Things to do in North Conway NH and the Mt Washington Valley area
I may not be a North Conway, NH native, but I’ve lived here long enough to know many of the best things to do in North Conway and the surrounding area. This area has so much to offer and really, unless you’ve lived or visited here for an extended period of time, you may not find all of it. Even though it’s right there in front of you.
Sure there are lots of little secret places to sit and watch the sunrise, but I won’t get into that here. This post is purely about the things that you could drive right by and almost not know they are there. I’ll provide a link to each of their websites as well so that you can check each one out individually.
Whether you are here for a weekend or a week, there is so much to do that you literally couldn’t fit all this in. So keep that in mind as you go through the list and choose what is best for you and your family to spend your time on.
1. Diana’s Baths
Diana’s Baths isn’t something I really even knew about when we first moved here. But I must say when planning your next visit to North Conway you’ll want to make sure you take the small hike up to Diana’s Baths. This series of small waterfalls is located in one of the most beautiful and secluded spots of the White Mountains.
They really are a breathtaking and very natural site inside the White Mountain National Forest. We’ve even hiked up there in the winter (the hike really isn’t that bad if you throw some snowshoes on).
But where it’s real glory resides is during the summertime. You can take the kids up here for a quick cool dip in the natural spring-like waters. I will say that it has gotten to be a more popular spot over the last few years and parking can get a little tight sometimes on the weekends. But it is absolutely worth the trip at least once. For more information on Diana’s Baths go to http://www.newenglandwaterfalls.com/nh-dianasbaths.html
2. Cathedral Ledge
Cathedral Ledge can be accessed off West Side Rd. When visiting North Conway in the spring, summer, or fall there is a road that allows you to drive to the top of Cathedral Ledge. The road going up there is closed off in the winter. So if you plan on going up there through the snowy season you’ll have to hike it and that’s a little over 1.5 miles.
However, once you get to the top they have a fenced in lookout area where you can view a solid 180 degrees of the North Conway area including some of the most beautiful mountains you will find including a wonderful view of Echo Lake below.
Cathedral Ledge is also widely known for its rock climbing trails. People use these all throughout the year as well. If you are in North Conway and you’re looking for a view of the area that can’t be beaten. I would highly suggest you check it out! For more information go to https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/cathedral-ledge-state-park
3. Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center
If you find yourself short on time and need something to do, then you may want to check out the Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center. No, it’s not on top of Mount Washington! It’s right in the heart of North Conway. You can easily take an hour and explore this small but fascinating weather museum.
The kids can shoot off some air cannons, put your hand into a mini tornado and learn all about the weather on top of Mount Washington. They have a mock observatory shack that emulates what the winds can be like up on top of the mountain. Check out their website and video below to learn more.
4. Echo Lake State Park
Located just a few miles from all the great tax-free shopping in North Conway you’ll find Echo Lake State Park. It’s a great place to take the kids for a swim or a picnic. There is a beautiful trail around the lake there that provides a great place for mountain biking, running or just a scenic stroll. You can easily see Cathedral Ledge which towers over the lake (kinda hard to miss). If you’d like more information, you can check out the New Hampshire State Parks Website.
5. Conway Scenic Railroad
For quite a few years we had not only one, but two family members who worked at the Conway Scenic Railroad. It’s been a staple here in the Mount Washington Valley since 1874 and is primarily the reason that North Conway became the tourist destination that it is in the first place.
They offer several scenic train rides per day and allows you to go deeper into the heart of the White Mountains to really explore areas that you wouldn’t otherwise see. They do offer several shorter train rides per day as well for people with little kids who would like to have the experience of being on a steam locomotive. They even offer a train with a dining reservation if you’d like to take a nice fall trip through the leaves while you are enjoying your dinner.
I can’t recommend this enough to anyone who has never been here before and if you are looking for something unique this might just be your cup of tea. You can check out their website for pricing and times that they are opened and closed to the public as well.
6. Cranmore Mountain Resort
If you don’t know anything about Cranmore Mountain Resort then you might have been living under a rock…..well, either that or you’ve never been to North Conway before. This year-round Mountain Adventure Park offers all kinds of fun for the whole family. Whether you are a skier or not.
While they do offer over 170 acres of skiing, tubing, and riding, not all of that is in the winter time. During the summer months, you can zoom down the Mountain Coaster or zip on the Soaring Eagle Zip Line. They even have a Giant Swing! I can’t recommend that you check this place out enough and if you’d like to see more about all they have to offer you can check out their website here.
7. Story Land
The closest thing to Disneyland in New England. Here again Story Land is another staple to the Mount Washington Valley area. While it’s not directly in North Conway and is only a few miles up the road in Glen, NH, it is a must to visit here if you have smaller children. They are closed in the winter, but if you are coming here to visit in the summertime it is definitely worth a visit. I know several people who worked there when they were in high school during the summer as it is a very busy tourist attraction.
