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Welcome to New Hampshire

With picturesque mountains, crystal lakes and pristine coastal beaches, New Hampshire packs ample beauty into the nation’s fifth-smallest state. While spring and summer are wonderful times for outdoor pursuits, they don’t hold a candle to New Hampshire in the fall, when the forests blaze with color.

Purple Finch

State Bird: Purple Finch. Getty Images

Seaports & Cities

Start your visit with a trip to the same city that served as the entry point for English colonists in the 1600s. Portsmouth is a classic New England seaport, with iconic views of ships sailing in the harbor. Step into the town’s past with a visit to the Strawbery Banke Museum, an outdoor living history museum depicting life on the waterfront in the 1600s and beyond. The downtown area is a cozy place to stroll through restaurants, galleries and shops. Offering a vibrant urban landscape, Manchester in the interior is the state’s largest city. Museums, cultural performances and historic sites abound.

Wonderful White Mountains

Take in the stunning scenery of New Hampshire’s White Mountains with a drive along the Kancamagus Highway. Stop to explore the epic Sabbaday Falls, which cascades over a 45-foot drop, and the Rocky Gorge Scenic Area. Just off the byway, Franconia Notch State Park encompasses unbelievable beauty. The catwalks in the Flume Gorge take visitors through a verdant wonderland, past waterfalls and moss-covered cliffs. For dizzying views of the undulating hills, take a trip on the aerial tramway to the top of Cannon Mountain.

Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire

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Scenic Waterways

Lake Winnipesaukee is the crown jewel of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, notable for its beauty and the fact that it’s the state’s largest lake. Boating, fishing and watersports are popular pursuits. Paddlers and anglers can take their pick from Winnipesaukee and the other ample ponds and lakes that dot the state. With views of moose and virgin forests, the East Inlet is an especially picturesque spot. For the sound of waves crashing into the sands, head to Hampton Beach State Park in the south.