New Hampshire is a great place to explore! We love spending the day outdoors, but the fun doesn’t end there. There are plenty of museums and other attractions to visit as well. In fact, there’s something different and unique to do throughout the entire year. Today we’re rounding up the 12 best day trips in New Hampshire that can be planned ahead and enjoyed all year long!

1. January: Dog Sledding at Muddy Paw & Raft, Jefferson
32 Valley Rd, Jefferson, NH 03583, USA
Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel, 32 Valley Rd, Jefferson, NH 03583, USA
Muddy Paw & Raft NH / Facebook
The best way to handle the winter is by getting outside and embracing it! One of the most unique things to do in New Hampshire is to spend an afternoon dog sledding through the fresh snow. Make the start to the year exhilarating (and adorable!) by taking a tour through the forest. Muddy Paw is home to 80 different dogs and they offer four different experiences. Choose from the 1.5-hour tour, the 3-hour tour, the Mini Mush and the Musher for a Minute. Great for kids and adults!
2. February: Kahuna Laguna Indoor Water Park, North Conway
Kahuna Laguna Indoor Water Park, 2251 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH 03860, USA
Kahuna Laguna Indoor Water Park / Google
Note: unfortunately Kahuna Laguna Indoor Water Park is permanently closed.

Around this time of the year, you're getting a little cabin fever and wondering, "are there any getaway spots near me?" Well, this place is just what you're looking for when you need to get out of the house. February in New Hampshire is the perfect time to hit the water slides... as long as it's at this fun indoor beach resort! There are multiple water slides, fountains, a wave pool and even a dedicated area for little kids.
3. March: Visit the state's best winter flea markets
New Hampshire, USA
Prospect Hill Antiques / Facebook
From vintage clothes to antique furniture, the secrets of New Hampshire's past are all hiding out in little barns like this. There are endless flea markets in New Hampshire, all chock full of treasures just waiting for you to take home.
4. April: Winter Ziplining at Loon Mountain, Lincoln
Loon Mountain, Lincoln, NH 03251, USA
Loon Mountain Resort / Facebook
We all know there will still be snow on the ground so head out for some winter ziplining at Loon Mountain for one of the best day trips in New Hampshire. The zip line course is open through the season and tickets are about $29. From way up high, you'll be able to see exactly how much snow is on the ground to get that much more excited for May!
5. May: The Treetop Tour at Bretton Woods Resort, Bretton Woods
Bretton Woods, 99 Ski Area Rd, Bretton Woods, NH 03575, USA
management / TripAdvisor
Ziplining two months in a row? Yes! Because these are two very different experiences. In addition to ziplining, this experience also takes you walking through the trees to understand more about the land around you. And by the time May rolls around the landscape looks much different. Imagine gliding through the trees surrounded by greenery. The ziplining tour at Bretton Woods is a great choice because you can do it year-round. That means that if the weather is unseasonably cold in May you can still get up there!
6. June: Canterbury Shaker Village, Canterbury
Shaker Village, Canterbury, NH 03224, USA
Canterbury Shaker Village / Facebook
Perhaps unexpectedly, this historic little village is actually a great place to visit when the weather gets nicer. The only Shaker village in New Hampshire, Canterbury has been a museum since 1992. In addition to a beautiful setting, they've got some of the best intact examples of Shaker life in America. In the 1850s 300 people called the village home, working in over 100 different buildings across 3,000 acres. Visit now and you'll be able to see the remaining buildings and learn about what life was like.

