One of my favorite places in the world, because that means the hard slog up the mountain carrying…read more30 pounds of weight is halfway over. And they have NACHOS! Anyways, the observatory is at the peak of Mt. Washington and is the location of some of the wildest weather in the world. They also have a lovely visitor center that is always bustling with activity, a shop that sells t-shirts and magnets and keychains, the aforementioned nachos at the snack bar, and a museum about the Observatory. You can also send a letter with a Mt. Washington postmark! Most importantly, however, are the bathrooms that are plentiful and clean. They also have an interesting plaque that lists the cause of death of every known person to have died on the mountain. This is a fascinating thing to read after you've climbed 4 mountains already. You can get to the Observatory by being cool (hiking) or by taking the Cog Railway or the Auto Road. However, if you take the Auto Road, take it easy and bring lots of water. A lot of cars have overheated going up that thing. My fav. spot here is at the summit sign. I have pushed people (read: car drivers) aside to get a picture of my glorious tromp up the mountain, but be warned if you are hiking! Its at the top of a flight of stairs. ARG!

My favorite summer activity is climbing this mountain. It has never been easy, but there is…read morenothing like reaching the top and eating lunch while warming up inside the lodge. Plus there is a great video you can watch in the lodge at the top that showcases the Mountain's fickle weather. It's aptly called 'Breakfast of Champions' showing a man sitting at a table trying to eat breakfast while the table with everything on it is blown away off the Mountain! The Mountain is notorious for its extremely poor weather and there are signs that read 'Many have died'. SO be sure to pack enough warm layers of clothing and extra food just in case.. Also, it's best not to go if the weather is going to be bad as the rocks can get slippery! ALSO watch out for SUVs at the top who have taken the easier road up to the peak! Nothing is more disappointing than seeing a bumper sticker that says "this car climbed Mt. Washington". Be sure to buy a shirt or hat at the top to show off to your friends to prove that you made it up the hike and didn't need an SUV to do it!

This was a wonderful stop for us, meeting the owner Carla and her lovely shop. With the many photos…read moreon the wall, the owner has a story for many. Ask about the logging history and she will tell you all about it. I felt as if I was getting free local concierge by listening to her talk about the local history, and from a local, it was fascinating. This little shoppe is right in the downtown area, off on a side street and next to the train museum. She is very friendly and affordable. The only place around to customize a photo or painting with a classy frame. We purchased a painting nearby and stopped in for a frame. Carla helped us choose a simple, yet attractive and well fitting frame for the picture. She gave us many options to choose from and has a great eye for art and colors. Since we had to leave the area that same day, we left the painting with Carla to frame it and paid upfront for the cost of the frame and to ship the painting. We are now looking forward to the finished item. I certainly recommend you stop into this shoppe; you will not be disappointed.

Carla re-framed two 100 yr old paintings for us that were quite fragile -- she treated them with…read moregreat care and was very helpful in selecting a frame of the appropriate size and style for the paintings, and the end result was just what we'd hoped for. The shop has an impressive selection of White Mountains-related art - photographs, prints and paintings, as well as an eclectic selection of other intriguing goodies. I highly recommend a visit - I just went in for some framing, and came out with a couple of things I didn't know I needed!

Our group of six adults stopped in at the Fairbanks Museum and the exhibits there exceeded our…read moreexpectations! Anyone interested in animals or natural history would enjoy the museum, and even adults shouldn't overlook some of the hands-on exhibits geared toward children.

Loved the museum, loads of history and artifacts. We saw Butterflies in the planetarium, we can…read moreall do our part. Free seeds for wildflowers, too. Just lovely.

This is a beautiful little town and a gem hidden in its midst. We took the "medical tour" and,…read morefrom a very knowledgeable and friendly young man, learned a mesmerizing history of two doctors, father and son, who tended to the townsfolk over an entire century, even as the state of medical science advanced dramatically. The farm surrounding their practice is exquisite and an easy walk through meadows and woods, surrounded by happy cows and goats. I really can't recommend this experience too highly.

