I’m going to share with you the top 5 inexpensive day trips that I have done many times myself. I understand that many families look for things to do that’s affordable and still fun, it can be difficult to find things to do that cost little to no money. These recommendations can be super inexpensive depending on your choices…. such as lunch can be as simple as peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches, or purchased subs, etc. Because I don’t know where you are traveling from, I can’t estimate gas costs. But the bottom line is, I love these day trips and you can do them pretty inexpensively and make such beautiful memories.
#1. One of the best, inexpensive, summer trips that I continue to love going back to over and over, is Cascade Park in North Woodstock, NH. This is fun for children and adults alike.
Cascade Park is located on Main Street in North Woodstock, NH. This is almost across the street from the Woodstock Inn. The park has a small beautiful grassy area with nice flowers and a covered picnic table area. When you venture down to the river, you’re going to find some small pools for children to play in and white water for adults to tube down and swim. I never tire of the beauty of this section of river.
Some people bring their tubes and float the white water to a larger pool. If you don’t have a tube with you, you can rent tubes nearby on Main Street. Perhaps you can do what my husband did, go down on your god given buttocks. He’s a bit of a daredevil and I’m not, so I’d take the tube for sure.
When the sun is hot and you put your camp chair in the river, it’s just glorious. The sound of the flowing water, the kids laughing and playing, it’s heaven. We usually pack a lunch and bring Nalgene bottles of wine or beer (cans only). Sometimes we stop at the beer and wine store on Main Street in Lincoln and get some Humboldt Fog goat cheese and crackers… goes so good with red wine. I ask that you please don’t bring any glass bottles just in case they break. This place is pristine and it’s important to leave nature the way you found it. So, carry in – carry out.
Let’s put the cost together…. Gas to get to Cascade Park.. depends on where you’re traveling from. Camp chair $15, Wine or beer $20, lunch $15. For approximately $50 you can have a wonderful fun-filled day.
In addition to Cascade Park, the area of North Woodstock is also a great place to explore. There are some cute shops on the Main Street with lots of local made items. Don’t miss the ice cream shop….delicious! If you don’t want to pack lunch, stop by The Woodstock Inn, it always has amazing food and will certainly not disappoint should you decide to partake in lunch or dinner. Lodging around this area is plentiful, either hotels, VRBO’s or Airbnb’s. If you’re interested in staying at The Woodstock Inn, be sure to book ahead of time as they fill up fast. Bonus is that The Woodstock Inn usually has entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings, check the website for entertainment.
#2. Purgatory Falls, Lower Falls, Lyndeborough, NH. Located off Purgatory Road in Lyndeborough, NH. There is another location called Upper Purgatory falls… I’m not a big fan of the upper falls. I’m sending you to the Lower Falls, these are my favorite. The hike is a .6 mile hike to the falls. It’s a medium difficulty hike, the trails are pretty well marked and mostly easy. There are a couple of steep hills to climb which is why I’m saying it’s a medium difficulty hike. When you get there, you’ll find a gorgeous 12-foot waterfall. The waterfall is spectacular and breathtaking. You can swim by the waterfall or if you hike up above the falls, there is another great pool you can swim in. The upper pool gets most of the sun until late afternoon when the shade overtakes the pool. Photographers use this area as a backdrop for some unbelievable photos. I took photos for my daughters at these falls…engagement photos and then later on, pregnancy photos.
The entrance of the falls is located off of Purgatory Road, Lyndeborough, NH. You’ll find a small dirt parking area that will hold about 10 cars. Dogs are allowed on leash.
This is a great day spot to hang out, picnic and swim. It can get busy because it’s a well-known local swimming hole. Like the destination above… camp chairs in the river with a packed lunch make a wonderful day with the family.
The cost of this trip is just the cost of your picnic lunch and beverages, as above, probably $50 or less.
#3. Franconia Falls, Lincoln, NH. You will find this spot in Lincoln, exit 32 off of Rt 93. 5.1 Miles down the Kancamagus Highway, Route 112, on the left side you will find the large parking area. There is a cost for parking, $5, and the parking lot fills up quickly. You’ll need to be there early or you will be parking on the Kancamagus highway and walking a distance to the trail head.