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7. July: Cool off at Whale's Tale Water Park, Lincoln
Whale's Tale Waterpark, 481 Daniel Webster Hwy, Lincoln, NH 03251, USA
Whale's Tale Water Park / Facebook
July! The perfect time to plan some time to cool off in the water. You can certainly head to the beach, but there's something about a water park that feels like a real destination of a day trip. Whale's Tale Water Park is one of the best day trips in New Hampshire for families, and there's a good chance the kids will be nice and tired out by the end of the day letting you get in some relaxation time at night.
8. August: Take a blueberry picking hike on Pitcher Mountain, Stoddard
Pitcher Mountain, Stoddard, NH 03464, USA
Eric Ruffin / AllTrails
August is the month for blueberries in this region and there's nothing better than taking a hike to pick 'em! The route on Pitcher Mountain is fairly simple at about 0.6 miles in each direction, with a gentle slope that even small kids with leg mobility can handle. Blueberry picking here is on the honor system – pick your berries and put cash in the box on your way out.
9. September: Apple picking at Meadow Ledge Farm, Loudon
Meadow Ledge Farm, 612 NH-129, Loudon, NH 03307, USA
Meadow Ledge Farm / Facebook
It's here, it's here! Apple picking time and fall are here and it's time to chow down on some cider and cider donuts. For some of the best, spend the day at Meadow Ledge Farm in New Hampshire where you'll find over 40 varieties of apples, making it a natural choice if you're looking for a day of apple picking. Not sure you want to venture between the trees? You can grab them from the bin in the farm store as well. It's convenient because you'll already be there for the cider and donuts!
10. October: Take in the fall foliage at the Quincy Bog Natural Area, Rumney
Quincy Bog Natural Area, Quincy Bog Rd, Rumney, NH 03266, USA
Bogfen / TripAdvisor
During autumn in New Hampshire, you'll want to be fully immersed in the beauty of the state's changing fall foliage. To do it head to this beautiful area full of boardwalks to explore nature. The Joe Kent Trail will take you to a pond and wetlands, as well as an upland forest surrounding the trail. Be sure to plan this journey for a day when it's nice and sunny out!
11. November: Travel the Kancamagus Highway
Kancamagus Highway, Kancamagus Hwy, Albany, NH, USA
nissanman2009 / Flickr
If there's one thing we always do during fall in New Hampshire, it's take a trip on this famed roadway. The northeast's highest road is a 35-mile stretch of Highway 112 and it leads you along some of the loopiest roads amongst most majestic forests. The full drive is about an hour, but assume you'll spend more time if you want to take in the White Mountain National Forest through stops along the way.
12. December: Celebrate the holidays in Portsmouth
vintagechristmasnh.org
One of our favorite New Hampshire Christmas towns, Portsmouth comes alive with things to do and see in December. When it comes to the holiday season, no one does it like Portsmouth. Be sure to check out the annual Vintage Christmas Celebration put on by the Strawbery Banke Museum and the Music Hall. And to make a day of it, show up early for some Christmas shopping at the many shops downtown.

Which New Hampshire day trips do you love to hike again and again?

For peace and calm, consider checking out these cool and calming hikes in New Hampshire that will help you reflect.

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Jackie Ann | July 06, 2022

What are the most unique things to do in New Hampshire?

The best part about visiting or living in New Hampshire is that you’ll never run out of things to do. If you find yourself wondering, “Are there any day trips near me?” All you have to do is jump in the car and start driving to one of the many unique things to do around New Hampshire. For example, the New Hampshire Telephone Museum is one of the most unique attractions in the state, and you’ll learn all about the different methods we’ve used to communicate in the past. Or maybe you’d like to venture off to Madame Sherri’s Castle in West Chesterfield, one of the state’s most beloved odd attractions.

What one-of-a-kind destinations can I visit in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire is one-of-a-kind and full of interesting attractions that are sure to delight. The Madison Boulder is perhaps one of the most unique natural attractions in the state, and it’s worth a road trip to see for yourself. Clocking in at 23 feet high, 37 feet wide, and 85 feet long, the massive boulder weighs 12 million pounds! It’s one of the largest glacial erratics in the world, and we are lucky enough to have it right in our backyard.

What are the best things about living in New Hampshire?

The possibilities are endless! From New Hampshire’s charming small towns to rugged mountain trails, New Hampshire offers something for everyone. Spend some time enjoying the scenery along the shores of one of New Hampshire’s beautiful lakes, take a hike to one of the many waterfalls in New Hampshire, or spend a day exploring New Hampshire’s history by visiting a museum or a historic district. No matter what you’re looking to do, you’ll find it here in the Granite State!

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