GET AN EARLY MORNING COFFEE IN PLYMOUTH
A coffee pick-me-up is our preferred way to start the day, so swing into Café Monte Alto in Plymouth, NH for a seasonal drink that feels like fall in a cup. Stroll main street as the town starts to wake up – can you feel the Stars Hollow vibes? If you’re up for a little extra effort, see if you can find a statue of Robert Frost tucked away on the nearby campus of Plymouth State University.
Are you all about covered bridges, and particularly so when the fall foliage is popping? The Smith Millenium Bridge in Plymouth, as well as Blair Bridge and Bump Bridge in Campton, are great spots to check out.
TAKE A SHORT HIKE IN WATERVILLE VALLEY
If you’re looking for a unique and easy hike in Waterville Valley, NH, check out Goodrich Rock. This 3.9-mile out and back trail has it all: a burbling creek, a colorful carpet of freshly fallen leaves, and outstanding glacial erratics to admire as you make way to this trail’s terminus. Goodrich Rock is humbly named – in our estimation, it’s more of a behemoth boulder, complete with a tall wooden ladder that will help you clamber to the top for a one-of-a-kind view. While, admittedly, some of the view is blocked by tall pine trees, we quite enjoy spotting the slopes of Waterville Valley Ski Resort between the branches.
If you’d pick a spelunking experience over a foliage hike, check out Polar Caves in Rumney, NH! 9 granite boulder caves and an animal park, plus great views from Hawk’s Cliff, make this stop a can’t-miss in Rumney, NH.
SHOP & STROLL MAIN STREET
Head north on I-93 (or take the seasonally open Tripoli Road if you have a high clearance vehicle) towards North Woodstock, NH. This small, walkable town has several cute shops, cafes, and breweries, as well as Fadden’s Maple Sugarhouse & General Store if you’d like to pick up a jug of locally made NH maple syrup. We’d also recommend swinging into Fig Tree North for bohemian stickers, White Mountains art prints and apparel, and even antiques.
GRAB LUNCH IN LINCOLN
If you didn’t find lunch in North Woodstock, head five minutes east to Lincoln, NH for all kinds of dining options.
HAVE FUN AT AN ATTRACTION
What to do with your afternoon? We say, make it attraction-centric! There are so many fun things to do in the White Mountains, and the Lincoln area is a veritable hub for adventurers.
Take a zipline or offroad tour at Alpine Adventures, or try some downhill mountain biking, disc golf, and scenic gondola riding at Loon Mountain Resort. Other favorites include the Flume Gorge and Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway in Franconia Notch State Park (just a short drive north from Lincoln), the bear shows and circus acts at Clark’s Bears, and the serene, woodsy ride aboard the Granite State Scenic Railway. Last but not least is Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves, an attraction perched at the top of Kinsman Notch which boasts scenic overlooks and 11 boulder caves to climb through.
Review the dates of operation for major attractions in the White Mountains prior to your visit. During foliage season, some stops operate on limited days or hours.
Reserve your tickets online in advance as well if you’d like to guarantee availability for your chosen adventure.
PICK A DIRECTION FOR DINNER
As the sun dips down, pick your direction for dinner based on where you’ll hang your hat this evening. Use the Restaurants tab on our website and search by town or region to narrow down your options.
That’s a wrap on you fall escape to the western stretches of our region. Would you like to explore fall in Mount Washington Valley or north of the notches next?
For more of the best ways to see foliage in the White Mountains, peruse our fall trip ideas and itineraries. See you and about, autumn enthusiasts!
