Sightseeing

There’s regular sightseeing, and then there is sightseeing from the summit of the highest mountain peak in the Northeast. When you drive, hike or take a tour up the Mt. Washington Auto Road, you can expect to see vistas that will take your breath away as you look out over Great Gulf Wilderness and the Presidential Mountain Range. Visitors can take their own car (and earn the “This Car Climbed Mt. Washington” bumper sticker) or, on certain days, their ATV; join a two-hour guided tour; or hike. There are a number of scenic pull-offs along the way to take pictures. You can also reserve a spot in a sunrise or sunset tour. In the winter, the SnowCoach takes you to the tree line with awe-inspiring vistas.

The scenery is lovely along the Merrimack River, and if you’re looking for a different way to take it all in, Scenic Railriders has the perfect solution: Ride the rails in a custom-built Rail-Bike. From the comfort of your two- or four-seat “bike,” you’ll travel along a beautiful stretch of abandoned railroad tracks from Concord to Boscawen, NH and back. The 6.2-mile trip, taken at a leisurely pedaling pace, meanders through woods, past farmland and over bridges. It’s a great way to take in the sights and get in some fresh air – and a little exercise! Guides at the front and back of the “bikes” will provide some history of the area, and there are two rest stops when the guides turn the caravan around. All ages are welcome.

Beautiful all year long, the New Hampshire countryside is shown in all its colorful glory when you board the vintage cars on the Granite State Railway and embark on a fun, old-fashioned 80-minute round trip ride from Lincoln to Woodstock, NH and back again. The tracks, originally built in the 19th century by the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad, take you along a natural woodsy setting along the banks of the Pemigewasset River. Along the way, you’ll see swimmers, kayakers and fishermen enjoying the river in the spring and summer and spectacular autumn colors through fall foliage season. When the snow falls, it’s time for the popular Santa Express trains where kids can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Sit back and enjoy the scenery: That’s what the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad asks passengers to do when they book old-fashioned round-trip train excursions along the western shore of New Hampshire’s largest lake. Take the two-hour lake shore trip from the Meredith, NH station or a one-hour version from the satellite ticket booth on the historic boardwalk at Weirs Beach, NH. Enjoy panoramic vistas of the lake on one side of the train, with views of beautiful vacation homes from the other side. And mark your calendar for the Fall Foliage Specials: four-hour trips up and over the Ashland Summit, across the Ashland High Trestle, through a deer farm and a Christmas tree farm to a buffet lunch in Plymouth, NH, stopping on the way back at the restored railroad station in Ashland, NH.

From early May through late October, Laconia Rail Bikes provides unique views of New Hampshire’s spectacular Lakes Region — along railroad tracks that date back to 1848. From your four-seat rail bike, you’ll pedal along tracks that begin at the 1892 Laconia, NH Railroad Station. The 5-mile round trip goes through Belmont Woods; past the site of the former Laconia Car Company, which built rail cars from 1844 to 1928; over a trestle bridge crossing Winnipesaukee River and Durkee Brook; and along the shore of Lake Winnisquam, the state’s fourth largest lake. Enjoy breathtaking views and fresh air, with a rest step halfway through as your experienced guides spin the bikes around for the trip back home. The terrain is mainly flat, and you are able to go at your own pace.

Soaring above the Connecticut River Valley, Morningside Flight Park in Charlestown, NH offers an unmatched sightseeing experience with tandem paragliding, hang gliding, powered paragliding flights, ziplining, and more. Guests can glide with a certified instructor and take in uninterrupted views of rolling farmland, winding rivers, and forested slopes. The zip line course features seven zip lines and two suspension bridges, one of which is over 50′ up in the treetops. The park also offers outdoor laser tag, ponds to fish and swim in, and a grill and picnic area.  The flight park caters to both first-timers and experienced pilots, making it one of New England’s most accessible and scenic aerial adventure destinations.