Family Friendly Activities
Back to Top of ListRide a Snow Train at the CONWAY SCENIC RAILROAD (North Conway, NH)
Take a train ride through a winter wonderland aboard the Conway Scenic Railroad's throwback Snow Train! Guests will travel from the Conway's Scenic's historic train station in the heart of North Conway Village to the slopes of Attitash Mountain Resort. You can choose to return on the same excursion you traveled out on, enjoying the snowy forested views in reverse, or bring your skis or snowboard and hop off at Attitash for a few hours on the mountain (if you go with this option, book your tickets for skiing or riding through the resort). The last Snow Train of the season is Sunday, 2/25
Departure times: 10:30am, 12pm, 2pm and 3:30pm. 80 minutes round trip. Cash-only snack bar and premium, first class, and coach seating options. Snow Train tickets may be purchase in advance online or by calling the station during business hours (9am to 4pm): 603-356-5251.
Explore Under the Sea at LIVING SHORES AQUARIUM (Glen, NH)
Visitors looking to stay indoors over February vacation can still find fun in the White Mountains, and particularly so at Living Shores Aquarium in Glen, NH. Check out their new axolotl exhibit, touch a sting ray (or feel the tickle of some nibble fish!), and spend the day spotting underwater critters – it’s the perfect activity for kids. If you time it just right, you also might be able to attend one of the Aquarium’s awesome daily talks.
Visit the Living Shores Aquarium website for more information, including hours and online tickets.
Take to the Slopes of the Northeast’s Highest Peak Aboard the MOUNT WASHINGTON COG RAILWAY (Marshfield Station, NH)
Even if you’ve already taken a ride up the Mount Washington Cog Railway in winter, we’d suggest booking tickets for another adventure. The Cog recently revamped their winter terminus (the ultra-scenic Waumbek Station, located partway up the flanks of Mount Washington), and it is the spot to feel like you’re partaking in a true White Mountains winter. There’s cocoa for all and tons of snow to romp in, plus stellar views to enjoy during your time at nearly 4,000’.
Visit the Mount Washington Cog Railway website for additional information, including train schedule and online tickets. We strongly recommend booking your tickets in advance for this popular experience.
Tour a Sub-Artic World with a SnowCoach Ride on the MT. WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD (Gorham, NH)
Travel to the eastern side of Mount Washington; the Auto Road awaits! This time of year, there’s no drive yourself option. Instead, you can ride one of the Auto Road’s sturdy, warm SnowCoaches to a little over 4,200’. There will be expert narration and pretty sights, plus the exhilaration of experiencing wintertime at the “home of the word’s worst weather”. Need we say it? If you’d like to hop out and look around at the turnaround spot, DRESS WARMLY.
Visit the Mt. Washington Auto Road website for additional information, including online tickets. We strongly recommend booking your tickets in advance for this popular, regularly sold-out experience.
Snowshoe in a Wintry Woods with ALPINE ADVENTURES (Lincoln, NH)
Forget simply gazing at the White Mountains – get out into them on a guided snowshoe walk. Alpine Adventures in Lincoln, NH is your ticket to our winter wonderland. They’ll provide the snowshoes and expertise, as well as many private, pristine acres to tour; all you have to is walk and wonder at the beauty of the woods. You might even be rewarded with a visit to a cozy cabin and cocoa at the end!
If your family is feeling extra daring, you can always opt for an adrenaline-boosting winter zip tour instead. For more information, including booking and what to bring, visit the Alpine Adventures website.
Let Your Imagination Run Wild at ICE CASTLES (North Woodstock, NH)
Ice Castles – it’s only here for a brief, wondrous time each winter. Book your tickets online now to fall in love with the illuminated structures, enchanted forest walk, sleigh rides, and tubing that Ice Castles is famous for, and get ready for a frosty new surprise: an illuminated Ice Bar with thematic cocktails and one-of-a-kind ambience!
We HIGHLY recommend booking your tickets online ahead of time, as Ice Castles is a very popular experience. Visit the Ice Castles website for additional information and to purchase tickets, and read our blog for a behind the scenes tour of the construction of Ice Castles.
