To the north, the majestic White Mountains of New Hampshire host snow sports at several ski areas - Attitash, Bretton Woods, Waterville Valley, Wildcat and Cannon Loon. Summertime turns the area into a place for festivals, hiking and rafting. The Lakes Region, including Lake Winnipesaukee and the Squam Lakes at the
... more base of the White Mountains, offers water sports all year, from boating and sunbathing to ice fishing and ice boat racing in the winter. Lake Winnipesaukee covers 72 square miles and has 253 islands. The quaint resort towns of Wolfeboro and Meredith are found along the lake. The Monadnock region is named for Mount Monadnock; at 3,165 feet, it is believed to be the most frequently climbed mountain in the world, having been visited by Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Mark Twain. The region includes seven state parks for hiking, camping, fishing, skiing and snowmobiling. Chesterfield Gorge State Park has a wilderness loop trail along a deep glacial stream, and Rhododendron State Park, with 16 acres of wild rhododendrons that bloom around mid-July. New Hampshire's 18 miles of Atlantic coastline and the Seacoast region includes Hampton Beach, an active area with white sandy beaches. Nearby Portsmouth offers the charm and history of a New England coastal town. This port city is lined with cobblestone streets and has a pleasant downtown overlooking the harbor.
