Jackson, New Hampshire is one of the gems of the White Mountains. We at New Hampshire Way are huge Jackson fans! If you’re looking for an adorable small mountain town for a getaway, they don’t come much more adorable than Jackson. And there are tons of cool things to do in Jackson, NH, too. Jackson has a population of around 1,000, and if you squint a bit, you can imagine how the town looked 100 or 200 years ago. It’s gorgeous year-round, but especially during the fall foliage season. There hasn’t been too much overdevelopment here, and it’s a peaceful alternative to busy North Conway, just 10 minutes down the road. Jackson is a true year-round destination. Like most of the White Mountains, summer and fall are busy times of year — but Jackson is also one of our favorite places to visit in the White Mountains in the winter thanks to the plethora of ski resorts, ice skating, sleigh rides, and the best cross-country skiing trails in New Hampshire. Another nice thing about Jackson is that it feels very adult-oriented. New Hampshire is a phenomenally family-friendly state, but sometimes it can be nice to have a more adult atmosphere ...

There are so many cool things to do in the White Mountains of New Hampshire! This part of the Granite State is one of the most beautiful places in New England and a true four-season destination. Whether you come for hiking in the summer, skiing in the winter, leaf-peeping in the fall, or maple sugaring in the spring, you’ll find plenty of adventures here. A lot of people think that the White Mountains is mainly about getting outside and, frankly, getting dirty. Hiking for days on end, camping, getting covered with mud and coming home in need of a shower. But it’s WAY more than that! Did you know there’s wine tasting here? And winter zip-lining? Great breweries and distilleries, an epic pancake house, outlet shopping that will knock your socks off? The White Mountains has it all — and that’s why so many New Englanders come here year after year. Now it’s time for us to share our favorite places with you. Here are the best things to do in the White Mountains, NH! This post was most recently updated in May 2023. Table of Contents ToggleWhite Mountains NH FAQHike to Artist’s BluffDrive the Kancamagus HighwayRide the Mount Washington ...

Matthew Galvin – SCA NH Corps – Discover the Power of Parks Interpretive Ranger Unfortunately, the best time of year has come and gone. It feels like Fall has been knocking on the door for a month. Yes, school is back in session, but I am referring to something else. There are natural clues or indicators that we can pay attention to that signal the changing of the season. Spring and Fall have some more obvious indicators as many plants begin to show vibrant colors, but I focus on some lesser known indicators. Noises Cricket found in Pawtuckaway State Park. Photo by author Come August, the background noise in the evenings becomes a familiar sound from Spring but it is not frogs. It’s crickets and katydids (another insect)! In agreement with popular belief, crickets carry the weight of these evening performances. Grasshoppers call too, but during the daytime. A katydid spotted on milkweed. Katydids look like grasshoppers but are active at night while grasshoppers are not. Katydids also have antennae as long as their bodies, while grasshoppers have shorter antennae. Photo by author It is true that temperature affects the speed at which these insects call. Take time to compare ...

The Portsmouth Halloween Parade is back for another night of spooky fun on October 31. Photo by Kendal J. Bush Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, Locations vary, Throughout October Though pumpkins and foliage may get the lion's share of attention in New Hampshire this time of year, the fruits of fall aren't the only thing October is known for. Celebrate this month's status as Breast Cancer Awareness Month with the American Cancer Society's popular fundraising walks. This year's six New Hampshire walks will take place in cities from Concord to Exeter — check the website for the one nearest you. secure.acsevents.org Plainfield Pumpkin People, Plainfield, September 24 through October 31 Pumpkins are fun and present many opportunities to express your creativity, but what about making pumpkin people out of them? The town of Plainfield is celebrating their 11th anniversary of this unique event. Grab your camera and jump in the car to see what you can find. pumpkinpeople.org/ Apple Harvest Day, Dover, October 7 Pumpkins aren't the only produce that get a little love this month. Dover's fall festival focuses on the season's sweeter favorite, with a 400-strong crafter fair, live entertainment and plenty of eats, apple-themed and otherwise ...

