Attractions

The name alone tells you why visitors come back every year to Santa’s Village in the White Mountains. There are rides galore, from Ferris wheels and carousels to roller coasters, monorails and trains, bumper cars and flumes, all with merry holiday themes. You can have your picture taken with Santa, feed his reindeer in the barn, go on a scavenger hunt and get your own special (and complimentary) ring made at the blacksmith’s shop. Over in the water park (and, yes, admission covers both the village and water park), there are three-story slides, splash pads and interactive water attractions. Families can rent cabanas and family suites for privacy in the middle of all the fun! Eating options range from pizza and made-to-order sandwiches to fresh fruit and veggie trays.

P.T. Barnum, a man who knew a great attraction when he saw one, called the view from the Mt. Washington, NH summit “the second greatest show on Earth.” The Cog Railways has been delivering passengers to that show for 152 years, chugging up the mountain and thrilling people with views of forests, ravines – even the occasional moose or bear. The journey begins at the base station and Cog Railway Museum, where you can learn how the engineering feat was accomplished, and culminates at the summit of the highest peak in the Northeast. At the visitor center, you can explore an interactive weather exhibit, the rooftop observation deck and the summit post office. Next door is the historic Tip Top House, an original summit hotel dating back to 1853. Trains climb the mountain from late April through November. Enjoy the trip!

Some 300 million years ago glaciers moving across New Hampshire formed the wilderness wonderland known as Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves. Today you can explore this unusual site during your White Mountains vacation. A three-quarter-mile boardwalk leads you into the gorge, where you'll find spectacular waterfalls, granite cliffs, a river that plays hide and seek, and the mysterious boulder caves. Step off the boardwalk and explore Thor's Workshop, the Devil's Kitchen, the Lemon Squeezer, Shadow Cave, the Dungeon, and the Judgment Hall of Pluto. You'll also find over 300 varieties of flowers, ferns, and shrubs. Pan for gold and fossils in the mining sluice. Come at night for an adults-only lantern tour. Open early May to mid-October. Sturdy footwear recommended.

Imagine castles made of ice! Inside fountains have frozen over, tunnels and caves are ready for exploring, icy thrones await royalty and slides stand ready for kids and adults to race down. That’s what it’s like at Ice Castles, where everything is made of ice and snow, including the paths and walls. At night, the castles are even more amazing, as color-changing LED lights frozen inside the ice illuminate with all the shades of the rainbow while whimsical music plays. Perfect for families, romantic dates – and unbelievable photos – the castle sprawls more than an acre. Grab a hot cocoa or an apple cider from the on-site concession, then take a sleigh ride around the castles and through an enchanted forest.

Spend a few relaxing hours at the Seven Birches Winery and gain a new appreciation for how fresh local fruits, as well as European grapes, can be miraculously transformed into wines of distinction. The winery, inside the new Riverwalk Resort at Loon Mountain, offers tours where you can meet and talk to winemakers as well as sample their wares. In the summer, sip on the terrace overlooking the Pemi River. At the winery’s location in the nearby Lincoln Village Shops, the Atrium Wine Bar offers flights and picnic-style food. At both locations, a friendly, helpful staff will help you choose from a wine menu. The fun, low-key winery has been given a certificate of excellence from Tripadvisor.

There are so many ways to explore and enjoy the breathtaking White Mountains! You can zoom down a mountain on an alpine slide or coaster, or zoom up on a gondola. You can travel to the summit of Mount Washington on a cog railway, take a classic train ride through the valley or along a river. Go on a moose safari or guided ATV tour, zip-line through the trees, go mountain-biking or hiking. The kids might want to visit Story Land, Clark’s Bears, Santa’s Village or Whale’s Tale Water Park. You might want to take a lake cruise, fishing excursion, go golfing, tour a brewery or winery – or shop ’til you drop! All that and more is part of the White Mountains experience. To find out more, follow our link above or call us today at 1-800-346-3687.

Every season is the perfect time to visit the White Mountains, and the same can be said for a visit to Rhythm Cider, at the RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain. Stop by to sample the offerings of a cider flight at the Tasting Room in the Seven Birches Winery. Or, book a tour in advance of the wine and cider production facility, where you’ll have the chance to sample the wares and chat with a winemaker or cidermaker who helped create them. Lunch and dinner are served in the brand new Rhythm Tap & Grille. There’s something for everyone on the creative American grille-style menu, from steaks and burgers to seafood and shareable starters. And the views of the Pemigewasset River are as spectacular as the food and drinks.

Experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of Scotland at the 51st Annual NH Highland Games & Festival, September 18 - 20 at Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln, NH. There’s something for everyone from Scottish music, dance, food, and fun to heavy athletics, sheep dog trials, and crowd-favorite, massed bands. Try-It classes all day long in street curling, stone lifting, and more. Sign up for a seminar and explore topics ranging from Scottish cooking to genealogy. Fun for all ages with special kids programming and opportunities to shop in Vendor Village. You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy this annual event presented by NHSCOT. Purchase your single day tickets or three-day weekend pass today.

Back when the tracks now followed by the Granite State Railway were built in 1882-1883, it was a great way for summer visitors to reach their grand hotels in the White Mountains. Today, it’s still a great way for visitors to appreciate the beauty of the White Mountain region, as they travel 15 miles round trip, leaving from the station in Lincoln, NH. In the spring and summer, as the train travels along the meandering Pemigewasset River, passengers on the vintage cars see kayakers, swimmers and fishermen enjoying the river, as well as the flora and fauna of the woods. In the autumn, the area’s foliage explodes in color, and, in winter, it’s all aboard the popular Santa Express for a meet-and-greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

No visit to the White Mountains is complete without a drive on the legendary Mt. Washington Auto Road. For over 160 years, families have been traveling up America's original man-made attraction. The Mt. Washington Auto Road climbs 7.6 miles through four distinct ecological zones to the region's highest summit, where views stretch across the Presidential Range and beyond. Every season offers a new adventure: drive yourself and earn the iconic "This Car Climbed Mt. Washington" bumper sticker, join a guided tour, or ride the narrated SnowCoach to the sub-arctic tree line in winter. Make a day of it: book a guided kayak trip or bike rental at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center, then dine at the award-winning bar and restaurant at the Glen House Hotel.

Rated New England’s most-accessible mountain resort destination, Loon Mountain offers activities year round. In summer and fall, ride New Hampshire’s longest gondola skyride to the 2,733-foot summit for breathtaking views, glacial caves, a scenic nature trail and the Summit Café. At the mountain’s base, ride a zipline across the Pemigewasset River, explore the Aerial Forest Adventure Park, scale a rock wall, rent a bike, navigate the LogJam Maze, or climb a 30-foot-tall spider web. Kids will enjoy Bunyan’s Bouncin’ Backyard with a bounce house. During the winter, you’ll ski and ride 2,100 feet of vertical with three peaks of terrain for all abilities – including an award-winning progression of terrain parks and New Hampshire’s only Superpipe, plus cross country skiing, snowshoeing. Photo Credit: Hinkley Photo