The holidays come and go, ushering in a new year and a great big pile of snow. With at least three solid months of wintertime, you may be wondering what winter things to do in New Hampshire and Vermont. Whether you live in the states or plan to visit, you may be searching for ideas of winter things to do and places to see to prevent the dreaded cabin fever. Get out and about during this chilly—but wondrous—time of the year!
Enjoy the outdoors with these New England winter activities.
Ice skating
Ice skate at your local rink or pond, or take a trip to a destination such as Nestlenook Farm or Puddle Dock Pond at Strawberry Banke Museum.
Skiing and Snowboarding
Ski or snowboard at one of the many mountains, ski hills, and nordic centers in New Hampshire and Vermont. Hit the slopes at Killington or Bretton Woods, a small-town hill like the Dartmouth Skiway and Northeast Slopes, or the meandering trails of Green Woodlands.
Snowshoeing
Strap on snowshoes and enjoy a quiet trek in nature. Enjoy this activity in your backyard or local trails. No need to venture far. If you are not ready to commit to buying gear, check with your local sports shop or recreation center for rentals.
Fat Biking
Get your winter thrills on a fat bike! If you are new to biking in the winter, some recreation centers and resorts offer rentals, and you can find extensive trail networks via the New England Mountain Bike Association.
Hiking
Don your crampons and explore the extensive trail options throughout both states on a winter hike, either short family-friendly walks in the woods, or longer adventures for the advanced hiker. Don’t underestimate weather conditions which may be vastly different at the summit. Always dress appropriately, and ensure you have thoroughly studied your trail map. Between hiking the White Mountains in New Hampshire, the Green Mountains in Vermont, and all the trails in between, your options are top notch.
Snowmobiling
With 7,000 miles of trails in New Hampshire and 5,000 miles of trails in Vermont, snowmobiling in either state is bound to be excellent. Visit the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association or Vermont Association of Snow Travelers websites for requirements, conditions, and maps to plan your adventure.
Ice Fishing
Once the ice has set in, temporary villages of nylon tents, shanties, and elaborate hut houses pop up on New Hampshire and Vermont’s lakes and ponds. Some of the largest, most-popular spots for ice fishing are Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Sunapee, and Newfound Lake in New Hampshire. On the Vermont side, ice fishing villages pop up on Lake Champlain, Lake Dunmore, Island Pond, and more. The small lakes, ponds, and bodies of water in New Hampshire and Vermont are too numerous to list! Mascoma Lake in Enfield, New Hampshire is a popular spot for ice fishing near me, in the Upper Valley.
Beside a license and warm clothing, you’ll need additional fishing gear to take to the ice. You’ll need a spud bar and auger to check for thickness, and to make a 6-8” hole to drop in your line. You’ll want a stool or chair for waiting for the fish to bite, and shelter from the wind. Bring along a sled to cart your gear across the lake, and a bucket to collect your catch. Be sure to follow ice safety guidelines and check for restrictions specific to the body of water you’re visiting.
If keeping warm and cozy by a fire is more your jam, keep reading!
Make a splash
When it’s 20 degrees outside, enjoy the tropical temps at an indoor waterpark or aquatic center. For family-friendly getaways book a stay at Jay Peak or an afternoon at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center in Vermont, or a weekend at Steel Hill Resorts in Sanbornton, New Hampshire. For the daring, catch your next big wave indoors at SkyVenture in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Treat yourself to a spa weekend
Start fresh in the new year with self-care. Visit one of the many spas in New Hampshire and Vermont. Enjoy a luxe weekend at one of these resorts: Woodstock Inn & Resort, Twin Farms, Mill Falls at The Lake, Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa, Omni Mount Washington Resort, and Wentworth by the Sea.
If you visit the Woodstock Inn around the holidays, you will also be treated to these magical Vermont Christmas scenes!
Rent a cozy cabin in the woods
Spend your stay indoors, lost in a good book, or use your rental as a cozy launching pad for getting out in nature. Among the many cabin options for rent online, two caught my eye: Owl’s Nest cabin in quaint Grafton, Vermont, and Conscious Cabin in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Watch one of these 13 movies filmed in New Hampshire and Vermont
- A Separate Peace (Exeter, New Hampshire)
- Baby Boom (Weston, Vermont)
- Beetlejuice (East Corinth, Vermont)
- The Cider House Rules (Hindsdale, New Hampshire and Dummerston, Bellows Falls, and Brattleboro, Vermont)
- Ethan Frome (Peacham, Vermont)
- Funny Farm (Townshend, Windsor, and Reading, Vermont)
- The Good Son (Newington and Jackson, New Hampshire
- Jumanji (Keene, New Hampshire)
- On Golden Pond (Squam Lake, Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire)
- Moonlight in Vermont (Chester, Vermont)
- Moonlight and Mistletoe (Chester, Vermont)
- The Spitfire Grill (Peacham and St. Johnsbury, Vermont)
- What lies Beneath (Burlington and Waterbury, Vermont)
- Where the Rivers Flows North (Peacham, Vermont)
Get Creative
The often quiet, slow pace of winter makes for a great time to explore arts and crafts. Sign up for a class at AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, League of New Hampshire Craftsman, Artistree in South Pomfret, Vermont, or a center near you!
Bake Something
Take a class at King Arthur Baking Company in Norwich, Vermont. You can attend in person or online. You don’t even have to leave your home to whip up something amazing while you learn from one of their expert bakers! Caution, classes fill up fast. Don’t delay in reserving your spot. You can opt for a demonstration, a week-long intensive course, or a class with the kids. King Arthur welcomes bakers at all skill levels.
Visit a museum
For an afternoon away or day trip, there are many museums that you can visit in all areas of interest across both states.
For the scientifically curious and great options for kids, The Montshire Museum in Norwich, Vermont, Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and McAuliffe-Shepard Discover Center in Concord, NH will provide hours of awe and wonder.
For inspiration and to spark creativity see the latest exhibitions at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester or the Hood Museum in Hanover, both in New Hampshire.
If you’d prefer to step back in time, there are a number of historical museums and societies to visit. In New Hampshire, you can learn about Shaker life at the Enfield Shaker Museum or Canterbury Shaker Village, and early American life at Strawberry Banke Museum. If you are up for an authentic Vermont experience, visit the New England Maple Museum in Pittsford. Here you can learn about the history of sugaring in Vermont, shop, and indulge in a bit of that maple sweetness.
If you are looking for something a bit…different, you could visit the New Hampshire Telephone Museum in Warner. Get excited, anglers, to return to the river this summer, when you visit the American Museum of Fly Fishing in Manchester, Vermont. Wade in the nostalgia and old-school excitement of pinball machines and bowling when you play a few games at the American Classic Arcade Museum in Laconia, New Hampshire.
Go on a sugarhouse tour during Maple Weekend
Nothing makes New Englanders more excited at winter’s end, than to see the sap run. It’s a sure sign that spring is around the corner. While Vermont may be best known for maple syrup, you can find equally impressive maple sugaring operations in New Hampshire, too. At Mac’s Maple in Plainfield, you can watch the sugaring process, shop their local maple and dairy products, and enjoy their famous creemee. Maple weekend is often held in March or April. You can check in with the Vermont Maple Sugar Maker’s Association for upcoming events.
If you find yourself with an abundance of local goods after maple weekend, infuse the flavors of New England into America’s classic sandwich: the grilled cheese.
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