North Conway

The commercial center of New Hampshire’s White Mountains is the small but very well-equipped town of North Conway. Nestled along the banks of the Saco River in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains, there is one long swath of outlet shops and motels with a trim little village core at its heart.

Even though they are all in the same town, North Conway is the one that garners the majority of media attention due to its vibrant ski scene in the winter (it is frequently ranked as New England's top ski town) and its location as the entry point to all the attractions and outdoor activities that have drawn visitors to the White Mountains since the early 19th century. Due to the absence of sales tax, it has recently developed into the center of outlet shopping.

One of New England's first ski resorts, Cranmore Mountain, which views North Conway, is now a year-round destination with an Aerial Adventure Park and Mountain Coaster. Rock and ice climbers favor the wide valley's opposite side, where the 700-foot Cathedral Ledge and White Horse Ledge are popular destinations for more adventurous visitors. The White Mountains can be seen from the top of the path or from the beach at Echo Lake State Park.