The charming village of North Conway, New Hampshire is located in the middle of the state’s Mount Washington Valley, situated in the scenic White Mountains foothills. The historic downtown area features beautifully restored buildings, bakeries offering made-from-scratch treats, quaint coffee shops, locally owned restaurants, galleries, bookstores, and much more. The Conway area is also popular among outdoor enthusiasts, providing plenty of opportunities for hiking, skiing, scenic drives along the Kancamagus Highway, and other mountain fun. Visitors will also find great shopping opportunities, local breweries, and educational and fun museums.
1. Sherman Farm
The Sherman Farm in Center Conway boasts a mission of producing great tasting, high quality farm food products, as well as being committed and thoughtful stewards of animals and the land. The farm aims to produce their products in the most efficient and progressive way possible, while also maintaining the highest amount of respect for their family, employees, customers, and community. Visitors at the Sherman Farm can browse and shop at the Farm Market, navigate the corn maze in the fall, and delight in one of the eighteen homemade flavors of ice cream at the on-site Ice Cream Shop.
2679 E Conway Rd, Center Conway, NH 03813, Phone: 603-939-2412
2. Kancamagus Highway
The Kancamagus Highway in the Conway area is a section of New Hampshire Route 112, running east to west from the town of Lincoln, New Hampshire to Conway. This 34.5-mile stretch of highway is designated as a National Scenic Byway and provides travelers with natural beauty and a rich history. The Kancamagus Highway is also considered to be one of the best places in the world for viewing fall foliage, as the road winds itself through the heart of the state’s mountainous and scenic White Mountain National Forest. Along the way, there are several scenic vistas offering spectacular views.
3. Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center
The Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center in Conway, New Hampshire is an interactive museum focused on weather science. Visitors can explore the world of climate and weather through a variety of interactive, hands-on, and fun exhibits, such as the wind room, the sailboat pond, and the air cannon. The snowcat theater takes guests on a trip down the Mount Washington Auto Road during the winter as they learn about the geology and alpine ecology of the Rockpile.
2779 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 800-706-0432
4. Diana's Baths
Diana's Baths are one of the highlight attractions in the area of North Conway, for anyone who likes to see “nature at its finest.” Situated in Bartlett, New Hampshire, just outside of the North Conway Village, these “baths” are located along the Lucy Brook, fed from the Big Attitash Mountain. Just a short hike to the base, these baths are a series of waterfalls at the town’s southeastern corner, within the boundaries of the White Mountain National Forest. In summer, Diana’s Baths are a popular place among both adults and children alike thanks to its pools, cascading falls, ledges, and rocks.
3725 West Side Rd, Bartlett, NH 03812, Phone: 603-536-6100
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5. Cranmore Mountain Resort
The Cranmore Mountain Resort, which operates as the Cranmore Mountain Adventure Park during the summer months, is a popular ski area in Conway, New Hampshire. Throughout the winter season, guests can enjoy skiing, snow tubing, and a variety of winter events. Once the summer season comes along, the mountain resort transforms into a fun-filled adventure park, offering opportunities for summer tubing, giant swing rides, mountain coaster rides, zip lining, and hiking. There are also activities for younger children, like the small climbing walls, bouncy houses, and the miniature adventure park. Special events are hosted at the Cranmore Mountain Resort throughout the year.
239 Skimobile Rd, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-5543
6. Settlers Green
Settlers Green in North Conway, New Hampshire is home to more than seventy retail stores, restaurants, and services, making it one of the premier destinations in New Hampshire for tax-free shopping. Shoppers will find many favorite outlet brands at the village’s shopping destination, such as Coach, Nike Factory Store, LOFT Outlet, and the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store. Settlers Green also hosts events throughout the year for the holidays, getaway weekends, and families. In addition to the numerous shops, the outlet also includes more than ten eateries and restaurants, a bakery offering classes, art on display, and a soaking spa.
