Offering year-round outdoor recreational facilities at the Gunstock Mountain Resort, Gilford is a popular vacation destination for outdoor enthusiasts. In summer you can enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, biking and more while winter offers the full gamut of exciting snow sports. Ellacoya State Park also offers a range of outdoor recreational facilities including boating, canoeing and kayaking. In addition, Gilford regularly attracts Big-Name performers to the brilliant Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, one of the best big concert venues in the U.S. When you are not out exploring Gunstock Mountain you can take a tour of the Pepi Herrmann Crystal Gallery and Museum. After a busy day on the slopes or the trails you can stop by Patrick’s Pub and Eatery for some genuine Irish hospitality.
1. Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, Gilford, NH
Formerly known as Meadowbrook, the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion is a stunning indoor/outdoor amphitheatre, scenically located right on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. The pavilion started off as a much smaller summer music venue with a temporary stage and seating for around 3,000 visitors. Today the pavilion can seat 9,000 avid concert-goers and is the prime concert venue in New England, as well as being named as one of the best concert venues in the U.S. If you happen to live close by you can buy season tickets to all the shows and there is an on-site campground available for every show.
Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, NH 03249, Phone: 603-293-4700
2. Gunstock Mountain Resort, Gilford, New Hampshire
Located on Gunstock Mountain, the Gunstock Mountain Resort was built by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. It originally opened to the public in 1937 and was the first U.S. ski resort to own a chairlift. Today visitors flock to the resort to enjoy a wide range of activities in summer and winter. Primarily a ski resort, Gunstock Mountain boasts an excellent selection of exciting snow sports including tubing, a thrilling Mountain Coaster, Cross Country, ski lessons and three terrain parks. In summer you can visit to enjoy great hiking trails, camping, biking, fishing and scenic lift rides.
Gunstock Mountain Resort, 719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford, NH 03249, Phone: 603-293-4341
3. Pepi Herrmann Crystal Gallery and Museum, Gilford, NH
Having learnt the craft of crystal cutting in his native Austria, Pepi Herrmann came to American determined to revive this art form in the U.S. Since 1974 this master craftsman has been producing superb examples of carved crystal from his workshop and gallery located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. The range of beautiful cut crystal objects‘d art in his gallery and museum include jewelry, Christmas ornaments, barware, home décor pieces, ornaments and stemware. In addition to many smaller and less expensive pieces which would be perfect for gifts, the collection also contains several once-off limited edition works of art.
Pepi Herrmann Crystal Gallery and Museum, 3 Waterford Place, Gilford, NH 03249, Phone: 603-528-1020
4. Things to Do in Gilford, NH: Patrick’s Pub and Eatery
Since 1987 Patrick’s Pub and Eatery has been a popular meeting place for Gilford locals and their visitors. The pub is named for the original owner’s Irish father who hailed from County Cork in Ireland. Today the pub/restaurant is owned and operated by the Beetle family who have made a few changes but still maintain the original ethos of the pub, namely Irish Roots – American Spirit. The menu features a good selection of predominantly American dishes, with a few Irish classic like Guinness Braised Short Rib, Shepherd’s Pie and fried Fish and Chips. The pub is open daily and hosts regular live entertainment.
Patrick’s Pub and Eatery, 18 Weirs Rd, Gilford, NH 03249, Phone: 603-293-0841
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5. Things to Do in Gilford, New Hampshire: Ellacoya Bar and Grill
Located in a historic old barn which dates back to 1843, the Ellacoya Bar and Grill extends a warm welcome to guests. The barn provides the ideal rustic yet welcoming ambiance and the food is an electric mix of fresh and delicious flavors and textures. The extensive menu features a good selection of appetizers followed by soups and salads. The entrée list is also extensive, featuring steaks, lamb shanks, ribs, chicken dishes and several seafood options like Panko Crusted Haddock, Seared Ahi Tuna, Grilled Salmon and Seafood Saffron, a selection of fresh seafood tossed in a saffron cream sauce. A lighter lunch menu features sandwiches, burgers, pizza and wraps.
Ellacoya Bar and Grill, 2667 Lakeshore Rd, Gilford, NH 03219, Phone: 603-293-8700
6. Beans and Greens Farm
Founded 30 years ago by local dairy farmers Andy and Martina Howe, Beans and Greens Farm has been supplying the Gilford community with premium quality, freshly harvested produce. The farm was bought by Lindy and Chris in April 2021 and they strive to continue the old traditions and add some new and exciting enhancements to the farm. These have included the Flying Bean kid’s adventure park and a weekend Beer Garden. Their farm stall is packed with nutritious, sustainably farmed veggies all year round as well as farm-raised, hormone-free meats, free-range eggs, and home-made bakery goods. In fall you can visit the pumpkin patch and bring the kids to enjoy the corn maze.
