25 Best Things to Do in North Conway, New Hampshire

By VacationIdea Staff on January 2, 2023 - Updated

Courtesy of rickmandia - Fotolia.com

North Conway is a charming New Hampshire village in the heart of the Mount Washington Valley, at the foothills of the White Mountains. Its historic downtown is full of beautifully restored old buildings, such as the one that houses North Conway 5 and 10, charming coffee shops like Frontside Grind, wonderful from-scratch bakeries like Old Village Bakery, antique stores, bookstores, galleries, and outlets. Very popular with tourists, North Conway is a great starting point for skiing, hiking, taking a tour of the magnificent White Mountains and, if you so desire, looking for moose.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Black Cap Hiking Trail

Black Cap is one of the most popular hikes through the White Mountains. This short 2.4-mile path is fairly easy and starts at the dirt parking lot at the end of Hurricane Mountain Road and will take you through the Green Hills Preserve, managed by the Nature Conservancy. Most of the way you will be hiking through lush, dense beech and spruce forest, until you arrive above the tree line and encounter bare rock. No camping or fires are allowed. Once you get to the summit, the views of the White Mountains, North Conway, and the Mount Washington Valley are breathtaking. The trail goes straight to the Black Cap Mountain summit, but along the way you can join other trails such as the Cranmore Mountain Connection, Middle Mountain Trail, Peaked Mountain Trail, and a few others. By taking any of them you can extend your hike to about 10 miles.

Hurricane Mountain Road, North Conway, Conway, NH 03860

2.Conway Scenic Railroad

The Conway Scenic Railroad is a historic railway in North Conway with two routes, the first from North Conway to Conway, which was once part of the Boston and Maine Railroad, Conway Branch. The second line goes from North Conway to Fabyan through Crawford Notch. It was once part of the Maine Central Railroad Mountain Division. The main terminal of the railroad is located in downtown North Conway and the whole station is now registered on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the railroad runs a range of excursions such as the 55-minute "Valley Train," which runs south to Conway or west to Bartlett. The train includes an 1898 Pullman open-deck observation car named Gertrude Emma, a dining car named Chocorua, and several 1920s heavyweight fully restored coaches. The "Notch Train" runs through Crawford Notch.

38 Norcross Cir, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-5251

3.Things to Do in North Conway, New Hampshire: Cranmore Mountain Resort

Cranmore Mountain is a popular year-round resort in North Conway Village in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. It has been a family destination for the last 77 years. In the winter, it has 57 trails and glades for skiing, ten lanes of tubing, the Giant Swing, a mountain coaster, and the Soaring Eagle zipline. In the fall, there is the Ghoullog, Cranmore's haunted house, and the night rides at the Haunted Playground. Summertime is full of action with rides in the Mountain Adventure Park and a treetop aerial adventure park. The resort is the location of the first ski school in the area, opened by the celebrated ski master Hannes Schneider. His original skimobile is today a museum piece.

1 Skimobile Rd, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-5543

4.Diana's Baths, North Conway, New Hampshire

Located in the heart of the White Mountains, in the small town of Bartlett near the village of North Conway, Diana’s Bath is a chain of small and pretty waterfalls. In the 1800s they were the location of a sawmill owned by the Lucy family. They abandoned it in the 1940s, and since then it has become a historic site protected by the Forest Service. The waterfalls’ accumulated drop is 75 feet. There is a 0.6-mile trail that leads to the base of the waterfall. The stream flow is naturally most powerful in the spring, when the snowmelt brings a torrent of water, creating quite a spectacle. This lovely spot is a popular family destination, but bug spray is a must.

3725 West Side Rd, Bartlett, NH 03812, Phone: 603-447-5448

5.Things to Do in North Conway, New Hampshire: Frontside Grind

Frontside Grind opened their doors in downtown North Conway in 1998 and quickly became a spot where local coffee connoisseurs as well as all others in need of a good cup of java come to indulge in freshly roasted, fragrant coffee. Full control of the quality throughout the roasting process allows the shop to produce some unique flavors and blends. Their downtown shop is cozy, bright, and pleasant, and their outdoor patio is a popular spot to sit, relax, enjoy a cup of coffee, and watch the snowy peaks of the Moat Mountains. Frontside is also well known for their delicious bagel sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, and daily fresh hot soup.

