New Hampshire is a state of extremes. Located in the New England region of the United States, this is where you'll find the Northeast's highest peak and the nation's shortest seacoast. What was once the most powerful gust of wind ever to blast the country was recorded in New Hampshire in 1934, and one of the oldest state houses in the US stands in Concord, New Hampshire's venerable capital. All this, plus vast and verdant parks and forests, mountainous peaks, collections of historic bridges and buildings, and some of the best skiing on the east coast, is waiting for you.
Ensconce yourself in Concord and absorb the history that permeates throughout the New Hampshire state capital. Begin by visiting the handsome state capitol building, distinguished by its shiny gold dome. Dating back to 1819, this is the nation's oldest state house in which the legislature still occupies its original chambers.
Across from Concord's state capitol is the Eagle Hotel. In its day, this landmark property numbered US Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, and Franklin Pierce among its guests. Jefferson Davis, who served as the president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865, also stayed here, as did Richard Nixon. The hotel closed in 1961 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
New Hampshire can claim the highest peak in the Northeastern United States—Mount Washington. The easiest way to reach its 1,916-m (6,288-ft) summit is on the Cog, the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway.
At the top of the mountain sits the Sherman Adams Visitors Center, which houses a small museum and a cafeteria. Sharing the facility is the Mount Washington Observatory. On April 12, 1934, the observatory recorded a windspeed of 372 km/h (231 mph) at the summit, the world record from 1934 until 1996.
Set in Bretton Woods near the mountain is Mount Washington Hotel. Opened in 1902, this grand and graceful-looking property is noted for its Gold Room where the International Monetary Fund and World Bank were established during the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986, the hotel serves as a perfect family vacation option, or as a romantic couples retreat.
Mount Washington Valley is hallowed ski country. In and around North Conway and Jackson you can find some of the east coast's finest skiing resorts. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, dog-sledding, sleigh rides, and ice skating can all be enjoyed.
Franconia Notch State Park is located in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest, in turn home to Cannon Mountain, where the first aerial tramway in North America—the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway—still operates. The park is named for Franconia Notch, a mountain pass set at an elevation of 590 m (1,950 ft). A number of iconic covered bridges lend historical character to the park, such as this one spanning the Pemigewasset River near Flume Gorge.
The Flume Gorge is one of New Hampshire's most impressive natural wonders. It's a 240-m-long (800 ft) crack extending horizontally at the base of Mount Liberty. Its sheer granite walls rise to a height of up to 27 m (90 ft) above a tumbling stream that flows through it. A boardwalk running over the water affords an exhilarating walk.
Echo Lake State Park is blessed with Echo Lake, a fabulous body of water partly rimmed with a beautiful sandy beach. This is a great outdoor recreation spot where activities include swimming, hiking, non-motorized boating, picnicking, and fishing.
New Hampshire's cultural clout extends to the Strawbery Banke Museum, a fascinating outdoor history museum located in Portsmouth. In fact, Strawbery Banke was the name of the first 1623 settlement at what is now the present-day city of Portsmouth. It is the oldest neighborhood in the state to be settled by Europeans, and contains houses from four centuries. Pictured is Peacock House, built in 1821.
In total, Strawbery Banke features more than 37 restored buildings built between the 17th and 19th centuries and furnished to reflect life in the various eras. Seventeen houses are open to the public.
Portsmouth itself is a delight to discover. This historic seaport and shipbuilding town is named after Portsmouth in Hampshire, England, and its colonial-era veneer is visible in the many 16th- and 17th-century buildings that make up its central core.
The most rewarding way of exploring the destination is by walking the Portsmouth Harbor Trail, which connects nearly 80 of the city's scenic sites and noted structures.
One of these is Warner House, built in 1716 and the finest early-Georgian brick house in the New England region. It's decorated throughout with Queen Anne-period furniture and features four Anglo-American wall murals that are the oldest of their kind in the country.
An ideal way of absorbing the scenic White Mountain National Forest is by following the Kancamagus Highway. The winding two-lane blacktop climbs over the spine of the White Mountains and affords outstanding views of the forest, which during fall is a mantle of red, gold, and orange.
The highway passes numerous natural and man-made attractions, all worthy of further exploration. Rocky Gorge on the Swift River is particularly alluring.
The route takes you near the Albany covered bridge, some of the timbers of which date back to 1858. The bridge is actually located on the Passaconaway-Dugway Road just a short distance from the Kancamagus Highway. It's closed during the winter months, but foot traffic is welcome.
Mount Monadnock is the most prominent mountain peak in southern New Hampshire and is often cited as one of the most frequently climbed mountains in the world, probably because you can summit the peak in a day and its trails offer options for different abilities.