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about this place!…read more I had to VERY quickly reorganize a group trip of (almost) 50 people from another destination to here in under 24 hours. Talk about wild! From my initial call & email to when we loaded up our vans to leave, this place was extremely accommodating and helpful when it came time to entertain my group of campers and adult staff. Springing a large group on any place last minute is daunting and the staff here was incredible. At $5 per person, we couldn't have asked for a better day off-camp! On a warm, summer day, my kiddos and I loved getting some hands-on farm experience! Meeting the cows, petting chickens, feeding goats, and watering the animals. The kids (ages 7-12) had a great time. We ate lunch in a central area with a tent where we could store our belongings during the day. Plus, they sold cheap candy in the gift shop - my campers were elated. We also got a brief tour of The Country Doctor's House - so much history! The kids loved the brief tour, but if we would have done the full-length tour, it would have been too much. They had a variety of lawn games and a laundry activity that my youngest campers enjoyed. Go support small museums and historical sites! Places like these are eager to share their stories and educate the public! Highly recommend!

This has been rebranded as "Silver Lake Railriders". Very scenic ride along a series of ponds. Lots…read moreof wildlife, including Blue Heron and Beavers

This is a wonderful 1 hour scenic train ride through beautiful woods and wildlife preserve…read more Passengers sit in open air cars and learn about the woods and beavers from the knowledgeable staff. There is a (free) train museum on the grounds that has many interesting artifacts and a working model train. There is also a diner that has snacks available for purchase. The best part of Silver Lake Railroad is that it operates on donation only...so it is very affordable for a family to enjoy this excursion. We had a great time and are definitely coming back next fall!

My two boys (ages 3 1/2 and 6) and I visited the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in late…read moreOctober. It was a crisp and cool Saturday morning, and we had the place nearly all to ourselves. I wasn't expecting much beyond a few caged native New Hampshire wildlife and a good walk. Instead, we were totally blown away. First, the nature center is organized in such as way that it really is a walk through the woods. Paths and boardwalks wind their way through the compound, preserving the natural environment as much as possible. The animal displays themselves are first-rate. The enclosures are well designed to allow for both easy viewing and a sense of the animal's natural environment. The displays also include both information and activities for the kids. My boys enjoyed seeing the big cats, the deer, the raptors, and most of all the bears! Because it was a little cold we didn't have a chance the hike the trails, but when we go back in the spring we will take a picnic lunch and make a day of our visit.

Serious Concerns About Emergency Signage and Safety I…read morevisited the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center on August 2, 2026, with my 9-year-old daughter. This was our first visit, and before entering I asked the staff if there was anything we needed to know. I was simply told, "Just enter and follow the signs." About halfway through our visit, we stopped at the Gordon Interactive Playscape: A Predator-Prey Adventure. After about 15 minutes, I looked around and suddenly couldn't find my daughter. I immediately began searching the indoor play area and calling her name. No answer. I went from one section to another, becoming increasingly desperate. Then I started looking for an exit sign so I could figure out how to get out and find help. I couldn't find one. When you're looking for your child and don't know where they are, every minute feels like an eternity. After approximately 10 minutes of searching, I finally found my daughter. What a relief! At that point, I decided to leave. On my way back, I started paying attention to the exit signage and counted only one clearly marked exit sign. At the gift shop, I explained my experience to a staff member and asked how many exit signs there were throughout the park. She told me there were two. I asked, "Do you believe that's enough, given the size of the park?" There was no response. My concern isn't about blaming an individual employee. It's about emergency preparedness. If a parent is desperately trying to locate a child during an emergency--or if another emergency requires visitors to leave quickly--people should be able to immediately identify where the exits and escape routes are. Clear, highly visible emergency signage is not a luxury. It is indispensable, vital, and essential. I strongly encourage the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center to revisit its emergency escape routes, exit signage, and wayfinding system. I hope the center takes this feedback seriously and makes improvements before another family finds itself in a frightening situation like the one I experienced. Thank you for your time. Eds Santiago

