We spent some time strolling the grounds, which include a winery and a heated pool that’s open 24 hours (we took advantage of an evening swim).
There’s also a free-standing sauna, which they just built.
We didn’t come to the White Mountains for nothing, so it was time to make our way to America’s First Aerial Tramway. The Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway opened in 1938 and was originally used as a way to transport skiers to the top. Nowadays, there are two trams that bring visitors to the summit in less than 10 minutes.
The top of the summit stands at a whopping 4,080 feet, and on a clear day, you can see mountains in four different states and even some in Quebec. While you’re up there, you can also check out the cafe and bar, stroll some of the paths or snap some photos on the 360-degree observation deck.
A drink was in order, so we scooted over to a local fave — Rek Lis Brewing. Here is where we first discovered the people of New Hampshire are as nice as can be. Our server was amazing, as were the mussels, smash burger and the house lager we downed. Of course, we had to try a New England IPA, which was also a hit.
We headed back to our camping pod for the night because bright and early, we were venturing to another mountain summit that I was extra excited about — Mount Washington.
Mount Washington features an auto road that winds its way up to the 6,288-foot summit, allowing you to drive yourself or have a tour guide take you up in a van. We opted for the tour guide and learned a ton about the mountain along the way, like the fact that it’s America’s oldest man-made attraction and New England’s tallest peak.
People from all over the world come to see the views, and I can’t blame them. It brought me to tears! We were lucky, getting a super clear day with no wind when we visited. The spot actually holds a world record for a wind speed of 231 miles per hour, as detected by the observatory located right on the summit grounds.
Portsmouth
From the White Mountains, we made our way to the coast. Portsmouth is known for its historic charm, waterfront views, and local shops. The local shopping is especially great because New Hampshire is one of five states that does not impose a sales tax on purchases — woo woo!
Along our drive to the city, we made a quick stop for lunch at Sweet Maple Cafe. We pulled up around 11:45 a.m. in the middle of the week, so I was shocked to see it packed with people, but I understood once I tried my incredible banana latte and breakfast sandwich.
Our first activity in Portsmouth was a harbour cruise along the Seacoast waterways. Portsmouth Harbor Cruises takes you through about 400 years of history, from the old ports to lighthouses to abandoned prisons. The views were amazing, and while others probably knew this, Maine is just across the waterway, meaning we got to sail by (and even walk over the bridge for a drink later in the night).
Dinner was at the fantastic Nichinan. Not only did we have perhaps the sweetest server of all time, but the food was so fresh. The Contemporary Japanese restaurant is known for its crab-fried rice, so of course, we had to try it. We also opted for basically all the sashimi we could handle, and some nigiri. The sea urchin nigiri was the star of the show, in my opinion.
We settled in for the night at The Bow Hotel — a gorgeous boutique hotel by the water. The hotel felt more like a luxury apartment, which we absolutely loved.
Morning came quickly, which I was very happy about because that meant trying a New England classic — popovers. Popovers on the Square was just a quick walk from our hotel and is the hot spot of the area when it comes to these delicious treats. Popovers can be enjoyed with soups, as a sandwich vessel, plain, the list goes on. We had ours with their famous maple butter, and I think I shed a single tear thinking about the fact that I wouldn’t be able to have it again anytime soon.
The sun was shining, so we walked along the water, through some public gardens, and over to the Strawbery Banke Museum. This museum was unlike anything I’ve seen before, set up like a little neighbourhood where you can walk through preserved and restored buildings while learning about the 350 years of history they hold.
I know I’ve mentioned it a couple of times, but the people really stood out on this trip, and at Strawbery Banke in particular, the people were so incredibly kind. We were pulled aside by multiple staff members to talk about their work, what brought us there, and local recommendations.
We loaded the car and began our journey to Keene, but not before stopping for a mini beach day and something I had been patiently waiting for: lobster rolls.
Petey’s Summertime Seafood is about 15 minutes down the coast from Portsmouth in Rye. This oceanside seafood joint has a vast menu, but I will tell you right now what to order: a lobster roll, fried clams and clam chowder. 10 out of 10.
We finished our lunch and walked over to the beach across the street, and relaxed for about an hour. The area was giving Cousins Beach (The Summer I Turned Pretty, anyone?), plus, I got to swim in the ocean for the first time in my life.
Keene
Our last stop was Keene. We had a night booked at The Burrell House, a historic inn right in town. The location was perfect; all we had to do was set down our bags and walk over to Main Street to begin our evening.
While we waited for our reservation at The Stage Restaurant, we had a margarita at the appropriately named Margaritas Mexican Restaurant. Dare I say one of the best margs I’ve ever had?
Once we finished dinner at The Stage, my boyfriend suggested we try a speakeasy a couple of buildings down. I won’t give away too much about Sole’s, because half the fun is discovering it for yourself, but I will say that we loved it.
We walked the local rail trail in the morning and then began our drive back to Canada. Along the way, we saw a little of everything: the mountains, some historic bridges, small towns with old charm, state parks, lookout points, and plenty of smiling faces.
Overall, I can’t say enough nice things about New Hampshire. Everyone we met expressed how much they miss Canadians visiting, and I can truly say I was blown away by every stop we made and by all the people we met.
If you’re looking for an affordable vacation with delicious food, tax-free shopping, stunning views, outdoor adventure and kind humans, New Hampshire is your spot.
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