Things to Do in New Hampshire

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, founded in 1966, is the only New England institution accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. It's dedicated to teaching visitors about ecology through exploring New Hampshire's natural world. They offer an informal public garden, lake cruises, live animal exhibits, and natural science education programs.

Guests can take self-guided or docent-led tours on the impressive grounds, into mature forests, across meadows, and along marsh boardwalks that connect to natural interactive exhibits. While walking or hiking the animal exhibit trail, visitors will have an opportunity to see native animals such as mountain lions, black bears, bobcats, and river otters.

23 Science Center Road, Holderness, NH, Phone: 603-968-7194

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center honors Alan Shepard and Sharon McAuliffe while simultaneously inspiring all generations to explore earth and space science, aviation, and astronomy through engaging educational activities. Visitors to the discovery center can explore their collection of over 15 inventive, hands-on exhibits in a fun, high-energy environment.

Two of the most popular exhibits are Living and Working in Space, equipped with simulators and a large-scale space shuttle model, and Sunstruck, where visitors can view the sun on a 3D screen. The center also offers programs and workshops, from Little Explorers to Educators, held in their high-tech observatory and the Planetarium Theater.

2 Institute Drive, Concord, NH, Phone: 603-271-7827

Mount Washington Auto Road

Mount Washington Auto Road is the oldest manmade attraction in the United States. Opened in 1861, it's the premier self-driving adventure in Eastern North America. Guests may embark on this one-of-a-kind excursion from May to October.

Drivers pass through four distinct climate zones and experience ever-changing weather and terrain on their climb to the highest peak in the Northeast. They're rewarded with dramatic cloud formations, diverse foliage, above-tree line landscapes, and spectacular panoramic mountaintop views. Those who don't want to take on the challenge alone can opt for a Snowcoach guided tour, where they'll breathe easy and enjoy the ride.

1 Mount Washington Auto Road, Gorham, NH, Phone: 603-466-3988

Santa's Village

Santa's Village in Jefferson is a year-round amusement-style park that features a variety of activities each season. Guests will have a ball on the wide range of Christmas-themed rides in the park and on slides, splashes, and climbs in the waterpark, aptly named Ho Ho H2O.

There are tons of fun activities like the Christmas Cookie Caper live puppet show, the Polar Theater's 3D animated movie A Tinkerdoodle Christmas, tours of Santa's House, and Christmas Carol-o-key singalongs. The park is open daily from Father's Day to Labor Day and weekends from Labor Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend. Day passes include unlimited park rides, attractions, and performances.

528 Presidential Highway, Jefferson, NH, Phone: 603-586-4445

The Mount Washington Cog Railway

The Mount Washington Cog Railway provides a completely unique experience aboard a vintage coach steam-powered train or aboard a contemporary eco-friendly locomotive with a biodiesel-powered engine. Both climb Mount Washington, the highest peak in New England.

The 3-hour guided tours gently climb the mountainside while guides explain the rich local history and guests take in panoramic views of the valleys and mountains of New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Canada, and the Atlantic Ocean. At the top of the 6,200-foot mountain, guests can disembark and spend an hour touring the Weather Museum, and Sherman Adams Visitor Center, among other attractions.

3168 Base Station Road, Mount Washington, NH, Phone: 603-278-5404

New Hampshire Telephone Museum

The New Hampshire Telephone Museum (NHTM) provides visitors with a fascinating look into the history of telecommunications in the United States. Guests can view over 1,000 artifacts that offer insights into the amazing evolution of the industry.

The NHTM houses collections from the Bartlett and Violette families, who worked in the trade for a combined 85 years, as well as a collection from Garry Mitchell, an original telephone worker from Connecticut, among others. Tours are led by entertaining and knowledgeable staff and cover the industry's highlights such as the invention of the dial system and the race to the patent office.

One Depot Street, Warner, NH, Phone: 603-456-2234

Castle in the Clouds

Castle in the Clouds offers guests a chance to explore the 1914 Lucknow mansion, a mountaintop estate built by architectural firm J. Williams Beal & Sons of Boston for Tom and Olive Plant. Open to the public since 1959, visitors have admired its Arts and Crafts architecture, which is an architectural philosophy of existing harmoniously with nature – a combination of handcraftsmanship and technological modernization.

The experience begins at the Carriage House, where guests explore the art gallery of ever-changing exhibits featuring both local artists and student works, followed by a trolley ride, brief orientation, and self-guided tour of the mansion.

RT 171, 455 Old Mountain Road, Moultonborough, NH, Phone: 603-476-5900

Currier Museum of Art

The Currier Museum of Art is a world-renowned art museum in Manchester, New Hampshire, featuring photographs, sculptures, decorative arts, and American and European paintings. Visitors will enjoy perusing classic works by LeWitt, Wyeth, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Picasso, to name a few, and will have the opportunity to tour the Zimmerman House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

The extensive collections featured at the Currier Museum cover every era from the Renaissance to the present and showcase everything from furniture to glass-blown figures. In addition, guests can opt to partake in one of several programs and classes offered for all experience levels.

150 Ash Street, Manchester, NH, Phone: 603-669-6144

USS Albacore Museum

The USS Albacore Museum started out as a research submarine for the US Navy to test features for use on the next generation of submarines. It is currently open to the public as a meticulously preserved vessel providing guests with an in-depth look at the first true underwater submarine.

Visitors begin their journey at the park's visitors center, which houses a museum of historical artifacts and photos of the Albacore as well as additional submarines. The self-guided tour progresses from the visitors center to the submarine and is narrated via audio files recorded by previous crew members and others expounding on the daily happenings aboard the USS Albacore during that time.

600 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH, Phone: 603-436-3680

Fuller Gardens

Fuller Gardens are North Hampton's premiere botanical garden facility, originally commissioned in the 1920s by Massachusetts Governor Alvan T. Fuller and designed by the firm of legendary landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. The lovely gardens, which are housed on Fuller's former summer estate property, are known for their gorgeous Colonial Revival-style rose gardens, which showcase more than 1,700 rose bushes in over 125 varieties. Roses typically bloom between June and October, with grounds open to the public starting in mid-May each year. Other gardens showcased on site include a Japanese-style garden, a dahlia display garden, and English perennial plantings. A gift shop on site offers a variety of gifts and goods for gardeners, bird lovers, and nature enthusiasts.

10 Willow Ave, North Hampton, NH 03862, Phone: 603-964-5414