Photo Credit: Colleen Eliason
Ski Resort Events
Back to Top of ListATTITASH MOUNTAIN RESORT (Bartlett, NH)
Watching skiers make their way down the mountain is always fun, but what about the novelty of watching someone ride down on cardboard? Attitash Mountain Resort is hosting a Cardboard Sled Derby complete with decorated rides and bragging rights. Can't get enough of cardboard sleds? Scroll down for another derby on another day, this time at Wildcat.
Saturday, 2/24. Participants must pre-register - only 20 spots available. Helmets required. Cardboard, duct tape, & paint only (no metal, no open flames or propellent). 3 people per team. Ages 5+. Check-in and inspection at the Summit Triple Tent:10am - 10:30am. Team meeting at 10:45am at the Aquaboggan building. Race starts at 11am.
BRETTON WOODS SKI AREA (Bretton Woods, NH)
Celebrate 50 years of après at Bretton Woods with a party every Saturday and Sunday! Live music, featured beer promos, giveaways, and vendors of all kinds will keep the good vibes bumpin' long after you've retired from the slopes for the day. You can find even more fun just across the street is the Omni Mount Washington Resort if you're a guest! Keep scrolling to learn more.
Saturdays & Sundays, 2 -5pm in the base lodge.
CANNON MOUNTAIN (Franconia, NH)
Family Fun Night with Torchlight Parade & Fireworks Show
Skiing, a torchlight parade, and a fireworks show spell magic for your family vacation! Cannon Mountain in Franconia, NH is your ski resort to access all three at once. 21+ members of your party can also enjoy après entertainment at the Cannonball Pub prior to the nighttime festivities. (Saturday, 2/17, 3 – 7pm. Apres at Cannonball Pub (21+): 3 – 6pm. Huckerbrook skiing open under the lights (conditions permitting): 4:30 – 6:30pm. Torchlight Parade & Fireworks: 6:30pm.)
For more information and tickets, visit the Cannon Mountain website.
CRANMORE MOUNTAIN RESORT (North Conway, NH)
Cranapalooza
Come to Cranapalooza! S’mores, music, and games (plus a potential spotting of C-more the Penguin!) ensure your vacation visit to Cranmore Mountain Resort is fun affair for all. (Saturday, 2/17 - Friday, 2/23, 2:30pm – 4:30pm)
Are you feeling freestyle these days? See if you have the skills to wow at Cranmore’s Park Series! And yes, ski and snowboard swag will be handed out to the best of the best. (Saturday, 2/24, all day event. Registration: 8am - 9am on the first floor of Fairbank Lodge. Free with a valid lift ticket or season pass.)
Cranapalooza & Fireworks
If your family has some early bedtimes to contend with, Cranmore’s fireworks display is a great option for sparkling entertainment. Hit the base of North Conway’s best ski slope on Saturday, 2/24 to salute the last few days of your winter vacation. (Saturday, 2/24, 4:40 - 6:30pm)
For more information and tickets, visit the Cranmore Mountain Resort website.
LOON MOUNTAIN RESORT (Lincoln, NH)
Adventurers in the western White Mountains, take note: Loon Mountain Resort is the place to be over February vacation week. In addition to great skiing, riding, and stellar après offerings, this mountain is hosting three different family-friendly events in the White Mountains.
If you're feeling charitable, mark your calendar for the weekend of 2/17 and 2/18 and register for Boarding for Breast Cancer, a weekend-long event in support of B4BC's mission to promote healthy, active lifestyles as the best means of breast cancer prevention. With your $25 registration to participate in the Pink Poker Run, you can also help raise funds for education, prevention, and survivorship programs.
Not in town until the weekend after? Take your pick of Lil' Plankers (for skiers ages 14 and under) or Lil' Tweakers (for snowboards ages 14 and under) - both are for kiddos looking to cut their teeth on some slopestyle competition. Registration for both events is free with a valid lift ticket or season pass.
Saturday, 2/17 & Sunday, 2/18: B4BC (Boarding for Breast Cancer) Love Your Peaks. Saturday, 2/24: Lil' Plankers. Sunday, 2/25: Lil' Tweakers.
