Memorial Day weekend gateway to New Hampshire

Memorial Day weekend gateway to New Hampshire

Memorial Day weekend is a wonderful time to be in the Northeast because of the mild climate, outdoor recreation, and fun festivities for the whole family. From mountains to seacoast to its delightful small cities, New Hampshire has a multitude of wonderful things to do, all years but especially in the summertime.

On this memorial day weekend, we wanted to go hiking White Mountain National Forest. White Mountain National Forest lies within the White Mountains in the U.S. states of New Hampshire and Maine. It's crossed by the White Mountain Trail and Kancamagus scenic drives, plus part of the Appalachian Trail. We started our journey from the Conway early in the morning to the white mountain national forest. There are short hikes that, for minimal effort, can take you to a waterfall or a spectacular view, as well as longer hikes to scenic outlooks, lakes and ponds, and mountain summits.

Boulder loop trail:

Location: Passaconaway Road, off the Kancamagus Highway 

Distance: 3.5 miles 

Elevation: 1750' 

Time: 2-3.5 hours 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Directions: Passaconaway Road off the Kancamagus Highway. Offers excellent views for relatively little effort. This is a loop hike through woods with lots of large, interesting boulders. Several ledges offer great views of the many surrounding mountains.

Forest Discovery Trail:

1.4-mile loop trail near Lincoln, New Hampshire. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 35 min to complete. This is a popular trail for trail running and walking

Appalachian Trail:

The Appalachian Trail is 2,190 miles in length and White Mountain National Forest is home to some of the most formidable terrain on the entire trail. Hikers headed north from Georgia to Maine will be tested by these mountains as they hike through the second to last state they will pass through on their multi-month trek.  Hikers will spend dozens of miles above the treeline in the alpine zone enjoying some of the trail's most famous views and the summit of Mt. Washington along this route.

Please remember:

1. Before heading out, be prepared with the 10 essentials (map, compass, warm clothing, extra food and water, flashlight or headlamp, matches/firestarters, first aid kit, whistle, rain/wind gear and a pocket knife).  
2. The weather in the mountains can be unpredictable even if it is forecasted to be a gorgeous day.
3. Please remember when setting out on even the shortest hike that this is a mountain region, subject to rapid weather changes. 
4. Wear sensible shoes (rubber, not leather-soled which tend to be slippery), and bring an extra sweater or jacket. 
5. It's a good idea to also bring snacks or a lunch, and water.

On a Monday evening, we went to  Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, which is full of all the saltwater taffy, touristy t-shirts, and games of skeeball you can handle. For Memorial Day, you can watch fireworks shoot up over the ocean while sitting on the beach. This is a special firework display for the holiday, but then fireworks are shot off every Wednesday during the summer as long as there’s no rain.

Hampton Beach now offering Yoga on the Beach! Work on your strength and mobility while gazing out at the sea before you. Take in the ocean air as it becomes a part of your breath. Stretch on the sandy beach and enjoy the tranquility of the early morning hours as you find the inner peace of body, mind, and spirit.

We had our dinner at Bernie’s Beach Bar!! This is the best place you can have your dinner and favorite drink. Bernie’s offers ocean-front dining, views of the beach, the fireworks, and all the happenings of Hampton Beach.