New Hampshire’s nickname, the Granite State, might sound bleak, but the reality is anything but; the scenery is magnificent. Its unspoilt, densely wooded mountains are the stuff that hikers’ and skiers’ dreams are made of – particularly in the 800,000-acre White Mountain National Forest.
Meandering through the forest, the 55km Kancamagus Scenic Byway ("the Kanc" to locals) is particularly beautiful in autumn, when an influx of "leaf-peepers" can slow traffic to a crawl.
In the north of the forest looms Mount Washington – a tourist draw since the mid-19th century and, at 1,916 metres, the loftiest mountain in the Presidential Range.
An hour’s drive south, the Lakes Region is equally idyllic. More than 200 lakes lie amid the hills and mountains, with miles of hiking trails, sandy lakeside beaches and excellent fishing. Further south still is the state’s short stretch of coastline. Here, Hampton Beach draws the crowds with its seafood festival, while Portsmouth, established in 1623, salutes its seafaring past with tours of a decommissioned submarine and boat cruises out to the nearby Isles of Shoals.
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