The Granite State has plenty going for it, and travelers will find everything from a vibrant seaport to some of the best ski resorts in New England.
Holiday visitors in December should be prepared for chilly temps and regular snowfalls, especially in northern New Hampshire, which can see two to three feet of snow during the festive month.
10 North Conway
Considered the gateway to the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the region's top-quality ski resorts, quaint North Conway makes for a perfect holiday destination.
Visitors can shop at one of the area's most popular attractions, Zeb's General Store. Offering some 5,000 items for sale, travelers can spend a whole day browsing Zeb's goods.
A wide choice of classic New England bed-and-breakfast inns and hotels makes North Conway a great getaway for couples and families.
9 Portsmouth
While brilliant fall foliage draws many visitors to New Hampshire in autumn, the state also has a vibrant seacoast in Portsmouth, situated along the Piscataqua River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
A thriving seaport, settled in the 17th century, provides a historic backdrop for holiday visitors. Locally owned shops and restaurants abound in the walkable town, which also boasts one of the best living history museums around, the Strawbery Banke Museum.
8 Concord
Concord is the capital of New Hampshire and is known as the state's cultural hub.
Located in the southeast part of the state, its historic Main Street features plenty of activities for holiday visitors, including many galleries and unique shops, plus restaurants, a boutique movie theater, three performing art centers, and art and music schools.
A tour of the city should include a visit to the historic New Hampshire State House, the nation's oldest (it was built in 1819), with its landmark golden dome on top.
7 Franconia Notch State Park
Franconia Notch State Park is a must-visit for travelers exploring the White Mountains region.
The notch, a spectacular sight in any season, is a mountain pass that runs from Flume Gorge, one of New Hampshire's most gorgeous gorges, to Echo Lake.
Holiday visitors can choose lodgings from inns to hotels and resorts. Skiers will want to make a stop at the New England Ski Museum. The state park offers many picturesque hiking trails, and winter walkers should dress for the weather.
6 Hanover
The town of Hanover sits alongside the Connecticut River, in the bucolic Upper Connecticut River Valley near the Vermont border. Its charming Main Street is home to many shops and eateries, and visitors can tour Ivy League Dartmouth College.
Hanover also boasts the Hopkins Center for the Arts, where holiday travelers can enjoy live music and attend live streamings of Metropolitan Opera House performances.
On the Dartmouth campus, visitors can ice skate on Occom Pond, a traditional winter activity at the college.
5 Attitash Mountain Resort
Located in the White Mountain National Forest, the popular ski destination at Attitash Mountain Resort has 68 trails and eight ski lifts across Attitash and Bear Peak mountains, offering traditional runs and more challenging terrain for experienced skiers.
Beginners can take advantage of the resort's ski instruction programs, and families and couples have several dining venues to choose from, including the Den, a full-service restaurant and bar, Frostbites, for easy, grab-and-go meals, and the Cantina, serving Mexican specialties.
4 Loon Mountain Resort
With 370 skiable acres, 61 trails, and 11 lifts, Loon Mountain Resort offers easy and difficult trails.
Located in White Mountain National Forest, the resort's activities extend to snowboarding, snow-tubing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Instruction is offered for children and adults.
The resort does not have accommodations but recommends several highly regarded lodgings nearby.
Among dining options at Loon Mountain is the Summit Café, located at the top of the gondola at 2,733 feet and offering impressive views of the White Mountain peaks.
3 Exeter
Travelers can experience a sense of traditional Americana in Exeter, a pretty river town just over the Massachusetts border. Families with youngsters will want to shop along Water Street, especially at the well-known Whirlygigs Toy Shop.
Unique stores and restaurants will make for a festive afternoon or evening in this town, which is home to the American Independence Museum. Holiday visitors can enjoy views of the Squamscott River, and lodging choices are abundant.
2 Littleton
Nestled along the northern border of the White Mountains, Littleton is a small town with a big candy counter. The sweet shop called Chutters features a 112-foot-long candy counter sure to delight holidaymakers of all ages.
It's one of the really charming things about the small town, which has many historic buildings. Situated on the Connecticut River, the town has a mountain for a backdrop, making it an especially picturesque getaway.
1 Bretton Woods/Mount Washington Resort
The Bretton Woods/Omni Mount Washington Resort, in the White Mountains and close to Mount Washington, is the state's largest ski area, with 464 acres.
Families and couples can ski to their hearts' content on 63 trails and see great mountain views on the Bretton Woods Skyway Gondola.
Sleigh rides, snowmobiling, and snow tubing also are featured activities. Accommodations at the Omni Mount Washington Resort include one-bedroom hotel rooms to five-bedroom townhomes for families or groups of friends celebrating the holidays together.