3 nights in Concord, NH w/ 7 yr. old boy
Jun 16th, 2013, 12:56 PM
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3 nights in Concord, NH w/ 7 yr. old boy
We r stopping in Concord, NH next weekend for a music festival before we head to Boston to embark on a cruise. We will drive from DC Saturday and then go to the festival on sunday. Cruise leaves at 4:30 on Tuesday from Boston. Don't want to have to a lot of unpacking and repacking so thought we would stay through Tuesday morning in concord. Any suggestions about what we could do on Monday within an hour to hour and a half drive of concord that our 7 year old would enjoy? He likes the outdoors, especially anything involving climbing and water. We plan to head over to Portsmouth on Tuesday morning to see some friends and then drive down to Boston to catch our boat.
Thanks so much! Carroll
Thanks so much! Carroll
Jun 16th, 2013, 02:10 PM
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Jun 17th, 2013, 01:23 AM
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I guess defrostnh is on vacation because she is the expert on this kind of question.
Cranachin's suggestion, broadened a bit, is good. There are lots of attractions in the Francomia Notch area, from natural wonders ( mountains, the Flume) to trained bears right out of the 1950's.
Cranachin's suggestion, broadened a bit, is good. There are lots of attractions in the Francomia Notch area, from natural wonders ( mountains, the Flume) to trained bears right out of the 1950's.
Jun 17th, 2013, 02:59 AM
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Hey, I'm here! LOL but not visiting quite as often.
Maybe shamefully, we have not been the the McAullifee Space Center with our gds nor the to SEE science center. In fact, the dinosaur special exhibit just ended yesterday.
Concord has a nice park system, the largest, I think is White's Park. A short drive away is Beech Hill Farm for ice cream, visit with farm animals and a huge sandpile and trucks to play with.
Keep in mind, the Merrimack River is popular for swimming. There's a beach accessible near exit 17 I93. I have paddled by it but not actually used the beach. Water level is high right now because of all the rain but usually the only boating traffic you would see is canoes, kayaks and occasional paddle boat because this area of the river is quite shallow. I know the rental place in Penacook has a van service to drop you off at Jamie Welch park in Boscawen for a half day paddle and pickup in Penacook behind Rivco Mfg. This is an absolutely beautiful section of river. You won't see houses even though you are close to the roads. The river has several natural beaches where families will "camp out" for the day. You would want to take a picnic lunch and choose your own private beach. For this I think you can rent a tandem kayak so the 7 yo isn't alone. There is also Hannah's Paddles near Exit 17 but I'm not sure if they have a van service.
Check out NH Audubon to see if anything is planned. It is on Silk Farm Rd in Concord.
If you head out Pleasant St which becomes Rt 103 and a pretty drive, you'll go thru Hopkinton, Contoocook and Warner. We have not been to the Kearsarge Indian Museum but it's popular. Warner's a great town and you can continue up the road for a hike to the top of Mt Kearsarge or approach it from the Wilton side (on that side the drive is steep switchbacks with a state park near the top. The hike to the top is steep.).
The Flume would be worth a visit. DS likes to take people to Polar Caves and Lost River. I think the Flume is the best.
Hippo Press is a free newspaper and website that lists activities in the Concord/Manchester/Portsmouth/Nashua area. You might find something going on for kids. I think schools will be out by then.
If you stay in Concord at the Marriot Courtyard you will be near a marsh/river area where you might see some wildlife. Although it backs up to I93, it's a pretty area with sidewalks, popular with walkers. The Holiday Inn is at the north end of Main Street which makes it easy to walk the downtown area. The other hotels are probably fine but a little out of the way.
Maybe shamefully, we have not been the the McAullifee Space Center with our gds nor the to SEE science center. In fact, the dinosaur special exhibit just ended yesterday.
Concord has a nice park system, the largest, I think is White's Park. A short drive away is Beech Hill Farm for ice cream, visit with farm animals and a huge sandpile and trucks to play with.
Keep in mind, the Merrimack River is popular for swimming. There's a beach accessible near exit 17 I93. I have paddled by it but not actually used the beach. Water level is high right now because of all the rain but usually the only boating traffic you would see is canoes, kayaks and occasional paddle boat because this area of the river is quite shallow. I know the rental place in Penacook has a van service to drop you off at Jamie Welch park in Boscawen for a half day paddle and pickup in Penacook behind Rivco Mfg. This is an absolutely beautiful section of river. You won't see houses even though you are close to the roads. The river has several natural beaches where families will "camp out" for the day. You would want to take a picnic lunch and choose your own private beach. For this I think you can rent a tandem kayak so the 7 yo isn't alone. There is also Hannah's Paddles near Exit 17 but I'm not sure if they have a van service.
Check out NH Audubon to see if anything is planned. It is on Silk Farm Rd in Concord.
If you head out Pleasant St which becomes Rt 103 and a pretty drive, you'll go thru Hopkinton, Contoocook and Warner. We have not been to the Kearsarge Indian Museum but it's popular. Warner's a great town and you can continue up the road for a hike to the top of Mt Kearsarge or approach it from the Wilton side (on that side the drive is steep switchbacks with a state park near the top. The hike to the top is steep.).
The Flume would be worth a visit. DS likes to take people to Polar Caves and Lost River. I think the Flume is the best.
Hippo Press is a free newspaper and website that lists activities in the Concord/Manchester/Portsmouth/Nashua area. You might find something going on for kids. I think schools will be out by then.
If you stay in Concord at the Marriot Courtyard you will be near a marsh/river area where you might see some wildlife. Although it backs up to I93, it's a pretty area with sidewalks, popular with walkers. The Holiday Inn is at the north end of Main Street which makes it easy to walk the downtown area. The other hotels are probably fine but a little out of the way.
Jun 20th, 2013, 06:27 PM
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Wow - I am impressed again with this forum - so very grateful for everyone's suggestions. I am very much looking forward to our trip now that I have a plethora of good advice for making the most of our trip. 
Thanks again everybody, Carroll
Thanks again everybody, Carroll
Jun 21st, 2013, 01:20 AM
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ohoh, I made a mistake, it should be Wilmot side of Mt Kearsarge (not Wilton).
Another option that was featured on tv this week is the Squam Lakes Science center in Holderness. It's been ages since we've been there but it is popular with school groups. The animals in residence are native. The pontoon boat ride was very enjoyable (info about ecology and loons). Our GDs are almost 7 and 9 so we're behind taking them to places we took DS. Last summer we went to the Montshire Museum in Norwich VT which they loves. You would want to bring a bathing suit for the water play/science area and a picnic lunch. It's over an hour but an easy drive up I89 from Concord.
Another option that was featured on tv this week is the Squam Lakes Science center in Holderness. It's been ages since we've been there but it is popular with school groups. The animals in residence are native. The pontoon boat ride was very enjoyable (info about ecology and loons). Our GDs are almost 7 and 9 so we're behind taking them to places we took DS. Last summer we went to the Montshire Museum in Norwich VT which they loves. You would want to bring a bathing suit for the water play/science area and a picnic lunch. It's over an hour but an easy drive up I89 from Concord.
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