WILDCAT MOUNTAIN (Gorham, NH)
What in the world is a Kitty Litter Cardboard Derby? Head to Wildcat Mountain to find out! Participants in this one of a kind derby are invited to design a sled made of only reused cardboard, duct tape, and paint and race it down the hill at Wildcat. Awards include everything from Best Kids Only Sled to Most Creative.
Thursday, 2/22. Participants must pre-register - only 20 spots available. Helmets required. 3 people per team. Ages 5+. Check-in and inspection across the Bridge 10am. Racers meeting at 10:45am. Derby starts at 11am.
Other Outdoor Events
Back to Top of ListOTHER OUTDOOR EVENTS
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB (Various Locations)
The Appalachian Mountain Club has several outposts in the White Mountains. Peruse by location to see if a nighttime program lines up with your vacations plans!
Joe Dodge Lodge (Pinkham Notch, NH)
Head to Pinkham Notch on Saturday, 2/17 for "Northeast Climate with NOAA", a deep dive into how the AMC's weather data tells the story of climate change. Next Saturday, 2/24, it's "Mountains of Stars", an exploration of the connection between life on Earth and the history of the universe hosted by Dr. Doug Arion. All evening programs begin at 8pm.
Highland Center (Crawford Notch, NH)
What can you learn at the Highland Center over February vacation? Take your pick! Saturday, 2/17, discover the ins and outs of hiking NH's 48 4,000-footers during winter. Friday, 2/23, it's "Night Vision" (7:30pm), where guests can take a short walk to see how their eyes and senses adjust to the low light conditions found in the serene landscape of Crawford Notch. Vacation week offerings wrap up on Saturday, 2/24 with "Mountain Weather" at 7:30pm (learn about the forces of our unique weather in the mountains, and how our local ecology depends on it) and "Nature of the Notch" at 8pm (with naturalist educator Ethan Vanata, who will weave a tale of glaciers and our native flora and fauna).
Photo Credit: "Storm Coming In", Courtesy AMC, Photo By Eric Pedersen
GREAT GLEN TRAILS (Gorham, NH)
Guided Snowshoe Tours
Leave the navigating to the experts at Great Glen Trails, and take a guided snowshoe walk through the winter woods of the northern White Mountains!
Saturday, 2/17 & Saturday, 2/24, 1pm - 2:15pm. Price: $15.
Ski, Shoe & Fatbike To the Clouds 10k Race
Are you an outdoor rec enthusiast with energy to burn? Look into registering for the Ski, Shoe and Fatbike to the Clouds. Long referred to as “North America’s Toughest 10K”, this ambitious course uses 4k of the Great Glen Trails system and then 6k on the snow covered Mt. Washington Auto Road (with an average grade of 12% and an elevation gain of 2,200 feet!).
Pre-registration required. Sunday, 2/25. Registration fee: $55.
Bill Koch League
For many, vacation week must include some kind of kid-friendly skiing activity. If your kiddo has some experience on cross country skis, get them out on the trail and trying new techniques with the Bill Koch League at Great Glen Trails!
Sunday, 2/25, 1:30 – 3:30pm. Club dues: $45 for first child; $35 for each additional child. Equipment rental: $5 per session. For more information and to register, visit the Great Glen Trails website.
REMICK COUNTRY DOCTOR MUSUEM & FARM (Tamworth, NH)
Take a Literary Walk with one of Remick's interpretive guide, and discover the beauty and stillness found during winter on a historical farm. Along the way, enjoy observations from authors with an appreciation for the natural world, like Robert Frost and Aldo Leopold. (Will you be in the area for the day? Plan ahead and purchase tickets to Remick’s Winter Social, starting at 4pm.)
Saturday, 2/17 at 10am. Activity length: 45 – 60 minutes. Cost: $8 per person, $6 for members. For ages 16 and above. Register onsite or by calling 603-323-7591; space is limited.
