7 Things to do in North Conway, NH on Your First Visit
This February, my boyfriend and I took a quick overnight trip to North Conway, NH. We didn’t know what the best things to do in North Conway, NH were yet since somehow after living in New Hampshire for a year and half neither of us had been yet! To put together the weekend I did some quick research on the area and even when we got there we didn’t have a full plan so some exploration happened by chance.
North Conway is an amazing area with tons to do in and outside of town so even without having an itinerary for the weekend, we were able to have an amazing time! Now that I have a feel for the area I thought I would share my recommendations for things to do in North Conway, NH on your first visit so you aren’t stuck like we were!
There are things to do in North Conway, NH in all seasons of the year so the town is always pretty popular. In the warmer months you have the White Mountains for all types of hiking, biking, fishing, etc. In the winter you have those same areas that now offer trails for snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and ice fishing. You really can’t go wrong with a weekend visit (or longer) to the North Conway area because I don’t think you could actually run out of things to do in North Conway, NH especially if you’re driving into the mountains every day!
Keep reading to learn what we did to have a perfect winter wonderland weekend for our first visit to North Conway. This post will share the 7 things to do in North Conway, NH on your first visit:
- Stay at a Cozy Quiet Inn
- Get Outside
- Eat Warm Fresh Food
- Find your New Favorite Drink
- Go Shopping
- Visit the New England Ski Museum
- Ride the Conway Scenic Railroad
Read my other posts about New Hampshire if you are interested in exploring the state more!
7 Things to do in North Conway, NH
1. Stay at a Cozy Quiet Inn
No matter what you find each day for things to do in North Conway, NH, you will always want a comfortable, welcoming place to crash at the end of an adventurous day. Nothing beats flopping onto a bed with fresh sheets and getting a good night’s sleep.
Ben and I made a spur of the moment decision to go up to North Conway Saturday and spend the night. That said, on a beautiful winter weekend, the town was extremely booked! There were no good Aribnb’s or VRBO’s in the area and most hotels I could find were coming closer to $300/night which wasn’t what Ben and I were looking for.
Searching for smaller establishments, we eventually came across a posting for Eastern Inn & Suites for $156/night (with taxes). This inn was on the edge of town, but the price was right and it had good amenities so we gave it a shot.
Quiet and Peaceful
We were extremely pleased with the decision to stay at Eastern Inn and Suites! The inn is right off of White Mountain Highway (Route 302) so while we would have expected a lot of traffic coming by, our room was so quiet. This is because the inn is actually set back from the road quite a ways.
Turning at the large white Eastern Inn and Suites sign off of 302, you drive down a tree-lined driveway to reach the inn’s parking lot. The inn has the Whitaker Woods nestled closely behind it and trees blocking the building from the road making it a wonderfully secluded place to stay. The trees on the drive had cute lights on them welcoming us to the inn and made the scene feel even more winter wonderland-y.
On the especially cold night that we were staying there, we weren’t up for walking into downtown but it is definitely doable. The inn is not in the heart of downtown but it is less than a 15 minute walk to get there and would be extremely enjoyable in the summer. I loved that the inn was closer to the edge of town and there were still restaurants you could walk to across the street so you didn’t have to venture far on a cold night!
Trail Network at Your Front Door
Being so close to the Whitaker Woods, the inn actually has its own trail that connects into the network of trails in Whitaker Woods! If one of your favorite things to do in North Conway, NH is go for walks, explore nature, or cross-country ski, how amazing is it to be able to do so from the entrance to your inn?
Ben and I walked through the woods Sunday morning after our stay and they were immensely peaceful and beautiful to be in. it was freezing out, but everything in the first was so white, quiet, and calm. I couldn’t think of a better way to start my morning and it put me in a great mood for the rest of the day.
Great Staff and Amenities
Inside the inn, we were greeted by a very welcoming staff both the afternoon we checked in and the morning we left. Our room was on the ground level and it was a great size and very clean. There was a nice TV, a small fridge, and the thermostat made it very easy to control the temperature in the room.
The window did look right into the parking lot onto the path that went into the woods but this wasn’t an issue for us. The curtains closed and there wasn’t much traffic on the path to create any bothersome noise. I saw a grilling patio outside so in the summer I could see how more people may be in the area. With how many things to do in North Conway, NH there are though, I wouldn’t expect to be in the room enough to worry about it!
Game Room & Hot Tub!
Finally, Eastern Inn and Suites had a wonderful game room with a nice pool table, a cribbage set up, and many other board games. There is also a nice sized pool and hot tub for guests to enjoy. We certainly took advantage of the hot tub after walking back in the cold after dinner!
Having the comfortable room, hot tub, and secluded location made Eastern Inn and Suites the perfect place for us to wind down after a busy day and rest up for the next. I recommend checking them out if you are ever headed to the North Conway area.
