New Hampshire

The Wild North in a Small Package

New Hampshire packs an outsized wilderness into one of the smallest states in the country. The White Mountains dominate the north with jagged peaks, glacial valleys and dense forests that turn incandescent shades of amber and crimson every autumn. Mount Washington, the tallest summit in the northeastern United States, is notorious for some of the most extreme weather recorded anywhere on Earth, yet every summer thousands of hikers make the pilgrimage to its rocky crown. The Kancamagus Highway threads through the heart of the mountains and is widely regarded as one of the finest scenic drives in New England, rewarding travellers with covered bridges, tumbling waterfalls and lookouts that stretch for miles.

A Coastline Short on Length but Long on Character

New Hampshire has just 29 kilometres of Atlantic coastline, making it the shortest coastal strip of any state that touches the ocean, but those kilometres punch well above their weight. Hampton Beach draws summer crowds with its wide sandy shore, arcades and seafood shacks serving fresh lobster rolls and fried clams. The historic port city of Portsmouth sits just inland, offering a genuinely charming grid of colonial architecture, independent bookshops and some of the best restaurants in the region. Strawbery Banke Museum brings the colonial era to life across ten city blocks of preserved buildings, giving visitors a vivid sense of life in one of the oldest settlements in America.

Lakes, Ski Fields and Four Seasons of Adventure

The Lakes Region at the centre of the state anchors summer life in New Hampshire, with Lake Winnipesaukee acting as a hub for sailing, kayaking and old-fashioned steamboat cruises. Come winter, the mountains transform into a ski destination of genuine substance. Bretton Woods is the largest ski area in New England, while Cannon Mountain and Waterville Valley attract everyone from weekend beginners to serious alpine racers. Spring brings maple sugaring season and wildflower hiking, and the blazing foliage display of September and October draws visitors from across the world to witness one of nature's most spectacular annual performances.

Small Towns With an Outsized Sense of Place

Beyond the peaks and lakes, New Hampshire rewards slow travel through its villages and college towns. Hanover is a quintessential New England town anchored by Dartmouth, with bookshops, art galleries and a lively main street that buzzes well into autumn. Concord, the state capital, is compact and walkable, with a handsome gold-domed statehouse and a farmers market that reflects the state's strong agricultural tradition. Wolfeboro on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee claims to be the oldest summer resort in the country and earns that title with weatherboard cottages, ice cream parlours and a waterfront that has barely changed in decades.