Exeter's annual Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival is back for its 11th year, complete with cold beer, delicious food and great company. Also returning are children's activities including a kid's zone, and chili samples from several vendors. A little over a decade ago, the Town of Exeter Parks and Recreation and Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce caught the “craft beer wave,” and have been putting on this popular event since then, growing each year. “We are excited to return to one session this year with a V.I.P. option to get in one hour early,” stated Greg Bisson, Director of Exeter Parks & Recreation. “The event has sold out in the past, so buy your tickets now and don't miss out.” “The Powder Keg Beer Festival is a great opportunity to highlight and support our community. We look forward to welcoming new and returning attendees to this year's festival. When people come to Exeter for the festival, they stay and enjoy the shopping, restaurants, and all that we have to offer here.” remarked Jennifer Wheeler, President of the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Allie Burke Photography The festival will take place rain or shine on Saturday, Oct. 7 ...

Apple Votives > Dress up a rustic cutting board with a flickering display of orchard-inspired tea lights. With a sharp knife, remove the stem and core of the apple, and outfit with a votive candle. Perfect for an evening centerpiece. Eve knew the allure of the apple, and she had nothing but desire to share it with Adam. New Hampshire's more than 60 working orchards feel the same way. With more than 120 apple varieties to choose from including centuries-old heirlooms, handpicking apples are at the pinnacle of favorite fall things to do in the Granite State. Gather your family and friends, and pack a picnic for an autumn outing at your local orchard. How ‘bout them apples … Squeezed into cider or sliced into pies, apples are an ever- present part of fall and all its activities. With a little design inspiration and a few tools, you can spread their autumn style all throughout the house. Ideas by the bushel … Whether decorating an entryway, tabletop, window or fireplace mantle, a fresh shiny apple will always fit the bill. Try stringing them with twine and hanging from cup hooks as a decorative garland. Or pierce with a wooden skewer ...

Rebecca Durinick, SCA Interpretive Ranger Fire towers have been longstanding landmarks among the New Hampshire mountain skyline. For over a hundred years many of these towers have provided essential fire prevention. Over time their usefulness has declined, but the still existing towers are used to this day. All of the fire towers have spectacular views of the surrounding landscape and are worth the visit. This is especially true if you plan to complete the fire tower quest. Town of Zealand Photographs, Special Collections, New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, NH Forestry Fuels Fires For a long time, New Hampshire was mostly family hill farms. Competition with the Mid-West and demand for timber brought an end to the widespread farming. It wasn’t until the 1800s that the state turned to commercial logging. By the 1880s and the early 1900s, New Hampshire had a booming lumber industry. Loggers would clear-cut forests. The logs were pulled by horses and oxen to the river and “driven” down the river to Mills. Logging towns emerged around mills. Berlin and Groveton were two prominent mills. The Berlin Mill is still running today. As the demand for wood products grew the machinery saw many improvements. This included wood-burning ...

Kiley Cruse, SCA Field Crew Member Hitch season marks the true beginning for field crew members at SCA NH Corps. Hitches are projects in which field crew members are sent to a state park or national forest for eleven days at a time to complete the work assigned. Field work consists of a wide variety of projects from general trail maintenance to specialized carpentry projects. Our hitch season includes eight hitches with three teams of field crew members going to different locations for each project. During this current season I have done five hitches including projects focused on carpentry, rock structures, and new trail construction. White Mountains National Forest: Rock Staircase Construction During our most recent hitch, I was sent to the White Mountains National Forest where my team was tasked with building a rock staircase to enhance the trail. This was my first hitch where I was able to experience and learn what rigging entails. Rigging is used for most rock work in the field due to the mass of the rocks. We used the rigging equipment by attaching one part to a sturdy tree and then the other end is attached to the rock we are trying to ...

