Katelyn Michaud
This blog post is part of "The Guide to Winter Activities in The White Mountains" blog series.
Two days of skiing is just never enough, especially when the conditions are good! Play hooky from work and make your next ski weekend a long weekend. Even if you don’t ski all three days, there is tons of indoor and outdoor activities in the greater Lincoln area to keep you busy from dawn to dusk. Come with your friends, family or a mixture of both!
Lincoln, New Hampshire is the perfect destination for all winter activities. Nestled in the beautiful western White Mountains, you’ll have amazing panoramic views, delicious restaurant options, and incredible skiing and outdoor winter activities for the whole family – young and young-at-heart. Not sure where to start? Take a look at a sample weekend itinerary.
Day One: Friday
Whether you’re just coming from down the road or all the way from Boston or New York, a long weekend in the mountains is just what Mother Nature (and your family!) called for this winter. Start your morning off early and hit the ski slopes before the weekend crowds come on Saturday.
Are you coming up Saturday and leaving Monday? Move Friday's itinerary to Monday and you've got a nice quiet ski day to wrap up your week!
DayTime
Once you’d arrived, it’s time to hit the slopes. The ski mountains are much less crowded during the week, so it’s a great time to get in a lot of runs in one day. Loon Mountain and Cannon Mountain are your go-to ski mountains in the area.
If your kids are young and still perfecting their “pizza and french fries” then you’ll want to stick to family-friendly Loon Mountain where 80% of the trails are dedicated to beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Loon has 61 trails and 11 lifts covering over 370 acres and 2,100 vertical feet. Loon Mountain is also home to some of the best terrain parks in New England!
For more advanced skiers and those looking for a backcountry adventure, head to Cannon Mountain. Cannon is New Hampshire’s highest ski mountain with a vertical drop of 2,180 feet and it is where Olympic gold medalist, Bode Miller, learned to ski! Between the backcountry Mittersill Area and Cannon Mountain, Cannon has 285 skiable acres with 97 trails and 11 lifts.
With that being said, Loon has some challenging glades and steep double black diamonds and Cannon has a great learning center with some gentle cruising trails, too. With three days of potential skiing, you can ski at both places!
Dinner
After a long day of skiing, you’ll be hungry. Since you have a big day of fun winter activities planned for tomorrow, stay close to home and eat at our on-site Italian restaurant, La Vista Italian Cuisine. The talented culinary team at LaVista serves an authentic Italian menu prepared with only the freshest ingredients. You’ll forget that you’re in New England and think you’re dining on the cobblestone streets of Rome. It really is that good! The restaurant has an in-house bakery chef who specializes in creating daily desserts. And, since you just burned a ton of calories today, you deserve it! We recommend the Tiramisu.
You can also try Rhythm Tap & Grille located conveniently near the main lobby of our resort. This newly established eatery offers a welcoming atmosphere where families can relax and enjoy a delicious meal together. Designed with a modern twist on a classic brick and mortar mill, the interior provides a cozy yet contemporary setting, perfect for unwinding after a long day of skiing or exploring. The menu is diverse, featuring a wide range of locally sourced dishes that highlight the best flavors of the region. From hearty entrees to light bites, there’s something to satisfy every palate. In addition to the mouth-watering food, the pub boasts an impressive selection of crafted beverages, including signature cocktails and locally brewed beers, making it a great spot for adults to enjoy a drink. Unique F&B pairings that capture the essence of the White Mountains add an extra layer of delight to your dining experience. Whether you're looking to grab a quick bite or linger over a long dinner, Rhythm Tap & Grille promises a memorable dining experience for everyone in your group.
Tuck the kids in bed or pop a DVD in the player, and head to Seven Birches Winery for a little wine tasting. Located within the heart of the RiverWalk Resort, Seven Birches Winery creates delicious wines using locally sourced fruits and handcrafted classic European grape varieties. Whether you prefer red, white, or even blueberry wine, you’ll find a glass of something you’ll like here. Personally, we’re a big fan of the Sunset Red, which was inspired by the sensational White Mountain sunsets. Don’t forget to check out the new Atrium Wine Bar across the parking lot in the Shops at Lincoln open on the weekends and holidays.
Day Two: Saturday
Saturday is always the busiest day on the ski hill. The lift lines can be long, and the trails can become scratchy early. After a day of skiing at Loon or Cannon the day before, you deserve to take a break from the slopes and enjoy the other winter adventures at Loon Mountain. Located across from Loon’s main parking lot, take the whole family to the Loon Mountain Adventure Center for a morning of fun. The best part – you don’t even need to worry about finding a parking spot! You can take the free luxury shuttle from the RiverWalk Resort to Loon.
Morning
Cross Country Skiing
After breakfast, trade your downhill skis in for cross-country skis for a couple of hours of heart-pumping family fun on the 20 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails. The East Ridge Trail System has many beginner, immediate, and advanced trails for all abilities. Never cross-country skied before? No problem! You can take a lesson or guided tour with the professional Adventure Center staff. Rental equipment is available at the Adventure Center if you don’t have your own gear.
