For its modest size, New Hampshire has a landscape of surprising diversity. Seacoast, lakes and mountains, thriving small cities, picturesque villages, rolling farmland, deep forests and wilderness. In New Hampshire, summer activities range from days at the beach to tax-free shopping at hundreds of outlet stores and specialty shops, and visits to family attractions and natural wonders.

New Hampshire is rich in New England heritage and history, too, with an active nightlife and a full calendar of special events. Here, every trip you take is on breathtaking scenic roads with a new adventure waiting at every turn. Daily stresses melt away in the sunshine, and a walk under the stars on a clear summer night is the perfect end to a fun-filled day.

Hiking, biking, camping and fishing are favorite excursions. Beaches, boating, water slides and roller coasters keep all ages cool, active and satisfied. The warm and friendly hospitality, exceptional values and quality amenities that you'll find at lodging and dining establishments around the state make New Hampshire a popular destination spot. And thanks to the state’s modest size—it’s just 100 miles at its widest point and only 200 miles from north to south—it’s easy to pack a lot into your vacation, without a lot of driving.

New Hampshire is made up of seven distinctly unique regions, each as welcoming as the next. At the very top of the state is the Great North Woods, a place of pristine beauty with acres of undeveloped woods, lakes, rivers and streams. Next, stretching from east to west in the upper midsection of New Hampshire, is the White Mountains region, home of the White Mountain National Forest and the scenic Kancamangus Highway.

At the center of the state is the Lakes Region with a landscape of rolling hills and mountains dotted by 273 lakes and ponds. To the west, the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region features lakes and mountains that provide recreation year round. Easily accessed, the region includes some of the state's most peaceful and picturesque countryside. Tucked in the southwest corner of New Hampshire is the picturesque Monadnock Region, home of Yankee Magazine and the inspiration of Thornton Wilder's Our Town.

The Merrimack Valley is the most populated region with the cities of Nashua, Manchester and Concord. The Seacoast is the home of the historic port city of Portsmouth and 18 miles of coastline to explore.

Tax Free Shopping
There's incredible variety and wonderful choices in shopping all over New Hampshire, from shops specializing in antiques and handcrafted items to major malls featuring nationally known name brand outlets, and it's all tax-free.

Performing Arts
Poets, playwrights, painters, musicians and other artists have been inspired by New Hampshire, so it's not surprising that New Hampshire offers a dazzling array of lively entertainment and diverse cultural offerings. You can take in a Broadway musical or drama at one of the regional summer theatres or year-round performing arts centers, hear world famous musicians in intimate surroundings, experience the traditional dances of another culture, or the folk music of native home-grown singer-songwriters. Put on your dancing shoes and dance the night away to jazz, be-bop, rock, country rock, swing or disco; or just kick back and relax at a nightclub or brewpub. See Old Masters and the work of today's up-and-coming artists, fine contemporary crafts and a finely crafted Frank Lloyd Wright home, the only one in New England that's open to the public.

Historic Sights & Museums
Proudly free, fiercely independent: this is the face of New Hampshire and its history. Learn about Native American culture at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, or discover our colonial past at Revolutionary era forts on tiny New Castle Island, where the American Revolution began with its first aggressive act in 1774. Walk the perimeter of the Fort at No. 4, a colonial era fortified village, or the streets of Portsmouth, once a hotbed of Revolutionary activity. In Concord, hear echoes of the past in the nation's oldest state capitol, in which the legislature meets in its original chambers.

On a hillside in Centerbury and by a lake in Enfield, you can almost hear the songs of the Shakers going about their work. Although the Shakers are gone, the beauty of their communities remains. There is a beauty, too, in New Hampshire’s industrial heritage: in Harrisville, said to be one of the most perfectly preserved mill towns in New England; Frye's Measure Mill, America's only remaining water-powered measure mill; and Belknap Mill, the oldest unaltered textile mill in America. Poet Robert Frost, statesmen Daniel Webster and John Wingate Weeks, and the 14th U.S. President, Franklin Pierce, were all inspired and sustained by New Hampshire. Their historic homes give us a window to their times.

Whether you're a boarder, or skier, New Hampshire's alpine ski resorts provide great sports action all season long. Many also offer other sports, from tubing to telemarking, sleigh rides and snowshoe rentals. With over 6,000 miles of interconnected trails that criss-cross the state, snowmobilers find a lot of great riding in New Hampshire. Whether you choose backcountry or groomed trails, the cross-country skiing is great! In the "Heart of New England" you will find such world-class resorts as:

• Attitash Bear Peak
  Explore a mountain of family fun! Cruise down our legendary alpine slides or cool off on one of four waterslides, including the Sidewinder! Enjoy mountain biking, hiking, climbing, scenic chairlift rides and Buddy Bear's Playpool. At the Fields of Attitash, practice your golf swing or take a guided horseback ride.