To read more about Eastern Inn and Suites, check out their website here.
2. Get Outside
If you’ve read anything else on my blog then you know one of my favorite things is to be in nature and check out new trails. So of course one of the first things to do in North Conway, NH I must mention are the local trails. Ben and I only tried two but there are so many more to explore.
If you want to read about other hikes I’ve done in New Hampshire, visit my Hiking page and select New Hampshire from the list!
Diana’s Baths
Saturday was a beautiful day with bright blue skies and a temperature of almost 20 degrees, a gorgeous day for a walk in the woods. I never thought my first time hiking Diana’s Baths would be in winter! Diana’s Baths is an extremely popular trail near North Conway, actually rated one of the top things to do in North Conway, NH and a winter’s day is no exception.
There were quite a few people on the trail with Ben and me but it was easy to see why! The woods were breathtaking this afternoon. With the recent snowfall, the trees were heavy with fresh snow and everything around us looked so white and untouched.
Diana’s Baths is a trail just over half a mile one way to a stream. In the warmer months there are lots of little waterfalls, rocks to climb on, and swimming holes. In the winter, a lot of this is covered up but it is just as beautiful. The frozen water with the snow piled on top (way more snow than I was expecting!) makes interesting shapes and is unique to look at.
The trail itself is extremely flat, little to no elevation gain (maybe 100ft). Mid-afternoon on a beautiful sunny day, Ben and I didn’t need our microspikes much less snowshoes. There were still people snowshoeing though, especially since there a lot of little offshoots to the main trail to explore.
Walking to Diana’s Baths you are on an easy to follow trail and are more likely than not to pass other hikers along the way. This trail gives you a wonderful reward for very little effort and is certainly worth checking out if you are traveling through North Conway.
Whitaker Woods
We did not get to spend nearly as much time as I would’ve liked to explore these woods! Ben and I took the trail from Eastern Inn and Suites toward the Whitaker Woods trail network Sunday morning to start our day. It was extremely brisk out but certainly helped us wake up!
The forest was absolutely beautiful that morning, like a winter wonderland. Again, tree branches laden with fluffy snow from the earlier storms of the week. The path we started on was groomed and many of the others within the network were well packed as well.
All the trails we were on were very flat but that’s not to say that they all are in the forest. The woods are perfect for walking, hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, whatever your favorite thing is to do outside!
Close to Town
This is an amazing setting to get out in nature while still being so close to town. Though we walked from Eastern Inn and Suites, there is also parking at the Whitaker Woods. You can walk from downtown North Conway as well, especially in the summer.
The trail from the inn crosses over railroad tracks right before meeting up with the rest of the network. There are miles of trails to explore and if Whitaker Woods isn’t enough for you, there are a ton of other trails around North Conway to check out! On the Town of Conway website, you can find links to quite a few trails maps, including Whitaker Woods.
Check out this link for other posts I have on winter hiking.
Explore the Area and Endless Things to do in North Conway, NH
Being so close to the White Mountains there are endless options for other ways to get outside. The flat trails I mentioned are great for easy hikes and cross country skiing but of course there are downhill skiing mountains nearby as well and more challenging hikes!
A few other popular hikes that are local to North Conway are:
- Echo Lake
- Cathedral Ledge
- South and North Moat Mountains
- Mount Kearsarge North
- So many more!
3. Eat Warm Fresh Food
After checking in at the inn, Ben and I played a quick game of pool in the game room before heading out to dinner. We were looking into Delaney’s Hole in the Wall (traditional American restaurant) and May Kelley’s (an Irish pub) since they are both right across the street from the inn. There are many other wonderful options in town (like Flatbread Company!) but it was a little too cold for us to want to walk far tonight.
Delaney’s for Dinner
Unfortunately neither of the restaurants we were interested in took reservations and going at prime dinner time without them we were told the wait was going to be an hour, ugh! We ended up sticking with Delaney’s and realized after 30 minutes or so that we could actually have a drink at the bar while we waited. So we went in, browsed the menu to be ready, and I sipped a cider.
Though the wait time was a negative for us, that was really the only negative of the evening! Delaney’s has a fantastic atmosphere and there were a lot of people inside enjoying their meals and watching the Olympics. There were many TVs placed around the rooms with the bar at the center of it all to enjoy watching the games.
Ben and I were seated in front of a huge TV which was awesome because we were able to watch slopestyle snowboarding together while enjoying our meal. That is to say Ben could explain everything that was happening while I minorly improved my snowboarding knowledge. But enjoy our meal we did!Y
Yummy Menu
Delaney’s has a fantastic menu with a large variety of options. I was extremely excited to see a whole sushi menu! Ben and I love sushi and it was unexpected in North Conway.
