New Hampshire

Carmen Willings
​itinerantjoy.com
​April 25, 2025
​New Hampshire is known for its stunning natural beauty, with rugged mountains, scenic lakes, and colorful fall foliage. It’s famous for the White Mountains, outdoor adventures like hiking and skiing, and historic sites tied to early American independence. With no state income or sales tax, it also has a spirit of independence and self-reliance. Quaint towns, covered bridges, and coastal charm add to New Hampshire’s appeal.

​National Scenic Trails & Historic Parks

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Website: Appalachian National Scenic Trail ​
The New Hampshire stretch of the Appalachian Trail winds through the rugged White Mountains, offering some of the most challenging and scenic terrain along the 2,190-mile route. Hikers encounter steep climbs, alpine ridgelines, and sweeping views from iconic spots like Mount Washington and Franconia Ridge. This area is a favorite for nature lovers and photographers thanks to its dramatic landscapes and rewarding vistas.
A panoramic view from the summit of Mount Washington. The rugged terrain features exposed granite boulders against a stormy sky, obscuring the view of the surrounding mountains.
Mt Washington summit Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Saint-Gaudens NHP

139 St Gaudens Rd, Cornish, NH 03745
Website: Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park ​
This park preserves the home, studios, and gardens of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, one of America’s greatest sculptors. Visitors can explore the artist’s beautifully landscaped grounds, view his works, and enjoy seasonal concerts and sculpture walks.​

​Historic & Cultural Landmarks

Canterbury Shaker Village

288 Shaker Rd, Canterbury, NH 03224
Website: Canterbury Shaker Village 
This preserved 19th-century Shaker community features more than 25 original buildings, interactive exhibits, and tranquil walking trails. Learn about Shaker beliefs, craftsmanship, and innovative design in a peaceful rural setting.
An aerial view of Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury, New Hampshire, showcasing a cluster of historic white buildings with red roofs, including the prominent Dwelling House with its distinctive cupola. The village is nestled within a lush, green landscape of fields, forests, and nature trails, reflecting the Shakers' commitment to simplicity and harmony with nature.
Canterbury Shaker Village

Castle in the Clouds

455 Old Mountain Rd, Moultonborough, NH 03254
Website: Castle in the Clouds ​
Perched above Lake Winnipesaukee in Moultonborough, this 1914 mansion offers tours of its Arts and Crafts-style interior, beautiful gardens, and scenic hiking trails. The panoramic views from the estate are a highlight of any visit.
Castle in the Clouds features Arts and Crafts-style architecture with stone and wood detailing perched atop a mountain surrounded by manicured lawns.
Castle in the Clouds

The Mount Washington Cog Railway

3168 Base Station Rd, Mount Washington, NH 03589
Website: ​​​Mount Washington Cog Railway ​​
Built in 1869, the Cog Railway offers a dramatic 3-mile ride up to the summit of Mount Washington. Choose a historic steam train or modern biodiesel engine and enjoy sweeping views of five states and the Atlantic Ocean.
Mount Washington Cog Railway train climbing a steep mountain track, with a vintage-style engine and passenger car surrounded by rocky terrain and sweeping views of distant peaks and valleys.
Mount Washington Cog Railway

Strawbery Banke Museum

14 Hancock St, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Website: Strawbery Banke Museum ​
Located in Portsmouth, this 10-acre living history museum spans 350 years of American life. Walk among 30 restored buildings, meet costumed interpreters, and explore how communities evolved from the 1600s to the 1940s.
View of historic homes at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, showcasing restored 17th- to 20th-century buildings with clapboard siding and traditional architecture. Manicured gardens, gravel walkways, and period furnishings reflect life in the seacoast neighborhood over several centuries.
Strawbery Banke Museum Homes

The Robert Frost Farm

122 Rockingham Rd, Derry, NH 03038
Website: Robert Frost Farm ​
This National Historic Landmark in Derry preserves the home where poet Robert Frost lived and wrote from 1900–1911. Take a guided tour and follow a self-guided trail featuring poetry and the landscapes that inspired his work.
Two-story white clapboard farmhouse with green shutters, set amid open fields and bordered by woodlands under a clear blue sky. The historic home, where poet Robert Frost lived from 1900 to 1911, features a simple front porch and is surrounded by a rustic split-rail fence, reflecting the quintessential New England rural landscape.
Robert Frost Farm

Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion

375 Little Harbor Rd, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Website: ​​Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion ​
Overlooking Little Harbor in Portsmouth, this 40-room colonial mansion was home to Governor Benning Wentworth. The estate’s architecture reflects several historical periods and can be explored on seasonal guided tours.​
A sprawling, asymmetrical 18th-century mansion with weathered clapboard siding and multiple gabled roofs, situated on the wooded shoreline of Little Harbor in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The structure's irregular layout reflects its construction from several joined buildings, creating a unique architectural footprint. Surrounding the mansion are grassy lawns and remnants of formal gardens, with the calm waters of the harbor providing a picturesque backdrop.
Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion

Unique & Scenic Locations

America’s Stonehenge

105 Haverhill Rd, Salem, NH 03079
Website: America’s Stonehenge ​
Located in Salem, this 30-acre site features mysterious stone structures with astronomical alignments. The origin of the formations remains debated, adding intrigue to a visit filled with history and curiosity.
America's Stonehenge in Salem, New Hampshire, featuring a complex of ancient stone chambers, walls, and standing stones arranged across a wooded hilltop.
America's Stonehenge

Covered Bridges

Website: New Hampshire Covered Bridges 
With over 50 historic covered bridges, New Hampshire offers charming backdrops for photos and scenic drives. Don’t miss the Cornish-Windsor Bridge—the country’s longest wooden covered bridge—or Jackson’s red Honeymoon Bridge.
Historic wooden covered bridge with a reddish-brown exterior and pitched roof, spanning the clear waters of the Swift River amid the forested landscape of the White Mountains. The 120-foot-long Albany Covered Bridge, built in 1858 and restored in 1970, features a Paddleford truss design with added arches, and is surrounded by vibrant foliage
Albany Covered Bridge

Crawford Notch State Park

​1464 US-302, Hart's Location, NH 03812
Website: Crawford Notch State Park ​
Set in a dramatic mountain pass, this park is known for waterfalls, rugged hikes, and incredible mountain views. It’s a peaceful destination for nature lovers looking to explore the White Mountains.
A panoramic view of Crawford Notch State Park in New Hampshire, showcasing rugged granite cliffs, dense forests, and the winding U.S. Route 302 cutting through the valley. In the distance, the majestic White Mountains rise, with Mount Willard offering a prominent overlook.
Crawford Notch State Park

Franconia Notch State Park

​Flume Gorge, Daniel Webster Hwy, Lincoln, NH 03251
Website: Franconia Notch State Park ​
Home to iconic sites like the Flume Gorge and the Basin, Franconia Notch offers awe-inspiring natural beauty, waterfalls, and family-friendly trails in the heart of the White Mountains.
A sweeping autumn view of Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire, where vibrant hues of red, orange, and gold blanket the White Mountains. The scene features Echo Lake reflecting the colorful foliage, with the rugged peaks of Cannon Mountain and Mount Lafayette rising in the background.
Franconia Notch State Park

Kancamagus Highway

Website: Kancamagus Highway 
This 34.5-mile scenic byway through the White Mountains is famous for its vibrant fall foliage, river views, and overlooks. A top pick for road trippers and photographers alike.
Scenic view of the Kancamagus Pass Highway beside a sign with the text Kancamagus Pass Elevation 2855 White Mountain National Forest in autumn. The two-lane road is beside a dense forest ablaze with vibrant fall colors--shades of red, orange, and yellow under a clear blue sky.
Kancamagus Highway

Lake Winnipesaukee

Website: Lake Winnipesaukee 
New Hampshire’s largest lake invites visitors to relax, swim, boat, and enjoy classic summer traditions against a backdrop of forested hills and distant mountains.
Panoramic view of Lake Winnipesaukee in autumn, surrounded by forests ablaze with vibrant fall foliage in shades of red, orange, and gold. Calm waters reflect the colorful trees and the partly cloudy sky, with distant hills and mountains framing the scenic New Hampshire landscape with buildings and church spires.
Lake Winnipesaukee

Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves

​1712 Lost River Rd, North Woodstock, NH 03262
Website: Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves ​
Located in the White Mountains, this adventurous site features a boardwalk trail, caves to explore, and waterfalls to admire. It’s a fun and interactive nature experience for all ages.
A wooden staircase rises up a mountain through the lush, moss-covered boulders beside a cascading waterfall.
Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves

Miller State Park

​13 Miller State Pk Rd, Peterborough, NH 03458
Website: Miller State Park ​
New Hampshire’s oldest state park features hiking trails to the summit of Pack Monadnock. At the top, enjoy expansive views and visit a historic fire tower.​
Miller State Park
Miller State Park

Monadnock State Park

​169 Poole Rd, Jaffrey, NH 03452
Website: Monadnock State Park ​​
Home to the iconic Mount Monadnock, this park is surrounded by protected highlands and known for its bare, rocky summit. With sweeping 360-degree views, it's one of the most climbed mountains in the world and a classic New England hiking destination.
Rocky summit of Mount Monadnock at Monadnock State Park, featuring large granite boulders and exposed bedrock under a clear blue sky, with distant forested hills visible on the horizon.
Monadnock State Park

Odiorne Point State Park

570 Ocean Blvd, Rye, NH 03870
Website: Odiorne Point State Park ​​
A scenic coastal park featuring tide pools, rocky shores, and World War II-era fortifications. Great for nature walks, seaside picnics, and educational family outings.​
Large weathered rock boulders at Odiorne Point State Park overlooking calm water, with a soft pink and purple sky at sunset creating a serene coastal scene.
Odiorne Point State Park

Rocky Gorge Scenic Waterfalls

​Kancamagus Hwy, Albany, NH 03818
Website: Rocky Gorge Scenic Waterfalls
A short trail leads to a picturesque waterfall and footbridge over the Swift River. This is an ideal rest stop for travelers along the scenic Kancamagus Highway, offering photo opportunities and easy access to nature.​
Rocky Gorge Scenic Waterfalls cascading over jagged granite rocks surrounded by lush green trees, with white water flowing swiftly through the narrow, rocky gorge under a bright sky.
Rocky Gorge Scenic Waterfalls

The Basin (Franconia Notch State Park)

​Lincoln, NH 03251
Website: The Basin ​​
This natural glacial pothole is a scenic roadside attraction with a short, accessible trail. Formed by centuries of rushing water, The Basin is a peaceful and photogenic stop nestled among the White Mountains' lush landscape.
The Basin, a natural granite pothole in Franconia Notch State Park, where swirling water has carved a deep, smooth circular pool surrounded by rugged rock walls and lush green forest.
The Basin (Franconia Notch State Park)

Mount Monadnock State Park

​169 Poole Rd, Jaffrey, NH 03452
Website: Mount Monadnock State Park ​
One of the most hiked mountains in the world, Mount Monadnock offers stunning 360-degree summit views. With accessible trails and dramatic scenery, it’s a favorite for casual and experienced hikers alike.
View from the rocky summit of Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, looking out over a vast landscape of rolling green hills and distant forests under a hazy sky. The foreground features rugged granite outcrops with patches of sparse vegetation, showing the mountain’s exposed peak
Mount Monadnock State Park

Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge

​289 Airport Rd, Whitefield, NH 03598
Website: Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge ​
Tucked near the White Mountains, Pondicherry offers peaceful trails, open water, and birdwatching in a serene natural setting. Ideal for photographers and nature enthusiasts year-round.
A tranquil scene featuring a serene pond surrounded by lush wetlands and forested hills. The still waters reflect the green foliage against the backdrop of the Presidential Range.
Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge

​Dark Sky Places

  • Franconia Notch area. Not officially a Dark Sky Reserve, but excellent for stargazing because it’s remote and low-light.
  • Moore’s Reserve. A great location for stargazing and night-sky photography.
  • Mount Washington Observatory (Night Sky Events). They sometimes do stargazing events at the summit or nearby areas.

