This winter was off to a mild start, but as they say on the Game of Thrones, “winter is coming.” Surrounded by mountains and filled with fun, New Hampshire is a great winter weekend getaway destination for families, couples or groups of friends. From exciting outdoor sports to unique, photo-worthy ice installations to cozy indoor activities, New Hampshire will give you dozens of reasons to love winter.
1. Ice Castles in Lincoln, NH: This winter wonderland made of ice and snow is a magical, jaw-dropping sight that will have you grabbing for your camera. Tens of thousands of icicles create over an acre of frozen ice walls, tunnels, towers and archways. Bundle up and wear your snow boots for this one-of-a-kind experience. http://icecastles.com/lincoln/
2. Fatbiking at Great Glen Trails in Gorham, NH: Time to work off those holiday treats? Hop on a fatbike and get ready to ride the trails. Fatbikes are off-road bicycles with over-sized tires designed for low ground pressure to allow riding on soft unstable terrain, such as snow, sand, bogs and mud. Rentals are available and helmets are required. http://greatglentrails.com/winter/fatbiking/
3. Mt. Washington SnowCoach at Great Glen Trails in Gorham, NH: The Mt. Washington SnowCoach is a custom-designed tour vehicle which climbs up to the treeline on Mt. Washington (at approximately 4,200 feet), offering breathtaking scenery and incredible views. Powered by a 4-track, all-wheel-powered drive-train, the 9 passenger SnowCoach stops at the “top of the tour” so guests can step out and take photos before descending to the base of the mountain. For the more adventuresome, there is also the option to snowshoe down to the base. http://greatglentrails.com/winter/outdoor-center/snowcoach/
4. Guided Snowmobile Tours at Northern Extremes in Bartlett, NH: Follow experienced guides as you traverse the trails of the beautiful White Mountain National Forest and the NH Great North Woods, riding on single or double snowmobiles. Guided tours are offered for anywhere from an hour to a full day, welcoming all ages and abilities. Snowmobile rentals are also available. http://www.northernextremessnowmobiling.com/guided-tours.php
5. Tubing at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, NH: Rated as the #1 tubing park in New Hampshire, Cranmore’s 10 tubing lanes with 700-foot runs feature prime glimpses of Mt. Washington and the Moats. Tubing is a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy together as no special skills, lessons or equipment are needed. Tubes are provided as part of the admission price. http://www.cranmore.com/winter/tubing
6. Mountain Coaster at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, NH: Imagine an outdoor roller-coaster through the snowy scenery. Follow the twists and turns along thousands of feet of track, while you control your own speed from a leisurely pace up to a speedy 25 mph. Anyone over 3 years old and 38” tall is welcome to ride with an adult and 9 year olds who are at least 54” tall can ride on their own. Whee! http://www.cranmore.com/winter/cranmore-mountain-coaster
7. Aerial Adventure Park at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, NH: Just announced, the family-friendly aerial adventure park that is such a big hit with summer visitors and was open during Christmas week . Multiple elevated courses are offered for different ability levels consisting of dozens of challenges including a ropes course and exciting ziplines. http://www.cranmore.com/summer/aerial-adventure-park
And of course throughout the state, there’s plenty of skiing, snowboarding, sledding and snowshoeing to keep you busy all day. The next few suggestions are for those of you who see winter weather as a perfect excuse to get cozy or for anyone ready for a break from outdoor activities:
8. The Spa at Red Jacket Mountain View in North Conway, NH: Relax and rejuvenate in luxury at this soothing resort spa. Treatments include hot stone massages, seaweed gel wraps, vitamineral facials and traditional manicures and pedicures. Special treatments are also available for kids and teens. The Spa is open to the public and reservations are required. http://www.redjacketresorts.com/red-jacket-mountain-view-resort/spa-red-jacket-mountain-view-resort/
9. Tax-Free Outlet Shopping at Settlers’ Green in North Conway, NH: Gather all those holiday gift cards and head inside a shop or two for some tax-free outlet shopping. You can “shop ‘til you drop” at this mecca of brand name outlets featuring such stores as Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Carter’s, Chico’s, J. Crew, Nike, Talbot’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Toys R Us and Under Armour. http://www.settlersgreen.com/
10. Kahuna Laguna Indoor Water Park in North Conway, NH: With a constant temperature of 84 degrees, this 40,000 square foot indoor water park will warm you up and provide hours of fun with a giant wave pool, four high-speed slides, water basketball, a 25-person hot tub and an area designed specifically for toddlers and small children. Kahuna Laguna access is available with resort packages for Red Jacket Mountain View Resort guests and a limited number of day passes are also available for NH visitors who are not staying at the resort. http://www.kahunalaguna.com/
Since winter weather is unpredictable, be sure to call ahead to check conditions for any outdoor activities. And now it’s time to pack up your winter gear and make plans to head north, the winter fun of New Hampshire is waiting for you!
For reservations at Red Jacket Mountain View Resort in North Conway, NH call 1-800-RJACKET or visit www.redjacketresorts.com.
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Guest blogger Beth Patkoske, Marketing & Communications at Red Jacket Resorts. (Ice Castles photos –credit Corey Schestak. Mountain Coaster photo –credit Katie Barnes. Kahuna Laguna photos – credit Red Jacket Resorts.)
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