Beans and Greens Farm, 245 Intervale Rd, Gilford, NH 03249, 603 293 2853
7. Hour House Escape Room
Hour House Escape Room in Gilford is designed to offer an hour of challenging entertainment for everyone over the age of 15 (or over 5 accompanied by an adult). There are 3 escape rooms to choose from including The Russian Connection, which is ideal for 4-8 players and is rated as difficult. The Swan Song room revolves around a band which seems to be missing their lead singer – you will need to find him before the curtain rises – perfect for 4-8 players and also rated 8 out of 10 for difficulty. Lastly there is the Mission Impossible room, where players are tasked with finding a hidden formula which can save the world. If you think you have what it takes you can book online.
Hour House Escape Room, 401 Gilford Ave, Suite 103, Gilford, NH 03249, 603 707 1254
The 7 Best Things to Do in Gilford, New Hampshire near me today according to local experts:
- 1. Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, Gilford, NH
- 2. Gunstock Mountain Resort, Gilford, New Hampshire
- 3. Pepi Herrmann Crystal Gallery and Museum, Gilford, NH
- 4. Things to Do in Gilford, NH: Patrick’s Pub and Eatery
- 5. Things to Do in Gilford, New Hampshire: Ellacoya Bar and Grill
- 6. Beans and Greens Farm
- 7. Hour House Escape Room
Gunstock Mountain Resort
Gunstock Mountain Resort in NH, which was originally known as the Belknap Mountain Recreation Area, was a creation of the Great Depression. Belknap County received support from the Works Progress Administration during the 1930's for an ambitious recreation area. This project initially would include a main lodge, many smaller buildings, hiking trails, camping facilities, cross country trails, four rope tows, and a chairlift.
Snow tubing as all the thrills of sledding, but without the walk up a hill. The Thrill Hill Tubing Park at Gunstock Mountain Resort features the state's longest tubing runs, measuring 1,068 feet in length. The park is serviced by a handle-tow lift, which allows visitors to sit and relax in the tube as the they're pulled to the top of the hill. Snow tubers can select one of six different chutes to soar down the hill. The season for snow tubing usually runs from after Christmas to the middle of March. Snow tubing session lasts two hours, and also now include unlimited rides on Gunstock's Mountain Coaster.
Gunstock Mountain Resort's Mountain Coaster is basically a roller coaster set into the mountainside. The coaster features stainless steel, twin rails and two-person carts. Mountain Coaster transports riders uphill through a forest. Once at the top, gravity takes over as the car heads downhill over 360-degree turns, banked corners, swooping turns, and rolling drops. Each cart possesses its own braking system, allowing riders to choose their own pace, whether it's slowing to a comfortable speed or accelerating to G-Force inducing levels.
The Gunstock Learning Center is focused on inspiring a lifelong enjoyment of winter sports within visitors. Instructors at the center us innovative techniques and Terrain Based Learning to get visitors to quickly enjoy riding or skiing. The center offers a Beginner Package for first-time snowboards or skiers aged six and above.
Gunstock Mountain Resorts also offers an array of opportunities for children, students, and adults to learn and compete in Alpine Racing. The resort provides competitive racing for both individuals and teams, and trains and hosts races for several schools in the area. Adult Race Training gives participants a chance to receive lessons and tips from the professionals, as well as each other. Family Fun Racing offers an opportunity for guests to see if they like racing.
There are also several fun-filled activities available to during the summer at Gunstock. Discover Adventure at the Gunstock Adventure Park includes unlimited access to many attractions, such as the Mountain Coaster, Summer Tubing, Water Wars, and the Bungee Jumper. The Discover Adventure also features the Spider Climber, paddle boats, Stunt Jump, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, and a climbing wall.
Another feature of the adventure park is the Aerial Treetop Adventure, the largest aerial obstacle course in New England. The course features ninety-one different challenges throughout eight courses, including bridges, zip lines, swings, and log ladders. The Adult Adventure course starts at about ten to fifteen off the ground on the Green course. With each course, the obstacles become more challenging, and the elevation rises. The final course, the Black course, is over one hundred feet off the ground. There is also the Explorer course just for children that include fifteen challenges, including a zip line.
719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford, New Hampshire, Phone: 603-293-4341
