Our Favorite NH Adventure Towns

Where the Fun Beings!

By Katherine Englishman

There are three things that make up a good adventure town. The first and most obvious being easy access to the outdoors and endless ways to recreate. Second, a community with a sense of adventure that is deeply embedded in the culture, and works collectively to help it thrive.

Lastly, top-notch local brews, because no adventure is complete without a good beer. Yet, truth be told, no matter what you’re sipping on, it all begins and ends with a great adventure town to call home.

In a place like New Hampshire, none of these things are hard to come by, and each region has an outdoor mecca with a brand of fun all its own. Whether you want alpine trails and winding singletrack, a pristine surf break, or acres of backcountry ski glades, there’s a basecamp for you. Oh, and beer. There’s plenty of that too.

Ready to put down roots? Here are the best adventure towns in New Hampshire.

Lakes Region: Meredith

THE VIBE An easygoing lakeside escape

THE FOOD + DRINK Twin Barns Brewery/Tamworth Distilling

THE ADVENTURE Adventure in or on Lake Winnipesaukee, explore the Ossipee Mountains

Photo by Jenn Bakos

Situated in the heart of the Lakes Region with the Ossipee Mountain Range as its backdrop, Meredith is downright dreamy. This lakefront town puts you on the shoreline of the state’s largest lake with close proximity to 5,000-plus acres of scenic hiking and riding trails in the Ossipee Range. Bald Knob, Mount Shaw and Mount Major are standout hikes in the area, complete with waterfalls and wide-open summit views of the lakes and surrounding peaks.

When it’s cold, locals get their thrills on ice: from the Pond Hockey Classic to the Ice Fishing Derby, and cross-country skiing or snowshoeing along the same Ossipee trails. In every season, this is a place to choose your own adventure.

As for food and drinks, the newly opened Twin Barns Brewing offers craft beer on tap, or travel 30 minutes north to sample the bespoke spirits and farm-fresh food at Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile.

White Mountains: Littleton

THE VIBE Heritage meets hipster

THE FOOD + DRINK Schilling Beer Co.

THE ADVENTURE All things White Mountains: skiing, hiking, biking, climbing

You can access miles of hiking and biking trails from Littleton

Don’t take it personally, Conway, we love you, we do, but it’s time for Littleton to get the mountain town cred it deserves. At the northern terminus of the White Mountains, Littleton straddles the North Country and White Mountain regions. However, the 10-minute drive to the Whites is what makes it an ideal basecamp for outdoor enthusiasts who want a quick mountain exit.

Here, a thriving maker scene meets a spirited outdoor adventure culture — a facet of their character that makes them unique, for sure, and pleasantly surprises out-oftowners. Foodies and beer lovers will happily get their fill at Schilling Beer Co., while everyone should experience Littleton’s ski town roots at Lahout’s Ski Shop — the oldest ski shop in North America. A national treasure, if you will.

Then, there’s the adventure: Franconia Notch State Park, Cannon Mountain, a burgeoning mountain biking trail system in nearby Bethlehem, plus climbing both indoors and out, all within a 20-mile radius.

Great North Woods: Pittsburg

THE VIBE Rugged and remote

THE FOOD + DRINK Coös Brewing Company

THE ADVENTURE Winding trail systems, pristine lakes and rivers, and Dixville Notch State Park

The remote Pittsburg area is ideal for quiet reflection amid the vast wilderness.

Yes, the Great North Woods might be pretty far, er, north, but trust us when we say that it’s worth the trip. The tradeoff for the long drive is a wilder, more remote experience with plenty of natural beauty.

Pittsburg is an underrated adventure town that is no-frills in the best way. There’s no hustle or bustle, no flashy promenade to distract you, just a down-to-earth approach that puts the focus on immersing yourself in the outdoors.

The region is known for its impressive snowmobiling trail system, but there’s no shortage of human-powered adventures to partake in either. Its many glacial lakes — First and Second Connecticut Lake, Lake Francis — are delightful in the summer, and when frozen, make for excellent cross-country skiing. Beyond that, there are miles of biking trails, whitewater rafting and camping.

South of Pittsburg, the granite spires of Dixville Notch feel like New Hampshire’s own Dolomites. At the end of the day, you’ll be glad to settle in and enjoy a cold one from the local Coös Brewing Company. Adventures and beer are the perfect pairing, after all.

Southwest: Sunapee

THE VIBE Four-season adventure hub

THE FOOD + DRINK The Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille

THE ADVENTURE Hike, swim and ski the mountains and the lakes of Sunapee

Lake Sunapee

A peaceful slice of paradise with plenty of heart-pumping adventures, you’ll have a variety of outdoor endeavors with Sunapee as your basecamp. Despite its southern orientation, what might seem like its edging on the flatlands actually has plenty of elevation to gain year-round.

Hikers can scramble up to the summit of Mount Kearsarge via the Lincoln Trail for a challenging 8-mile-long trek with sweeping views of the state park. If being on the water is more your style, Lake Sunapee’s clear blue waters are where you’ll spend your time swimming, boating or fishing.

During the other half of the year, you can get your turns in at Mount Sunapee, a popular ski resort that boasts the highest vertical drop in southern New Hampshire. Alternatively, Ragged Mountain is just 30 minutes north, where you can slide around on 200+ acres of fun skiable terrain.

If you’re hungry, you’ll fare well at The Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille. Feast on locally grown and organic dishes while enjoying some local beers. In the summer, you can dine al fresco or get cozy indoors when the temps drop.

Coastal: Rye

THE VIBE The Seacoast’s Surftown

THE FOOD + DRINK Smuttynose Brewery/Stoneface Brewing

THE ADVENTURE Exposed reef breaks, sandy beaches and paddling the waterways

The Porsmouth Harbor Lighthouse

In comparison to its mountain ranges and ravines, dense buffer of forests, and region of shimmering lakes, New Hampshire has a relatively short stretch of coastline. Yet, in classic East Coast fashion, what it lacks in size, it delivers in epic adventures.

Located along the 18-mile-long seashore is Rye, the Seacoast’s vibrant adventure hub. From town, surfers can easily paddle out to beach breaks like Jenness Beach and Rye On The Rocks, but it’s not out of the question to travel up Route 1A to find a better swell in Hampton.

For gear, head to Cinnamon Rainbows, Rye’s local surf shop that’s open year-round for retail or rentals. If it’s not pumping, or surfing isn’t your thing, there are other ways to get your fix: Spend a day on Sawyer’s Beach, check out the skate park, go out with the crew at Granite State Whale Watching, or head inland to Portsmouth Paddle Company for a mellower afternoon.

Of course, there’s the breweries. Smuttynose Brewery is a local institution now with a new outpost, called Smuttlabs. Its second location features a kitchen and a tasting room serving up limited-edition, small-batch brews. And, don’t pass up the chance to visit Stoneface Brewing to try some of their tasty craft beers after a sun-soaked day on the Seacoast.