The folks at the Wilhelm Reich Museum have gone through incredible lengths to bring you as close to…read moredr. Reich as possible. The observatory is essentially a giant time capsule, containing numerous authentic items from dr Reich. His art hangs proudly on the walls, and sever as l of his sculptures decorate the shelving. The second floor of the museum has been left exactly how it was found when the "owners" found it. (Its part of a trust) do its like stepping back in time. Then the top floor is really magical. Another perfectly preserved room, its where Dr. Reich did his art. This is also where they take you out on the rooftop to enjoy its 100+ mile views spanning from the bigelo mtn range to mount washington. If these arent enough to bring you by, theyre also a HUGE nature preserve spiderwebbed with hiking trails and blueberry fields. Such a great place to spend the day!

Fantastic place. For anyone who is a fan of Reich's work, this is a must see. Private tours cost…read more$100 for up to ten people and is totally worth it to view his house. A little gem in Rangeley, Maine.

May the Forest be with You…read more Museum with three floors about anything and everything related to Maine's forests and lumber industry--from the Native Americans who lived here to modern day forestry. The Good: *Inexpensive at $7/adults and $5/children (memberships start at $20) *The lady working the register/front was very friendly *Not just a museum, as they also have a large outdoor area with miles of hiking trails! *Maybe I'm weird, but I really enjoyed the logging film they show called "From Stump to Ship" a 1930 documentary made by one of the logging companies. *Tons of stuff packed into all three floors, including lots of art. The Meh: *Limited hours of only Thu - Sun and only open for 4hrs. The Ugly: *Only open seasonally from early June to mid-October (check website for accurate dates and times) Conclusion: Great place to learn some history and get a hike in at the same time. Highly recommended.

I can't believe we've been coming to Rangeley for so long and have just discovered this…read moreextraordinary museum. Not only did we learn all about logging life, but the museum is beautifully curated. The balcony exhibits, especially, provide the aesthetic experience of an art museum. Many of the tools themselves are as finely made as sculpture, and some are displayed in ways that create sculptures of them. Photos, saws, axes, kitchen wares, logging boots, wood carvings by loggers of their fellow workers, and of fans and wagons and sleds. Diaries, letters, accounting books. There's a play corner for children - yes, they can touch! Outside in an open shed stands the huge equipment that doesn't fit inside the museum itself. I can't highly enough praise the thought and care behind the museum.

An unbelievably amazingly huge collection of memorabilia from this beautiful little town in the…read moreNorth country. Curator/director is very knowledgeable and can answer any question about the collection. It is in the lower level of the old Opera House in downtown Littleton. If you're anywhere nearby - be sure to check out this gem, have breakfast at the Coffee Pot, a bowl of clam chowder at the Diner at the other end of town and explore the many shops in town, including a League of NH Craftsmen shop full of gorgeous work in all media. If you're lucky the Piano Project will still be along Main Street - in the spring and summer time. This town is worth a visit!

Don't miss this gem. The curator, Mr. Alberini, is a gifted storyteller besides being a thorough…read morehistorian. The displays are fascinating and the stories of our town's past are a delight. All the staff are engaging and helpful.

The Libby is a nice museum WHEN IT'S OPEN... but it hasn't been open for at least two years!!…read more Extensive fundraising and renovation need to be done before it can ever reopen. Please don't make a special trip here! I'm giving it five stars because I want to support the renovation effort.

We were on vacation in Wolfeboro and drove by there several times. I decided to take my grandsons,…read more11 and 8. The first thing they said was, "there's a moose inside." I thought they would hate it. Boy I was wrong. They had a scavenger hunt and the boys loved it. It was by far the best stop. They couldn't stop taking about the mummy hands.