2 Common Ct, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 888-667-9636
7. Conway Scenic Railroad
The Conway Scenic Railroad in the small town of North Conway, New Hampshire is a history railroad consisting of two different routes. The first route, once a portion of the Boston and Maine Railroad, runs from North Conway to Conway. The second route runs from North Way through Crawford Notch to Fabyan, which in the past was part of the area’s Maine Central Railroad Mountain Division. Today, a variety of excursions are offered along the Conway Scenic Railroad, such as a ride in the open-deck observation car or the “Valley Train,” a 55-minute journey traveling west towards Bartlett or south towards Conway.
38 Norcross Cir, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-5251
8. Tuckerman Brewing Company
The Tuckerman Brewing Company in the town of Conway is a family owned and operated brewery that produces three beers throughout the year: an altbier, a pale ale, and its 688 Stout, which they refer to as a “mountain-brewed beer.” The tap room and brewery are housed inside of a large, rustic space featuring a spacious curved bar, long picnic tables, and industrial chic decor. The tap room is designed to provide a place where people can try new beers, enjoy the occasional live music, and socialize with family and friends. Tours of the Tuckerman Brewery are also offered.
66 Hobbs St, Conway, NH 03818, Phone: 603-447-5400
9. M&D at Eastern Slope Inn Playhouse
The M&D Playhouse of the scenic village of North Conway, New Hampshire can be found at the Eastern Slope Inn Playhouse. Founded by Mark DeLancey and Ken Martin in 2000, the playhouse was started based on an idea that the responsibility of theatre was to educate people, in addition to providing them with entertainment. The M&D at Eastern Slope Inn Playhouse has been the recipient of more than thirty New Hampshire Theatre Awards, as well as the “NETC Award for Excellence” for American Theatre. It continues today to provide the vibrant community with quality live theatrical productions.
2760 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-733-5275
10. Saco River
Winding its way across southwest Maine and northeast New Hampshire, the Saco River supplies 35 towns with drinking water and has historically provided water power and transportation that fostered the development of several cities in the area. Today, the river also offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation, particularly during the summer months along the stretch from Brownfield, Maine to Swan’s Falls. Several sand beaches can be found along the Saco River, along with areas for camping. Canoeing and sport fishing are also popular river activities, with several places to rent canoes located nearby. Walker’s Rip is one area best for experienced canoeists.
11. North Conway Model Railroad Club
The operating layout of the North Conway Model Railroad Club is typically open to the general public from the end of spring through the beginning of fall on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10:00am to 5:00pm. The limited open days of the club is due to it being operated by a staff of all volunteers. Established in 1975 after the Conway Scenic Railroad was created, the North Conway Model Railroad Club promotes model railroading and displays replicas of the train yard and North Conway Station as part of its 500-square-foot HO layout, featuring diesel locomotives and steam locomotives.
Conway Scenic Railroad Norcross Circle, North Conway, NH 03860
12. North Conway League of NH Craftsmen Fine Arts Gallery
The North Conway League of NH Craftsmen Fine Arts Gallery was founded back in 1932 and has since become a landmark for both visitors and locals alike, showcasing the finest furnishings and crafts in the state of New Hampshire. The represented artists have been carefully selected by other craftsmen, which has resulted in an extraordinary collection on display, featuring unique fiber arts, woven baskets, forged iron, blown glass, pottery, furniture, and jewelry among several other crafts. The North Conway League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Fine Arts Gallery also hosts a variety of craft classes for the local Conway community.
2526 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-2441
13. New England Ski Museum Eastern Slope Branch
The Eastern Slope Branch of the New England Ski Museum highlights the importance of the Mountain Washington Valley area in introducing skiing to the United States. The museum displays exhibits about local ski legends, ski pioneers, lost ski areas, classic skis, the Tuckerman Ravine, the 10th Mountain Division, New England Olympians, and more. Along with its permanent exhibits, the New England Ski Museum Eastern Slope Branch also features a unique gift shop and changing exhibits.
