From the magnificent White Mountains in the north of New Hampshire through the Lakes Region to the state’s strip of Atlantic seacoast, the Granite State is a vacation land of rugged outdoor adventure and urban charm. The White Mountains, with its collection of ski areas, is home to every form of snow sports, as well as summer festivals and activities that exploit the best of the mountains’ features: hiking, rafting, scenic railroad excursions, even sky rides in gondolas used by skiers in the winter. The Lakes Region, with its epicenter at Lake Winnipesaukee and the Squam Lakes, offers water sports all year, from the extremes of sunbathing in the summer to ice fishing in the winter.
Hampton Beach on the Atlantic is New Hampshire’s major saltwater ocean beach, and its pleasures include old-fashioned family fun, concerts in an open-air bandshell, fireworks, festivals, a sand-sculpting contest, and even a Casino Ballroom with live entertainment.
Throughout New Hampshire, visitors can find the best of New England: lovely small towns that welcome strolling, dining, and shopping; exciting snow sports paired with the pleasures of the ski lodge, including a growing selection of luxuries like spas; lots of attractions for families and kids; and, of course, the ocean’s white beaches and charming port towns and cities. Accommodations cover the full gamut, from small, romantic inns to rugged campgrounds.