Take the kids to meet Cinderella or ride the Roarasorus rollercoaster, no matter what you do it makes for a fun day. Storyland offers both rides and entertainment for kids and adults and has been for over 65 years. So make sure you check out the place “where fantasy lives” when you are here in the North Conway area.
8. MWV Children’s Museum
So our son is a little bit older now. But when he was much smaller we would take him for visits to the MWV Children’s Museum and it was always fun. They have so much interaction for the children and books to read. It’s just a nice way to get out of the Sun or keep the kids busy during the winter.
Whether you live here in the Mount Washington Valley local or are just in town visiting, the MWV Children’s Museum is a great place for the little ones to go explore.
9. Kahuna Laguna
Yes, we have an indoor water park! If you didn’t know to look for it, you almost wouldn’t know it was there. Kahuna Laguna is hosted at the Red Jacket Resort in North Conway. They have both indoor water slides and a wave pool. You’ll also have to find time to play at their Kahuna Basketball Court or at the Bamboo Bay adventure tower.
There’s enough just in this area to keep your kids busy with their water cannons, slides, a rope bridge. Just watch out for the 175-gallon tipping bucket that will soak you thoroughly if you aren’t watching for it! To find out more about Kahuna Laguna you can check out their website.
10. Schouler Park
Nestled in the heart of North Conway Village right in front of the train station is Schouler Park. This is a popular dog walking area and is widely known for its 4th of July Celebration along with various special events throughout the year.
In addition to special events, Schouler Park is busy with many seasonal sports throughout the year including the Mudbowl. You can find out more through the Conway Rec Department’s website found here.
11. Settlers Green
These five words make every shopping nut go crazy with delight… Tax. Free. Shopping. Outlets.
Do I have your attention? Good. Because if you don’t know about Settlers Green for shopping then you don’t know New Hampshire. People flock here from all over the world to take part in some of the most affordable prices for brand names that you really won’t find anywhere else.
Settlers green is home to the Nike Store, Addidas, Banana Republic, Justice, Old Navy and way too many others for me to get into here. Settlers Green is also known for its special events like their sidewalk sales and bring a friend weekend which is a very busy weekend in the valley. If you’d like to find out more you can check out their website here or watch the video below.
12.MWV Moose Bus Tours
Never seen a Moose before? Then this is a must do for you. I’m used to seeing them all the time now that I’ve been living in the area for so long. But these guys are the experts at actually going out and finding them. They’ll take you on a 3 and a half hour tour of the best places in the area to see a Moose.
They’ve had over 3,000 hours of drive time looking for Moose in the area and they have a pretty good success rate with over 94% of their trips seeing at least one Moose. If you’d like to find out more about MWV Moose Bus Tours, you can check out their website here.
13. Tuckerman Brewing Company
Now I don’t know about you, but I like to have a good time and if I can throw great New England craft beers and live entertainment into that mix I’m all for it. Tuckerman Brewing company isn’t just another alehouse. They have become a location that is visited regularly for their live concerts. Hosting such homegrown greats like Rustic Overtones, this place is well worth checking out. Don’t forget to play a game of cornhole while you’re there! They also have an awesome website that’s worth taking a gander at as well.
14. Uberblast
If you have kids or if you are a big kid yourself you need to make sure and stop here for a little fun. Uberblast is right on the main strip as you are driving through North Conway and are easily missed if you aren’t looking. They offer both laser tag and mini golf as well as arcade games and ski ball too! You can check our Uberblast on their website if you’d like to see a little more.
15. Black Cap Hiking Trail
Just off Hurricane Mountain Road, you will find the black cap hiking trail. Black Cap is one of the most popular hikes through the White Mountains and is just a short 2.4-mile path. It’s a fairly easy trail that takes you through the Green Hills Preserve. The views from the summit of the Mount Washington Valley are unmatched in North Conway. You can find out more over at Alltrails website.
16. Zebs
Before I wrap up the Things to do in North Conway list, there’s always one last stop and that is Zeb’s Country Store. Zeb’s has been around since 1991 and is becoming a staple for North Conway visitors. Most people refuse to leave town until they’ve visited the candy shop at Zeb’s or bought that one last souvenir. Which they have plenty of those packed into this 200 sq. foot old fashioned store. Check out their website, they have plenty to look at.
Conclusion
Obviously, there are a lot of great things to do in North Conway and these are just the top 16 that I came up with today while writing this. If by chance, your trip to North Conway gets the bug in your ear to purchase a second home in the area. Or if you’d just like to know more about real estate in North Conway NH in general, message me directly and I’d be happy to answer all of your questions.