Fall color arrived a bit early this year and we made a last-minute decision to road trip along the Kancamagus Highway from Conway to Bath and on to Crawford Notch this past weekend. I know many of you are hoping to do the same trip this week/weekend so here was our itinerary and a few recommendations to do it even better!
Day One: The Kancamagus
The Kancamagus stretches the full width of New Hampshire from Conway to Bath along Route 112, and is considered one of New Hampshire’s most scenic drives. We got a late start and only reached Conway at 1pm but I’d recommend going much earlier to beat the crowds if you want to have quieter trails and a quicker lunch along the way.
Shop: Just 10 miles out of Conway is an antique shop called The Red Barn where I got a biennial crock. Someone should scoop up that beautiful wrought iron bistro set I left behind!
Eat: Black Mountain Burger Co. gets amazing reviews and we wanted to eat here but the wait was 90 minutes long (!) so we decided to prioritize leaf peeping so we survived on gelato until dinner. (Ha.) Arrive early and let us know what we missed! (I also love the Common Man Restaurant across the street, but they’re an evening option!)
See: Bring your fishing rods and drop a line at Beaver Pond just west of Lincoln. The vistas are beautiful and we saw several people hook trout!
Shop again: As you make your way back from Bath to Bretton Woods, take a small detour to one of the most well curated antique stores in existence: Lonesome Woods, before continuing on to your hotel.
Stay: We snagged the last room at the Bretton Arms Inn, a small inn adjacent to the iconic Omni Mount Washington. I love how the inn was connected to the larger resort by a wooded path and has lovely intimate feel to it. We had dinner out on the terrace at Stickney’s and were surprised by 15 minutes of fireworks. They also have fire pits dotting the lawn which are a fun way to end the night.
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Tyler Boe Dress c/o // Loeffler Randall Boots // Mark Cross Benchley Bag // Tory Burch Belt (old, similar)
Day Two: Crawford Notch
We spent the morning on the porch at the Omni taking in the almost 360 degree views of the mountains before packing up our car and heading to Crawford Notch. This part of the trip was full of expansive vistas and has a different feel than Kancamagus.
See: There are numerous vistas and hikes along this drive so hop out and explore! Due to a drought this year most of the falls were dry or a trickle but overall still stunning!
Eat: We picked up sandwiches at White Mountain Cider Co. on our ride home and they were delicious. Highly recommend their cider too!
That’s it! If you make the trip would love to see photos.
xx, Stacie
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Dudley Stephens Park Slop Fleece // Tory Burch Wool Mini (old, one here) // Loeffler Randall Goldy Boots
We love the Bretton Arms Inn. We’ve stayed there for their New Years Eve celebration and it perfect as you can enjoy the party at the hotel and then have some lovely downtime at the Inn!
Author
So glad you’ve been and that sounds like a wonderful way to ring in a new year! xx, SF
I love this guide. Thank you.
Stacie, I have lived in NH for the last 30 years & do business in NH and VT. You didn’t mention The Silver Fork in Manchester Center. It’s difficult to get a reservation, but oh so worth it! Matches up to NY & Paris for quality & atmosphere! The Colby Hill Inn in the little town of Henniker NH is also a worthwhile stop- they have lovely “wine dinners “ throughout the year.
Author
Hi Jill! Thank you so much for sharing these – I haven’t even heard of either spot but will definitely add them to the top of our list of places to try! xx Stacie