Five back to school getaways to take right now!

September, October and November are the perfect months for short family back to school getaways. Kids (and parents!) are ready for a break from the busy back-to-school schedule, and hotels and resorts are less crowded and keen to offer fall discounts. Where to go to combine fun autumn activities with discounted lodging? We've checked out almost a dozen family trip ideas in the past few months in … [Read more...]

Church Landing at Inns of Mill Falls, Lake Winnipesaukee

The following review is written by Pit Stops for Kids' reader Deirdre Hall. As we drove north into New Hampshire I regaled my children with tales of camping at Lake Winnipesaukee when I was a girl: the smell of the campfire, marshmallows roasting, and running full steam down a long dock to cannonball into the chill lake. When we pulled into Church Landing, one of several Inns at Mills … [Read more...]

Hiking to AMC huts: how to plan your Appalachian Mountain Club adventure

After our East Coast Pit Stops for Kids family tried out Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC)'s Highland Center Lodge during a winter break, they knew they had to come back for a summer stay, hiking to AMC huts! What are AMC huts? They're a network of hike-in lodges operated by Appalachian Mountain Club. Hikers can depart for huts from trailheads, or from the Highland Center Lodge. We sent our … [Read more...]

New Hampshire with kids: Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves

The Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves is a great location for exploration that families can take at their own pace. It starts with a three-fourth mile boardwalk through the gorge. You may remain on the boardwalk, or, if your kids love off-roading, you can explore the boulder caves. This is an excellent outdoor activity in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The Mysterious Boulder … [Read more...]

Appalachian Trail eco-lodge: AMC’s Highland Center Lodge with kids

Ready to get your family into the great outdoors? The Highland Center Lodge at Crawford Notch, New Hampshire is the perfect place to start—this family-friendly eco-lodge is a big step up from camping, but a welcome step away from hotels packed with amenities that you’ll never use (think day spas and formal dinners). The Appalachian Mountain Club is known for its network of hike or ski-in huts, but … [Read more...]

Polar Caves Park

My favorite stop during our family trip through the New Hampshire lakes district was the Polar Caves Park in Rumney, New Hampshire. I admit I was skeptical at first: the park looks a little funky with giant (and somewhat weather-worn) polar bear statues and a cheesy gift shop at the entrance. But once we entered the park and started up the wooden walkway to the caves, I took back every … [Read more...]

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

On a recent family trip to the New Hampshire lakes region, we spent a blissful morning at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness, New Hampshire. The science center is made up of a network of trails dotted with animal exhibits ranging from insects and birds to mountain lions and even a black bear. For the younger crowd, the highlight of the morning was the Gordon Children’s … [Read more...]