From the South Shore to the White Mountains: Embracing New England Living
One of the things I love about living on the South Shore is being part of New England and how easily you can pivot from coastal weekends to mountain air. Here’s what one week looked like when we traded ocean views for mountain peaks, zip lines, lakes, and long scenic drives.
Attitash ZipTour (Bartlett, NH)
The Attitash ZipTour includes the longest single zipline east of the Rockies, stretching from the summit of Bear Peak down to the base of Attitash Mountain. It’s nearly a mile long. You launch about 250 feet above the treetops and can reach speeds close to 65 mph.
The kids were in elementary school when they did it for the first time, ages 9 and 12, and I’ll admit that watching them stand on that platform made me question my parenting. Thankfully, they loved it and immediately wanted to go again.
Boat Rental at Dingley’s Wharf, Naples, Maine
Long Lake
Rent a tritoon boat from Dingley’s Wharf. They rotate to newer boats each year. Ours was so clean, comfortable, and fun, with a waterslide and a rooftop to hang out on.
If you’re staying near North Conway, expect about an hour drive, but it’s worth it for a lake day.
Driving to the Top of Mount Washington
We drove our car to the summit. The Mount Washington Auto Road is a bucket-list New England experience.
Another option: the Mount Washington Cog Railway can take you to the summit by train. It’s a completely different experience, but just as memorable, and you don’t have to white-knuckle the steering wheel on the way up.
The weather can change quickly at the top (even in summer), so bring layers.
Emerald Pool
Afterward, we headed to Emerald Pool, a short hike with a beautiful waterfall and a fun jumping and swimming hole.
More to Do in the White Mountains
Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway
The tram carries you about 2,000 vertical feet to the summit of Cannon Mountain, where the views stretch across Franconia Notch State Park and the surrounding mountains. At the top, there are short walking paths, an observation deck, and plenty of places to sit and take in the scenery. It’s an easy way to get incredible mountain views without a long hike.
Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves
The trail winds through a beautiful gorge with wooden boardwalks, waterfalls, and a series of caves that you can climb through and explore. The kids feel like they’re on an adventure the entire time, squeezing through rock caves, climbing around boulders, and discovering hidden paths along the way.
One of the caves is called the Lemon Squeeze, and it is exactly what it sounds like. I did it once with my three little kids while Joe waited outside because he was too big to fit through. Let’s just say… I would not do that again.
The good news is that every cave has a bypass route, so you can still enjoy the gorge without crawling through the tight spaces.