A Cozy Escape: Your Guide to North Conway, NH for Every Season

Night markets in Thailand, steaming bowls of ramen down little alleys in Japan, and five-star hotels overlooking the Pitons of St. Lucia. All of these experiences have vastly impressed my husband when we travel together. But I think, honestly, If he had to choose a vacation with all his family, he’d go back to New Hampshire in the U.S. again and again.

I’ve grown to love the familiarity too, which is just slightly different from home, but feels fun like a real trip to visit.

North Conway was the first place I brought my new baby during the pandemic when there was little option to leave home. We found a hotel that had contactless check in, was dog-friendly and had lots of takeout spots still open. It felt great to be in a place that was cozy, scenic for great drives, and just a couple hours from home.

It was the first place I hung out with my future brother-in-law, where I honed my own skiing skills while young, and where I got my three-year-old on a mountain for the first time. There’s lots of cozy, wonderful memories wrapped up in this place.

That might make me biased, but there’s always loads of happy families and friends enjoying North Conway and beyond when we visit too, making this spot a great option for a trip any time of year (especially the winter!). I’ll break it all down to plan the ideal trip to North Conway: where to stay, what to do in each season, and of course, where to eat with your whole crew.

Plan your North Conway trip

Getting there: North Conway sits in the Mount Washington Valley about 3 hours north of Boston. From most of Massachusetts, it’s a straightforward drive up I-93 N, then over via Route 16. The drive itself is part of the appeal, especially in fall when the foliage turns. There’s no commuter rail or easy public transit, so you’ll want a car.

When to go: This is a real four-season destination. Winter (mid-December through March) is peak ski season and the most popular time. Summer (June through August) brings waterfall hikes, lake swimming, mountain coasters, and outdoor festivals. Fall (mid-September through mid-October) is when the White Mountains foliage hits its peak, and it’s stunning. Spring is mud season for a few weeks, but May brings warmer days and fewer crowds.

How long to spend: A long weekend (3-4 days) is the sweet spot. You can do a full week if you’re folding in day trips into Maine or Vermont.

Where to stay overview: Full breakdown below, but in short: chain hotels and condo-style resorts for families, the Stonehurst Manor for something classic, and VRBO or Airbnb for groups.

Jump to a section

• Skiing and winter sports in North Conway
• Summer in North Conway
• Year-round attractions
• Where to eat in North Conway
• Where to stay in North Conway
• Day trips from North Conway

Skiing, boarding and winter sports in North Conway

Cranmore Mountain

Those new to East Coast skiing or who are starting out will love Cranmore Mountain. There are several lifts and roughly 60 trails included in your lift ticket, ranging from cute bunny slopes to more challenging glades and mogul-lined runs. The ski school offers options for new enthusiasts as young as four years old. My daughter can’t wait to try it out this season.

On rest days I love grabbing a tube and hitting the park for some gliding, as well as the unique winter zip line and mountain coaster. It’s a huge hit with the kids. As a bonus, you can apres ski at the bar overlooking the tube park to keep an eye on older kiddos.

As with any mountain, check the conditions before you go to ensure the best experience.

Echo Lake State Park (in the winter)

Gentle lake swimming in the summer, snowman making spot in the winter. This is a pretty area so simply surround yourself in nature. When we have a day off of skiing we’ll come check out the frozen lake and see how the landscape transforms every season. Parking is sparse in the winter, but it’s a quick walk to the lake.

Other ski mountains near North Conway

There’s a quick way to North Conway along the highway, or you can try the Kancamagus Highway. This snaking road through the mountains is beautiful any time of year and will bring you close to some other options for skiing and boarding.

Attitash Mountain resort is only about 15 minutes from Cranmore. There’s a similar vibe to Cranmore at Attitash with a bit more space. You can ski for free with an adult if you’re seven years old or under at this mountain, although overall lift tickets are more than Cranmore. They also have a mountain coaster and other non-ski activities.

Stay at Attitash through their site or Booking.com for the best rates.

Loon Mountain lies an hour west and is another great option for more advanced skiers. It’s often preferred among the seasoned crowd, with greater vertical drop and spread out trails.