We ordered one of the sushi rolls as an appetizer, the Christmas roll I believe, which was amazing. Ben had a simple fish and chips but he loved it. I was going back and forth between way too many items but I settled on their swordfish sandwich and oh my goodness was this delicious!
I was honestly skeptical, especially since swordfish doesn’t have the most flavor to me but I was not disappointed. The fish was put on fresh focaccia bread and some house aioli that was mouth watering. I was so surprised and yet so pleased with my decision- I definitely recommend this!
That said, there were a ton of non-fish options as well like burgers, pizzas, salad, appetizers, and homemade soups (check out the menu on their website here)! So many ingredients were local and items made from scratch. Finally, they had some delicious mixed drinks to finish the night with after enjoying a draft from the bar! Ben and I will definitely be returning to Delaney’s! I recommend adding this restaurant to the top of your list of things to do in North Conway, NH.
Morning Coffee at Frontside Café
If you are looking for things to do in North Conway, NH on your first visit, I’m sure you’re hoping to find a great breakfast place to grab a cup of coffee and refresh. Sunday morning Ben and I went to the local coffee shop right in downtown, Frontside Café. I’d definitely heard about it before but I knew I had to check it out myself and in my opinion, it lived up to the hype!
The seating in Frontside was more limited than I would have imagined for such a busy downtown so we were lucky we found a table! I was amazed, the line was non-stop the whole time we were in there. I could see how popular it was.
The inside is very cute and cozy with tons of natural light. I could definitely see coming here to catch up with friends if I was local to the area. The store also had very cute merch and of course a huge selection of coffees since the café is actually born out of Frontside Coffee Roasters (see their website here).
Now anyone that knows Ben and me knows that we love trying new coffees. However, we have so much at our house right now that I refrained from purchasing new beans to try, haha. I am still regretting it but I know I can go back anytime.
The coffees were ordered though were so yummy and perfect for a Sunday morning. Ben always gets his black, but I tried one of their maple lattes and it hit the spot.
Also, their pastries looked too good to be true so we got a cinnamon roll (warmed up of course) and it was delicious! Fantastic fluffy pastry loaded with cream cheese frosting. Along with this treat I had their “special” bagel sandwich which had all my favorite things on it and I couldn’t be happier.
I definitely recommend for a pick me up to start your morning or get you through the afternoon!
Satisfy your Sweet Tooth
For those who just want something small to snack on, I have to recommend the Bavarian Haus of Chocolate. It is a little small inside but there is a wonderful variety of chocolates, gummies, and candies.
They had a fudge brownie Oreo treat that was seriously so good. I wish I bought three. We got a variety to share and try new flavors (like the blueberry one!) as well as some gummy bears. These were perfect to munch on during the weekend
Another option, though I wasn’t able to try it myself, is the White Mountain Cupcakery. I would love to visit next time I am in North Conway because they make fresh cupcakes daily and I want to try so many flavors!
4. Find your New Favorite Drink
If you’re interested in trying drinks while you are exploring all the things to do in North Conway, NH, I have three recommendations. These must-visits are Cathedral Ledge Distillery, Moat Mountain Brewing Company, and Tuckerman Brewing Company!
Cathedral Ledge
Cathedral Ledge Distillery was a unique stop for us! Ben loves whiskey and while I usually stick to cider I wanted us to try something new together.
First off, the inside of the distillery building is beautiful. It is very open and welcoming with a lot of seating options. There is a huge shopping section on the left as you walk in as well with a ton of unique flavors of mixers, books on how to make different drinks, and merch for the distillery.
At the bar, we had flights of some of their products and I was so impressed by the variety of interesting flavors! I had a couple vodkas (blueberry and ginger) and a maple liquor while Ben tried some whiskies and a gin. I definitely liked the maple liquor best and I could see why it was their most popular option.
This was a fun experience and we enjoyed chatting with the bartender as we warmed up since we had just come from our Diana’s Baths hike.
Visit the Cathedral Ledge website here.
Moat Mountain
I had always heard great things about Moat Mountain so I knew Ben and I had to visit. The building is cool- the brewery is in an old house so all the seating is in different rooms. This makes it a fun environment to try new drinks in.
Moat had a very good looking menu but Ben and I just popped in for drinks that day. They have a great variety of beer and I’ve always loved the design on their cans! I actually had a Butterfinger hot chocolate since I was still chilled from being outside and while I know it isn’t a beer, it was delicious.
It was packed when we visited on Saturday afternoon (with a large bachelorette party sitting next to us) so we didn’t feel like staying too long. Visiting Moat checked another Views and Brews off my list (red about other Views and Brews in NH here) but I’ll have to come back and try a meal to get the full experience.
Check out Moat Mountain’s selection and learn more about the brewery at their website here.
Tuckerman Brewing
Tuckerman Brewing is down in Conway so it’s actually a 10-15 minute drive south of North Conway. This brewery is well worth visiting while you stay though (or on your way into or out of town) because this was one of highlights from the whole weekend!
