Surviving the Winter Break: A Comprehensive New Hampshire Outdoor Activity Guide for Families

Exploration and Adventure: New Hampshire’s Winter Activities

Winter in New Hampshire ushers in not just the cold but also boundless opportunities for outdoor adventure and family activities. With school vacations fast approaching, it can be a nerve-racking task for parents to come up with entertainment ideas that will leave their children squealing with delight. Though staying indoors might seem like the more favourable option during this time, New Hampshire becomes a winter paradise in February, and this holds particularly true this year with the amount of snow we’ve had recently.

Eye-Widening Spectacle: Ice Castles in North Woodstock

During the school vacation week from February 17-21, a must-visit destination is New Hampshire’s award-winning Ice Castles. The number of intricacies at this attraction is astounding, with hundreds of thousands of icicles carefully arranged to form sculptures such as archways, fountains, and caves all illuminated by a psychedelic spectacle of colorful LED lights. The Ice Castles are the perfect venue for your kids to dig into their adventurous side, with tunnels, slides, and mazes welcoming explorers of all ages.

Skiing in the White Mountains: A Delight for Adventure-seekers

Whether you and your kids fancy cross-country skiing or prefer rushing downhill, New Hampshire’s White Mountains have got you covered. Dartmouth Skiway offers a more cost-effective option with 30 trails spread over 104 skiable acres. For the little ones under five, the complicated pieces of navigating the slopes become simple – they can ski for free! If you possess a multi-resort pass, Loon Mountain, Attitash, Crotched, Mount Sunapee, and Wildcat are ready to welcome you on your next skiing adventure.

Ice Skating: A Key Part of Winter Activities

Ice skating is not only a fun activity, but also a super important part of the winter culture in New Hampshire. Portsmouth, Concord, and Keene are some of the towns offering popular ice-skating rinks perfect for families in the state. Among such locations, Puddle Dock Pond and the Douglas Everett Arena in Portsmouth are ready to welcome enthusiastic skaters of all ages. Slight differences in costs are there depending upon location but the fun remains the same across all rinks.

Winter Hiking: For those Brave Enough to Challenge the Cold

Winter hiking might seem a little intimidating at first, but if you’re well-prepared there’s a huge potential for outdoor fun. New Hampshire offers several relatively easy hiking spots with breath-taking scenic views. Blue Job Mountain in Strafford, with its panoramic views stretching from Mt. Washington to the Atlantic Ocean, and West Rattlesnake mountain, providing a stunning view of Squam Lake, are both worth exploring. And for a little warmth and respite from the cold, there’s always the Lonesome Lake Hut situated at the Franconia Notch State Park.

Dog Sledding: An Unexpected winter Joy

An activity that is often overlooked when planning for winter fun is dog sledding. Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel in Jefferson is open for the following week and is ready to offer an exciting ride to its guests. This mini-adventure that lasts for 1.5 hours is suitable for individuals aged 2 and up while a more intensive 3-hour tour is offered to those aged 12 and up. It’s another way of finding your path in the flurry of winter activities while contributing to a good cause, as many of the dogs at the facility are rescues, and proceeds from the sledding tours go towards their upkeep.

Originally Post From http://www.fosters.com/story/lifestyle/things-to-do/2025/02/15/make-the-most-of-winter-in-nh-try-one-of-these-5-outdoor-activities/78512911007/

Winter Adventure Awaits in NH: Discover 5 Outdoor Activities