2697 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-3603

6.Things to Do in North Conway, New Hampshire: New England Ski Museum

The New England Ski Museum’s Eastern Slope branch can be found in a building that formerly housed the North Conway Community Center and was founded by Harvey Dow Gibson, a well known person in skiing history. Typically open on a daily basis, the museum features 4,400 square feet consisting of the Wilkinson-Greenberg Library, a store, archives and equipment storage, and the Robert J.A. Irwin Exhibit Hall. The New England Ski Museum aims to transport guests to a time when the rugged and steep peaks of the White Mountains attracted innovators, investors, and enthusiasts from all over the world.

2628 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, 603-730-5044

7.Kancamagus Highway, North Conway, New Hampshire

Highway 112, also called Kancamagus or just the Kanc, is a 32-mile-long road that runs between Center Conway and North Woodstock, just a bit south of Franconia Notch. It passes through the magnificent White Mountain National Forest and is considered to be one of the most scenic American highways. The highway is particularly popular in the fall because of the spectacular autumn foliage, but it stays open throughout the winter. Only Bear Notch Road, which links the highway to the town of Bartlett, is closed for the winter. The highway passes through two very popular tourist destinations – Kinsman Notch and Lost River.

Route 112, North Conway, Conway, NH 03251

8.Madison Boulder, North Conway, NH

Located near the town of Madison in New Hampshire, Madison Boulder is a massive 83-foot-long and 23-foot high granite rock that weighs more than 5,000 tons. The entire 17-acre area around it is developed to protect this National Natural Landmark, which "is an outstanding illustration of the power of an ice sheet to pluck out very large blocks of fractured bedrock and move them substantial distances," according to the US Department of the Interior. Madison Boulder is believed to be North America’s largest glacial erratic, a rock that was moved by glacier and deposited on an area of completely different type of rock. It was once a piece of a ledge of Conway Granite and was moved about 2 miles to its current location, where it now sits on a field of Concord Granite.

473 Boulder Rd, Madison, NH 03849, Phone: 603-227-8745

9.Things to Do Near Me: Dahl Wildlife Sanctuary

Spanning across approximately sixty acres, the Dahl Wildlife Sanctuary is located near where NH-302 and NH-16 meet along the Saco River. Owned and operated by the New Hampshire Audubon as a wildlife sanctuary, this conservation area features a private campground and a trail system providing access to various habitats, such as a cobble barren plant community, riverine, wetlands, floodplain forest, fields, early successional forest, and upland pine forest. The land was formerly farmland from the 1800’s through the early 1900’s, but was donated in 1988 by Ruth and Helen Dahl to be used for wildlife habitat and open space.

1390 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860

10.MWV Moose Bus Tours, North Conway, New Hampshire

If spotting a moose is something you always wanted, you can do it in total comfort on board an MWV 22-passenger bus that takes moose fans on a safari every evening around 8 pm between May and October. After leaving the North Conway train station, the bus travels through the scenic roads of the White Mountain National Forest, while the passengers get into the mood by watching a fun and entertaining moose movie and learning all they ever wanted to know about this fascinating animal. The tour organizers promise a 98% chance of actually spotting a moose while driving through the forest, and most passengers claim to have seen more than one. Everyone admits to having great time while waiting for one to appear.

North Conway, Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-662-3159

11.North Conway 5 and 10 Cent Store, North Conway, NH

Almost 80 years old, North Conway 5 and 10 Cent Store has been a village landmark since 1939, when Sidney Sweeney and his wife Lillian opened for business. The still operating general store is the oldest store in North Conway and is located in an 1840 building on the National Register of Historic Places. The house is an architectural rarity for North Conway of its time, a two and half story wood frame structure with a gabled roof obscured by the typical western-type false front a full three stories high. The ground floor has one storefront with glass windows on both sides of a recessed entrance. The look of the interior dates to the beginning of the 20th century and has a tin ceiling, plaster walls, vertical board wainscoting, glass and wood counter displays, and maple floors. Things to Do in New Hampshire

2683 S Main St, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-3953

12.North Conway Farmers' Market, North Conway, NH

Recently relocated to the parking lot at Twombly's Market at 649 East Conway Road, the North Conway Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from May to October from 9 am to 2 pm. This popular market sells only locally produced food items, organic produce, baked goods, free-range eggs and meats, prepared foods, and items created by local artisans. There are also seedlings, hand-spun yarn, maple syrup, goat cheese, hand-made soaps and cosmetics, and many other local products. There is often music, and the smells of freshly cooked foods attract locals who come to stock up on fresh supplies, hang out, and get to know their neighborhood farmers.