Dan Guider, SCA Interpretive Ranger As an interpretive ranger at Monadnock State Park a big part of my job is hiking up the mountain. Doing this for a whole season may get repetitive at some points but something that always keeps things interesting for me is the wildlife I get to observe here. You can see lots of different types of wildlife at Monadnock State Park but the most entertaining, in this ranger’s opinion, are the birds. At every point on the mountain, you can see or hear some birds and can almost guarantee that at any time of day, year, or season, you will be able to observe these incredible avian creatures. Starting from the trailhead and working our way up you will be able to hear more than you can see most likely. During the summer it’s not uncommon to hear Cardinals, Hermit Thrushes, Nuthatches, Chipping Sparrows, and plenty of Red-Eyed Vireos. Bring a pair of binoculars to spot them! They can be found in trees, bushes, and on the ground. The Chipping Sparrows in particular like hanging around the parking lot by the White Dot trailhead so keep your eyes and ears on the lookout. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/chipping-sparrow As ...

Emily Veh – SCA NH Corps – Discover the Power of Parks Interpretive Ranger Franconia Notch is one popular spot in the White Mountains to view the incredible display of New Hampshire’s foliage. Peak colors are just about to hit here in Franconia Notch and here are 3 hikes for all levels of hikers to get outside and experience the best of the Fall foliage! 1. Artists’ Bluff Difficulty: Easy/Moderate Trails: Artists’ Bluff Trail Distance: 1.5 mile loop with Bald Mountain The view from Artists’ Bluff. Low clouds hover over Echo Lake. Photo by Emily Veh Artists’ Bluff is the perfect short hike with a massive reward. The views from the bluff are some of the best in Franconia Notch State Park. It overlooks Echo Lake with Cannon Mountain and the Franconia Ridge in the distance. This is a beautiful hike year round, but Fall is an especially special time of year for this viewpoint. 2. Mount Pemigewasset Difficulty: Moderate Trails: Mount Pemigewasset Trail Distance: 3.7 miles out and back View from the summit of Mount Pemigewasset. Photo by Kate Gilligan Mount Pemigewasset or Indian Head is a great mountain hike if you’re looking for something less demanding than a ...

The hunt to find a vegan restaurant, or a menu with well-rounded options, is seemingly endless. Whether you’re vegan by choice, or because of allergies and intolerances, your choices are limited when you’re on the prowl for a bite to eat, and are looking for something to leave you satisfied (because let’s face it – sometimes a salad just doesn’t cut it).  Luckily, the Granite State’s got you covered. Here are 7 of our picks for mouth-watering vegan restaurants from across the state that vegans and non-vegans alike are sure to love. Earth’s Harvest 835 Central Ave, Suite 100, Dover earths-harvest.com (603) 516-7600 No matter how you like to eat, Earth’s Harvest’s versatile and expansive menu has something for you. Everything that comes out of their kitchen is made from scratch with ingredients that are local and responsibly sourced. Their fresh menu has an almost never-ending number of foods that are vegetarian, gluten free, vegan, and all of the above. With sandwiches, soups, smoothies, smoothie bowls, juices, breakfasts and more, Earth’s Harvest is a one-stop shop for mindful eating. Green Elephant 35 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth greenelephantnh.com (603) 427-8344 This Asian inspired Vegetarian Bistro and Bar in Portsmouth is on a ...

When the maples are ablaze in red and orange, and the birches have turned to gold, almost any road in New Hampshire is worthy of a foliage tour. These are a few of our favorites, each with a prize at the end — a memorable meal or an attraction that's especially appealing in the fall. Along the way are mountain and valley views, picture-perfect villages, natural attractions and interesting places to stop. Grab your camera, hit the road, and take advantage of New Hampshire's most beautiful season. Route 1: North Woodstock to Sugar Hill and Polly's Pancake Parlor The scenic drive from North Woodstock to Sugar Hill and Polly's Pancake Parlor. Photography by Michael Blanchette Immerse yourself in the White Mountain National Forest as you drive west along Route 112 from North Woodstock. Lost River Gorge is worth a stop to climb past the waterfalls and through the convoluted rock formations carved by the glacial waters. Shortly after Route 112 climbs over Kinsman Notch, turn right onto Route 116 through the village of Eastman and along the valley to Franconia. Stop to pay respects to the poet at The Frost Place and admire the foliage-framed view of the Franconia Range ...