Top Activities to Do with Your Children in New Hampshire: The Granite State's Family Friendly Tourist Attractions

New Hampshire is perhaps the most overlooked states in New England. People pass through it on their way to Maine, Vermont or Massachusetts. And even though I live in the "Live Free or Die" State and may have a certain bias towards all things "Granite State," I have to say that there is a ton to do here, especially for young children and their families. I hope that this list will be helpful!

1. The Cannon Mountain Tramway, located in Franconia Notch State Park, carries visitors up to the 4,180 foot summit and back down. While on the summit, you can take a short hike up to a viewing platform that, on clear days, allows you to see all the way to Canada. It's absolutely breathtaking. Adult round-trip fares are $12.00, children from 6-12 pay $9.00 for a roundtrip fare and children 5 and under ride for free.
2. The Flume Gorge, also located in Franconia Notch State Park, is a natural gorge in the Presidential Range. It is 800 feet long. There is a path that brings you up through the gorge and an easy walk back down to the bottom. Adults must pay $12.00, children 6-12 must pay $8.00, children 5 and under are free.
3. Chutters on Main Street in Littleton hosts the longest candy counter that I have ever seen! It is advertised as being in the Guiness Book of World Records for being the longest candy counter. We loved it!
4. The See Science Center on Bedford Road in Manchester is open 7 days a week and allows children to touch and interact with basic scientific concepts. What kid hasn't gone to a museum and wanted to touch the exhibits? When I was a kid, and we went to the Museum of Natural history in New York City, I totally wanted to climb in the arena with those dinosaurs and touch them. I thought that it was so cool that they were real dinosaur bones and that there was proof that those awesome, huge creatures existed. But of course, I couldn't. This museum actually encourages the kids to interact with the exhibits.
5. Apple and pumpkin picking during the fall is always a fun activity. Most towns have their own orchards that are open to the public and where you can go apple or pumpkin picking. We usually go to the Currier Orchards in Merrimack.
6. Take a short hike or nature walk. New Hampshire is full of them! Again, refer to a guide for trail maps and levels of difficulty.

New Hampshire is a beautiful state, in every season of the year. You should definitely visit it!