The Best Things to Do in Lincoln, NH
Love to travel? Check out New England with Love, a travel website dedicated to all things New England! Below, you'll find the beginning of my New England with Love article all about one of our family's favorite areas to both relax and find adventure - Lincoln, NH. You can view the article in its entirety here.
If you are looking for the ultimate outdoor playground in New England, look no further than Lincoln, New Hampshire. With a walkable downtown, a ski mountain right in town, fantastic restaurants, and hiking galore, Lincoln is a day trip or vacation destination that should be considered in every season. And there are so many things to do in Lincoln, NH!
Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a parent looking for an easy family trip, or someone who simply wants to enjoy the best of the indoor life while surrounded by gorgeous natural surroundings, Lincoln, New Hampshire can provide what you are looking for.Here are 13 of our favorite things to do in Lincoln, New Hampshire:
Ski
Loon Mountain is right within Lincoln’s downtown, and it is an excellent mountain for families. Almost all of the condos that you can rent in Lincoln offer a free shuttle service to the mountain, so you can be on the slopes within minutes and avoid having to deal with both parking and carrying your equipment very far. For some serious steeps, drive ten minutes north to ski or board at Cannon Mountain.
Hike
You could spend every weekend visiting Lincoln and still find new trails to hike around this area. If you are looking for a mild nature walk, you can stroll the J.H. Henry trail which meanders along the Pemigewasset River right downtown or you can hike for incredible views with nearby trails like Mount Willard or the Artist’s Bluff Trail. Be sure to stop at the Purple Tomato to pick up sandwiches and snacks to eat along the way. We love all of their options which cater to gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and organic diets as well.
Dine
When you park your car in downtown Lincoln upon arrival, you could very feasibly avoid getting back in the car for the weekend and still visit many delicious restaurants. For delicious Italian or woodfired pizza in an upscale environment, check out La Vista at Riverwalk. Right across the street, is Gypsy Cafe which offers eclectic and worldly lunch and dinner options with a unique ambiance. Other favorites include El Charro Mexican Restaurant and The Common Man.
See a show
One of the top things to do in Lincoln, NH is to catch a show! Jean’s Playhouse offers high quality theatre shows, children’s theatre camp, and unique options like the latest Warren Miller ski movie. There’s also a movie theatre right downtown for when the weather doesn’t go your way.
Mini golf
Our family’s favorite mini golf course in any location is Pirate’s Cove. With eighteen holes and special features galore, you’ll find yourself wanting to come back for more.
Take a train ride
There are several different kinds of train rides within the area. Right next to Pirate’s Cove is the Hobo Railroad. These train rides are fun for families with young kids – especially for seasonal and holiday themed rides. Down the road is the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train which offers a two hour ride and a five course meal. Also, if you’re visiting Loon Mountain, there is an authentic steam train that you can ride between the two base lodges.
Challenge yourself with a ropes course or zip line ride
Alpine Adventures right downtown offers a very extensive ropes course and zip line experience. You can also find the same both at the base of Loon Mountain and up on the mountain with the Aerial Forest Park Adventure. This adventure can be combined with other mountain options there like biking, rock climbing, bungee trampoline jumping, and riding the gondola.
Keep reading all about Lincoln, NH here where you'll find all the rest of my favorite Lincoln recommendations on New England with Love.
