10 Awesome Outings Everyone In New Hampshire Should Take Before They Die

Finding enough things to keep us occupied in New Hampshire has never been a problem. Whether it's warm and summery or cold and snowy, there's always something to do. But what has been challenging is narrowing down the list enough to tackle them all in a year. If you feel that way as well, you might consider starting with this list. It's not exhaustive, but it does include some of our absolute favorite options to get out and enjoy the Granite State!

1. Ice Castles, Lincoln

This incredible display of light and ice takes place during just a few months of the year, in just a few places in North America. Lucky for us, New Hampshire is one of them! Begun as a fun project for a dad in Utah, today the exhibit features nearly 10,000 icicles that are created each day, equating to hundreds of thousands of them each season. The icicles are then strategically placed throughout the castle area to create even more ice growth. Find out more, including when and how to visit by clicking here!

2. Chutters Candy Store, Littleton

Some might not consider a candy store to count as an "outing," but then again not everyone has been to Chutters. The sweetest place in the state features the world's largest candy counter, making it a true experience! Learn all about it here!

3. Quincy Bog Natural Area, Rumney

One of the most beautiful activities in the state is The Joe Kent Trail at Quincy Bog Natural Area. The bog area features a pond and wetlands, as well as an upland forest surrounding the trail. This makes for an almost completely shaded experience. Make sure you plan this journey for a day when it's nice and sunny out! Learn more about it here!

4. Drive the Sunapee Loop Scenic Drive

The Kanc is spectacular, but stir things up this year by taking this incredible drive as well. The 140-mile scenic route winds through the Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region for views of some of the most beautiful places in New Hampshire. Learn more about it, including how to start and where it ends by clicking here!

5. Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, Cornish

This place is a wonderful way to experience a lesser-known piece of state history. Considered one of America's great sculptors, Augustus Saint-Guadens spent time right here in New Hampshire. Today you can visit the home and see his sculptures, as well as take in the surrounding nature. Learn all about it here!

6. The Gondola Ride at Loon Mountain Resort, Lincoln

Loon Mountain is a great place to enjoy New Hampshire's wonderful winters, but we think it's worth checking out during the fall as well. The gondola is the state's longest, reaching the 2,733-foot summit of Loon Peak. And the views? Well, you'll just have to conjure up the best images you can - and you'll be about halfway there. Learn more about it here!

7. The Sheldrick Forest Preserve, Wilton

This 227-acre area is a great indication of what things might have looked like back when Europeans settlers arrived. While many areas in the state today have been cleared for timber work, this preserved area of old-growth forest is fully intact, Walking through means seeing things like 50-foot white pines, incredible hemlocks, and stately oaks. Learn more about it here!

8. Sculptured Rocks Natural Area, Groton

This 227 acre area of land feels truly magical. It might be one of the only places in the state that will transport you through to another land! It features incredible natural rock features that were carved by the Cockermouth River during the last ice age. And the water here is so smooth you can see clear down to the bottom of the meandering streams. Check it out here!

9. Any number of low-key hikes in the state.

Getting outside and experiencing the wilds of New Hampshire doesn't have to mean actually getting into the desolate wilderness. We've got plenty of easy hikes that take a short amount of time and require little extra effort. We gathered up 5 of our favorite simple hikes and compiled them in one place for easy access on days that you'd prefer to keep things simple. The path to this B18 bomber crash is included! Check it out here!

10. Canterbury Shaker Village,

The only Shaker village in New Hampshire, Canterbury has been a museum since 1992. The visit is well worth it consider they've got some of the best intact examples of Shaker life in America. The community was at its peak in the 1850s when a whopping 300 people called the village home, working in over 100 different buildings across 3,000 acres at Canterbury Shaker Village. Today, you can see the many buildings that are still here and imagine what life might have been like when things were hustling and bustling. You can read more about it here!

While you're making plans for the rest of the year, don't forget to eat! These 10 restaurants are places we've covered over the last year that we think should definitely make an appearance on your dining out list for the upcoming year.