If you live in New Hampshire, you definitely have a tough, adventurous spirit – after all, you need one to survive through the long winters, dodge the moose and bears, and make the best of it all! But it’s all too easy to live your whole life in this glorious state without really experiencing what it has to offer. Make it your mission to check all of these epic adventures off your bucket list!
- Drive the Mount Washington Auto Road
Flickr/Mt. Washington Auto Road Driving the Mount Washington Auto Road is a rite of passage in New Hampshire - after all, your car has to earn that famous bumper sticker! If you can manage to get up there earlier enough for one of the annual sunrise drives. Learn more here.
- Take a ride down a natural waterslide
Flickr/Tony Hisgett What could be cooler than shooting down a waterslide carved by eons of water rushing over rock? If you’re daring enough, there are several to choose from in New Hampshire. We’re partial to Lower Falls.
- Ride a horse up a mountain
Yelp/Amanda C. In the winter, Black Mountain is a ski resort, but the rest of the year you can ride a horse up the mountain and camp at the top! It’s truly an adventure you’ll remember for a lifetime. Learn more here.
- Take a tram ride up a mountain
TripAdvisor/wyattsailing If you haven’t ridden Franconia Notch State Park’s tram up Cannon Mountain, you’re missing out. High up over the treeline, you’ll enjoy views that you could never get on the ground. Learn more here.
- Spend a night in a genuine castle
Homeaway That’s right – if you’ve dreamed of being a prince or princess, you can stay in Hunt Castle right in Rindge and get the royal treatment. Of course, it doesn’t come cheap – but that’s why it belongs on your bucket list and not your average weekend to-dos. Learn more here.
- Visit New Hampshire’s own volcanic caldera
Flickr/kari jasus Few know that the Ossipee Mountains were actually formed by the massive volcanic eruption 200 million years ago. It’s still a great place to explore inactive volcanoes. Learn more here.
- Take a dip in New Hampshire’s most beautiful swimming hole
Flickr/Sean Munson Emerald Pool in Chatham takes a little hiking to get too, but it’s absolutely worth it – we can’t imagine a more beautiful place to cool off on a summer day. Learn more here.
- Take a train ride through Crawford Notch
Facebook/Conway Scenic Railroad This epic train ride will take you through some of the greatest views in the White Mountains. Ride in the dome car for the best views you could ever imagine. Learn more here.
- Zip over a frozen landscape
Bretton Woods The Bretton Woods canopy tour is an epic adventure all year round, but for maximum thrills, take it in the winter, when you’ll have incredible views of the snow-capped mountains. Learn more here.
- Explore New Hampshire’s Ice Age gorge
TripAdvisor/Suzanne D. The Lost River Gorge in North Woodstock is an Ice Age Relic that is absolutely fascinating. You have to check it out! Learn more here.
- Take a hike that will astound you
AllTrails/Brian Lee There are endless hikes to choose from in New Hampshire – and they all have gorgeous sights to offer. Our pic for amazing views without too much effort is Mount Major. Learn more here.
- Spend a night on a New Hampshire island
Facebook/Star Island Off Portsmouth’s coast, Star Island is a beautiful retreat from it all – and you can stay there overnight. Learn more here.
- Float down a lazy river
Yelp/Saco Canoe Rental Company Tubing on the Saco is the kind of New Hampshire adventure that you can’t just pass over – there’s nothing more relaxing than letting the current pull you past covered bridges and beautiful forests. Learn more here.
How many of these adventures have you checked off your bucket list?
Flickr/Mt. Washington Auto Road
Driving the Mount Washington Auto Road is a rite of passage in New Hampshire - after all, your car has to earn that famous bumper sticker! If you can manage to get up there earlier enough for one of the annual sunrise drives. Learn more here.
Flickr/Tony Hisgett
What could be cooler than shooting down a waterslide carved by eons of water rushing over rock? If you’re daring enough, there are several to choose from in New Hampshire. We’re partial to Lower Falls.
Yelp/Amanda C.
In the winter, Black Mountain is a ski resort, but the rest of the year you can ride a horse up the mountain and camp at the top! It’s truly an adventure you’ll remember for a lifetime. Learn more here.
TripAdvisor/wyattsailing
If you haven’t ridden Franconia Notch State Park’s tram up Cannon Mountain, you’re missing out. High up over the treeline, you’ll enjoy views that you could never get on the ground. Learn more here.
Homeaway
That’s right – if you’ve dreamed of being a prince or princess, you can stay in Hunt Castle right in Rindge and get the royal treatment. Of course, it doesn’t come cheap – but that’s why it belongs on your bucket list and not your average weekend to-dos. Learn more here.
Flickr/kari jasus
Few know that the Ossipee Mountains were actually formed by the massive volcanic eruption 200 million years ago. It’s still a great place to explore inactive volcanoes. Learn more here.
Flickr/Sean Munson
Emerald Pool in Chatham takes a little hiking to get too, but it’s absolutely worth it – we can’t imagine a more beautiful place to cool off on a summer day. Learn more here.
Facebook/Conway Scenic Railroad
This epic train ride will take you through some of the greatest views in the White Mountains. Ride in the dome car for the best views you could ever imagine. Learn more here.
Bretton Woods
The Bretton Woods canopy tour is an epic adventure all year round, but for maximum thrills, take it in the winter, when you’ll have incredible views of the snow-capped mountains. Learn more here.
TripAdvisor/Suzanne D.
The Lost River Gorge in North Woodstock is an Ice Age Relic that is absolutely fascinating. You have to check it out! Learn more here.
AllTrails/Brian Lee
There are endless hikes to choose from in New Hampshire – and they all have gorgeous sights to offer. Our pic for amazing views without too much effort is Mount Major. Learn more here.
Facebook/Star Island
Off Portsmouth’s coast, Star Island is a beautiful retreat from it all – and you can stay there overnight. Learn more here.
Yelp/Saco Canoe Rental Company
Tubing on the Saco is the kind of New Hampshire adventure that you can’t just pass over – there’s nothing more relaxing than letting the current pull you past covered bridges and beautiful forests. Learn more here.
This list not long enough for you? Check out the most incredible natural attractions in New Hampshire.
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