New Hampshire offers a remarkable concentration of natural beauty and historical depth in a compact New England state. From the towering White Mountains and the iconic summit of Mount Washington to the serene shores of Lake Winnipesaukee and the pristine Atlantic coastline at Hampton Beach, visitors encounter dramatic landscapes at every turn. Portsmouth anchors the seacoast with its beautifully preserved colonial architecture and a thriving culinary scene, while the Lakes Region provides summer watersports and leisurely cruises. Fall foliage transforms the state into a mosaic of crimson and gold each October, drawing leaf-peepers from across the Northeast. The state's 'Live Free or Die' ethos permeates everything from its lack of sales and income taxes to its independent political culture.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in New Hampshire.
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1
Mount Washington Summit
At 6,288 feet, this is the highest peak in the northeastern United States and home to some of the most severe weather ever recorded, including the 231 mph wind gust measured at the summit observatory in 1934. Visitors reach the top by driving the Mount Washington Auto Road or riding the Cog Railway, a steam and biodiesel rack railway that has hauled passengers up the western slope since 1869. On a clear day the summit building's observation deck gives views into four states, but the mountain makes its own weather and can be socked in cloud even when Gorham below is sunny.
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2
Franconia Notch State Park
This mountain pass cuts between the Kinsman and Franconia Ranges and packs several distinct attractions into one narrow valley, including Echo Lake, the Cannon Mountain aerial tramway, and Flume Gorge at its southern end. The park is best known as the former site of the Old Man of the Mountain rock profile, which collapsed in 2003 but is still marked by a memorial plaza with viewing sites that let you see where the profile used to align. A bike path runs the length of the notch, giving a car-free way to link the different stops.
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3
Flume Gorge
This natural gorge cuts through granite bedrock at the base of Mount Liberty, with walls rising up to 90 feet on either side of a boardwalk that follows Flume Brook past cascades and a covered bridge. The 2-mile loop trail was discovered in 1808 by a local woman fishing in the area and has been a developed tourist attraction since the 19th century. Much of the walk is on wooden boardwalks bolted into the rock face, which puts you close enough to the walls to see the mineral banding in the granite.
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4
Lake Winnipesaukee
New Hampshire's largest lake stretches across roughly 72 square miles between the Lakes Region towns of Laconia, Wolfeboro, and Meredith, dotted with hundreds of islands. The M/S Mount Washington, a 230-foot excursion vessel, has cruised the lake since 1940 and stops at several lakeside towns during its scheduled routes. Beyond the cruise, the lake's public beaches and boat launches make it the center of summer recreation for the region.
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5
Strawbery Banke Museum
This outdoor history museum occupies Portsmouth's original waterfront settlement, called Puddle Dock, with more than 30 historic buildings spanning the 17th through 20th centuries left standing on their original foundations rather than moved in from elsewhere. Costumed interpreters work in several houses to show how residents lived across different eras, from Puritan settlers to Prohibition-era shopkeepers. Because the buildings weren't relocated, the layout still reflects the working waterfront neighborhood that grew up around Portsmouth's harbor trade.
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6
Canterbury Shaker Village
This former working Shaker community operated continuously from 1792 until the last Shaker sisters left in 1992, and the site preserves 25 original buildings on nearly 700 acres of fields, forest, and mill ponds. The Shakers were known for their communal, celibate religious life and for the plain, functional furniture and architecture they produced, both of which are on display in the village's original dwelling houses and workshops. Guided tours cover the community's daily routines, craftsmanship, and eventual decline as membership dwindled.
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7
Kancamagus Highway (NH-112)
This 34.5-mile stretch of NH-112 crosses the White Mountain National Forest between Lincoln and Conway without passing through a single town, making it one of the few National Scenic Byways with no commercial development along its route. The road climbs over Kancamagus Pass at nearly 3,000 feet and passes numerous pull-offs for waterfalls, covered bridges, and hiking trailheads including Sabbaday Falls and Rocky Gorge. It's especially known as a fall foliage drive, since the elevation change means colors turn at different times along the route.
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8
Hampton Beach State Park
This is New Hampshire's main developed ocean beach, a mile-long stretch of sand along the state's short 18-mile coastline, backed by a classic boardwalk-style strip of arcades, food stands, and shops in the adjoining town of Hampton Beach. The state park section includes a bathhouse with showers and lifeguarded swimming, while the adjacent commercial strip runs a summer schedule of fireworks and events. It draws heavy crowds from both New Hampshire and neighboring Massachusetts given how limited the state's coastline is.
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9
Mount Monadnock State Park
Monadnock is a bald, 3,165-foot granite peak in the southwest corner of the state, and it's often cited as one of the most-climbed mountains in the country because several trails reach the summit in a half-day round trip. Above treeline the summit is open rock, giving 360-degree views that on a clear day reach into Massachusetts and Vermont. The park has a network of marked trails of varying difficulty converging at the same bare summit.
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10
Clark's Bears / Clark's Trading Post
This is a family-run roadside attraction that has been operating in Lincoln since the 1920s, built around trained North American black bear shows that are its signature draw. Beyond the bear performances, the grounds include a steam-powered train ride, old-fashioned midway games, and a collection of Americana and mechanical curiosities typical of a classic White Mountains tourist stop. It's aimed squarely at families with younger kids rather than adults looking for a quiet historic site.
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Explore by your interests.
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Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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- Emergency, White Mountain NF HQ, NH Division of Parks, Public Transit
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Visit popular attractions early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds and harsh midday light.
Book tickets online in advance for major attractions to skip long queues and sometimes save money.
Many cities offer multi-attraction passes that include public transport. Calculate whether they save you money based on your itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a pass to hike in White Mountain National Forest?
A recreation pass ($5/day, $20/annual) is required at designated trailhead parking areas. Passes are available online at recreation.gov, at trailhead kiosks, and at local outfitters. Hiking itself is free.
Is the Mount Washington Auto Road open in winter?
No. The Auto Road typically opens in mid-May and closes in late October (weather dependent). The summit is accessible in winter only via snowcat tours through the Great Glen Trails (from $100/person).