Jackson Travel Guide, New Hampshire

With a friendly, authentic feel Jackson is settled north of North Conway, its fancier neighbor. Even so, people who prefer a more peaceful spot choose Jackson above North Conway.

There are other reasons people choose this village. They choose it as a base for exploring the surrounding area and come here for its picturesque valley, the ski possibilities it offers with a wide network of slopes and for the golf courses, thus Jackson never lacks tourists throughout the year. Whenever you come, you're sure to run into some activity or other.

In the past Jackson didn’t have so many facilities, but it was still a favorite destination for those who wanted to relax and enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding area.

Mount Washington is one of the main attractions that offers unique views from the summit, especially on a clear day when they stretch into four states.

In spite of harsh weather conditions that can be found throughout the year, this 6,288 feet mountain gets pretty crowded during the summer months. That may be partly due to the fact that getting to its summit is facilitated by cog railroad, by the Mount Washington Auto Road and by numerous trails. So everybody can get to the summit be they young or old, relaxed or adventurous. Any means you chose prove to be equally enjoyable, but driving the steep 8 mile road can really give you the chills and get the adrenalin pumping.

Once you are at the top you can’t expect to see wilderness. With so many people around during the summer season, touristy facilities have also sprung up. You can find a snack bar, a museum, a gift shop, a parking lot, outbuildings and a most interesting weather observatory that registers one of the world’s worst weather conditions with winds reaching up to 231 miles per hour, frequent storms and average temperatures of 30°F. Even in summer you can’t expect higher temperatures than 72°F and you should always be prepared for lower temperatures.

To find out more about the ways you can explore the mountain and even get accommodation and meals, head towards the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center. From there you can choose to climb up the mountain on one of the trails or visit the Glen Ellis Falls that result from the Glen Ellis River falling from 64 feet off the cliff. You can see the falls from the observation platforms to be found both at the top and at the bottom of the falls.

Jackson’s surrounding area offers great entertainment for kids too. At Story Land, a fantasy village with creatures and buildings from fairy tales and with a wonderful water- spurting octopus kids can have a lot of fun.

Adults can also enjoy the pleasures of water at the natural pools to be found near Jackson Falls where they can swim, lay in the sun and enjoy the views.

Whether you're looking for a relaxing vacation with the opportunity to rediscover the sites of Jackson, or just enjoy the scenery or to experience a great area to golf, ski, hike or swim, Jackson is the place to be.