Quick Links: Santa’s Village//Omni Mt Washington Hotel//Diana’s Baths//Conway, NH//Saco River Tubing//Mt Washington Cog Railway//King Arthur Baking Company
Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Get ready for the ultimate New Hampshire road trip! This journey is full of breathtaking landscapes and thrilling experiences at every turn. From the fancy Omni Mount Washington Hotel to the fun rides at Santa’s Village, this road trip promises to be a wild adventure for you and your kids. So buckle up and brace yourself for an unforgettable expedition through the picturesque beauty of the Granite State.
Day One Let’s jump into one of the first stops on our journey – Santa’s Village in Jefferson, NH.
Santa’s Village is a magical place where memories are made every day. Whether it’s screaming on the rollercoasters with friends or meeting Santa in person, there’s something for everyone. You can spend hours exploring and discovering the hidden wonders of Santa’s Village, from the waterpark to the musical shows, and from the delicious homemade cookies to the holiday-themed rides. It’s the perfect place for a fun summer day!
Next up, we’ve got a drive from Santa’s Village to the Omni Mount Washington Hotel: 19.4 miles, about 30 minutes
The Omni Mount Washington Hotel in Carroll, NH is like a hidden treasure in the middle of New Hampshire’s stunning scenery. As we keep cruising on our road trip, this old-school hotel invites us to kick back and soak up its fancy vibes and old-world charm.
Stepping into the Omni Mount Washington Hotel feels like taking a trip back in time. This amazing masterpiece was built in 1902 and just oozes old-world charm with its stunning architecture and attention to detail. The grand facade proudly stands against the White Mountains, offering breathtaking views that just make you go “wow” and feel totally at peace.
Beyond its amazing architecture and design, the Omni Mount Washington Hotel also has a fascinating history. It used to be a hotspot for the elite, and has welcomed tons of important people, famous faces, and even three presidents. Strolling through the hotel, it’s like you can almost hear the old stories floating around, soaking in the cool history vibes.
Our stay at the Omni Mount Washington Hotel was absolutely fantastic. The rooms are so beautifully decorated, striking the perfect balance between old-fashioned charm and modern conveniences. Plus, there are so many fun things for families to do and great dining options with special menus for the little ones. The hotel even has a cool game room, a spa and indoor/outdoor pools, along with tennis courts. Oh, and they’ve got an adventure park too! You can go on this amazing adventure through the ancient hemlock trees, with platforms high up in the trees, zip lines, sky bridges, and rappels. Tip: Book your dinner reservations in advance, this is an isolated hotel and the mountains are quite dark at night.
With its super cozy vibes and fancy facilities, the Omni Mount Washington Hotel is all about treating yourself and taking it easy. After kicking back there, we’ll be all set to head out and check out Diana’s Baths on the next stop of our adventure.
Day Two Next, let’s hit the route from Omni Mt Washington Hotel to Diana’s Baths: 26.5 miles, 36 minutes
Diana’s Baths is this awesome spot with waterfalls, tucked away in the southeastern part of Bartlett, New Hampshire, near North Conway in the White Mountains. And get this – it’s right in the middle of the White Mountain National Forest! We had a great time climbing up the rocks and cooling off in springs of crystal clear water.
As we say goodbye to Diana’s Baths, we’re off to explore Conway, NH: 7.9 miles, 13 minutes
Conway’s downtown is just awesome, you gotta go see it! It’s got this great mix of old-school charm and all the modern stuff you need. You won’t be bored in Conway with all the super cool shops around. One place you can’t miss is Zeb’s General Store. They’ve got tons of vintage items and a whole section just for candy – perfect for a treat for the kids! Then there’s the Toy Chest where kids can go nuts over dolls, games, and wooden trains. Grown-ups will love the beautiful stuff at the League of N.H. Craftsmen gallery. It’s all locally made and includes pottery, glassware, prints, furniture, and jewelry. And let’s not forget about White Birch Books – it’s this cute little bookstore with a ton of unique and popular books. And if you head further south, Conway has some awesome outlet stores for some extra shopping. We checked out the L.L. Bean Outlet Store and grabbed some warmer weather gear.
Also located in downtown Conway Village, the Conway Scenic Railroad offers delightfully old-fashioned train rides. Two family-friendly “valley” routes head north to either Conway (11 miles) or Bartlett (21 miles), while the longer “notch” route heads to the mountains and Crawford Notch. All rail excursions depart from an 1874 built Victorian North Conway train station in North Conway Village.
The next leg of our journey takes us towards an exhilarating tubing trip that promises relaxing fun amidst nature’s beauty, and only just a few minutes south of downtown Conway. We booked the tubing tour in advance with Saco River Tubing Center. We parked the cars, signed some waivers and were taken in a van upriver so we would end back by our cars. We did the 1 mile float trip and believe the times posted by the tour company, it took 2 hours to gently float back to our cars. The kids (and parents) had a great time floating down the Saco River. Tip: Bring a change of clothes, bathrooms/changing rooms are available at the tubing center.
After our float trip, we headed back to the Omni Mt Washington Hotel for a great dinner and peaceful evening of S’mores by a beautiful stone firepit.
Day Three: Omni Mount Washington to The Mt Washington Cog Railway: 5.6 miles, 11 minutes
The Mt. Washington Cog Railway is gonna take us on a ride through some amazing landscapes, with views that go on forever. When we hop on those cool restored rail cars, it feels like we’re time traveling. And let me tell you, the views at the top are just unreal! I decided to go old school and booked a steam train ride up the mountain, but you can also go for the biodiesel one. The only thing is, the steam train trip takes 1 hour each way, while the biodiesel only takes 45 minutes. It’s your call, but make sure to book early to snag a spot on either train, especially holidays and weekends.
Why even bother with the Cog Railway when you can just drive? I mean, come on. First off, drivers don’t get to take in the amazing views because they’re stuck behind the wheel. And let’s talk about The Cog for a sec – it’s the first-ever mountain-climbing cog railway, with an average grade of 25% (and some parts are almost 38%!). It’s actually the second steepest railway in the world! The steepest one is The Pilatus Railway in Switzerland, with a max gradient of 48% and an average gradient of 35% – now that’s steep!
Day Four: Omni Mountain Washington Hotel to The King Arthur Baking Company Norwich, VT: 92.6 miles, 1 hour and 36 minutes
But our adventure is far from over. We’re eager to continue our exploration with a pit stop at the famous King Arthur Baking Company Store in Vermont.
Anticipation is through the roof as we make our way to the King Arthur Baking Company Store. This place is not your average bakery; it’s like paradise for baking enthusiasts and an absolute standout in the baking world. The store is brimming with all the essential baking supplies, and the aroma of freshly baked goodies in their cafe got us instantly drooling. We picked up a few things and headed home to savor our haul, mementos, and memories from our awesome trip exploring New Hampshire and a bit of Vermont.
Prepare for the ultimate road trip of your life as you head out on this amazing New Hampshire adventure. With something for everyone, this road trip is your chance to make some awesome memories. Like Mark Twain said, “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” So, why wait? Start planning your New Hampshire adventure today and let the journey begin!
