The White Mountains,
every season.
We go up all year, not for one big annual trip but because it is beautiful and being outdoors is the point. Ice Castles and the Cog Railway in winter, hiking the rest of the year, Woodstock Inn Brewery whenever we need a table that tolerates two kids talking over each other. This is the real, repeatable version, not a single best-of list.
What are the best things to do in the White Mountains with kids?
In winter, Ice Castles in North Woodstock and the Mount Washington Cog Railway, both of which we have done with our girls. The rest of the year, a kid-sized summit like Mount Major, just south in the Lakes Region, and a table at Woodstock Inn Brewery.
| When to go | Year-round. We go up in every season |
|---|---|
| Winter | Ice Castles at dusk, and the Cog Railway’s shorter winter route |
| First summit | Mount Major (Lakes Region), with views over Lake Winnipesaukee |
| Family skiing | Gunstock (Lakes Region), smaller and less intimidating |
| Where we eat | Woodstock Inn Brewery, North Woodstock |
The White Mountains in winter: Ice Castles and the Cog Railway.
Ice Castles is the one to build a winter trip around: a maze of illuminated ice tunnels, thrones and sculptures, rebuilt from scratch every winter in North Woodstock, NH. We have taken the girls and it is the rare attraction that lives up to the photos, dress warm and go at dusk so the lighting is at its best. It also leads our list of New Hampshire winter events.
The Mount Washington Cog Railway runs a shorter winter route than its full summer run to the summit, and we have ridden it with the kids. It is a real ride, not a gimmick: a steam or biodiesel engine grinding up a genuinely steep grade, which is its own thrill for a child before the views even factor in.
Which White Mountains hikes actually work with kids?
We have hiked all over the New Hampshire mountains, and the honest advice is to pick a trail for the kids you have, not the mountain you want to brag about. The one we point families to first is Mount Major, technically just south of the White Mountains proper in the Lakes Region, an easy drive from the same trip. Both our girls have hiked it and loved the payoff: real summit views over Lake Winnipesaukee, at a length that a young hiker can actually finish without it turning into a march.
Lakes Region, not White Mountains proper, but close enough to fold into the same trip. Real views, manageable length, our tested pick for young kids.
The Cog Railway gets a family to real elevation and real views without a summit attempt every kid on the trip can survive. Save the harder trails for when the kids are older.
Woodstock Inn Brewery.
This is our standing recommendation, and we go back every time we are in the area. It is a genuine working brewery in North Woodstock with a full family menu, enough space and ambient noise that a table with two kids does not feel like an intrusion, and it sits right in the middle of the area, close to Ice Castles, the trailheads, and the Cog Railway's Bretton Woods base.
Gunstock, for a family's first season.
Gunstock Mountain Resort, also technically Lakes Region rather than White Mountains proper, is where we ski as a family. It is smaller and less intimidating than the big-name resorts further north, which makes it the right place to start, not the place to outgrow the fastest. We would rather a first ski season build confidence than chase vertical feet. For the seacoast and the rest of the state, see our things to do in New Hampshire with kids guide.
Where should a family stay in the White Mountains?
We stay in North Conway, on the east side of the mountains. The village is walkable, with the outlets and restaurants right there, and Story Land is just up the road. Ice Castles and Woodstock are about an hour west over the Kancamagus, so we make that a day trip and don’t move bases. Our things to do in North Conway with kids guide covers the town itself.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you book through them, NOE may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would book for our own family. Our disclosure.
Stays in North Conway for a family of four
We loved the White Mountain Hotel. For a rental, we haven’t stayed in either of the two below. They pass our filters: two or more real bedrooms, a full kitchen, and a guest rating of 8.5 or better.
Our last stay in North Conway, and one we would book again. It is a hotel, not a rental, so ask for a room that fits four.
This chalet has one of the deepest review records in the area, and the listing says Echo Lake is a walk away.
The one to pick if you want room to spread out and a washer for muddy hiking clothes.
Ratings and amenities were checked on Vrbo and Expedia in September 2026. Links open for 2 adults and 2 kids with no dates set.
What families ask us.
Are the White Mountains good for a family with young kids?
Yes, in every season. We go year-round: Ice Castles and the Mount Washington Cog Railway in winter, hiking the rest of the year. The region rewards families who build a trip around one or two real things a day rather than trying to see everything.
What is there to do in the White Mountains in winter with kids?
Ice Castles is the standout: a walk-through maze of illuminated ice sculptures and tunnels built fresh each winter in North Woodstock, NH, and genuinely magical for kids. The Mount Washington Cog Railway also runs a winter schedule up part of the mountain, which is a real ride, not just a photo stop.
Can young kids hike in the White Mountains?
Yes, if you pick the right trail. Our girls have hiked all over the region, and Mount Major, technically in the Lakes Region just south of the White Mountains proper, is the one we point families to first: a real summit, real lake views, and a length young legs can actually finish.
Where do you eat in the White Mountains with kids?
Woodstock Inn Brewery in North Woodstock is our go-to. It is a genuine brewery with a full family-friendly menu and enough space and noise tolerance that a table with young kids does not feel like an imposition.
Is there skiing for families near the White Mountains?
Gunstock Mountain Resort, also technically in the Lakes Region rather than the White Mountains proper, is where we ski as a family. It is smaller and more manageable than the big-name White Mountains resorts, which makes it a better starting point with kids.
What are the best things to do in the White Mountains with kids?
In winter, Ice Castles in North Woodstock and the Mount Washington Cog Railway. The rest of the year, a kid-sized summit like Mount Major, just south in the Lakes Region, and in the fall a weekday drive on the Kancamagus Highway before the leaf-peeper traffic builds. Woodstock Inn Brewery is where we eat every time. For fall timing, see our New England fall guide and the New Hampshire fall events list.
Keep exploring.
North Conway, Vermont, Portsmouth, Ogunquit, Boothbay Harbor, Cape Cod, the Berkshires and the White Mountains, ranked by drive time.
Peak foliage timing by sub-region, including the White Mountains, plus dated fall events.
Every drivable guide and article on the site, searchable and sortable.
Planning something further afield?
The Boston-to-Europe family flight guide: which routes run year-round, the order we book things in, and how far ahead to buy for a school vacation week.
We email when we have got something worth reading. Unsubscribe any time.