton Beach at the top of B and C Streets.
So pack a blanket, some snacks and pack up the whole family to experience the bright lights and exciting bangs. There are a total of 18 shoots scheduled for the season, including a special display on the Fourth of July.
The shoots begin at 9:30 p.m. with a rain date of the following Friday if they are cancelled due to weather.
Santa’s Village
Typically, we like to think about Christmas from somewhere in mid-November to the big day. And that’s really about it.
But we would make an exception for a place like Santa’s Village. Even with temperatures well above freezing and the chance of snow at zero percent, this North Country destination is full of Christmas cheer.
It’s got rides like the Chimney Drop, the Great Humbug Adventure and Yule Log Flume.
Jump on Santa’s Express Train or spin through the air on Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.
Bring the bathing suit to enjoy the HoHoH2O Water Park. Take in a Christmasy show and visit with the big guy and his reindeer.
For more info, visit santasvillage.com.
Brewery tour
So as most of you know, we’re kind of big fans of beer. In the last year-plus, two breweries (Litherman’s Limited and Concord Craft Brewing) have opened in Concord, bringing us a wealth of new opportunities to satisfy our beer intake.
But if you’re a beer connoisseur as well, you know that New Hampshire is full of great breweries.
So might we recommend a little tour this summer?
We suggest checking out a nice piece put together by N.H. Magazine at nhmagazine.com/Breweries. There’s a list of them all, with a map and you can even break it down by what region of the state you’re looking to visit.
Canobie Lake
No summer is complete without a trip to the amusement park.
And Canobie Lake is New Hampshire’s pride and joy.
You want some thrills? This is the destination for you.
Untamed is the park’s most recent rollercoaster addition, lifting riders 72 feet into the air, then into a big drop, and through a series of loops, banked turns and zero gravity roles.
And that’s just one of the many options that will make you scream, along with Corkscrew Coaster, Star Blaster and Yankee Cannonball.
There are also rides for the whole family, the kids and a water park section to cool off on those hot summer days.
Add in shows, games and food, and you’ll probably never want to leave.
Visit canobie.com for more.
Others
Like we said, there are many attractions in New Hampshire for the summer months.
You might also want to look into Bear Rock Adventures, the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour and a ride on the M/S Mt. Washington on Lake Winnipesaukee.
And don’t forget about all the natural charm all over the state.
