10 Best Things to Do in New Hampshire This Summer 2025

Looking for the best things to do in New Hampshire this summer? Whether you’re up for a mineral dig on a mountaintop, craving gourmet ice cream in the White Mountains, or hoping to paddle your way to an oyster farm, this curated list is packed with unforgettable summer adventures. From dog-friendly resorts and music under the stars to food truck feasts and tranquil yoga by the sea, it’s your ultimate guide to soaking up the season in the Granite State.

10 Best Things to Do in New Hampshire This Summer

1. Cold Comfort with Super Secret Ice Cream – Scratch-made flavors and waffle cones worthy of a James Beard nod.

Our love for Super Secret Ice Cream is no secret: We visited this farm-to-homemade-waffle-cone destination in Bethlehem during Season 8 of Weekends with Yankee. And we’re not surprised Kristina Zontini’s creative creamery is a semifinalist for a “culinary Oscar”—a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bakery—especially since she herself was a semifinalist last year in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category. You be the judge when you dig into tiny-batch flavors like blueberry basil and rhubarb almond crunch, all scratch-made with organic sugar and Hatchland Farm milk and cream.

2. Dogs Deserve Vacations Too – Mountain View Grand’s luxe new pet program is next-level.

Whitefield’s Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa has catapulted into a new category of dog-friendliness with its Mountain Paws program. In addition to creature comforts like homemade treats, plush pet beds, and food and water bowls, furry guests receive a Tractive GPS & Health Tracker, allowing them to romp freely through the resort’s 1,700 acres.

3. Kayak to the Pearls – Paddle out for oysters and eco-insights on Little Bay.

You’ll never forget the thrill of kayaking out to a floating farmhouse and slurping oysters fresh from the tidal waters of Little Bay. Two-hour outings with PK Paddle Tours, in collaboration with Hidden Coast Shellfish, blend wildlife observation and ecological insights with one-of-a-kind gastronomic indulgence. Public tours depart June through mid-October from Durham; private excursions can be booked year-round.

4. Opera Under the Stars – Experience Opera North’s Summerfest at Blow-Me-Down Farm.

If it’s been a while since you were spellbound, you owe yourself tickets to a performance at Blow-Me-Down Farm in Cornish, the summer home of Opera North. Picnic in this mountain-view setting before ducking under the weatherproof tent, where all ages are mesmerized by the pageantry and vocal gymnastics of opera reimagined for a new era. Summerfest runs June 27–July 27 and features stagings of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, an operatic retelling of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince, and the musical Man of La Mancha, as relevant today as when it debuted 60 years ago.

5. Dig Deep at Ruggles Mine – Harvest your own gems atop a mountain with panoramic views.

The Beatles sang about diamonds in the heavens. If you’re a rock hound, you can harvest your own amethyst, feldspar, quartz, garnet, and uraninite at “The Mine in the Sky.” Ruggles Mine, atop Isinglass Mountain in Grafton, reopened last summer after sitting dormant since 2016. First tapped for minerals in 1803 and operated as a tourist attraction starting in the early 1960s, it’s still a place of wonder, where $30 buys you a “license” to collect up to a five-gallon bucket of rocks. Plus, there’s tent and self-contained RV camping for just $10 a person per night.

6. Find Your Ridge-Top Retreat – Escape to a quiet, adults-only farm inn with big mountain vibes.

An unpaved country lane leads to a dream of an inn that’s less than two hours from Boston but far, far away from the city’s pace. In New Durham, Top of the Ridge Farm sits high and remote enough to have a White Mountains view, and getting there in a heartbeat means you’ll be relaxing in a red Adirondack chair, noshing on the inn’s signature charcuterie board, and sipping your favorite beverage before you know it. Although the building has 18th- and 19th-century origins, your private chamber is bright and contemporary. And it’s one of only four, so you’ll feel like this adults-only haven is all yours.

7. Eat, Drink, and Hang at Tideline Public House – Craft beer, food trucks, firepits, and more in downtown Durham.

When Scott Letourneau and his wife, Karen, returned to New England after more than two decades in Oregon, they found themselves missing the year-round craft beer and food truck scene. So in 2023, they transformed the site of Durham’s old town hall into Tideline Public House, a family-friendly indoor-outdoor hangout with 16 beers on tap and as many as seven food vendors dishing up bites for all tastes. There’s more: an on-site mercantile, two overnight rooms, and firepits to chase away after-dark chills.

8. Flow with the Tide – Free morning yoga classes right on the beach in Hampton.

Salinated breezes and the ocean’s rolling rhythms can take you deeper into your yoga practice. So join Hampton Beach Yoga & Mindfulness near the Seashell Stage in Hampton Beach for free yoga classes at 7 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 17–September 4. You’ll need to preregister online using the provided code, and there’s a limit of two free classes per person per month.

9. Savor the Best of NH in One Night – Celebrate top local eats and sips at New Hampshire Magazine’s annual party.

Our Yankee Publishing siblings at New Hampshire Magazine throw an annual Best of New Hampshire celebration spotlighting their own honorees, and this year’s fete at Flag Hill Distillery & Winery in Lee is your chance to sip and savor your way around the state, all in one place. Secure your tickets for June 26, then dress your garden-party best for an evening of music and good cheer.

10. Concerts Worth Booking Early – Music, dogs, and good vibes in the Meadow at The Word Barn.

The tickets go fast for outdoor summer concerts in the Meadow at The Word Barn in Exeter. These top-notch shows have the intimacy of a backyard bash, and even your dog is invited (if your dog likes New Orleans jazz, say, or gritty folk-rock). Book the on-site Airbnb, and you’re guaranteed admission even if the evening’s show is sold out. The music jumps inside the renovated 17th-century barn if storm clouds threaten.

See More: 2025 New Hampshire Travel Guide | Hotels, Dining & Attractions

What tops your list of the best things to do in New Hampshire this summer? Let us know!

Kim Knox Beckius

Kim Knox Beckius is Yankee Magazine's Travel & Branded Content Editor. A longtime freelance writer/photographer and Yankee contributing editor based in Connecticut, she has explored every corner of the region while writing six books on travel in the Northeast and contributing updates to New England guidebooks published by Fodor's, Frommer's, and Michelin. For more than 20 years, Kim served as New England Travel Expert for TripSavvy (formerly About.com). She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and is frequently called on by the media to discuss New England travel and events. She is likely the only person who has hugged both Art Garfunkel and a baby moose.

More by Kim Knox Beckius