2628 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-730-5044
14. Russell-Colbath Homestead
The Russell-Colbath Homestead in Albany, New Hampshire is located along the Kancamagus Highway of the Conway area. This historic house can be found within the boundaries of the White Mountain National Forest and is now operated by the U.S. Forest Service as a museum. Built back around 1831, the Russell-Colbath Homestead is the Swift River Valley’s only remaining early homestead and was added in 1987 to the National Register of Historic Places. The historic homestead site is made up of the Russell-Colbath House, Town of Albany Cemetery, a barn, and the Rail N' River Trail, which is about a half-mile trail.
Kancamagus Hwy, Albany, NH 03818, Phone: 603-447-5448
15. Vito Marcello's Italian Bistro
Vito Marcello's Italian Bistro is located in the heart of New Hampshire’s North Conway Village and aims to provide guests with a true Italian fine dining experience. The family-owned and operated restaurant has gained its success by serving authentic and delicious Italian cuisine, as well as Italian wines, that are derived from traditional family Italian recipes. The Italian restaurant has become a food destination for both visitors and local residents alike. Classic Italian dishes and regional favorites are offered at Vito Marcello's Italian Bistro, in addition to blends of old world and new traditions, including gluten-free and heart-healthy alternatives.
45 Seavey St, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-7000
16. Stonehurst Manor
The Stonehurst Manor is a beautiful hotel in the small town of North Conway, New Hampshire, bringing the famous classic glamour found throughout the nineteenth century to the present day. This five-star hotel was designed to be a retreat for people wanting to indulge in a vacation with excellent amenities and gorgeous landscapes. The on-site Wild Rose Restaurant reflects the hotel’s dedication to offering an indulgent and elegant experience with mountain views and a charming space. The globally influenced menu at the Stonehurst Manor restaurant includes classic grilled plates, seasonal salads, and wood-fired homemade pizza and bread.
3351 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-3113
17. Elvio's Pizzeria & Restaurant
North Conway’s oldest independently owned and operated pizzeria, Elvio's Pizzeria and Restaurant is a place where pizza is made the “way it always meant to be made,” with each and every pizza hand-tossed and made-to-order, baked on stone decks. Open for more than thirty-five years, the ingredients used in the pizzas made here are natural and the highest quality available, such as sun-baked Italian or California tomatoes, mozzarella, whole milk, and high protein flour, and pure olive oil. The pizzeria also uses its own unique blend of spices and herbs and makes all of the pizza dough in house.
2888 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-3307
18. Veno's Specialty Foods & Meats
Veno's Specialty Foods and Meats is a retail market that sells high quality chicken, pork, and beef products, including an extensive selection of steaks, charcuterie, marinated chicken, marinated steak tips, pork chops, stuffed chicken breast, and burgers. The shop also offers desserts, deli items, and side dishes to complement the meat selection, as well as its Gourmet to Go service, providing people with ready-made meals. Fresh, high quality ingredients are used in all of the meals from Veno's Specialty Foods and Meats with ingredients sourced locally whenever possible, including supporting local farmers who grow quality produce and produce quality cheese and meats.
715 White Mountain Hwy, Conway, NH 03818, Phone: 603-662-0615
What is Conway, New Hampshire known for? What are the top attractions to visit in Conway, New Hampshire?
The top attractions to visit in Conway, New Hampshire according to local experts are:
- Sherman Farm
- Kancamagus Highway
- Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center
- Diana's Baths
- Cranmore Mountain Resort
- Settlers Green
- Conway Scenic Railroad
- Tuckerman Brewing Company
- M&D at Eastern Slope Inn Playhouse
- Saco River
- North Conway Model Railroad Club
- North Conway League of NH Craftsmen Fine Arts Gallery
- New England Ski Museum Eastern Slope Branch
- Russell-Colbath Homestead
- Vito Marcello's Italian Bistro
- Stonehurst Manor
- Elvio's Pizzeria & Restaurant
- Veno's Specialty Foods & Meats
Attraction Spotlight: Mount Washington Observatory
Located atop the summit of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, the Mount Washington Observatory is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to meteorological observation, offering public tours and educational programming for student groups. The history of weather observation at New Hampshire’s Mount Washington dates back to 1870, when a group of scientists embarked on a mission to scale the peak for the purposes of winter weather data collection.
