7 fun things to do in North Conway in winter with kids
- Admin
- 11 hours ago
- 5 min read
North Conway in winter is absolute magic. We've traveled the world with our kids, but nothing hits harder than spending quality time in New Hampshire in my hometown. I never fully appreciated the magic of where I was raised. Now, when I go back to North Conway with our kids, I can really understand how lucky I was to be born where I was.
I hope you feel the same about your hometown, but I am also very aware that I'm from a special place. WIth my insider knowledge of things to do in The Valley, I wanted to share the best things to do in North Conway in winter with kids (or honestly without).
So in no particular order, here are the 7 most fun things to do in North Conway in the winter:
Nestlenook Farm Ice Skating
When I posted us skating at Nestlenook Farms, at leat 10 people wrote me and said it looked like a Hallmark movie. The ice skating rink is enormous, where you go underneath storybook-looking bridges and have see horse drawn carriages prance by--literally making you feel like you're in a movie.
Nestlenook offers ice skate rental and also a little hut with a woodstove to warm up before, after, and during your iceskating session. They also offer sleigh rides on the horsedrawn carriage if you want that experience as well. We didn't do this, but I heard its most beautiful at night because they light up the path. Just be sure to bundle up!
2, Arctic Lights Night tubing in Cranmore
If you want an exhillerating experience, look into Arctic Lights night tubing at Cranmore. Holy moly--this isn't you're average tubing experience. With fun lights illuminating the tubing lanes, you can take a magic carpet up the hill, bopping along to the music, where you then meet employees at the top ready to whip you down the mountain with a generous push. You can either go solo or hang onto another tube to go with someone (which is nice if you're with your kids). For smaller children, they have double tubes to go together.
I highly suggest wearing a helmet while tubing (yes, you go that fast).
Winter Hiking in the White Mountains
If you are an experienced hiker, have proper gear, and understand weather changes in the White Mountains, a winter hike is pure magic. If you can catch it on a day with snow-covered pine trees, there's nothing more beautiful. We decided to bring sleds on our winter hike, so after walking about a mile uphill, we hopped on the sleds aand cruised the mile down. It was one of the most fun days ever.
Please only do this if you are an experienced hiker. Winter hiking in the White Mountains can be very dangerous if you are not prepared.
SnowCoach at Great Glen Trails
If winter hiking isn't your thing, but you are hoping to get some epic mountain views above treeline, the SnowCoach is for sure for you. The SnowCoach is a van on top, epic snowcat on the bottom, allowing it to plow through feet of snow like it's nothing. They bring you above treeline where you can take in the views from Mount Washington which is a pretty epic thing to experience in winter.
Ski at Cranmore
Skiing at Cranmore was an absolute highlight of our trip to North Conway. After getting accustomed to skiing on the west coast, it was a breath of freah air to be at Cranmore. Even on a weekend, it was calm, parking was easy, traffic wasn't an issue, there weren't crowds where we had time fight for our lives.
Since the kids had never skied before, we decided to get the kids a private ski lesson all together. Ski lessons aren't cheap no matter where you go, but oh boy was it so worth it. After the kids put their boots on and lugged their skiis the short way over to the mountain, they were pretty uncomfortable and miserable. I was thinking that this was a huge mistake and we would be back in the car in an hour driving home.
The moment the kids met their ski instructor and felt his demeanor, they calmed down. He took them through the very basics of feeling comfortable in their boots, to walking in their boots, to putting on and taking off their skiis, to skating on the snow with them. The ski instructor was dealt a hard hand with a lesson of 3 beginners who are all different ages, yet he crushed. By the end of the 90 minute lesson, the kids were comfortably going up the magic carpet and skiing down. By the end of the day, we were taking the two big kids (6 and 9) on the chairlift to go down the bunny hill, having the absolute time of their lives, while their brother (4) couldn't get enough cruising down the magic carpet slope.
I'm so grateful that they took that lesson to get the kids comfortable and give them the foundation of skiing they needed to have the most fun day. They've been begging to go back ever since!
Cross-country skiing in Jackson or Great Glen Trails
If you want to take a break from downhill skiing and you'd like to give cross-country skiing a try, there are some absolutely gorgeous spots in the area. I would check out both Great Glen Trails and also Nordic Village in Jackson. They both offer rental equipment and incredible scenery.
Journey to the North Pole
If you are visiting North Conway before Christmas and you have children that still believe, the Journey to the North Pole train ride is absolute magic. I've never brought our own children, but I have volunteered as an elf when I was younger, and it was such a special experience.
Eat at good restaurants
Ok, maybe this isn't necessairly one of the "fun" things to do in North Conway in the winter, but if you're there, I want to make sure you're eating well! My absiolute favorite restaurant in the Valley is Flatbread Pizza. I have to eat it every time I go home (my personal favorite pizza being the Co-Evolution with kalamata olives, goat cheese, red onion, and roasted red peppers. Give it a try! Other dinner restaurants are Delany's for your traditional American-style restaurant,
Peaches restaurant is incredible for breakfast. It's been a staple in the Valley for decades and it was one of my favorite spots when I was little. For coffee, I personally prefer Frontside Grind, but some people like the ambiance of The Met more. The Met also has more desserts, so it might be a good spot for a treat.
In terms of staple Valley stores, you have to check out Zeb's. Let your kids go wild at the old-timey candy counter and check out the novel things they sell.
I hope you enjoy your time in North Conway and the greater Mount Washington Valley! It's such a special place with so many things to do all year round.