There are three other mountains within an hour of North Conway for skiing and snowboarding, as well as a few small operations too:

• Wildcat
• Bretton Woods
• Black Mountain

Summer in North Conway

A lot of people only think of North Conway as a ski destination, but summer here is its own kind of special. Waterfalls, lake swimming, hiking, and outdoor festivals make it worth a trip even when there’s no snow on the ground.

Diana’s Baths

Diana’s Baths is one of the most beautiful and accessible spots in the White Mountains, a series of small cascading waterfalls and natural pools tucked along Lucy Brook in Bartlett. It’s a relatively easy half-mile walk from the parking lot, mostly flat, which makes it doable with little kids and well-behaved dogs (we’ve brought both).

A few honest notes if you’re going. The trail and the falls get crowded in summer, especially mid-morning through late afternoon on weekends. Head in early in the day (before 9 AM is ideal) or pop in during shoulder season to have it more to yourself. Wear shoes with grip, the rocks around the falls are slick. And keep a close eye on littles around the water.

Echo Lake State Park (in summer)

The same spot you’ll see in winter transforms in summer into a calm swimming lake with sandy beach access, perfect for families. There’s also hiking that goes up to Cathedral Ledge above the lake. Parking fills early on weekends, so arrive before mid-morning if you can.

Cathedral Ledge

Just above Echo Lake, Cathedral Ledge is a 700-foot granite cliff with a paved road to the top, which means you can get incredible views without a hike if mobility is an issue or you’ve got little kids. The drive up is short (about 15 minutes from downtown North Conway) and the overlook at the top is one of the most photographed spots in the Mount Washington Valley. Rock climbers will recognize it as one of the best traditional climbing destinations in the Northeast.

Mount Washington Cog Railway

About 45 minutes northwest of North Conway in Bretton Woods, the Mount Washington Cog Railway is the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway, opened in 1869. It climbs to the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast and home to some of the wildest weather in the country. The round trip takes about three hours and runs spring through fall (with a holiday excursion calendar in December). Book tickets well in advance, especially for fall foliage weekends, because they sell out.

Year-round attractions

Conway Scenic Railroad

The Conway Scenic train ride is an adorable and fun activity any time of year in New Hampshire. The winter snow makes it even more special. There’s different classes of coach to pick from, up to a domed car that offers 180-degree views.

The day we went it was pouring rain and a bit miserable. But luckily the cars were toasty warm and offered a nice activity to do when the weather was garbage. You can buy tickets in advance and ideally go for an early or late ride. Ours at 9AM was quiet compared to the 10:30AM one that seemed to have a long line.

After the train ride, it’s worth a stop at Zeb’s General Store across the street for a treat or seven. They claim more than 5,000 sweets, gifts and homewares are under their roof. I usually splurge on some homemade fudge or candy buttons.

Story Land

Is this park real or was it just a fever dream from your childhood? I grew up going to Story Land thirty years ago when it was basically a glorified petting zoo and playground. Nowadays it’s a really interactive, nostalgic experience that my kids and my nephews love visiting all the time. They’ve added proper thrill rides, live entertainment, and indoor play areas for rainy days, which is a real upgrade if you’ve got little kids and unpredictable weather.

Hop on classic amusement rides, see live shows and grab some old fashioned cotton candy. Don’t worry, there’s a Dunkin Donuts onsite too of course. This year, Story Land also introduced some 21+ nights if local New Englanders want to walk down memory lane sans kids. PS: They do close during the winter months, but stay open from October to May.

Settlers Green outlet shopping

We end up at Settlers Green every trip. It’s an outdoor outlet village with the usual mix (Nike, Polo, Banana Republic, Under Armour, Eddie Bauer) plus locally-owned shops and restaurants scattered throughout. Worth knowing: New Hampshire has no sales tax, so the savings are real if you’re stocking up on shoes or jackets for the kids.

On a down day (rainy, kids climbing the walls, etc.), there’s also an arcade and a trampoline park on the property that have saved more than one of our trips.

Jackson village

Jackson is the quaint, postcard-perfect village just north of North Conway, with covered bridges, a 19th-century town center, and a more old-school New Hampshire feel than the main strip. Worth a slow afternoon stroll, or a meal at one of the historic inns.

