By Joe Laing, El Monte RV
New Hampshire is a state that offers idyllic views of mountain vistas, blue skies and plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities. It is the perfect destination for an RV trip. Bring your home along with you as you enjoy this spectacular vacation in a land of enchantment.
Of course, New Hampshire is a good-sized state so you should narrow your sights. Take your RV and head for the White Mountains. One of the most exciting spots in this entire mountain region is Mount Washington, a 6,288-foot peak. Native Americans accompanied the first white settler to visit the summit, taking 18 days to do so in 1642.
Since no campers or RVs are allowed to climb the Mount Washington Auto Road, you should plan your visit so you can leave your RV parked while you get to the summit a different way. You can make your home base one of the great RV campgrounds in Twin Mountain, New Hampshire, like the Beech Hill Campground, only six miles from Mount Washington.
One of the favorite ways to reach the summit is to hike up and back. The round trip can take less than a day, but you must ensure you are in shape for the climb. Before you start out on your trek, be sure to stop at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center to get up-to-the-minute trail information. You will also find a Trading Post where you can get some gifts for friends and family.
Perhaps the better choice in getting to the top is to take the Mount Washington Cog Railway. This is a thrilling trip with panoramic views of the White Mountains. You can even see as far away as Maine and Canada. This railway is the steepest in North America. You may also opt for special guided tour-style van rides.
Hiking in the White Mountains is an adventure, and you should take advantage of the opportunity while you are here. There are more than a thousand miles of hiking trails. The Appalachian Mountain Club has small Spanish-style huts erected, each about a day’s hike apart. This is a great way to experience the backcountry.
One of the oldest auto races in the U.S. took place on Mount Washington’s Auto Road. This was the Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race, which today is mimicked by other fantastic bike and foot races. If visiting in June, you may want to run in the Mount Washington Road Race with the hundreds of runners who attend each year.
Bike races up to the summit are very challenging. In July there is the one called Newton’s Revenge (guess why!) and in August the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb. Both these races follow the same route as the old road race took.
Before calling your RV vacation at an end, drive south to Franconia Notch. Here you will find Cannon Mountain where many adventures await. The Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway will take you to the top of the mountain and this is something you don’t want to miss.
It’s time to head home, and it can be very hard to leave. The White Mountains are a place you feel you could stay forever. But remember, you can always return for another great RV vacation!
About the Author
Joe Laing is the Marketing Director for El Monte RV Rentals. You can see more great RV vacation ideas in their Monty’s Musings RV Travel Blog.
Picture credits: The picture of the sign for the summit of Mt. Washington is from the Wikimedia Commons. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
