While it is attractive any time of the year, late summer and fall are particularly beautiful times to savor the beauty of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. The easiest place for visitors without cars to use as a base to explore Mount Washington Valley and the White Mountains National Forest is North Conway. In addition to being compact and very walkable and easy to reach from Boston by bus, the village is home to both natural attractions and outlet stores. Attractions not within walking distance can be reached using Fast Taxi, a local taxi company in North Conway.

For these reasons, our August Car Free Journey column spotlights North Conway, New Hampshire.

North Conway, New Hampshire

Mt Washington Valley is a collection of 27 towns and villages all surrounding Mount Washington, the largest peak in the North East. The entire Valley is surrounded by the 660,000 acre White Mountain National Forest, offering seemingly endless hiking, biking, rock/ice climbing, waterfall viewing opportunities and scenic beauty. During each season, this region offers gorgeous vistas and plenty of outdoor and man-made recreation.

The region also offers 10 golf courses, adventure and water parks, the Conway Scenic Railroad, and 200 tax-free outlets, shops, boutiques and stores. There is no sales tax in New Hampshire (there is, however, a 9% rooms and meals tax).

The center of Mt Washington Valley, both geographically and thematically is North Conway, NH.

Welcome to North Conway

North Conway is a year-round resort area in eastern Carroll County, New Hampshire. According to the 2010 census, the population was 2,349. A year-round resort area, North Conway is the largest village within the town of Conway, which is bounded on the east by the Maine state line. The White Mountain National Forest is on the west and north. Conway is home to Cathedral Ledge (popular with climbers), Echo Lake State Park, and Mount Cranmore. North Conway is known for its large number of outlet shops.

Chartered in 1765 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth, the town is named for Henry Seymour Conway: ambitious son of a prominent English family, who was elected to the House of Commons at age twenty, fought at Culloden, and became Secretary of State.

North Conway is located in the White Mountains, with Mount Washington located to the northwest.

The rugged terrain became popular in the 19th century with artists. Their paintings, known collectively as White Mountain art, attracted tourists to the area, particularly after the Portsmouth, Great Falls & Conway Railroad extended service here in 1872. In 1932, "snow trains" began carrying enthusiasts here.

Increasing automobile travel brought the decline of trains. The railroad abandoned passenger service to the area in 1961, and freight service in 1972.

In 1974, the Conway Scenic Railroad was established. It offers visitors a tour of the region, including Crawford Notch. Fall is a particularly splendid time to enjoy a trip on this railroad. Its Victorian station is on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.

North Conway and its surrounding towns offer hiking in the White Mountain National Forest. The area, particularly Cathedral Ledge in Echo Lake State Park, is a major rock climbing destination. The 500-foot (150 m) cliff overlooks Echo Lake and North Conway from the west. Visitors without cars can call Fast Taxi to drive them to the Cathedral Ledge summit which provides fine views of the Saco River Valley.

In late September through early October, come here to enjoy autumn colors on the surrounding mountains and forests. The Conway Scenic Railroad offers train rides that leave from the village's Victorian station.

In winter, the village is the nighttime destination for skiers visiting area resorts such as Cranmore Mountain (located in North Conway), Attitash Resort, Black Mountain, and Wildcat Mountain.

Getting Here

The only way for non-drivers to get here is by Concord Coach (formerly Concord Trailways). The best place to start your trip is in Boston at either Logan International Airport or South Station (a connection from Amtrak trains or Greyhound bus). At the time of this column, there were two daily trips in each direction. The cost is $30 one way and $56 round trip. (For more details, visit http://www.concordcoachlines.com, or call toll-free 800-639-3317 or the local number: 603-228-3300.