SETTLERS GREEN (North Conway, NH)
Get ready for a Wintry Wonder. Settlers Green is hosting a whole bunch of fun events throughout Presidents Week. Wouldn't you like to partake in a hot chocolate hour or a skiers' social with local beers, s'mores stations, and outdoor games for kids? Wrap it all up with the family friendly Moose Mingle where you can pose with the iconic Echo the Moose and participate in a Winter Scavenger Hunt, and you've got plenty of reasons to add some shopping and socializing to your February Vacation plans.
Wintry Wonder runs Tuesday, 2/20 - Friday, 2/23. Hot Chocolate Hour: 2/20 - 2/23, 10 - 11am (Customer Service Suite C13). Skiers Social: 2/20, 3 - 6pm (outside the Swix and Cotopaxi stores in The Courtyard). Moose Mingle: 2/23, 11am - 1pm (located at The Square by Jockey).
FOREST SOCIETY NORTH AT THE ROCKS (Bethlehem, NH)
Bretzfelder Memorial Park Winter Program Series
Did you know that it is possible to spot 11 species of owls in New Hampshire? Join Sarah Kern, co-founder and lead educator from Tailwinds: Raptor Education and Conservation, for "Owls of New Hampshire, an Introduction to Nature's Nightshift". This special family-friendly event held at Bretzfelder Park will cover owls and their ecology, adaptations, and habitats, as well as how the Forest Society and you can help them in this ever-changing world.
Wednesday, 2/21, 6 - 8pm. Register in advance on the Forest Society's website for this free event.
WATERVILLE VALLEY TOWN SQUARE (Waterville Valley, NH)
Celebrate the long weekend with a President's Weekend fireworks show to dazzle! Before the big event at 7:30pm, might we suggest shopping around Town Square or exploring some of the Valley's many fine trails?
Saturday, 2/17 at 7:30pm. Free.
Live Music, Theatre, & the Arts
Back to Top of ListBELIEVE IN BOOKS LITERACY FOUNDATION (Intervale, NH)
If your kids have dreams of being on the stage rather than just in the audience, sign them up for the Believe in Books Literacy Foundation's Dance Camp! This is the perfect opportunity for beginner performers to get on the stage, and children have the dance to sing, try out several types of dance (including ballet, jazz, hip hop, and musical theater), and create lasting memories before their big showcase at the end of the week.
Dance Camps runs Monday, 2/19 - Friday, 2/23. Open to ages 7 - 13. $175 for the week. For more information, visit the Believe in Books Literacy Foundation's website.
THE FLYING MONKEY MOVIE HOUSE & PERFORMANCE CENTER (Plymouth, NH)
Taco Tuesday Film Screening "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"
Experience the ultimate Taco Tuesday at The Flying Monkey! Head to this popular Plymouth, NH movie house for a special screening of ‘Wakanda Forever,’ the second film in our series. Savor scrumptious tacos while immersing yourself in the world of Wakanda. Don’t miss out on this cinematic and culinary fusion every Tuesday!
Free Admission. First Come, First Serve. $2 Tacos Available! Doors open at 6:00 PM. Show starts at 7:30 PM. For more info, visit The Flying Monkey's website.
Experience a musical journey like no other as Dead Set transports you through the ethereal realms of the Dead’s extensive catalog. From the cosmic explorations of “Dark Star” to the uplifting anthems of “Sugar Magnolia,” every song is delivered with unwavering authenticity and a contagious enthusiasm that will leave you dancing and singing along all night long. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary celebration of Jerry Garcia’s enduring legacy. Get your tickets now for Dead Set and immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind experience that will ignite your soul and create memories to last a lifetime.
Tickets start at $29. Friday, 2/24. Doors open at 6:00pm. Show starts at 7:30pm.
FRANCONIA INN (Franconia, NH)
Liven up your midweek with an open mic night at the Franconia Inn! There will be live acoustic music from local artists, a limited "Burger and Beer" menu, and a great deal on your first beer of the night - just $3!
Free. Wednesday, 2/21. Pub opens at 5:00pm. Sign up for musicians at 6:30pm. Live music from 7:00 - 9:00pm.
