If Virginia is for lovers, New Hampshire is for families! The Lakes Region of New Hampshire, with crystal clear lakes and lush green mountains, is jam packed with adventures.
Just as the August humidity started to descend upon us here in DC we packed up our little ones, with as much food as we could carry, and headed north.
We stayed in Central Ossipee, New Hampshire which is sandwiched in between the iconic Lake Winnipesauke and North Conway. If you prefer less of a remote location Lake Winnipesaukee (and surrounding) and North Conway have lots of options for accommodations.
We love the variety of family activities in the area. There is something for everyone and all ages.
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Favorite Family Adventures
Mount Washington Cog Railway
Read our review here!
The Cog Railway up Mount Washington is fun for all ages! There is scenery for days going up and down. The museum at the bottom is worth a stop if you have time.
It’s about a 3 hour train adventure plus any time you want to spend in the museum so it’s good to plan for it to be a half-day at the minimum. There are also tons of amazing hikes, overlooks and fun adventures throughout the White Mountain National Forest if you have the time and energy for more.
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center
Read our review here!
Be prepared to be blown away by Squam Lakes Natural Science Center. The 2 hour trail recommendation is a minimum in our opinion! There are so many opportunities for open ended play which can lengthen your visit, but it’s worth the enrichment value.
Swimming, canoeing or kayaking on the Lakes
They don’t call it the Lakes Region for nothing. With 273 lakes and ponds, there is a lake around every corner. There are plenty of lakes with public access to chose from.
Lake Winnipesaukee (the largest lake in the state), Squam Lake, Newfound Lake, Ossipee Lake, and Lake Sunapee offer canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, watersports and fishing for all.
Alpine Adventures
Read our review here!
Alpine Adventures offers adventures for the whole family with zip line, off-roading, aerial park, tubing and back country trek adventures. At Alpine Adventures, you can challenge yourself and push your comfort zone to experience new adventures.
Story Land Family Amusement Park
Read our review here!
Spend the day in a wonderland created for toddlers, preschoolers and elementary school age kids. The roller coasters and rides are just the right level of excitement for young riders.
Blueberry picking
Berry picking is one of our favorite summer adventures and a fun way to spend a morning. Read our hacks for blueberry picking with kids including a fresh blueberry pie recipe here.
Gunstock Mountain Resort
Read our review here!
Gunstock is nonstop adventure including: ZipTour Ziplines, Off-Road Segway Tours, Aerial Treetop Adventure, Explorer ATA Course, Mountain Coaster, Scenic Lift Rides, Summer Tubing, Water Wars, Paddle Boats, Kayaks, Stand-up Paddle Board, Playground, Stunt Jump, Spider Climber, Bungee Jumper, Water Wars, Climbing Wall and Slackline Park.
We suggest the Mountain Coaster, especially if you have never been on one. It is a thrilling mountain adventure perfect for summer. The Scenic Lift Rides are great for the whole family and offer stunning views. It is the perfect activity for those not hooked on adrenaline.
Getting There
It’s a long haul in the car, especially with young children so we broke up the drive on the way up stopping in Connecticut.
From DC we have found when we drive North that going up through western Pennsylvania, across Connecticut and around Boston is faster, even though it is more miles. From DC take I-495N to I-270N, I-70W to I-81N, I-84-E to I-290 E, I-495 N to NH-16 N.
We limit the screen time with our kids so we spent many hours playing eye-spy & guessing games; listening to books on tape or rocking out to music; trying to get trucks to honk & waving at other kids; and searching for wildlife or enjoying the scenery.
The ride takes you through some stunning mountains and amazing scenery.
Where to Stay
We always suggest Airbnb or VRBO for family friendly accommodations, but we found a hidden gem we are excited to share with you! We stayed at Roland Lodge House, which is a family lake house near Dan Hole Pond.
The house was once a hub for a vibrant New England family, as evidence by the pictures on the walls. Roland Lodge is a 3 bedroom 1.5 bath lake house that sleeps 6 upstairs with the option for a pull out couch downstairs.
There is a full kitchen, but no laundry on site. The closest town has the bare essentials, but North Conway has pretty much anything a family would need and more.
We ate most of our meals out on the porch with views of Dan Hole Pond and the surrounding mountains. Dan Hole Pond is no pond by any of my criteria. It is spring fed with gorgeous crystal clear water, just down the road from Roland Lodge.
We took a canoe out one day and saw a bald eagle flying over head. This place makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to your own unplugged childhood.
Compared with the other more popular lakes in the area, we found Dan Hole Pond was more clean, quiet and secluded. There were times we were the only ones on the lake which gave us some quality family time.
To book accommodations at the Roland Lodge House contact Christina at christina.lambe@gmail.com or 808-428-3876. Mention Adventure Moms DC for a 15% discount!
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