​Iconic New Hampshire Foods

  • Anadama Bread. A hearty, slightly sweet New England bread made with cornmeal and molasses. Perfect for slicing and toasting — has an earthy smell and chewy texture.
  • Apple Cider & Apple Cider Donuts. Especially popular in fall. Many orchards press fresh cider, both hot and cold, plus soft, cinnamon-sugar apple cider donuts.
  • Corn Chowder & Vegetarian Chowders. New Hampshire loves its chowders, especially corn-based creamy versions that are easily made vegetarian. Often served with homemade biscuits or oyster crackers.
  • Fried Dough. Popular at New Hampshire fairs and fall festivals. Soft, chewy dough topped with powdered sugar or cinnamon — sweet and tactile!
  • Local Artisan Cheeses. Small dairies across NH make goat cheese, sharp cheddar, and smoked cheeses. Look for local cheese at farmers markets and farm stands.
  • Local Honey. Fragrant and varied depending on the blossoms (wildflower, clover, blueberry). Great for tasting and bringing home in small jars.
  • Maple Syrup. New Hampshire is one of the top maple syrup-producing states. Look for Grade A dark syrup, maple candy, maple cream, or maple sugar.
  • New Hampshire Pumpkin Pie. Often made from fresh local pumpkins and full of spice. Served around fall and Thanksgiving — sometimes sweetened with maple syrup.
  • Wild Blueberries. Smaller and sweeter than store-bought — used in pies, muffins, jams, and syrup. Available fresh in summer or preserved in other seasons.

​Sensory Souvenirs

  • Audio Clips or Sound Souvenirs: Record the creak of historic covered bridges, the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, the eerie call of loons at twilight, or the iconic steam whistle from the Mount Washington Cog Railway. Perfect for capturing the sound of New Hampshire.
  • Autumn Leaf Art: Laminated real leaves, pressed into bookmarks or framed art — highlighting New Hampshire’s famous fall colors.
  • Balsam Fir Sachets or Pinecones (White Mountains): Bring home the refreshing, earthy scent of the forest with balsam-filled sachets or naturally scented pinecones gathered from the White Mountains region.
  • Birch Bark Craft: Beautiful and rustic, birch bark creations — like small baskets, frames, or ornaments — reflect the natural artistry of New England’s forests.
  • Cog Railway Memorabilia: Small models, postcards, or souvenirs from the historic Mount Washington Cog Railway.
  • Covered Bridge Miniatures: Models or artwork celebrating New Hampshire’s iconic covered bridges.
  • Dried Apples or Apple Butter (especially in fall): A sweet taste of New Hampshire’s fall harvest, perfect for cozy snacks or gifts. Many farms sell homemade apple treats at seasonal festivals.
  • Granite Samples: Known as the Granite State, small polished or rough granite pieces serve as a symbolic reminder of New Hampshire’s rugged landscape and enduring spirit.
  • Handmade Soaps (Maple, Lavender, Balsam Scents): Luxurious and fragrant, locally crafted soaps often use regional scents to bring a little piece of New Hampshire into your bath routine.
  • Herbal Sachets (Lavender or Herb Blends from Farms): Fresh, calming, and farm-grown, these little sachets are often available at farmers’ markets and roadside stands.
  • Lake Winnipesaukee Pebbles or Driftwood: Smooth stones or driftwood collected (where allowed) or purchased locally can evoke memories of peaceful days by New Hampshire’s largest lake.
  • Locally-Made Candles: Especially balsam, pine, or maple-scented candles made by New Hampshire artisans.
  • Maple Candy or Syrup Samples: New Hampshire maple syrup is liquid gold — rich, pure, and unmistakably New England. Maple candy makes a nostalgic, melt-in-your-mouth souvenir.
  • Wild Blueberry Jam: Made from tiny, flavor-packed wild blueberries harvested in the northern parts of the state, this jam is a taste of New Hampshire summers.
  • Wooden Carvings from Local Woodshops: From hand-carved bears to intricately whittled ornaments, woodcraft reflects the traditional skills and rustic charm of the region.
  • Wool or Textile Swatches from Shaker Communities: Visit Canterbury Shaker Village or Enfield Shaker Museum for authentic textiles — handwoven, naturally dyed, and steeped in simplicity and quality.