Where to eat in North Conway

Early Bird breakfast spots

Peach’s Restaurant. There’s often a line which is often a good sign! Make sure you savor a slice of the peaches coffee cake and a big stack of pancakes. This is the place to splurge.

Leavitt’s Country Bakery. Feel like rising at 4AM? If you do, you’ll be rewarded with the freshest, most gorgeous donuts in town made almost daily at Leavitt’s. Don’t worry though, we wandered in around 10AM and there were still a few to choose from, including coconut, red velvet, and maple. They have both yeast and cake-like varieties.

The Sunrise Shack. A few minutes north of North Conway in Glen is the Sunrise Shack, another wonderful option for early risers. They have daily specials and space for all to get the day started with a full belly.

Brews and casual dinners

Moat Mountain Smoke House & Brewing Co. We bring the whole bunch to Moat Mountain at least once every trip. My husband gets a massive rack of perfectly smoked ribs and everyone enjoys cold IPAs to boot. It gets very busy during ski season but the sprawling property makes the wait list move swiftly.

Tuckerman Brewing. This place was jammed after 4PM on a holiday weekend, full of couples, families with young children, and big groups of buddies all enjoying some live music. They had a few lovely dry hard ciders on tap and enough beer to sample in a flight.

Quick and easy meals for groups

Cheese Louise and Breetos. Downtown we needed something quick and delicious to satisfy our large group of adults and small children. Half opted for grilled cheese sandwiches and soups at Cheese Louise, the other grabbed big, stuffed burritos at Breetos across the street. Everything was hot and tasty to-go back at our holiday home.

Fiesta Jalisco. At the very end, I’m going to give a nod to good old Fiesta Jalisco. It’s a Mexican joint that’s unassuming and just fine when it comes to food. But when we come in after skiing or a long day in the snow, the incredible staff here always accommodate our group and are so friendly to boot. The margaritas are strong and the chips are free. What more could you ask for on vacation?

Where to stay in North Conway

There’s dozens of hotels in the North Conway area for all types of travelers.

Hotel picks

North Conway Grand. This hotel is one of my favorites, especially for its indoor and outdoor pool areas. Rooms are updated, spacious, and there’s dining onsite as well.

Residence Inn by Marriott. Big rooms and a pet-friendly policy is what drew me to the Residence Inn the first time. It’s a great base near amenities and shops to get you started on enjoying the area.

Stonehurst Manor. Stay in one of the quaint and classic rooms at the actual manor with great mountain views, or opt for one of the holiday homes just down the road best for bigger parties. Some even offer access to the manor and its amenities, like the pool.

Nordic Village Resort. Just north of North Conway is Jackson, offering a wider reach of accommodation near all the action. I’ve stayed in several of their condo-style rooms with my family of four very comfortably.

Holiday homes and group rentals

Half the time I stay in hotels in New Hampshire, because there’s so many options to choose from right next to the mountains. However these days I’m usually with a crew (often more than my immediate family). For instance, this New Year’s Eve we spent in North Conway and needed space for six adults and five children. I find using a mix of Booking.com and VRBO shows what’s available for privately owned homes and those associated with the larger hotels and mountain resorts.

Or if I’m using points and miles, I stick with places like the Residence Inn via Marriott. PS, you can actually use Marriott Bonvoy for holiday rentals too!

Day trips from North Conway

If you’re spending more than a few days in the area, North Conway is a good launch point for some classic New England day adventures.

Portland, Maine is about 90 minutes east via Route 302. Excellent food scene, harbor walks, breweries. Full details in my Boston to Maine Road Trip itinerary, which works in reverse from North Conway too.

Stowe, Vermont is about 2.5 hours west, doable as a long day or better as an overnight. See my full Stowe Vermont guide.

Mount Washington Auto Road. If you’re not taking the Cog, you can drive yourself up the auto road to the summit in summer and fall (it’s terrifying and exhilarating, mostly the former if you don’t like heights). About 45 minutes from North Conway.

Crawford Notch and Franconia Notch. Both notches (mountain passes) are scenic drives in their own right, with hikes, waterfalls, and pullouts at every turn. Make a day of one or the other.

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