When it comes to vacation planning, for families with children finding activities that everyone can enjoy is a high priority. Here are some suggestions of New Hampshire places to consider for your staycation. 

 For many people, young and old, animals are always a winner. New Hampshire has a number of farms that will allow you to have an up-close experience with their residents. The Friendly Farm in Dublin is a perennial favorite. You can wander through the five-acre property and give some love to the goats, pigs, lambs and turkeys. Pat them, hug them and feed them, you’ll leave feeling like you’ve made new friends. Daily admission is $11 for adults and $9 for children ages 1 to 12. Join the junior farmer program and you’ll get a T-shirt, bag of feed each visit, and free admission for the rest of the season and 10% off in the gift shop, cost is $37.95 plus shipping. The season begins May 27 and the farm is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Labor Day, weather permitting. For more information, visit friendlyfarm.com.

Also consider: Beech Hill Farm in Hopkinton, Charmingfare Farm in Candia and Miles Smith Farm in Loudon. 

To beat the heat in the summer many look to swimming as a way to cool off. But if you’re responsible for multiple small children, heading to a pool or open body of water might be more stressful than relaxing. Head to a splash pad for a fun way to enjoy the spray without getting submerged. The City of Concord plans to open a brand new splash pad at White Park for summer 2023. The beloved yellow mushroom sprayer has been upgraded and will join other features such as floor geysers and overhead sprayers. 

Also consider: Dupont Splash Pad and Sheehan-Basquil Park in Manchester, Don Ball Park in Derry, Noble Pines Park in Somersworth, The Storrs Pond Recreation Area, Hanover, and the Adams Pool & Splash Pad, Peterborough.

Worried about the summer slide while the kids are on break from school? New Hampshire has a bunch of kid-friendly museums with interactive exhibits. Your family will have so much fun visiting, they won’t even realize they are learning. The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. In addition to exhibits on the Gulf of Maine, dinosaurs,  and Abenaki art, there are weekly activities included with admission such as Toddler Tinker Time, Wacky Art Wednesday and World Traveler Thursdays. Admission for a play session is $12.50 for ages 1 to 65. Infants under 12 months are free. Seniors 65 and older are $10.50. Play sessions are Tuesdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to noon and Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, visit childrens-museum.org. 

Also consider: Cheshire Children’s Museum in Keene, The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, and Seacoast Science Center in Rye.

Nothing says vacation like adventures that get your heart pounding. White Mountain Attractions is a consortium of amusement parks and other venues to experience the stunning geography of New Hampshire. Speed down a roller coaster at Story Land or Santa’s Village, splash down at a water slide at Whale’s Tale, squeeze through the glacial rock formations of the Polar Caves or zipline down a mountain at Wildcat. You can be chased by Wolfman at Clark’s Trading Post and scale the northeast’s tallest peak by car, train, foot or more. Nearly 20 sites are part of the group of attractions. For more information, visit visitwhitemountains.com. 

Also consider: Canobie Lake Park in Salem, Chuckster’s in Chichester and Hooksett, and Funspot in Laconia. 

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