Family Adventures in Jefferson, New Hampshire

What adventures can a sleepy mountain town like Jefferson offer to the modern family looking to escape and spend time together? Try these on for size...

Santa’s Village

Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, elves, and all ten of Santa’s reindeer await your young children in a spruce and fir wooded village nestled in a forest cove just 10 minutes away from Bray Hill. Ranking in the Top 9 amusement parks in the US according to TripAdvisor's 2022 Travelers’ Choice Awards, Santa’s Village is a child’s dream come true at a mom-and-pop-friendly scale. Dozens of rides from the village choo choo train to the Ferris wheel and log flume thrill and delight the whole family.

In the summer, it’s tucked in the shade canopy of evergreens and a haven from the heat with a kid’s waterpark as well. In the winter during the Christmas season, it is a snow-coated wonderland with warm village cabins and stores filled with activities. So, no matter what time of year you visit, you will love it.

Dog Sledding

If it is after the new year and still winter, Santa’s Village will be closed, but Muddy Paws Sled Dog Kennel will be open. Take your puppy love and love of adrenaline on a dog sled ride for the whole family. Children as young as two can enjoy the experience of bonding with the dogs and the thrill of gliding along the trail bundled in wool blankets together in the low slung sled.

Muddy Paws is an outstanding organization with over 250 five-star reviews on TripAdvisor. Families and couple alike love the experience, which takes place in the Pondicherry Division of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge with stunning views of the Presidential Range over Cherry Pond.

Wildlife Refuge

There are three ponds in the refuge with trails to access shoreline and viewing platforms: Cherry Pond, Little Cherry Pond, and Mud Pond. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular in this dramatic, secluded setting. This special area is a habitat, breeding ground, and sanctuary to a variety of mammals and native and migratory birds. In the birding community, it is known for the multitude of species and for occasional sightings of rare species.

On the North side, the Mud Pond Trail off Route 116 in Jefferson provides plenty of parking with a handicapped accessible trail on a boardwalk through a boreal forest to Mud Pond with a viewing platform from the marshy edge. On the East side, the Trestle Trail provides an abandoned rail corridor through the preserve, which joins trails to other areas and ponds. Some of the trails here are part of the Cohos Trail from Crawford Notch to Canada.

Hiking

Looking up from the ponds on the valley floor are the peaks of the White Mountains. Are you a peak bagger missing the two Northernmost 4,000-footers in New Hampshire, Mt. Cabot and Mt. Waumbek? Or maybe you’d like to hike the Presidential Range from the less traveled northern slopes in Randolph? Or maybe you’d like to get a bird's eye view of the Great North Woods and White Mountains from the top of Mount Prospect fire tower in Weeks State Park? Perfect for the adventurous family, these mountains offer ascending hikes that range from introductory paved inclines for young children to heart-pounding, highly skilled climbing in the winter season.

Skiing

Speaking of winter season, the closest ski slope is the Mount Prospect ski tow in Weeks State Park open mainly on weekends when there is great fresh snow.

I expect you are looking for something a little more full service, so the best option is Bretton Woods. Ranked #12 Ski Resort in the world according to Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Poll, it features the most skiable terrain in New Hampshire and a brand new eight-person gondola. What more do I need to say? It offers terrain to keep the whole family happy and challenged.

Aside from relaxing and enjoying each other’s company these family adventures based near the Bray Hill House on the north side of the White Mountains will keep you coming back for more.