*In our opinion

From its small coastline, to its gorgeous mountains, New Hampshire offers a variety of beautiful scenery. There are great spots to vacation, hike, eat, and explore. Here is what we would recommend for a long weekend getaway.

Day 1. Start in Portsmouth, NH, easily accessible from 95 and only an hour from Boston. This historic little city (yes NH has cities) has a lot of charm, history, and great places to eat and drink. We recommend that you check into the Sailmaker's House. They’re a small hotel that boasts an intimate experience with Portsmouth quaint downtown. This hotel recommends all kids be over the age of twelve and offers free parking which is a hot commodity in downtown Portsmouth.

Once checked in, walk over to Strawbery Banke. Strawbery Banke is New Hampshire's only Smithsonian Affiliate Museum. The museum itself offers a few historical homes all decorated from distinct time periods from pre-colonial to the 1940s. Strawbery Banke Museum is only open in the summer, however if you are planning to visit in the winter, they offer outdoor ice skating called Puddle Dock Pond. If you are planning to visit around Halloween or Christmas also check their calendar for special events such as Ghosts on the Banke or the Candlelight Stroll.

After enjoying some history, walk around downtown Portsmouth for some shopping. Some of our favorite spots include:

Off Piste- A unique shop with something for everyone, funny cards, books, games, socks, and some New Hampshire specific souvenirs. They deem themselves “the coolest gift shop to exist in the history of forever” and we could not agree more!

Evie- An upscale boutique clothing store with a unique selection of rotating stock that is always fun to shop at!

Nahcotta- A adorable art and stationary store that has a variety of options such as pens, prints, original paintings, and some pretty cute jewelry!

Cotillion Bureau- A curated up-cycled vintage clothing and accessory store that has some of the most unique pieces I have ever seen. My daughter has bought a variety of different items there from a 1940s jacket, to vintage silk scarves, they have something for everyone. One aspect that we would love to highlight is that they sometimes offer plus size options in the form of high quality vintage inspired outfits.

For lunch, there are so many amazing spots. You truly can not go wrong. We recommend:

The River House- Located on the Piscataqua, The River House has beautiful views and delicious food. We recommend the clam chowder.

Popovers- Located in the heart of downtown, Popovers has good coffee, tasty salads and their popovers with maple butter are a must try. Whether you want a quick coffee to go, or to sit down for a few minutes, Popovers has options for both.

Moe’s- Moe’s is a New Hampshire institution. Moe’s offers Italian sandwiches, it's a classic Portsmouth staple. We recommend an original Moe’s with oil and don’t forget those salt and vinegar chips.

Salud- Salud offers a lighter affair, including Acai bowls, smoothies, and as the name may suggest, salads. This is your spot for a healthy bite to eat.

For evening activities summer is the time to visit Portsmouth. Prescott Park Art Festival offers a play throughout the summer. That is their main stage production playing most Thursday- Sunday throughout the summer. Then they also offer concerts and weekly movies in the park. The stage is set on the Piscataqua River and truly has magical vibes. Get there early, set a blanket down and walk around the beautiful flowers. Prescott Park Arts Festival is free to attend but they do ask for donations.

Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, the Music Hall and the Press Room are other venues that offer great shows. Check out their websites for schedules and to purchase tickets. Although all these venues have a different vibe, they all offer high quality entertainment.

Looking for dinner? Or maybe a cocktail before you head out to listen to some amazing live music? Check out one of our go-to spots that is within walking distance from the hotel:

The Wilder- A gastropub, with moody vibes, The Wilder has a collective menu with something for everyone. We recommend the espresso martini.

Jumpin’ Jay’s- A local seafood spot that boasts fresh fish that is delivered daily. We recommend the catch of the day, where you can pick your fish, sauce and sides.

Old Ferry Landing- A rustic seacoast treasure that is right on the water. It is a popular spot to grab a drink and enjoy watching the tugboats. For drinks we recommend trying a Jimmy Juice. For dinner this is your spot for fried seafood.

Barrio- Tacos, tequila, and whiskey! Need I say more?

Toscana- An upscale Italian chop house and bar. Their food and drinks are amazing. This is a great spot for a special occasion, we recommend their burrata starter.

There are many other amazing spots around town that we could not fit them all here!

Day 2. The next morning, grab a coffee and a pastry (or my personal favorite, the eggs cilbir) at Elephantine Bakery. In the summer the line can get long but it is well worth the wait. Not only is their food amazing, but the atmosphere, owners, and the staff are also wonderful! If you are visiting in the summer we also recommend checking to see if there is any availability for their Aperitivo dinner, it has been the highlight of my summer each time I have been. They run this event on select nights later in the summer.

After you have your coffee it's time to hit the road. Start heading up north to explore the beautiful White Mountains. Have your hiking gear ready. There are so many trails for ANY ability. Pack a lunch or stop along the way and grab a sandwich for your outdoor adventure. The Common Man Roadside is a great spot to grab a bite on the go. The most convenient locations are in Hooksett (on 93 N) or if you miss that in Plymouth, NH.

The first spot I recommend stopping at is the Flume Gorge. The current cost is: $18 in advance or $21 at the ticket window per adult. This hike is about 2 miles round trip. You will be treated to an absolutely beautiful waterfall. Although it is pricey for a hike, it is worth the visit here. The trail is well maintained and it has a boardwalk that provides you a close up view of the flume.

