Snow has fallen and Loon Mountain is open for the season. And you know what that means - the holidays are officially upon us! In a few short weeks, Santa will be coming down the chimney, the menorah will be lit, and the ball will drop for a whole new decade. The holidays are a time for lots of quality family time and there is no better place than family-friendly Lincoln, New Hampshire.

According to a recent U.S. Travel Association report, more than half of working Americans don’t use all of their paid vacation days. They forfeit an average of 212 million days, which is equivalent to about $62.2 billion in lost benefits. Most Americans struggle to disconnect from the daily demands of their work. Research shows that taking vacation time actually increases your productivity by making you more resilient, improving cognitive function, creativity, and problem-solving.

Now that the heat and humidity (and the annoying black flies!) of the summer have left us for the year, it’s time to hit the road or trails again. Fall is the perfect time of year to hop on your bike for a short or long ride. The leaves are starting to turn or have already fallen, and the temperatures are still warm enough to enjoy a short sleeve jersey (the mornings are cool).

The kids might be back in school, but summer isn’t over yet! The humid summer days are behind us allowing for the cool mountain air to arrive in the White Mountains after a long hot summer. In another month or so, the leaves will start turning into a kaleidoscope of colors and the leaf peepers will be back in droves.

Schools out and it’s time to have some fun in the White Mountains! Here's the ultimate summer bucket list for Lincoln, NH. There is no shortage of fun and active things to do in the mountains during the hot summer months. If you're looking for something fun on a hot day, head over to Whale’s Tale Waterpark to cool off or take the Aerial Tramway to the 4,080-foot summit of Cannon Mountain. Start ticking off mountain peaks for the 4,000-footer club or fly high through the treetops on a zipline. Whatever you choose to do in the western White Mountains, it’ll be a summer to remember! Make sure to add these summer bucket list ideas to your list. 

Sometimes you just want to stay in one place on your summer vacation. The weather is too nice to spend hours in the car driving to and from all the things you want to do. Just park your car at the RiverWalk Resort and enjoy all the incredible things you can do at both the resort and nearby in town. From delicious food and drinks to walking along the Pemi to mountain biking at Loon Mountain, here are a few of the best things to do without your car. Just park it and play all vacation long!

Spring in the White Mountains is a beautiful experience. Not only will you get to see Mother Nature wake up from her long winter hibernation, but you don’t have to battle the crowds to visit all your favorite places. Sure, there may be a little mud here and there (and spring flowers), but don’t let that deter you from having a great time discovering all the best things to do in the Greater Lincoln area this spring. Here's a few spring bucket list ideas.

There is nothing more relaxing than arriving at your home away from home and shutting the computer down after a long work week and parking the car for the weekend. The RiverWalk Resort is centered in the heart of Lincoln making it the perfect destination to make your home base. With a shuttle bus service to Loon, luxury amenities at the resort, and tons of food and entertainment options within a short walk come to the RiverWalk Resort to park and play.

Maintaining pristine ice for the nation’s only lagoon skating rink isn’t easy. It takes a team of RiverWalk Resort employees to keep the ice in tip-top shape for skaters all winter long. Starting in November, the RiverWalk’s 167,000-gallon outdoor lagoon swimming pool is transformed into a perfect sheet of ice with the help of a complex network of tubes carrying super-cooled glycol. 

The White Mountains have been a tourist destination since the American Industrial Revolution when wealth families would escape the smoky cities for the fresh mountain air. The Greater Lincoln area is home to two world-class family-friendly ski mountains, but skiing isn’t the only winter activity you can do in the area. It’s time to bundle up and head outside to explore the winter wonderland.   

This blog post is part of "The Guide to Winter Activities in The White Mountains" blog series.