3 fun things to do in New Hampshire this summer

With beautiful landscapes, wonderfully sunny skies, and plenty of family-friendly attractions, New Hampshire is one of the top destination choices for a summer family vacation in New England. Make the most of the upcoming summer months by planning some unforgettable activities for you and your family to enjoy together. If you’re a family with kids, either young, teenage, or grown-up, we’ve gathered some of the top New Hampshire attractions that you won’t want to miss out on with your kids.

The state is known for many things, including its historic attractions, vibrant arts scene, and excellent outdoor offerings. New Hampshire is often referred to as the “Switzerland of America” for its dense forests, green mountains, and pristine nature. But many people don’t realize that New Hampshire is filled with fun and exciting attractions as well! The state is home to 3 excellent family-friendly activities which are open all summer long. Each one has its own appeal and unique characteristics.

If you’re looking for fun, family-friendly things to do in New England this summer, look no further. Read the article until the end to learn about the best activities in New Hampshire, and be sure to add them to your summer bucket-list.

Want to start this summer with a splash? Head over to Water Country in Portsmouth for the ultimate family water park experience. Spanning across 26-acres, it is the largest water park in New England, brimming with fun water attractions and unique events. Families of all ages, including those with young children, can safely and happily enjoy the park.  

The vast number of attractions will keep kids and adults alike entertained for hours on end. Young children can enjoy a range of kiddie water attractions, including Ollie Octopus and the vibrantly themed Tahiti Tree House! Kids can also explore a play area filled with spraying geysers and bubbling waters at Bubble Bay, and climb aboard a pirate’s ship at Pirate’s Pool & Lagoon.

Older kids and teenagers can blast down several waterslides, including thrilling ones like The Patriot and Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror. There are numerous high-intensity rides for adults and teenagers who are after an adrenaline rush, including Blackhole, Dragon’s Den, Screamer, and Shoot.

For a relaxing and refreshing water experience, visitors of all ages can enjoy the Activity Pool and one of the park’s longest slides, the Double Dive Boggan and Triple Giant Slides. Experience New England’s biggest wave pool at Giant Wave Pool, which contains over 700,000 gallons of water.

Re-fuel during your visit with a range of restaurant options. Enjoy all your favorite foods, including savory grilled meals, pizza, All-American cuisine, fried snacks, sweet treats, and more! Even picky eaters will find something to love, as the majority of dining establishments at Water Country have kids menus, and will also happily accommodate visitors with allergies or special diets.

If you’re looking for fun things to do in NH with kids this summer, look no further, a day spent at Water Country is a must!

Step into an imaginative fairy-tale land for the ultimate family adventure. Wonder and magic are a daily reality at Story Land amusement park in Glen, NH. It’s the perfect adventure park for families with young children, from ages 2 through pre-teen years. The storybook-themed amusement park has been entertaining families with children since 1954, making them experts in magical family fun.

Choose from a never-ending selection of attractions, shows, and experiences during your day at Story Land. Go on a Safari Ride to visit life-sized dinosaurs and collect clues to solve a mystery. Ride on a pirate ship or on antique cars. Enjoy a magical dream ride in Cinderella’s Pumpkin Coach. Splash around on mini-geysers. Spin around in Alice’s Magic Tea Cups. Ride an antique carousel, drive farm tractors, float away on giant balloons, and step aboard the Huff Puff & Whistle Railroad!

If you’re looking for fun things to do in NH with kids, young children can enjoy plenty of kiddie areas at Story Land. Visit the interactive Little Dreamers Nursery Rhyme Play area, go for a peaceful float on the Swan Boats, and spend some time at the Loopy Lab Play Area. Older kids can enjoy more thrilling rides, like the Roar-O-Saurus Rollercoaster.

During your visit, you can stop by one of the many eateries for a family-friendly meal. Grab a sandwich at the Flying Carpet Sandwich Oasis, eat a refreshing ice cream cone from the Dutch Village Ice Cream Shop, or enjoy a delicious hot dog from The Farm Stand. Go to The Pixie Kitchen for burgers, chicken tenders, fries, and hot dogs. Fresh pretzels and soft serve ice cream from Guard House Snacks are a must.

Be sure to check the events schedule before your Story Land visit to join in on the kid-friendly and unique festivities regularly hosted by the park. Season passholders can enjoy exclusive access to special perks and days, and all visitors can enjoy special weekend and seasonal events.  

For the most well-rounded Story Land experience, purchase season passes for unlimited visits! It’s the best way to enjoy all the park has to offer, and a great way to ensure plenty of family time over the summer months. Season passes pay for themselves in just a few visits, and offer an array of special perks. Receive discounts on retail and food purchases, bring a friend for free, receive discounted admissions on visitors, and visit as many times as possible!

To amp up the fun during your Story Land adventure, visit the neighboring attraction, Living Shores Aquarium. It’s two of the best things to do in New England in the summer, located right next door to each other! The best part? Platinum Season passholders get unlimited access to both attractions plus Water Country!

A family getaway in New Hampshire is best enjoyed with a visit to Living Shores Aquarium. The indoor walk-through aquarium offers the ultimate aquatic adventure for families of all ages year-round. Learn about aquatic habitats in an interactive and educational environment, and enjoy special exhibits just for kids. It’s a fantastic way to learn about marine life in New England specifically, and even about local conservation efforts.  

Explore the 32,000 square foot space which is brimming with touch pools, live exhibits, and more! Children can let their imaginations run wild as they play in the Augmented Reality Sandbox. There’s also a coloring station, Draw Alive, where children can design and color their own imaginary marine creatures. Visit the touch pools, designed to educate children (and adults!) on the wonders of the sea. Here you can touch a variety of ray species, sharks, invertebrates, shrimp, urchins, crabs, and more. Learn about different fish species at the various exhibits. 

Check the events schedule before your Living Shores visit to see what unique and fun family-friendly events are on the horizon! The aquarium hosts a variety of events year-round, including a treasure hunt, Exploration Mondays for Tots, and more. Living Shores events are always one of the top things to do in New England in summer!

Between all the fun and action, you’ll be sure to work up an appetite during your visit. Stop by our grab n’ go cafe to refuel with a variety of snacks, beverages, and small meal items. There are plenty of items to choose from, and even picky eaters will find something to love!

Don’t leave before stopping by The Living Shores Gift Shop to grab some souvenirs to bring back home with you! There’s not a better way to keep the memories of your family visit to the aquarium alive than with a special themed item from the gift shop. Kids will have a blast browsing the toys, apparel, and sea-themed items. Grab a Living Shores t-shirt, hat, or water bottle to remember the day by! It’s also a great opportunity to pick up a gift to give to someone back at home.  

If you’re looking for fun things to do this weekend in NH, don’t hesitate on visiting Living Shores Aquarium. Check out all the various ticket options to find the best one for your visit.

For the ultimate family summer adventure, learn about the new Platinum Season Pass which gives you unlimited summer admission to Living Shores Aquarium, Story Land, Water Country, and all other sister parks! Enjoy numerous passholder perks such as multiple free friend admissions, a free souvenir cup and free refills, food and retail discounts, and more! There’s not a better way to guarantee fun and happy memories this summer.