Buses leave Logan Airport at 9:25 a.m. and 3:40 p.m., South Station at 10:00 a.m. and 4:15, and arrive in North Conway at 1:35 p.m., and 7:40 p.m. Returning buses leave North Conway at 8:30 a.m. and 2:35 p.m., and arrive at South Station 12:20 p.m. and 6:20 p.m., and Logan International Airport at 12:35 p.m. and 6:35. p.m. The bus stops at the Eastern Slope Inn, in the heart of North Conway Village. (http://www.concordcoachlines.com/index.php/nh/north-conway) From there, all of North Conway Village is easily walkable.

Sutton Luxury Limousine will pick you up at any New England airport and take you to North Conway. For details and reservations, visit www.suttonlimos.com, or call 603-387-3663.

After You Arrive

North Conway is a small village. You can pretty much walk to anywhere here. There are taxi services available to take you throughout North Conway. Fast Taxi delivery and shuttle service will be your best friend. They are reliable, friendly and very knowledgeable about the Mt Washington Valley and can take you anywhere you want to go. Info: www.fasttaxianddeliverysvc.com, or call 603-356-0000.

Where to Stay

The best bet is to stay in North Conway Village. There are a number of inns and B&BS including the Cranmore Inn, the Kearsarge Inn, Spruce Moose Lodge and the Nereledge Inn. If you want a larger hotel/resort property, stay at the Eastern Slope Inn and Resort. Another option is the Briarcliff Motel. All of these are within easy walking distance of “the village” (i.e. North Conway Village). For more information (including phone numbers, web sites, and e-mails) about these and other places to stay, visit: http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org/visit/where-to-stay.cfm, or call toll-free: 877=948-6867. For

Reviews of North Conway accommodations, Trip Advisor is a good resource. You can find their reviews at

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g46186-North_Conway_New_Hampshire-Vacations.html.

Getting Around

North Conway is very walkable. For times when you need a ride to attractions and locations outside the village, Fast Taxi (www.fasttaxianddeliverysvc.com, or call 603-356-0000) is the best transportation resource available. Sutton Limousine provides limousine service when needed (www.suttonlimos.com, or call 603-387-3663).

Both road and mountain bikes are available. Any of the three biking shops within walking distance of the Concord Coach bus station can give you information about trails and other places to bike. For more information about renting bikes and where to bike, visit: Joe Jones Sun and Ski Sports (www.joejonessports .com/ or call 603-356-9411), Red Jersey Cyclery (www.redjerseycyclery.com or call 603-356-7520), or Stan & Dan Sports (www.stananddans ports.com/ or call 603-356-5997).

What to Do

The Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau recommend the following attractions that are within walking distance of most parts of North Conway:

Walk to:

Harvy Barriston photo. Liscenced under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Conway Scenic Railroad: scenic train rides and dinner rides: www.conwayscenic.com.
Cranmore Adventure Park – www.cranmore.com.
MWV Children’s Museum:

http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org/newhampshire/attractions/mwv-childrens-museum.cfm?SectionID=3.
Zeb’s General Store – largest collection of New England made specialty foods in the country: www.zebs.com.

Take Fast Taxi to the Following Attractions Outside of North Conway

Here are a few ideas for local travel without a car, using Fast Taxi, plus the cost of getting there each way:

Northern Extremes Kayak & Canoe Rental with Shuttle Service - Cab fare: $8 for 1-4 people from North Conway. The Saco River's crystal clear waters and wide sandy beaches make for some excellent canoeing and kayaking. Rent canoes, kayaks or tubes and spend your day meandering down the river, then take advantage of shuttle transportation back.
Cranmore Mountain –Includes Zip lines, Bungy Trampoline, Climbing Wall, scenic chair rides, Summer Tubing, Gem mining, Giant Swing and a small bouncy House. Cab fare: $8 for 1-4 people. Here’s one adventure park with something for everyone. Scenic chairlift rides take you to the top of the mountain where a new trail offers the perfect loop and picnics are more scenic than ever. Cranmore Mountain has plenty of exhilarating fun for the whole family.
Diana's Bath's has a free hiking trail with beautiful waterfalls and clean water to relax in
Cab fare: $12 for 1-4 people. Take the 6/10 mile hike into this cascading series of pools, waterfalls and natural swimming holes. This is one of the most special places in Mt Washington Valley.
Mt Washington Auto Road has guided tours to the top of Mt Washington. Cab fare: $75 for 1-4 people (call for details). On a clear day, see into four states and Canada from the top of Mount Washington. Don’t miss the newly opened Extreme Mount Washington Museum on the summit, chronicling the history of extreme weather on the tallest peak in the Northeast.
Storyland- great theme park for children and all. Cab fare: $20 for 1-4 people. Story Land, celebrating its 60th anniversary, is where fantasy lives! Don’t miss the brand new one-of-a-kind wooden roller coaster Roar-O-Saurus and the new dino-park.
Settlers Green Outlet Shopping: This outlet center has over 60 outlets. Cab fare: $10 for 1-4 people. Here’s the ideal spot for back-to-school shopping. More than 60 tax-free manufacturers outlet stores offer everything from shoes to apparel, kitchenware, specialty foods, books, gadgets and much more.

Special Attractions

Mt Washington Valley is world known for its weather. For decades it held the record for the highest winds ever recorded (in April, 1934) atop Mt Washington. The world-famous Mt Washington Observatory is located on the summit of Mt Washington, but it also operates the Weather Discovery Center in the heart of North Conway village.

The Weather Discovery Center is the only museum in the country totally dedicated to weather. Whether or not you are a weather buff, this museum, filled with interactive displays and fun experiments, is a must-see. There’s even the opportunity to go into a recreation of the building atop Mt Washington where the highest winds were recorded and see, hear and feel what it was like to be there back in 1934.

For more information, visit http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org/newhampshire/recreation/mount-washington-observatory-weather-discovery-center.cfm.

Where to Eat: The Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau offers these suggestions: There are a number of great restaurants in North Conway Village:

Horsefeathers Restaurant – American food, casual
Hooligans Restaurant – American food, casual
Elvios Pizza
The Met Coffee House – coffee, pastries
Frontside Grind – coffee, light fare
White Mountain Cupcakery – fabulous cupcakes (owners won an episode of Cupcake Wars)
Stairway Café – breakfast, lunch
Pricilla’s – breakfast, lunch
Flatbread’s Pizza (located at the Eastern Slope Inn) – organic pizza
Chef’s Market of North Conway – sandwiches & soups + gourmet meals to go
Courtyard Café – light sandwiches, smoothies, coffee
Shalimar of India – Indian cuisine
North Conway Golf Course – eat lunch on the deck overlooking the 18th hole and Cathedral ledge beyond.
Vito Marcello’s Italian Bistro – fine Italian cuisine

Also, look for the Valley Originals flags (yellow with a fork) outside restaurants. This is a collection of 30+ independently owned restaurants dedicated to community spirit and finest local cuisine.

For more details, phone numbers and web sites for these restaurants, visit www.mountwashington.org.

For More Information

The Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau is your best resource for all vacation planning and help while in the Valley. It’s located in the heart of North Conway Village at 2617 Main St # 1, North Conway, NH. You can reach them via phone at 800-DO-SEE-NH (800-367-3364) or locally at 603-356-5701. Vacation planning concierge and staff are on hand 9-5pm (M-F) to answer questions.

Their website offers the perfect resource for planning your lodging, dining, and recreation. Go to www.mtwashingtonvalley.org for complete information. Additionally, the Information booth managed by the Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce is a cute yellow building adjacent to the chamber offices and an easy stroll from anywhere in North Conway village. It’s packed with brochures, maps and more plus very knowledgeable and friendly volunteers who will be happy to offer assistance and ideas for those without cars.

Do you have a favorite getaway or vacation destination you would like spotlighted in a future Car Free Journey column? E-mail Steve at steveatlas45@yahoo.com. Steve also loves to hear comments and suggestions from readers about recent Car Free Journey columns.

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