After your hike at the Flume Gorge, keep on driving up through Franconia Notch (also known as the Notch), and check out the Basin. This family friendly hike has a paved section which is (according to their website) is handicap accessible. The Basin itself is the star of the show and is towards the beginning of the hike, so if the full 2.5 mile hike is not for you you can cut it short.

Want to rest your legs but still see some amazing views? We recommend stopping by Cannon Mountain’s Aerial Tramway (off exit 34B). The tramway is an amazing option to get an aerial view of the White Mountains, Maine, Vermont, and if you are lucky, sometimes even Canada! Tickets need to be purchased in advance and prices vary depending on if it is peak season or not. Check out their website for pricing and availability.

Or are you ready for another hike? We recommend stopping by Cannon Mountain’s Artist Bluff (exit 34C). Artist Bluff is a great hike for most people. The trail is 1.4 miles and can get very busy on beautiful days and extremely busy in the fall. Accessible from Cannons parking lot, there is some slight elevation gain, but it is still an easy hike. The trail provides amazing views of the Notch, lake, and Cannon Mountain.

After your mountain adventures check into the Mountain View Grand Hotel. Personally, this is one of my all time favorite hotels. They offer many seasonal activities. They have a game room, movie theater, indoor and outdoor pool, and a spa. In an ideal world it would be nice to spend two nights here. The first day check in a little later, enjoy dinner and drinks at the hotel restaurant and bar, then unwind in their pool.

We love to stay here anytime! They even make winter wicked fun!

Day 3: The next day, be sure to get up early and head to Sugar Hill to get breakfast. No trip to NH would be complete without a stop at Polly’s Pancake Parlor. This historic pancake parlor is amazing. They used to only be open in the summer but after a large renovation years ago, they are now open year round. They are a very busy place, so if you’re hitting them at peak breakfast hours make sure to call ahead. Before you leave Polly's grab yourself some of their special pancake mix from their gift shop for when you’re home.

Ready for another hike? After you have filled up with delicious pancakes head on over to Crawford Notch to hike Mt Willard. This 3.1 mile round trip hike is absolutely stunning. It is an out and back hike and offers amazing views with no rock scrambles or climbing experience needed. You can hear about our experience hiking Mt Willard on our podcast Link here.

After your hike, head into Littleton, NH. This is one of the cutest towns in New Hampshire. They have some great spots to eat, shop, and explore. A couple of my favorites include

Little Town Brews -A great beer store with the opportunity to make your own 6 pack with beers from around New England. They also offer a variety of non-alcoholic beers. And if you’re lucky you can meet their dogs who are so well behaved and so cute!

Chutters- A candy story which boasts the world's longest candy counter. Legit it is long! They have every type of candy we can imagine and then some.

Shaun Terhun Fine Art Photography Gallery- This one of a kind store is a must visit. His photography is absolutely stunning.

Looking for a good meal or a good beer or both? For dinner we recommend Schilling Beer Co for some of the best pizza and beer New England has to offer in a beautiful setting!

Day 4 After breakfast at the hotel and (being sad to leave the Mountain View Grand) head to the base of Mount Washington to ride the Cog Railway. You should pre purchase your tickets. They can be purchased onsite if availability allows.

This historic train has been taking people to the peak of the tallest mountain in the Northeast since 1869. It has a unique cog and rack system built specifically for the steep grades of Mt Washington. We learned on our adventure the technology that allows the train to ascent these steep peaks is similar to the chain on a bicycle. Once at the peak you will have plenty of time to enjoy the breathtaking views of the White Mountains including on a good day being able to see into Vermont, Maine, New York and even Canada! Make sure to pack some layers as Mt. Washington is famous for weather shifts and is known as the “world’s worst weather”.

After you have soaked up the amazing views it will be time to head to North Conway. An idyllic town for you to visit. You can get here a couple of ways, the most direct would be to drive 302 east, which is pretty scenic and will take you about 45 minutes. But if you have more time and want to visit one of the more iconic roads in NH drive back down through the Notch on 93 South and take exit 32 in Lincoln. The start of the Kancamagus Highway (Rt 112), also called “The Kanc” is at the end of Main Street. This trip will take you double the time but the views will be worth it.

When you arrive in North Conway, check into your hotel. We have always liked the North Conway Grand located in the heart of the outlet shopping area. There are a variety of hotels to fit all budgets here.

Spend time shopping around the main street area. Check out the famous Zeb's General Store. You can find something for everyone here. They have such a nostalgic vibe to them you will have so much fun poking around picking your perfect NH souvenir.

Check out one of our other favorite shops The Penguin or any of the other small business establishments here.

For a mid day coffee pick me up we like Frontside Coffee Roasters.

For lunch we like: Delaney’s Hole in the wall, Wicked Fresh Craft Burger or Breetos.

For dinner The only spot I would recommend is Tuckerman Brewing Co. They are my personal favorite beer and the food, which is pizza, is top notch.

Ending your trip to our beautiful state might be sad there is so much to do and see and explore. Everything in the article listed above we have tried or experienced and loved. I tried to write & plan this like I was taking the trip. To have you drive in a way that made sense and hit the highlights. It got me thinking what would other people from NH recommend. I took to TikTok to see what I missed. Even though I grew up in NH and went to college here, as well as live here, I am not a NH expert nor do I pretend to be. There are so many wonderful spots in our state left for me to explore. My TikTok followers left me over 300 comments about where they would recommend you visit if you have never been to NH before. Listed below are some of the more popular TikTokers recommendations:

* Places we have been to that didn’t fit into the itinerary above but we love.