NORTH COUNTRY CENTER FOR THE ARTS AT JEAN'S PLAYHOUSE (Lincoln, NH)
Enjoy a night of laughter in Lincoln, NH, one of the best towns in the White Mountains. Jean's Playhouse is your venue of choice for a rousing February Vacation Comedy night (scheduled for Friday, 2/23). Follow it up with Wooden Horse (showcasing the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young and America) on Saturday, 2/24, and you have some amazing plans for the last weekend in February.
February Vacation Comedy: Friday, 2/23, 7:30 - 9:30pm. Tickets: $32. Wooden Horse: Saturday, 2/24, 7:30 - 9:30pm. Tickets: $35.
NORTH COUNTRY CHAMBER PLAYERS (Various Locations)
Join the North Country Chamber Players for their Winterlude concert, Paris Rendezvous! Enjoy the sounds of the piano, oboe, clarinet, flute, and bassoon, as well as the talents of local musicians who will be performing at two different locations over two days in the White Mountains.
Saturday, 2/24 at 2pm in Alumni Hall in Haverhill, NH. Sunday, 2/25 at 2pm at the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa in Whitefield, NH. "Pay What You Wish" ticket pricing. No minimum ticket price required for entry, but the recommended price per guest is $25. Payable at the door.
WOODSTOCK INN BREWERY (North Woodstock, NH)
Every Friday and Saturday (including vacation weeks), the Woodstock Inn Brewery in North Woodstock, NH plays host to some stellar live bands. Leave the kiddos at home and combo a late dinner with one of these acts, and you’ve got the perfect date night! Can't get enough? Follow it up with Music Bingo on Mondays, karaoke on Tuesdays, and more!
Live Band: Fridays and Saturdays, 8:30pm to 11:30pm. Music Bingo: Mondays, 7 – 9pm. Karaoke: Tuesdays, 8:30pm – 11:30pm.
WREN: LOCAL WORKS MARKETPLACE AND GALLERY (Bethlehem, NH)
Join WREN’s Wings 2.0 program at The White Mountain School this February for hands-on workshops presented by professional artists and experienced instructors! These fun and creative workshops are open to middle and high school students ages 12 - 18, and participants are invited to participate in as many workshops as they would like. Activities include embroidery, junk journals, watercolors, sight drawing, and stained glass, and the series culminating in a gallery show at the end of the week/
Workshops scheduled Monday, 2/26 - Thursday, 2/29. Gallery opening is on Saturday, March 2, from 4 to 6 p.m. at WREN. For more information or help with registration, please email Julia at juliab@wrenworks.org or call WREN at (603) 869-9736.
View the forest-inspired works of woodworker Ron Ramback (whose river tables have received much acclaim) and Stephanie Potter (who repurposes old saws and roofing slates as canvases for her landscape work) during Out of the Forest's run at the Gallery at WREN.
Out of the Forest runs through Monday, 2/26. Visit Mondays – Saturdays, 10am – 5pm and Sunday from 11am – 4pm.
Lodging
Back to Top of ListDining
Back to Top of ListADAIR INN (Bethlehem, NH)
Gnarly day on the slopes? Kick back and relax fireside with discounted eats and drinks at the gorgeously appointed Adair Country Inn & Restaurant. The Après @ Adair offerings include steak tip tacos, creative fondues, potato skins with smoked bacon, homemade soups, and a signature cocktail with maple syrup (just as a start). Best of all, the Adair is located just a short drive away from Littleton's hopping main street and several local ski mountains.
Wednesdays - Fridays, 4 -6pm.
REMICK COUNTRY DOCTOR MUSUEM & FARM (Tamworth, NH)
Gather at Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm in Tamworth, NH for good company, delicious bites, and a dash of history! This early evening Winter Social will include socializing, a Q & A with Remick’s director Cara Sutherland, local treats like Remick-raised meats alongside nonalcoholic beverages, and browsing in the museum store.
Saturday, 2/17, 4 – 6pm. Price: $25. Ages 18 and up. Reservations are required by noon on Saturday, 2/10. For more information or to make a reservation, call 603-323-7591.
