5 Things to put on Your New England Summer Bucket List

5 Things to put on Your New England Summer Bucket List

By Brooke Fowler

Drive In Movie -  Almost every popular teenage film from the nineties features a trip to the local drive-in theater. They aren't too common in NH during the twenty-first century; but when you're in the mood to watch a movie while still wanting to enjoy the outdoor scenery, this is the perfect option. Some of the closest locations include, “BarnZ’s drive in” in Barrington, NH, about a 30 minute drive from Exeter. For an even more convenient experience, Exeter park and recreation has set up its own “Friday night flicks” with a variety of summer dates that can be viewed on www.seacoastkidscalendar.com.

Visiting a New Beach - A major perk of living in NH is the beachy surroundings. Most NH residents will spend a majority of their summers on the well loved beaches of Rye or Hampton. But if you want to switch it up, there are a number of beaches to be explored not too far from home. A few examples include Ogunquit Beach in Ogunquit, Maine; Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport, Maine; and Plymouth Beach in Plymouth, MA. All locations are less than two hours outside of Exeter.

Hiking - According to Worldpopulationreveiw.com, Maine is ranked number 10 in the US for its hiking, and NH is close by placing 13th. For people in New England, a lot of time in the summer is spent at the beach as well as doing other outdoor water activities. The beautiful hiking locations can get overlooked, there are many options and this can be a great way to spend a cooler summer day if you don't want to hike in the heat. One of the most popular locations is in Alton, NH, Mount Major. This is a moderate hike that is 3.6 miles long and it features both a hard, and easier route. One more amazing NH hiking location is Franconia Notch, located in the White Mountains. Franconia Notch State Park is home to over 26 trails ranging from easy to hard.

Hot Air Balloon Ride - Believe it or not hot air balloon rides are an available option for a summer activity in NH. One of the closest locations being in Salem. At Infinity and Beyond Prices start at 200 dollars. You can reserve a ride online at Realadventures.com. This is a perfect once-in-a-lifetime experience to try something adventurous and memorable without having to travel far. 

Hampton Beach Fireworks - During the summer Hampton Beach puts out a firework show every Wednesday night at 9:30 pm. This is great entertainment for a night that you want to go out and enjoy the beach scenery with a free show. Further dates can be found on Hampton Beach.org.