Now is the time for a spring escape to the western White Mountain of New Hampshire! Historic towns like Lincoln, Woodstock, and Plymouth offer adventure, the arts, and plenty of natural beauty. Make the most of a weekend trip to the White Mountains with this two-day itinerary.
Day 1
Breakfast
Start your day at Fresh Tracks, one of the best sandwich shops in the White Mountains. Their creatively named breakfast sandwiches, like Devil’s Gulch, Crunk Wrap Supreme, and Kona Town, are stacked with scrumptious flavors that will be a hit with your hungry crew.
Choose Your Morning Adventure
While this region is certainly known for countless ways to explore outdoors, we’ll narrow things down for you a bit. Take your pick of the three adventures below!
Do you want to combine scenic views with some spelunking? Visit Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves (Woodstock, NH). This unique attraction found at the top of Kinsman Notch is a mix of 11 granite boulder caves, cleverly built boardwalks, and scenic river and mountain views. See if you can squeeze through the famous Lemon Squeezer cave - a wood gauge at the cave entrance will determine whether you can physically fit through. Whether you make the squeeze or take the boardwalk bypass, you can purchase a souvenir Squeezer t-shirt in the gift shop.
If you would like to gain some elevation minus a big hike, Loon Mountain Resort (Lincoln, NH) is your best bet in the region. Board the four-person Gondola Skyride to the 2,733’ summit of Loon Peak and marvel at the views of White Mountain National Forest on the way up. At the top, enjoy activities like disc golf, hiking, and caves to climb through, plus lunch at the Summit Café.
Alpine Adventures (Lincoln, NH) is also a top destination for those after a bit of outdoorsy adrenaline. This stop includes off-road tours to the summit of Barron Mountain, daring zip courses to delight, and fun diversions at their main street location (including Thrillsville, an aerial obstacle course). After your adventure, enjoy lunch next door at Alpine Pizza – their wood-fired flatbreads are the perfect fuel for the rest of the day.
Lunch
If pizza isn’t your thing, pick from this list of great restaurants in Lincoln, Woodstock, and neighboring towns.
Keep the Momentum Rolling
It’s on to the next attraction! Hit the rails and explore the woods of the western White Mountains as you follow the Pemigewasset River; both the Granite State Railway and Lincoln Rail Bikes will take you there! These experiences depart from the same train station in Lincoln, so we suggest booking your adventure based on how much time you have. The train is one hour out and back, while the motor-assisted rail bikes trip takes two hours.
But what if you want a train ride plus amusement park fun?
Clark’s Bears is another fantastic option for family-friendly activities in Lincoln, NH. This popular attraction has it all: a trained bear show, a unique Main Street filled with museums and specialty shops, fun rides like the Anaconda Escape and water blaster boats, and the iconic ride on the White Mountain Central Railroad through Wolfman’s territory.
Toast the Day with a Beer or Wine Tasting
Before dinner, sample local flavors from the likes of the Woodstock Inn Brewery, Twin Barns Brewing Co. North Taproom, and Seven Birches Winery. Patio season starts soon!
Dinner
Round out the evening with dinner and an overnight at one of these places to stay.
Day 2
Breakfast
Greet the day with pastries at Mountain Thrift & Coffee and browse the clothing racks while your coffee is being crafted.
Courtesy Colleen Eliason
Add Color to Your Day
Get creative at Fired on the Mountain. This fun Lincoln, NH art studio has activities the whole family can enjoy, like hand-building with clay, painting your own pottery or canvas, and even tie-dyeing t-shirts. Fired on the Mountain also has a vegetarian café onsite. We recommend grabbing a smoothie sometime during your artsy session.
Seek Out Covered Bridges
The White Mountains region has many covered bridges. Pop the Bump Bridge and Blair Bridge into your preferred navigation app, and set the charming college town of Plymouth, NH as your next destination.
Lunch
Dine at one of Plymouth’s many main street establishments.
Shop Local, Mountain-Style
Shopping in Plymouth, NH offers everything from outdoor gear shops to artisan galleries and eclectic gift boutiques. We recommend Plymouth Soapworks, New Berry’s on The Common, and Artistic Roots, but there are plenty more stops to see you through a great afternoon.
Walk to a Waterfall
The trail to Rainbow Falls is part of the Walter-Newton Conservation Area in Plymouth, NH. Ringing in at 1.6 miles round trip, it's a perfect option for families looking to enjoy a peaceful and scenic walk in the woods. Budget in enough time to sit in front of this pretty waterfall for a good while before wrapping up your time in New Hampshire’s western White Mountains.
Pair these suggestiosn with our other spring itineraries and make a multi-day escape!