This day trip is beautiful for its large rocks and flowing crystal-clear water and spectacular nature. Due to the rocks….it may not be the best spot for very young children. For the teenagers and adults, there is a big natural slide into a pool of deep water. Check out the photos below. This is a popular destination and on a hot day there will be a line for the natural slide. The water is unbelievably clear and ice cold. The 35- foot total drop of the falls is gorgeous. The falls offer great photo opportunities.
The hike to the river is about 3.2 miles or about a 45-60 minute hike. It’s an easy hike and the trails are well maintained and marked. Dogs are allowed on leash. You can take bicycles on the path and this will speed up your journey. Bring bike locks because you can’t take them all the way, you’ll need to lock them up a short distance from the river. We’ve done it with regular bicycles and then with our electric bikes as well.
You need to be very careful anytime you are around a river as it can be dangerous if rain has increased the water flow. If you are jumping into the pools, I recommend life jackets as the water can be turbulent. There is no cell phone service at this river. I found that out when my adult daughter jumped from one rock to another to cross the river and landed wrong… ouch. Other than that, it was a great day.
I’ve been at this spot many many times over the past 17 years. It never disappoints. I can’t wait to go back next summer. Cost wise, this trip again is about $50 or less depending on you travel to get here.
#4 . Jenness State Beach, Rye, NH. 2280 Ocean Blvd, Rye, NH. Parking is $2 per hour and enough parking for 67 cars. There are no glass containers allowed on the beach. In the summer there is a lifeguard on duty. Pets are not allowed on the beach, in-season. Click on hyperlink in the title to go to photos of Jenness beach.
Rye offers 18 miles of shoreline and great views. Jenness State Beach is a wonderful family friendly beach with bathrooms and changing rooms available. Surfing and boogie boarding are great on this section of beach. You can rent surf and boogie boards across the street from the parking lot. The shop across the street is called Rye Beach shop and Café. You can get lunch here if you want, rent surf equipment and get ice cream.
This is a great day trip for the whole family. This is a very inexpensive trip considering that parking is the only expense you HAVE to pay for. Pack a lunch, beverages, beach shovels and pails… have fun making sandcastles and memories.
#5. Andres Institute of Art. 106 Route 13, Brookline, New Hampshire. You will find 10 acres of hiking trails with 100+ sculptures, metal and stone, representing 40+ countries. The hikes are easy to difficult depending on the trails you choose. There is no fee to enter the Institute and the parking is free. Donations are appreciated though. You’ll find trail maps at the entrance. There are several different hiking trails you can choose from, trails are clearly marked and color coded. I’ve done a couple of the hikes and I didn’t find them difficult. If you like hiking, it’s hiking with a special treat… art! Dogs on leash are allowed. Each sculpture is labeled with its artist, description and origin country. The hike alone is beautiful then add art and sculpture to it and you have a winning combination. Pack a picnic lunch, find a gorgeous spot at the highest point with beautiful views, and relax and enjoy. This day trip is under $50.
In conclusion, you can find some inexpensive places to visit with the family if you’re willing to drive. I’ve been to each of these places and personally recommend seeing them at least once or twice. I recommend being prepared for hikes especially around the rivers. Water shoes are a MUST when going to any river or body of water. Even little rocks can be so painful on tender little feet (or big feet as well). Get shoes that have a good thick sole. I don’t recommend the thin water socks type of shoes. Believe me, you can feel rocks right through those babies. Merrills or Keen watershoes are the ones I love the most. I’ve had my Keens for 5 years and just bought a new pair. These shoes got used every weekend in the summer and on my trips and even after 5 years mine were still in pretty good shape, they can take a beating.
I recommend you have a camp chair to put in the water, river or beach. These aren’t expensive and you can grab them at Walmart or Amazon for less than $20. Always wear a floppy hat or big rimmed hat to protect you from the sun. Skin cancer is no joke (I used to work in Dermatology) so I’ll save my rant for another time. A soft cooler is great to carry with you. I find the hard coolers hurt when you hit them against your legs when hiking – so I recommend soft sided. The last item I’m going to talk about is a sun shade for the beach. I got mine a couple years ago and its compact, versatile and secures great with sand or rocks. We carry ours in our boat, car, and take it to beaches to be able to get out of the sun, our dog Woody really appreciates the shade.
A well-prepared day trip is priceless!!! Enjoy
See you next time,
Sharon
Enjoyed reading about these New Hampshire day trips. Will definitely explore further! Jenness Beach has been a family favorite for us over the years and continues to be an annual event.