Another way to discover the Mountain is aboard the Cog Railroad. Offering stunning views and operating from May – Oct, the trip is totally safe and exhilarating, if not a bit nail-biting. The views are utterly breathtaking. From November 1 to December 31 there are shortened one-hour trips to the Waumbeck Station.
The Cog Railroad is a three-hour round-trip excursion to the summit of Mount Washington. The excursion offers you more than enough time to explore the State Park facilities up top and to absorb the magnificent mountaintop panoramas. At times you’ll think you’re on the moon, but it always feels majestic. Seasonal and weather-related restrictions apply so always check their website to see what’s happening.
Cog Railroad Ascending Mount Washington
Photo: Mount Washington Cog Railway
A must do for every trip I make to the White Mountains is to travel along the Kancamagus Scenic Byway, which extends from the town of Conway in the east to Lincoln in the west. Running parallel and snuggling up to the highway is the Swift River. There are 5 scenic lookouts/stops you can make along the gorgeous drive. There are trails, waterfalls, watering holes, covered bridges, and much more to explore.
On the west end of the Kancamagus in the town of Liberty is another iconic natural attraction, The Flume Gorge. The experience here is spectacular and includes waterfalls, a covered bridge, glacial pools, and an 800-foot gorge that extends from the base of Mount Liberty. It’s a two-mile trek and worth every step of the way.
Just south of Liberty, for adults who enjoy their wine, there is the Seven Birches Winery at Loon Mountain. Seven Birches blends handcrafted classic European grape varietals with locally-sourced fruits to create their wines of distinction. It’s a full production commercial winery with a tasting room located within the grand new Riverwalk Resort at Loon Mountain.
For beer lovers there is Tuckerman Brewing Co. Owners Kirsten Neves and Nik Stanciu opened Tuckerman Brewing Co. in 1998 and it is now one of the longest-running owner-operated breweries in the state.
Sunset at Waterville Valley
Photo: Waterville Valley Resort
The Whites are also an incredible location for birdwatchers. All Trails offers a terrific list of best bird watching trails. And there’s also great info from Audubon.
An avid birder, photographer, and Jackson Village local, Tom Caughey, is my oldest friend. I asked him if there are areas that he finds himself gravitating to, for bird watching.
