Ready for a weekend getaway in New Hampshire? Here is a bucket list itinerary you can use while planning a fall trip to New England! Whether you are road tripping or arriving by plane, New Hampshire is full of beautiful trails, delicious food and the best views in New England.

New Hampshire Travel Bucketlist Itinerary for first time visitors
Where to eat, where to stay and what to do when visiting the White Mountains in New Hampshire for a weekend getaway

Make the White Mountains your first stop on this New Hampshire Bucket List getaway!

If you love to hike and enjoy the outdoors while traveling, stopping to visit the White Mountains during a weekend in New Hampshire is MUST. Did you know there are 193 trails in the White Mountains alone? These trails range from 3-137 miles long, and there are lots of other shorter hikes as well. There really is something for everyone, and the views are just immaculate!

new hampshire weekend getaway travel bucket list
Where to eat, where to stay and what to do when visiting the White Mountains in New Hampshire for a weekend getaway

Where to stay during a weekend in New Hampshire

We decided last minute to book a room at the Mount Coolidge Motel and we couldnt be happier with our experience there! It was quaint, cozy and the in the perfect location. Mount Coolidge is just a 5 minute drive from the main shops and restaurants in Lincoln. It is also owned and run by the sweetest couple, the Riley family. I love to support small local businesses during my travels and Mount Coolidge gets a 10/10 from me.

Check out this instagrammable spot in New hampshire
Looking for a cute instagrammable spot in Lincoln, New Hampshire? Stop by this big red train at Pirate’s Adventure Cove.

I would also recommend staying at the Woodstock Inn Brewery. They have 40 different comfy rooms that are quintessential New Hampshire. Many of the lodging options in the White Mountains are smaller, family run motels that give you that cozy homey feeling.

Start your day with a hearty breakfast!

When spending a weekend in New Hampshire for the first time, breakfast at Flapjacks should be high on the priority list. Get there early!! We got there around 9am and the line was already wrapped around the outside of the building. It is soooo worth the wait!! The pancakes really are divine and the maple syrup just can’t be beat! If you visit in the fall, obviously get the pumpkin pancakes. I would go back to New Hampshire just for these pancakes alone – yes, they were that good.

Breakfast from Flapjacks in Lincoln, New Hampshire
Breakfast from Flapjacks in Lincoln New Hampshire. This breakfast diner is a New Hampshire staple. Fuel up with some homemade pancakes before a day of hiking!
Breakfast from Flapjacks in Lincoln, New Hampshire
You can’t go wrong with any of the pancakes from Flapjacks. I went with the Hungry Club Breakfast so I could try a little bit of everything

Lace up those hiking shoes and hit the trails!

It’s a no brainer that you will want to spend some time exploring the White Mountains and checking out all of the trails. If you are looking for a few quick and easy hikes, I would recommend adding Artist Bluff, Flume Gorge and Basin Cascade Trail to your list.

Artist Bluff is probably the most iconic hike in the White Mountains – for obvious reasons!! The view really is break taking – especially with all of the fall foliage!! The trail itself was pretty busy, so again I would recommend going early if you can before the parking lot fills up. Artist Bluff is about a one mile loop trail and takes about 45 min to complete.

view from the peak of artist bluff in the white mountains in lincoln new hampshire
The views from the top of Artist Bluff make it very obvious why this is such a popular hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire! The fall foliage is just breath taking.
The peak of artist bluff in lincoln, new hampshire
The lookout at Aritst Bluff trail in Lincoln, NH. This is probably the most iconic view in all of new hampshire. It is about a one mile loop trail to get to the peak of Artist Bluff

Flume Gorge is another beautiful spot, however it does require an online reservation ahead of time. Unfortunately, by the time we got there at noon, they were already sold out for the day. Be sure to check their website in advance to get tickets so you can experience the flume!

For a nice leisurely stroll through the woods, stop by Basin Cascade Trail and admire all of the different falls. Basin Cascade Trail is a busy 2.6 mile hike through the woods with lots of waterfalls along the way. The entrance to the trail is situated right along a stream, so if hiking isn’t your thing, it’s very relaxing to just sit by the stream and enjoy the peaceful nature sounds.

Hike through basin cascade trail in the white mountains of new hampshire
With plenty of rock formations along the trail, basin cascade is a nice leisurely trail with gorgeous waterfalls and cascades throughout the woods. The leaves were so beautiful here!

About one mile in along the Basin Cascade Trail is Kinsman Falls, which is a beautiful cascade with lots of rock formations. Swimming is not allowed, but there are lots of shallow areas to stick your feet in the clear crisp water if the weather is hot enough. This is another heavily trafficked area, however, once you get going on the trail, we found it to be pretty empty.

For all things hiking related, be sure to check out All Trails. It’s a great resource to find out anything and everything you need to know about trails in the area. You can filter by length, difficulty, location, dog friendliness, etc. It’s a must have when visiting the White Mountains for the first time!

Time to eat! Be sure to have dinner at Woodstock Inn Brewery

Woodstock Inn Brewery came heavily requested by many traveling friends, and it was so worth the wait! The burger I had might have just been the best dang burger of my life! Michael said this was his second favorite meal of the trip and I’d have to agree (Flapjacks was my all time favorite, nothing beats those pumpkin pancakes). Be sure to put in a reservation before you arrive – this is a really popular spot in Lincoln.

Check out this instagrammable spot in New hampshire
Check out the most instagrammable spot in New Hampshire at the peak of artist bluff trail. the fall foliage makes this view one of the most popular photo spots in the white mountains

New Hampshire, I’ll be back!

This Florida girl enjoyed alllll the fall adventures during this quick weekend trip to New Hampshire! I’m already looking forward to visting again during the warmer months, but I can’t recommend this time of year enough. Stunning fall foliage, chilly mornings and bright blue skies were everything I’d dreamed of and more for this incredible weekend getaway.

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The peak of artist bluff in lincoln, new hampshire

HOW TO SPEND A WEEKEND IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

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Hi there, I'm Anna

Brunette Collective is a lifestyle blog focused on creating happiness through an intentional life, founded by Anna Fenstermacher.