North Conway, Phone: 603-662-0943

13.Old Village Bakery, North Conway, New Hampshire

If you are a North Conway local, you will know that the Old Village Bakery is the place to go for freshly baked bread, pastries, and pies. If you are a visitor, the smell of fresh bread will guide you from the train station across the street to a 15-year-old bakery run by former meteorologist Mark Ross-Parent, who gave up his job in Antarctica and on top of Mount Washington to devote his time to his life-long passion for baking. Beside delicious crunchy bread made from scratch in the back of the store, you can also get the best croissants outside of France, focaccias, spanakopita, lunch sandwiches, pastries, old-fashioned pies, and cakes. They also sell excellent coffee.

50 Seavey St, North Conway, NH 03860, Phone: 603-356-8989

14.Things to Do Near Me: Tuckerman Brewing Co, North Conway, New Hampshire

Tuckerman Brewing Company is a family-owned and run brewery in Conway, New Hampshire, which currently makes three year-round beers, a pale ale, an altbier, and the 6288 Stout, or what they call “mountain-brewed beer.” Their brewery and tap room are located in a rustic, large space with industrial chic décor, long picnic tables, and a large curved bar, where patrons love to hang out, try their beer, socialize, and occasionally enjoy live music. New visitors can also take a tour of the brewery and learn about the process and the ingredients used – just pure water, malt, hops, and yeast. Tuckerman currently produces almost 8,000 barrels a year – about 70,000 cases. Part of the proceeds from the sale goes to support the Mount Washington Observatory, a non-profit weather station located at 6,288 feet on Mount Washington.

66 Hobbs St, Conway, NH 03818, Phone: 603-447-5400

15.Things to Do in North Conway, NH: Kahuna Laguna Indoor Water Park

Kahuna Laguna Indoor Water Park can be found at North Conway’s Red Jacket Mountain View Resort and is the first indoor water park in northern New England. Offering fun for the whole family, this 40,000-square-foot water park has been voted by USA Today's Reader's Choice as one of the country’s “10 Best Indoor Water Parks.” Kahuna Laguna Indoor Water Park features a variety of activities for all ages, such as the interactive water play area with a 70-gallon water bucket, a play area for kids, a water activity pool with volleyball and basketball, a wave pool, and four tube slides.

2251 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, 603-356-5411

16.Things to Do Near Me: Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf

Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf aims to offer a “world-class adventure golf” experience in North Conway, New Hampshire. Guests enter a world of eighteenth-century swashbuckling pirates as they “putt” their way under cascading waterfalls, over footbridges, and through mountain caves across two courses. Located on the site of Comfort Inn & Suites, Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf is the town’s “Original Adventure Golf” that invites family and friends to challenge each other to a round of “adventurous” miniature golf. Players will learn of exploits and adventure of rough and rowdy pirates in a setting of meticulously clean grounds, meandering streams and manicured landscaping.

2001 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, 603-356-8807

17.Things to Do Near Me: Green Hills Preserve-Pudding Pond

The Green Hills Preserve in North Conway is part of a more extensive mix of contiguous conservation lands that includes the White Mountain National Forest, Conway State Forest, and town land. Over fifty miles of trails offer hiking opportunities ranging from moderate to strenuous to the tops of Black Cap, Peaked Mountain, and Middle Mountain. Trails also lead to the Pudding Pond conservation area in town, with the Pudding Pond Trail traversing through hemlock and spruce-fir wood following a brook to Pudding Pond itself. Mountain biking is permitted in the preserve on trails not designated as “foot travel only.”

