Katelyn Michaud
This blog post is part of “The Guide to Summer Activities In The White Mountains” blog series.
The White Mountains of New Hampshire offer an abundance of fun activities for all ages during the summer months. While the area is certainly a hotspot for families, the White Mountains is also a great destination if you want a kid-free getaway or long weekend.
Wake up to the sounds of the songbirds chirping out your window instead of your children screaming for breakfast. Spend the morning enjoying outdoor activities such as a leisurely kayaking trip on the picturesque Pemigewasset River followed by a relaxing afternoon of beer and wine tasting. Take a nap on the couch before heading to dinner where you don’t have to worry if the menu has chicken nuggets or mac and cheese. You’ll find plenty of kid-free activities in the White Mountains to keep you busy all weekend or week long.
Beer and Wine Tastings
The western White Mountains has become a beer and wine destination in the recent years. With three breweries and one winery in the area, you’ll want to try them all. The Woodstock Inn Brewery is one of the original craft breweries in the state. The brewery has grown from a small seven-barrel system to over 37 barrels in the past 20 years. With over 12 beers on tap at any time, you’ll have something hoppy and delightful.
One Love Brewery in the historic Henry Paper Mill focuses on German-style lagers. Their delicious beers have creative names and pair perfectly with any of the brewery’s dishes. Made from locally sourced ingredients, you’ll find class pub fare like poutine, Bavarian pretzels, and more.
Located in Littleton, Schilling Beer Co. brews progressive continental European-inspired beers in a renovated 18th-century grist mill on the Ammonoosuc River. Spend your romantic getaway enjoying high quality cuisine and a diverse beer selection. Their extensive beer menu includes Belgian-style ales, Czech- and German-style lagers, and a variety of European-style wheat beer. Pair a pint with one of their tasty wood-fired pizzas.
Trade in your pint glass for a wine glass at Seven Birches Winery. Housed in the heart of the RiverWalk Resort, Seven Birches Winery uses locally sourced New Hampshire fruit and grapes around the world to craft a variety of red and white wines. Take a winery tour and learn how Seven Birches makes their popular New Hampshire wine year-round from the in-house winemaker. Every tour ends with a special wine tasting!
Find out more about Beer & Wine Tastings In The White Mountains.
Outdoor Adventures
Ziplining isn’t just for the kids! Grab your partner and head straight for Alpine Adventures on Main Street in Lincoln. Alpine Adventures guarantees a day of fun with their three zipline courses, aerial adventure park and off-road adventures on their private mountain in Woodstock. Fly through the trees like a bird on the Skyrider Tour, which consists of five ziplines and five suspension bridges over 200 feet in the air. For those who have a “need for speed,” try the Super White Knuckle zipline on the Super SkyRider where you can reach speeds over 60 mph!
If you don’t mind getting a little dirty, rent an ATV at Dirt Ventures in Lincoln. Choose from either a single or two-seat Polaris ATV unit and take in the views from the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail. The two-hour guided tour provides incredible views of the farmlands, the river, and the White Mountains in the background. You make stops along the way for photos at the covered bridge in Bath, fresh ice cream, and more.
Kayaking the Pemi
The Pemigewasset River, once the lifeblood of the region, runs for 65 miles from Profile Lake in Franconia Notch State Park through the White Mountains to meet to Winnipesaukee River in Franklin. Several companies in Lincoln offers guided kayak tours and kayak rentals. During a hot summer day, nothing is better than playing in the cool waters of the Pemi. Outback Kayak offers two kayaking tours of the Pemi River. The Upper is for those seeking a bit more adventure with Class I, II, and III whitewater rapids. For a more relaxed tour, try The Lower, which is a leisurely paddle with a few Class I rapids. Art’s Outdoor Outfitters rents kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards with four daily shuttles to get you to and from the water easily.
Helicopter Tour
For the ultimate thrill, get a Birdseye view of the White Mountains from a helicopter. White Mountains Helicopter offers personalized helicopter tour over the scenic White Mountains of New Hampshire. Offered year-round, summer is an excellent time to hit the skies. Choose from the hometown tour, which offers views of Warren or the River Ride where you’ll head to the New Hampshire-Vermont border and trace the Connecticut River. If you’re looking for the perfect splurge, book the 45-minute Fly the Notch tour where you’ll fly through Franconia Notch for a closeup of the former Old Man on the Mountain and Echo Lake.
Hit the Trails
The White Mountains National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park are home to some of the best hiking trails in the world. Every year thousands of people flock to the mountains for the scenery, the challenge, and the enjoyment of the Great Outdoors. The Lincoln Woods Trail is one of the best low-key hiking trails close to town. This 2.7-mile trail follows the old Lincoln Railroad bed along the banks of the Pemigewasset River. For one of the best hikes in the world, hit the nine-mile, seven-hour Franconia Ridge Loop that transverses Mount Lafayette, Mount Lincoln, and Little Haystack. You can cross two 4,000-footers off your list. Just 46 more to go! Check out our trail guide for more awesome hikes in the area.
Book Your Kid-Free Vacation This Summer
This blog post is part of “The Guide to Summer Activities In The White Mountains” blog series.
The White Mountains have been a popular kid-free destination for over a hundred years. Just look at the old resorts like the Mount Washington Hotel and the Balsams Resort. Book a week or weekend away and enjoy the best of everything the White Mountains has to offer during the warmer months.
