Did you know New Hampshire has an Atlantic coastline? Just 29 kilometres long, it’s the shortest ocean coastline in the United States, but there’s plenty of saltwater fun to be had in the area. Base in the seaside town of Rye for easy access to the state’s most beautiful beaches. If you’re looking to try a new activity on the water this year, Summer Sessions Surf Shop at Jenness Beach State Park offers surf and stand up paddle lessons for adults and kids, as well as equipment rentals so you can practice on your own. The knowledgeable instructors guarantee you’ll be up and riding the waves before the day is out.
Northwest of Rye lies New Hampshire’s “hidden coast:” the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Strong tidal currents push seawater from the Gulf of Maine some 24 kilometres inland, where it meets freshwater from seven different rivers. This network of salt marshes, islands and muddy tidal flats provides habitat for a huge variety of wildlife. Wander the boardwalks or take a guided kayak tour with a trained naturalist and keep an eye out (and your camera at the ready) for muskrat, white-tail deer, chipmunks, mink, otters, red foxes, and cottontail rabbits. As the weather turns chill, dozens of bird species use the estuary as a stopover on their annual southward migration, making this a birder’s paradise as well.
Of course, summer adventure abounds in the mountains, too, with opportunities for mountain biking, kayaking and hiking around every bend in the highway. But for the ultimate thrill — and the best views — consider a ziplining experience. The Bretton Woods Canopy Tour at Omni Mount Washington Resort is a nature walk the likes of which you’ve never encountered before — a three-hour guided odyssey on a network of sky bridges suspended in the ancient hemlocks high above the forest floor, with nine ziplines and three rappels to get your heart racing. Tip: this year-round activity is at its most spectacular during peak fall colours.
Get more ideas and start planning your New Hampshire adventure!
This article is sponsored by New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development, www.visitnh.gov.