Snow Tubing
Some kids, especially the little ones, might struggle with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, but they will love snow tubing! The special tubing hill under the Little Sister chairlift is perfect for any kid or kid at heart. The tubing hill is opened 10 am to 10 pm on Saturdays, and you’ll have to book your one-hour slot ahead of time.
Snowshoeing
Fancy an incredible view of Mount Washington? Sign up for the Summit Guided Snowshoe Tour at the Adventure Center. For two hours, you’ll take a ride up the gondola and hike around the summit, which offers lovely views of the White Mountains. The tour is best for intermediate snowshoers as the terrain is challenging.
For beginner snowshoers, try the Base Area Guided Snowshoe Tour where you’ll explore the gentle trails along the Pemigewasset River. If you want to snowshoe at your own pace, rent snowshoes and explore the East Ridge Trail System at your leisure.
Lunch
With so much to do today, you’ll want a quick lunch in your hotel suite. Each suite has a full kitchen with KitchenAid appliances and granite counter tops. Shop for delicious baked goods and supplies at nearby The Moon Cafe and Bakery. Their farm in Piermont produces a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, farm-fresh eggs, and meat that they sell at their farm stand in Lincoln. Don’t want to cook? Pick up fresh soup, salads, or pizza.
Afternoon
It’s time for a little “you time.” Send the kids to the Game Room and book yourself a spa package at the onsite Solstice North Day Spa. This tranquil full-service day spa has everything from foot soaks to massages to nail care and hair care. You can pamper yourself from head to toe if you want! If your muscles are sore from all that powder you were skiing yesterday, treat yourself to one of the signature massages or a restoring foot soak.
Evening
Dinner - Burgers or Brews
It’s time for a night out on the town with the whole family! The Lincoln-Woodstock area may seem like a small town, but there are tons of family-friendly places to eat. The Woodstock Inn Station and Brewery is one of the local favorites in town. Housed in an old train depot, The Woodstock Inn Station and Brewery has a diverse dinner menu with lots of drool-worthy appetizers, homemade soups, burgers, and entrees. There are dishes on the kid’s menu for even the pickiest eaters and an in-house brewery for mom and dad to enjoy. Plus, there is always live music on the weekends!
Black Mountain Burger Co. is another excellent option for a casual dinner. Open daily, the restaurant has more than just burgers. You’ll see tons of great options like soups, salads, sandwiches, and more. The homemade mac n’ cheese is reason alone to go to Black Mountain Burger Co. If you’d rather relax in your suite, you can order your dinner to go.
Don’t want to go far? One Love Brewery is located just a two-minute walk across the RiverWalk Resort parking lot. Serving gastropub food for the whole family, like chicken tenders and pretzels (and salad if you want healthy options), One Love Brewery is a great place to relax and enjoy the mountain atmosphere. For the adults, the beer is quite tasty!
Day Three: Sunday
Breakfast
Flapjacks is the place to be on the weekends! Get there early as the lines can get long. Nestled in an old New England farmhouse, Flapjack’s Pancake House serves up the most delicious made-from-scratch pancakes you’ll find in New Hampshire. Kids will just love the scenic railroad that travels around the restaurant.
Are you in a hurry to put on your skis? Order a pastry or breakfast sandwich and coffee to go from The Moon Cafe and Bakery.
Ministry Mountaintop Service
For a unique way to celebrate community, life, and God, join the Sunday Summit Worship Service hosted by Loon Mountain Ministry. Ride the gondola to the Summit Cafe for the 11:30 am non-denominational service. The service starts at the Café followed by a ski or snowboard down the Bear Claw Trail stopping along the way to read scripture, sing hymns, and hear inspirational messages. What a great way to start your week!
Ski
Sundays are one of the best days to ski as many people are traveling home or watching football on television. With shorter lift lines, you’ll have plenty of chances to practice your carves on the freshly groomed trails at Loon or Cannon Mountain. Many of Loon’s races and competitions, like the Zwahlen Memorial Race and the USASA Slopestyle, occur on Sundays. It’s a great place to shake your cowbell and see future Olympians race in the White Mountains while enjoying the last few hours of your long ski weekend.
If your legs are toast from skiing all weekend, there lots of great activities you can still do in the mountain. Bundle up and enjoy high flying fun on one of two zipline courses with Alpine Adventures. North Woodstock is home to the first Ice Castle on the East Coast. Handcrafted by hundreds of artisans, the ice castle features LED-lit sculptures, slides, tunnels, and more. If Mother Nature decides to not be nice to you, head to North Country Climbing Center in Lisbon for over 6,000 square feet of indoor rock climbing.
Lincoln, New Hampshire offers incredible fun family winter activities that the whole family will love, including those stubborn teenagers who just can’t put their phones away. Pack up the kids and head to the White Mountains for a long ski weekend. Let us help you plan your perfect ski weekend today.
This blog post is part of "The Guide to Winter Activities in The White Mountains" blog series.
Planning a pre-holiday getaway? Take a look at some of our favorite holiday traditions.
Looking for other fun family winter adventures? Read our blog post on the top 10 family winter activities to do in the White Mountains.