It's becoming a end-of-the summer family tradition to drive up to North Conway, NH for a long weekend. It's such a great destination with kids.
Story Land, an adorable, nostalgic amusement park perfect for kids 10 and under is the main draw. The best way to do Story Land is to take advantage of a fun little bonus: a one-day ticket is actually good for two days! If you show up to purchase your tickets in the last 3 hours that the park is open (closing time varies from 5:00-6:30 p.m. depending on the time of year you visit), you can enter without lines, ride a few rides and scope out the super fun stuff you want to come back to try later. Then you show up again the next day for free (or another day during your visit- it's good for a year!) and you get to skip the long morning lines! We've found that this approach is great with little kids, it means you get your money's worth without having to push through a long day with cranky kids. Two half days feels more relaxed.
After a hot day at Storyland, we love a late afternoon visit to
Echo Lake State Park for a refreshing swim. A short walk through pine trees from the parking lot is a big sandy beach, lake swimming with nice shallow entry for kiddos, and a big picnic area in the dappled shade below pines. The views from the beach are stunning- the lake sits at the base of a majestic cliff of rock. The kids have fun yelling to try to hear their voices echoing off the rock back at us. When it's time to head home, there are convenient bath houses where you can rinse off before piling back in the car (though your still guaranteed to bring sand and pine needles home!).
Another favorite of ours is a short hike up to
Diana's Baths, which are a series of cascading falls and pools of water. The easy 1-mile round trip hike starts off flat through the forest, over some well maintained boardwalks and bridges, and then gradually climbs up along the edge of the baths. We learned it's best to have bathing suits and water shoes for the kids for this hike, because the water is irresistible! We pack a picnic lunch or snack and let the kids take as long as they want to play in the water.
The last time we visited North Conway, we rented a great two-bedroom condo in the mountains just outside of town which was perfect for a family of 4 or 5. The master bedroom has an en suite bath, the second bedroom has bunk beds (always a treat for our kids!) and a double futon, and we especially enjoyed the beautiful mountain views from the second-story deck!
It's becoming a end-of-the summer family tradition to drive up to North Conway, NH for a long weekend. It's such a great destination with kids. Story Land, an adorable, nostalgic amusement park perfect for kids 10 and under is the main draw. The best way to do Story Land is to take advantage of a fun little bonus: a one-day ticket is actually good for two days! If you show up to purchase your tickets in the last 3 hours that the park is open (closing time varies from 5:00-6:30 p.m. depending on the time of year you visit), you can enter without lines, ride a few rides and scope out the super fun stuff you want to come back to try later. Then you show up again the next day for free (or another day during your visit- it's good for a year!) and you get to skip the long morning lines! We've found that this approach is great with little kids, it means you get your money's worth without having to push through a long day with cranky kids. Two half days feels more relaxed. 
After a hot day at Storyland, we love a late afternoon visit to Echo Lake State Park for a refreshing swim. A short walk through pine trees from the parking lot is a big sandy beach, lake swimming with nice shallow entry for kiddos, and a big picnic area in the dappled shade below pines. The views from the beach are stunning- the lake sits at the base of a majestic cliff of rock. The kids have fun yelling to try to hear their voices echoing off the rock back at us. When it's time to head home, there are convenient bath houses where you can rinse off before piling back in the car (though your still guaranteed to bring sand and pine needles home!). 
Another favorite of ours is a short hike up to Diana's Baths, which are a series of cascading falls and pools of water. The easy 1-mile round trip hike starts off flat through the forest, over some well maintained boardwalks and bridges, and then gradually climbs up along the edge of the baths. We learned it's best to have bathing suits and water shoes for the kids for this hike, because the water is irresistible! We pack a picnic lunch or snack and let the kids take as long as they want to play in the water. 
The last time we visited North Conway, we rented a great two-bedroom condo in the mountains just outside of town which was perfect for a family of 4 or 5. The master bedroom has an en suite bath, the second bedroom has bunk beds (always a treat for our kids!) and a double futon, and we especially enjoyed the beautiful mountain views from the second-story deck!
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