A New Hampshire vacation can be enjoyed at any time of year, as the state is an all weather destination. Since this is a northern state, there are four distinct seasons in New Hampshire that each boast attractions and things to do that can satisfy the interests and budget of just about everyone. If you think it’s too cold and there is too much snow in the winter, you will find indoor water parks to occupy your time. If you aren’t a skier, you’ll see that many of the ski resorts are open in the summer, revealing spectacular vistas as you take scenic rides both up and down the ski lifts.

Summertime New Hampshire travel also allows you to enjoy these spectacular vistas on a leisurely drive to the summit of beautiful Mount Washington, even though it boasts some of the world’s worst weather in the winter. If you are a skier, the White Mountains allow skiing well into the early summer, all the way into August on Mount Washington. The Conway Scenic Railroad operates its vintage trains from mid-spring through the autumn, as well as special holiday trains during the Christmas season. The fall foliage season draws thousands of visitors each year, as over two months, the leaves gradually change to brilliant hues. This is the time of year when communities across the state hold events and harvest festivals. The New Hampshire travel and tourism industry takes autumn so seriously, that the state maintains an online calendar detailing what leaves are turning what colors in what regions on what days during September and October.

If you like the water, you can take your New Hampshire vacation to experience a state full of lakes and mountains, with ocean beaches and other natural resources that combine to make one of the best outdoor recreation resorts in the country. There is excellent trout fishing in the cold mountain streams and deep-sea ocean fishing from the communities near Portsmouth. The warmer seasons in New Hampshire find vacationers enjoying swimming and boating, hiking and beach combing. For less strenuous outdoor recreation, you can try out one of the state’s more than 120 golfing venues, including luxury golf resorts, small community courses, and international tournament clubs. The lakes and mountains aren’t only for the warmer seasons in New Hampshire as you can enjoy ice fishing, skating, or even Meredith stock car racing on the ice. Snow shoeing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling trails are used during the winter.

New Hampshire Map

For history, comfort, and culture, you’ll find that a New Hampshire vacation reveals surprisingly sophisticated museums, 54 of the country’s 750 historic covered bridges, and several full service luxury spas. As you drive north into the state, make a stop in Manchester, the largest city, to visit the internationally respected Currier Museum of Art and the only Frank Lloyd Wright home in New England that is open to the public. A little further north in the capital city of Concord, you can visit the Christa MacAuliffe Center, commemorating the woman who would have been the first schoolteacher in space had she not died tragically in the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle disaster.

In fact, none of the seasons in New Hampshire should be a barrier to your enjoyment of everything this beautiful state has to offer. Throughout the year, there are wilderness cabins to rent, fine old New Hampshire hotels to accommodate you, and just about everything in between. New Hampshire travel will be rewarding at any time of year.