While Tuckerman Brewing isn’t necessarily one of the top things to do in North Conway, NH because it isn’t in town, I couldn’t keep it off the list! Ben and I were so impressed after our first visit there and I’ve already been back.
Walking up, you can see a really nice outdoor area with lots of seatings, fire pits, and heaters. We opted for inside the day we went but the staff was more than happy to offer to turn one of the heaters on outside for us. If it wasn’t as cold out as it was it would’ve been great to try.
In the summer the huge lawn remains a beer garden and there’s live music! Even in the winter months though they are bringing in a ton of live music and just keeping them in the tasting room.
Enjoying the Indoor Tasting Room
The building doesn’t look like much walking up to it, but the inside was awesome! There’s a ton of seating and a long bar to sit at where you can view the brewing area. Lots of wood features give the inside a rustic and cozy feel but it has a modern design as well with high ceilings and the whole tasting area is one big open space.
Ben and I got flights, each trying four of Tuckerman’s flavors. I was so excited to see they had two different ciders mixed in with their beers! They were delicious and unfortunately nota available in cans to take home.
I also tried one of the brown ales and the 6288 Stout (which ended up being my favorite). There were quite a few flavors available in 4-packs as well as a wide variety of Tuckerman Brewing merchandise.
Tuckerman Brewing has light snacks but I was told they are working on putting in a pizza oven! I will definitely have to come back again once that is installed. In the meantime we enjoyed warm pretzels and fresh baked apple cider donuts.
We absolutely loved the atmosphere inside Tuckerman Brewing and appreciated the bartender chatting with us as we sampled our drinks. Our visit made the stop at Tuckerman Brewing one of my favorite things to do in North Conway, NH. Learn more about Tuckerman Brewing here.
5. Go Shopping (one of my few recommendations of things to do in North Conway, NH that doesn’t involve food haha)
One of the common things to do in North Conway, NH for those staying downtown is to go shopping. There’s not an extensive number of stores on main street but during my visit I was more focused on trying food and drink and exploring the outdoors than checking out the shops. There were a couple we popped into though where I was impressed by their selections.
The Handcrafter’s Barn was my favorite shop that we browsed. Everything was so inspiring and I would love to return when we are ready to purchase more items for our home and future-to-be-furnished basement. The variety was fantastic.
There were signs, jewelry, beautiful artwork, handcrafted furniture, decorations, and various homegoods. Each section of the store had so many options and it was so cool to see so many local goods.
Zeb’s General Store is another must visit in North Conway. Walking in is very overwhelming but it was so fun to walk around and browse the shelves and displays. There’s a little bit of everything in this store!
Ben and I purchased some coffee even though we had just resisted at frontside, haha oops. There’s also a ton of other snacks, home items, kids toys, souvenirs, and every other cute trinket in between.
6. Visit the New England Ski Museum
For anyone that has an interest in skiing or snow sports, visiting the New England Ski Museum should be at the top of your list of things to do in North Conway, NH. There is another location at Cannon Mountain as well. Admission to these museums are free but it is appreciated to support them through donations or purchasing of merchandise after your visit.
These museums are small but the exhibits are extremely interesting! There is so much history displayed and it is amazing to see the origins of some of the New England mountains and old equipment and skiers that have come through.
When I visited the Cannon Mountain location in 2021 there was an awesome exhibit of old photographs showing New England’s skiing history. Some old Sugarloaf races and early days of lessons at the resorts were just a couple that I looked at. Visiting these museums help you appreciate the area and those that have pioneered the snow sports before you.
To learn more about the museums, visit their website here.
7. Ride the Conway Scenic Railroad (one of the top recommends things to do in North Conway, NH!)
Lastly, if it is your first time in North Conway, you should check out the Conway Scenic Railroad. This would be beautiful any time of the year, but in the winter it is especially nice to see the snow covered mountains as you ride the train to Attitash Mountain.
Before riding you can learn about the history of the railroad inside the train station. Then you can purchase tickets at the ticket window. Tickets for the Conway Scenic Railroad are fairly cheap but vary with the seating options including coach class, first class, and premium domed seating. The most expensive I saw when writing this was $53 for the premium domed class for adults and the coach class was $34 for adults.
The train ride is about 1 hour and 40 minutes round trip but there is an option for a layover between trains after reaching the Attitash Whistle Stop. To learn more about the train ride, how the layovers work, or to purchase a ticket, visit the Conway Scenic railroad website here.
For other travel related posts and to find the best things to do wherever you visit, check out my Travel page or more specifically United States Travel if you’re just looking in the states.
I hope this helps you as you explore North Conway for the first time! Let me know if you visit, what you tried, and what you recommend. Share what your favorite things to do in North Conway, NH are below!
