You don’t have to travel far to find new adventures this season. New Hampshire has plenty of fun activities to help you mix up your regular and head to a new town. Don’t feel like a beach day, but want to get outside? Why not give ziplining a go or hike to the top of a fire tower to take in the state’s scenic forest views? Here are some suggestions to get out and about on a new adventure during your summer staycation.

Top of the tower

Did you know that New Hampshire is the second most forested state in the country with 4.8 million acres of forestland? If you want to view the state’s glorious outdoors from a new vantage point, try visiting the fire lookout towers. The N.H. Division of Forests & Lands maintains a statewide system of 15 fire lookout towers as part of an early detection system to protect from the catastrophic effects of wildfires.

Locations range from Gilford and Loudon to Stoddard and Moultonboro. Some are accessible by car while others require good hiking experience, so make sure to do your research before you head out. If you decide to take on the NH Fire Tower Quest, make sure to document the date you visited each location. If you go to at least five sites you can fill out the form and mail it in to receive a complimentary tower quest patch, certificate, and a letter in recognition of your accomplishment. To learn more and check out the Tower Quest Brochure, visit nh.gov/nhdfl.

Zip through the trees

If soaring through the sky is on your bucket list for the summer, you’ve got plenty of places to check out in New Hampshire. Alpine Adventures in Lincoln offers two zipline tours: The Treetop Tour and The Spring SkyRider Tour. Treetop is a good option for families and beginners. You’ll zip on five separate ziplines ranging from 250 to 1,000 feet long. Spring Sky is recommended for those who have ziplined before, with its longer, higher and faster lines. Online reservations are required. Visit alpinezipline.com for more.

Gunstock Adventure Park in Gilford offers a zipline tour with a series of five zips. Start out with two zips that get you trained and ready for adventure as you make your way to the Recoil Zip that reaches speeds up to 70 m.p.h. All tours must be reserved in advance. Visit gunstock.com or call 603-737-4388. Morningside Flight Park in Charlestown has even more high-flying adventures. In addition to two zipline tours (Mountain Top and Superman) you can also try your hand at hang gliding, paragliding and powered paragliding. Visit flymorningside.kittyhawk.com for full information on each activity or call 603-542-4416 to reserve over the phone.

Also check out: Bretton Woods Canopy Tour, Candia Springs Adventure Park, and Loon Mountain

Cruising throughthe summer

You may have experienced New Hampshire’s ski trails in the winter, but have you tried coasting from summit to base? Cranmore’s alpine Mountain Coaster in North Conway is a roller-coaster type of ride, popular in Europe, featuring 2,390 feet of twists and turns through the woods along winter ski slopes. The rider controls the speed, so you can take a leisurely ride down the track or reach speeds up to 25 .m.p.h. Unlimited Mountian Coaster rides are included with the purchase of a Mountain Adventure Park ticket. See cranmore.com for more details.

Gunstock Adventure Park in Gilford has a Mountain Coaster that seats two passengers for a trip on a track that’s nearly 4,100 feet long. Riders are taken uphill before hitting the downhill track that provides plenty of swooping turns, banked corners, rolling drops and 360-degree turns. The carts have their own braking system so riders can slow their speed if desired. A single ride for ages 6 & up is $20. Unlimited Mountain Coaster & scenic lift rides are $35. See gunstock.com for more information.

Putt perfection

Nothing says summer like spending a day on the mini links. At Chuckster’s Family Fun Park in Chichester, they boast the longest miniature golf hole on the planet — Hole 13 at 201 feet. The cost for a round of miniature golf is $9.50, $5 for ages 5 and under, and a replay is $5 per round (same day only). If more than mini golf is on your mind, check out any number of the other attractions offered — go-karts, batting cages, bumper boats, timber trek, and new this year, KlimeWallz with three routes to explore. Cost is $8 to try all three climbing routes. You can also enjoy one of 36 ice cream flavors of Blake’s ice cream (don’t miss their custom flavors, “Upchuck” and “Chuckster Chunk.”) Visit chuckstersnh.com for more information.

Mel’s Funway Park in Litchfield is another spot to give mini golf and other activities a go. Try their two 18-hole courses, $11 for adults and $9 for kids ages 4 to 12. Kids under age 4 are free. Mel’s also offers a gem dive, a hands-on experience that lets you pan for real gemstones, plus laser tag ($8 each for a 10-minute game) and the laser maze (One game for $2, three games for $5). For full details visit melsfunwaypark.com.

Also check out: Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf in Winnisquam, Fore-U Golf Center in West Lebanon, Captain’s Cove Adventure Golf in Hampton, and Twinkle Town Mini Golf in Swanzey

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