New Hampshire is beautiful any time of the year but there is something about the Granite State when the leaves begin to turn in the fall. While the foliage is beautiful in Connecticut in mid to late October, we love to head to New Hampshire to get an early start on the foliage. After coming to the Whites to hike in the humid buggy summer air, there is something special about the early crisp in the air, the changing colors, and all the fun that can be had in the White Mountains.
If you want a quiet way to take it all in, the Conway Scenic Railroad is a perfect way to do it and great for any age and recreation level. You can choose from a quick 1 hour ride or a 5-8 hour journey which takes you into Crawford Notch. Our train loving toddler and his little sister were excited to ride the train so we opted for the 1 hour ride, a perfect amount of time for littles.
After you pick your train, you pick your seating class option and can pick from coach, first class, or dome class. The prices vary based on what you pick and our one hour train ride in coach (2024 pricing) was $25 an adult and kids 3 and below rode free.
On the 1 hour ride, you head out for 25 minutes before a short break and heading back the way you came. On a quiet Saturday morning, we had a coach car all to ourselves. The kids loved walking the cars back for a chocolate chip cookie in the snack car before settling back into benches to watch the world go by.
If you aren't traveling with kids and have more time to spend, I would definitely sign up for one of the longer adventures. According to the railway, the most scenic excursion is the Mountaineer, the iconic Crawford Notch Scenic Train Ride (expect to pay $75 per adult in coach and then $17-$52 for kids depending on age).
"The supremely scenic Mountaineer is the railroad’s flagship train. This is the famous Crawford Notch excursion for which Conway Scenic is known around the world. The Mountaineer traverses the Mount Washington Valley, following the path of the Saco River, passing through the White Mountain National Forest and ascending the rocky crags of Crawford Notch. The train crosses several famous bridges including the curved Frankenstein Trestle and the towering Willey Brook Bridge. This train runs May through November and carries Coach, First and Premium Class seating. Most popular are the train’s Premium Vista domes, which offer panoramic views, but often sell out weeks in advance. The Mountaineer is most popular during the autumn foliage season, yet offers superb scenery from Spring through Autumn."
The trains leave from downtown North Conway, neighboring the fire station, playground, and coffee shop. Even the mornings we didn't ride the train, we still stopped by to see the engineers and watch the trains pass by. The station itself is an icon, built by the Portsmouth Great Falls and Conway Railroad in 1874, two years after the Conway Branch was completed.
A ride on a scenic railway is perfect for just about anyone in your group. Toddler approved, elderly leaf peepers, and just about everyone in between. Pair it with lunch downtown and a quick trip to the playground and you have a perfect way to soak up the fall and the quiet town of Conway.
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