• Bretton Woods Mountain Resort
  This Ski Area features 98% snowmaking, 32 trails, 8 lifts, and night skiing weekends and holiday weeks. Service and snow conditions here are beyond compare. It is New England's family skiing headquarters: kids can enjoy the Hobbit Ski and Snowboard Program. Its Top o'Quad restaurant serves great food with spectacular views all winter. For Nordic enthusiasts, the X-C Ski Area includes 100km of world class trails.

• Loon Mountain
  Nestled in the White Mountains, Loon is NH's Leading Mountain Resort. It offers terrific skiing and snowboarding with terrain for all abilities. Snowboard Park, Snow sports School, Children's Programs & Daycare, Snow toys, Cross Country Skiing, Snow shoeing, Night tubing, dining, shopping, lodging, special events are some of its features. Visit in the summer and fall for scenic gondola rides, glacial caves, Mountain Man, horseback riding, mountain biking, skate-park, and more.

Waterville Valley Resort & Conference Center
Set in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, Waterville Valley is a nature playground with a mountain view golf course, world-class tennis, mountain biking, endless trails for hiking, streams for fishing, and a full slate of activities for families. Easy-to-get-to and fun-to-explore, Waterville Valley promises summer excitement to everyone. It offers a range of exciting adventures: canoeing and kayaking on Corcoran's pond, golf, tennis, mountain biking, athletic club access, and even a summer camp for kids!

Golf
Whether you’re interested in a relaxing nine, or want to get out and play to the max, New Hampshire’s golf courses will delight you. With over 80 courses around the state, from resort-owned courses to semi-private and public courses, you’ll never run out of places to play.

Hiking and Biking
There's a beautiful New Hampshire only hikers and cyclists know. It is the New Hampshire of vast vistas reached by a narrow path, where even the silence has a sound of its own. The many scenic country roads make for ideal touring. You can even pack up and ride from campground to campground or inn to inn. Off-road cycling enthusiasts have hundreds of options; many ski areas welcome mountain bikers in the warmer weather, where the lift-served biking is the order of the day. There are miles of trails in the White Mountain National Forest, through State Parks and State Forests. State Parks are known especially for their mountain biking, including Bear Brook and Pawtuckaway in the Merrimack Valley Region, and the Pisgah in the Monadnock Region.

Nature
The laugh of a loon skipping like a stone over a lake at dusk, the leggy, loping gait of a moose as it plunges into the forest, the powerful slap of a whale's tale on the ocean waves, just before it descends to the depths again, the exhilaration of discovering a gemstone; you can experience all of these things in New Hampshire. There are many options if you care to meet New Hampshire's wildlife, to learn about its geology, natural history, weather, gardens, and green spaces.

State Parks
The parks' rich diversity means endless opportunities for residents and visitors alike to enjoy camping, swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, alpine and cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling in spectacular surroundings. Time at a state park can mean an active day of mountain biking, a relaxing drive on a scenic auto route, a night camping amidst the call of loons, or an afternoon exploring New Hampshire’s exciting past. You can learn about the history of this country and the state at historic sites, gain insights into plant and animal life at the Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point State Park, or learn about the early days of Mount Washington at the summit’s Tip Top House. It's all so close to you, no matter where you are in New Hampshire.

Autumn in New Hampshire
The air is crisp; and trees glow with color from fiery red to warm yellows, rich purples, oranges and everything in between. Since autumn is such a popular time in New Hampshire, be sure to make reservations ahead. Each September and October, people from all over the world come to New Hampshire to see the fall foliage. Only two places in the world have the unique combination of climate and topography that results in this brilliant foliage; but nowhere does the landscape, from mountains to the lakes and sea, provide a better vantage point to see the colors.

Area: 9351 sq.mi, Land 8969 sq. mi., Water 382 sq.mi.

Location: 43.23159 N, 071.56007 W.

State Capital: Concord.

Coastline: 13 mi., Shoreline 131 mi.

Border States: Maine - Massachusetts - Vermont.

Agriculture: Dairy products, nursery stock, cattle, apples, eggs.

Industry: Machinery, electric equipment, rubber and plastic products, tourism.

Flag: The body or field shall be blue and shall bear upon its center in suitable proportion and colors a representation of the state seal. A wreath of laurel leaves shall surround the seal with nine stars interspersed.

Population: 1,201,134 - 41st, 12/99.

Statehood: June 21, 1788.

Topography: Low rolling coast followed by countless hills and mountains rising out of a central plateau.

Largest Cities: Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Derry, and Rochester.

Geographic Center: Belknap, 3 miles east of Ashland.

Highest Point: Mt. Washington - 6288 feet, 18th.

Lowest Point: Atlantic coast - sea level, 3rd.

State Bird: Purple Finch.

State Flower: Purple lilac - Syringa vulgaris.

Sate Motto: Live free or die.

State Nickname: Granite State.

State Song: Old New Hampshire.

State Tree: White birch - Betula papyrifera.