Family Vacation Suggestion (Manchester, Concord, Rochester: to rent, hotels, to live)

[amy123]

Does anyone know of a quaint New Hampshire town that is walkable& family friendly with ice cream shops, playground, and day trips nearby?
Thanks for any suggestions!

[Verseau]

Well, that could describe a lot of towns in NH.

The first one that came to my mind was Meredith. Quaint, family-friendly, great location and lots of activities all around -- the lakes, mountains, etc.

But maybe you could be a little more specific as to what you're looking for?

[SFT]

Waterville Valley is known for being a skiing/snowboarding area, but it is really nice there in the summer as well. There is the town square which isn't huge, but has a few shops, few places to eat, etc. They have a pond right in the town square, golf course surrounding the town square on one side as well. All of the hotels are pretty nice and range from lodges to more traditional hotels, and most of them have pools.

There are plenty of trails to walk, boats to rent in the pond, a chairlift that will bring you to the top of a mountain, bikes to rent, and it is close to towns like Plymouth and Lincoln.

Lincoln is very nice as well, and its an actual town more than a resort like Waterville Valley. It is probably around 20 minutes away to the north and it has ice cream places all around, restaurants, Loon Mountain nearby, very close to the Kangamangus Highway, rivers where you can swim, and I'd imagine there are trails there as well.

Both of these are pretty well located in the White Mountain region and just about anything you would want to visit up there would be within a 30-40 minute drive at most.

My family always went up there when I was a kid and I loved it.

[fishnfool]

Portsmouth

[NH2008]

I would say Wolfeboro, Meredith, Exeter, or Conway (not North Conway, which is great but not necessarily quaint).

[DreamworksSKG]

Keene, Meredith, North Conway, Wolfeboro, Lincoln, Plymouth, Lebanon, Berlin, Franconia, Laconia, Hillsborough, Jaffrey, Peterborough, Hampton Beach, Exeter, Durham, Portsmouth, Concord, Manchester, Hooksett, Salem, Plaistow, Raymond, Epping, Bridgewater

--Jeff-
Winchester, MA

[DreamworksSKG]

Bethlehem, Whitefield, Lancaster, Colebrook,Cascade,Gorham, Freyburg ME, Sanbornville,Farmington,Rochester, Somersworth, Berwick ME,newmarket, Nottingham,Hampton,Exeter,Goffstown,Bedford,Amhers t,Contoocook,Enfield,Lebanon,Hanover,Bradford,Wood sville,
stark/groveton,Cushman NH/VT, Lancaster,


--Jeff--
Winchester, MA

Areas with at least 1 mile walkable distance

[NewNHguy]

Lincoln/Woodstock area.
Woodstock has nice shops, and just a mile or so north in Lincoln is Clark's Trading Post, the trained bears, train rides, circus, etc. Further down the road is Whales tale water park and other attractions, and of course, the Ammonusuc River for quiet dips into beautiful cool water on a hot day.
Indian head lookout, hiking the Flume, the Basin and the area where the Old man in the Mountain used to live all inhabit Franconia notch area. Lots to do with kids, in the mountains.

[WannaComeHome]

and don't forget Lost River in the Lincoln/Woodstock area! lots of fun crawling through the boulder jumble (adults who don't want to crawl around can stay on the boardwalk & steps and walk around )

[GreenGene]

Originally Posted by WannaComeHome

and don't forget Lost River in the Lincoln/Woodstock area! lots of fun crawling through the boulder jumble (adults who don't want to crawl around can stay on the boardwalk & steps and walk around )

My wife and I did that when we were last in New Hampshire ... and I crawled through all but the very smallest of openings. Then we had lunch at the Woodstock Inn - sat outside - I had very yummy sesame maple scallops. Lots of fun, great food, and a really good day.