History
As a result of the mission’s success, the United States Signal Service, the predecessor organization to the National Weather Bureau, began conducting observations and collecting data at the site from 1870 through 1892. After a hiatus in the early 20th century, the station was reopened under its current organization, governed by the state of New Hampshire, and began collecting data again in 1932.
As the first weather station of its type in modern history, the observatory became a model for similar weather stations throughout the world, utilized by a number of international governments for the purposes of collecting and studying climate data. Several notable weather records have been observed at the station throughout its history, including a 231-mile-per-hour wind gust recorded in 1934 that maintained world speed records until 1996. The observatory is known by its humorous slogan “Home of the World’s Worst Weather,” a claim with origins in a 1940 article written by observatory co-creator Charles Brooks.
Permanent Attractions and Tours
Today, the Mount Washington Observatory is operated as a public nonprofit educational facility, dedicated to collecting data in order to further understanding of the Earth’s climate patterns and trends. Though many unstaffed weather stations around the world have been modernized with advanced technology, the observatory’s temperature and humidity data is still collected using the traditional sling psychrometer technology utilized since its inception, providing one of the most precise unadjusted climate records in the world. As a nonprofit organization, the observatory is operated under the governance of the state of New Hampshire, with additional support from partner corporations such as L.L. Bean, Subaru, Eastern Mountain Sports, and AccuWeather.
Guided public tours of the observatory’s 6,288-foot-elevation weather station, located within the Sherman Adams Visitor Center in Mount Washington State Park, are offered by observatory scientists, educating visitors on the station’s data collection process and allowing observation and interaction with forecasting and collection instruments. An Extreme Mount Washington educational program is also hosted at the Visitor Center, offering information on the area’s noted extreme weather conditions. Tours are offered between May and October, with advance reservations recommended due to limited staff availability. All tour participants must become museum members of the observatory prior to booking tours. The summit observatory is also the home of the Mount Washington Museum, which showcases the area’s natural and social history through a variety of exhibits and interactive multimedia presentations.
For easier accessibility to the station’s resources, the Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center is located in the heart of downtown North Conway, offering an interactive museum for visitors of all ages. Interactive exhibits highlight meteorology and physics principles with activities such as an air cannon, wind room, and flow tank, and opportunities to videoconference with observers working at the summit station are provided through the Live From the Rockpile exhibit. The Gladys Brooks Memorial Library, located on the museum’s lower level, also holds an extensive collection of historical and scientific volumes related to the White Mountains area and the Earth’s coldest climates, including books, photographs, maps, and artifacts. Visitors may use the library’s collections by appointment or may visit during open library times on Thursdays.
Ongoing Programs and Education
As a nonprofit research and educational center, the Mount Washington Observatory offers a wide variety of educational programming for visitors of all ages. Guided group tours of the Weather Discovery Center are available by appointment for small groups and organizations, including customized programming tailored to special group interests and needs. Tours last approximately one hour and are best suited for groups of 20 or less, though larger groups may be accommodated by advance request.
In addition to field trip opportunities through the museum’s tour program, a variety of educational opportunities for elementary and secondary students are offered, including a classroom learning program tailored to New Hampshire curriculum standards, focusing on a variety of topics related to climate science and natural history. A distance learning program allows students to experience the extreme conditions on the summit observatory and learn about the work performed by observatory scientists using videoconferencing technology directly in the classroom. Camp-in programs hosted at the Weather Discovery Center offer overnight learning opportunities, and a Science in the Mountains lecture series provides continuing learning opportunities for adult visitors. A variety of Summit Adventures day trips and overnight camping opportunities are also offered to allow visitors to experience the conditions of summit observatory workers and participate directly in daily data collection activities.
2779 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-2137
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