252 Thompson Rd, North Conway, NH 03860, 703-841-5300

18.Things to Do in North Conway, New Hampshire: Eastern Slope Inn Resort

Eastern Slope Inn Resort provides a wide variety of amenities for guests of all ages. The Sports Lawn offers opportunities for horseshoes, pickleball, tennis, and more, as well as just relaxing by the fire in the evening. The Nature Trail at Eastern Slope Inn transports guests down a two-mile, woodsy and wide pathway down to the Saco River and features a riverfront area for fly fishing and swimming, areas for viewing wildlife, and ten fitness stations. The resort also features several other amenities like the Game Room, a playground, a stocked fishing pond, tennis courts, outdoor hot tubs, and indoor pools.

2760 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH 03860, 603-356-6321

19.Things to Do Near Me: 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 become a landmark in the area for both tourists and local residents alike. The gallery exhibits some of the finest furnishings and crafts made in the state of New Hampshire. Among the items on display at the North Conway League of NH Craftsmen Fine Arts Gallery are unique fiber arts, woven baskets, forged iron, blown glass, pottery, furniture, jewelry, and more. Regular classes focused on different crafts are also offered at the gallery, and there is an on-site full pottery studio as well.

2526 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, 603-356-2441

20.Things to Do in North Conway, New Hampshire: M&D at Eastern Slope Inn Playhouse

M&D at Eastern Slope Inn Playhouse is a place where visitors and locals alike in North Conway, New Hampshire can experience a wide range of performances, from comedies to musicals to dramas. The Playhouse at the Eastern Slope Inn boasts an extensive history of providing a venue for people of any age to experience the arts and theater. This year-round, award-winning theater has celebrated more than twenty years of live, high quality comedy, drama, and musical performances in the heart of the North Conway Village. Guests can get a cocktail from the full-service bar or a snack before the show.

2760 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, 603-733-5275

21.Things to Do in North Conway, New Hampshire: Bavarian Chocolate Haus

The Bavarian Chocolate Haus is an “old-fashioned” chocolate shop in North Conway, New Hampshire that makes nearly all of the chocolate confections it offers by hand in their own kitchens. There are two inspirations behind the name of this local chocolate shop. The first being that the shop’s building resembles what many would imagine a cottage in Bavaria, Germany may look like. The second is the fact that the formula for the chocolate made by the Bavarian Chocolate Haus was originally a recipe for German Chocolate. Chocolate selections in the shop include homemade fudge, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, truffles, and more.

2483 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, 603-356-2663

22.Things to Do in North Conway, New Hampshire: North Conway Country Club

North Conway Country Club offers a challenging and scenic golf course, yet still remains “golfer friendly,” for the North Conway community. Situated in the heart of the North Conway Village, the country club’s course is considered to be one of the state’s top ten golf courses. The par 71 championship golf course excels as a test of golfing ability and is one of New Hampshire’s best conditioned courses. North Conway Country Club also offers golf instruction, a practice facility, a golf shop, and a restaurant. The Ledgeview Grille is typically open Tuesday through Sunday for both non-golfers and golfers alike.

76 Norcross Cir, North Conway, NH 03860, 603-356-9391

23.Things to Do in North Conway, New Hampshire: Mystery NH

Mystery NH in North Conway, New Hampshire is an exciting and fun experience for team building, anniversaries, birthdays, co-worker get togethers, friends, and families. The immersive escape room experiences provided by Mystery NH in the middle of the scenic Mount Washington Valley are a challenging and interesting thing to do for both locals and tourists alike. Participants must use their brains to solve puzzles, find clues, and open locks while the clock runs in order to find a way to escape. While the escape rooms at Mystery NH are family friendly, they are designed more for people aged eight and older.

32 Mountain Valley Blvd, North Conway, NH 03860, 603-730-5009

24.Things to Do in North Conway, New Hampshire: May Kelly's Cottage Restaurant and Pub

May Kelly's Cottage Restaurant and Pub is a family-friendly, traditional Irish pub in North Conway that serves authentic Irish country fare combined with an old-world atmosphere and “Irish country charm.” The menu at May Kelly's Cottage features a mix of age-old recipes with the restaurant’s one twist and traditional Irish cuisine, such as fish and chips, beef stew shepherd's pie, the famous meatloaf, and more. The full bar offers more than 100 Scotch and Irish whiskeys, bottled and draft beer, and specialty cocktails. Seating options include the patio, Lady’s Treehouse, the dining room, and the bar area.

3002 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, 603-356-7005