Concord with Kids: Museums, Parks and Family Stops

Concord does not always make the list of New Hampshire family destinations, and that is a mistake. The state capital is compact, easy to drive, and packed with stops that work for kids of different ages: a space museum, a gold-domed State House, a working farm on the edge of town, and plenty of indoor options for a rainy afternoon. This guide to things to do in Concord NH with kids is organized by the kind of day you want, so you can mix and match.

Late August is a sweet spot for a Concord family day. Summer crowds at the lakes and mountains are still heavy, but the capital stays easygoing, and the first apples of the season are starting to come in at local orchards.

Concord at a glance

Concord is the capital of New Hampshire and the seat of Merrimack County. The 2020 census counted 43,976 residents, making it the third most populous city in the state after Manchester and Nashua. It sits along the Merrimack River in the middle of the state, so it works as a day trip from much of New Hampshire.

For families, the city's advantage is that most stops are short drives apart. You can do a museum in the morning, lunch downtown, and a farm or an active stop in the afternoon without spending the day in the car.

History and science stops

The New Hampshire State House

Start where the city's story starts. The New Hampshire State House was completed in 1819, and it remains the oldest state capitol in the United States in which the legislature still meets in its original chambers. The gold dome is easy for kids to spot from Main Street, and the plaza in front makes a good first stop for photos before you head inside or move on.

Talk with older kids about what happens in the building. It is a rare chance to see the place where a state government actually works, right in the middle of a walkable downtown.

McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

For young scientists, this is the headline stop. The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is a science museum next door to the NHTI campus. It is dedicated to two people with New Hampshire roots: Christa McAuliffe, the Concord High School social studies teacher selected by NASA from more than 11,000 applicants to be the first teacher in space, and Alan Shepard, the Derry native and Navy test pilot who became the first American in space.

The center opened in June 1990 as the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium, and in 2001 it also became the official state memorial to Alan Shepard. Today its features include a full-dome digital planetarium, an observatory, and outdoor exhibits that include a full-sized replica of a Mercury-Redstone rocket. Kids who have never seen a rocket up close tend to remember that one.

Concord Historical Society

The Concord Historical Society is a good resource for families who want to go deeper into local history, especially with school-age kids working on a project. The society says it can help with research into Concord history, and its website includes a timeline of Concord history, a guide to researching the history of your house, and a Christa McAuliffe video archive.

The society also published "Crosscurrents of Change: Concord, N.H. in the 20th Century," which it describes as a good place to begin understanding what makes the city tick. It pairs naturally with a visit to the Discovery Center, since the video archive connects the city's history to the same story.

Farms and outdoor time

Apple Hill Farm

Apple Hill Farm on Mountain Road (NH Route 132) is the classic Concord family outing. The farm started its pick-your-own operation for small fruits and apples in 1995, and it publishes an approximate picking schedule:

• Strawberries: mid-June to early July
• Blueberries: early July to early September
• Raspberries: mid-July to early August
• Black currants: late July to early August
• Apples: late August to mid-October

That timing makes a late-August visit a good bet, since blueberry season is winding down just as the first apples arrive. Schedules depend on the weather, so check the farm's site or social media before you go.

The farmstand is worth a stop on its own. The farm says it built a large modern farmstand with a bakery in 1995, where pies are baked and jellies are simmered from scratch. It mentions cider donuts and its homemade squash rolls among the baked goods. On weekends, weather permitting, the farm offers trailer rides into the orchard, which younger kids usually love.

The farm's stated mission is also a nice teaching moment. It says it wants to reconnect people with where their food comes from and encourages visitors to ask questions about how its crops are grown.

Beaver Meadow Golf Club

Beaver Meadow Golf Club describes itself as the place where golf and nature meet, and it is Concord's public golf course. For families, the interesting options are beyond a full round. The club offers golf instruction and golf simulators, which can be an easier way to introduce kids to the game, or a backup plan when the weather turns. The course is at 1 Beaver Meadow Drive.

Families with a new golfer may want to ask the club about lessons before booking, since instruction is usually the best first step for kids.

Indoor fun for rainy days

Altitude Trampoline Park Concord

When kids need to burn off energy, Altitude Trampoline Park on Loudon Road is the obvious choice. The park advertises trampolines, air bags, dodgeball and a battle beam, along with birthday party packages. It also offers a "Book the Park" option for groups that want the whole space to themselves.

Trampoline parks have safety rules and usually require a signed waiver, so look up the park's current requirements before you arrive. That saves time at the front desk.

Escape Room Concord

For families with older kids, Escape Room Concord is a fun change from screens. It bills itself as New Hampshire's largest escape room, with six themed rooms and 60-minute games. Teams work together to solve real puzzles before the clock runs out.

The rules for families are clear. The company says its games are designed for ages 10 and up, players under 16 should have a parent or guardian, and players under 14 must have a parent playing. Its Deep Space room is a Level 1 game described as perfect for families. For nervous first-timers, the company also says its rooms are not scary and that doors never lock. The space theme ties in nicely with a morning at the Discovery Center.

Putting together a family day in Concord

Here is one way to combine these stops into a full day:

1. Morning: Start at the State House for photos, then drive to the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center for the planetarium and the rocket.

2. Lunch: Head downtown to Main Street, where you can pick from a range of casual restaurants.

3. Afternoon, good weather: Drive out to Apple Hill Farm for picking and a farmstand treat.

4. Afternoon, bad weather: Swap the farm for the trampoline park with younger kids or the escape room with older ones.

If you have more time, spread it over two days. Kids tend to enjoy a slower pace, and you will have time for the farm and an indoor stop.

Tips for visiting Concord with kids

• Check ages before you book. Escape rooms and some indoor attractions set minimum ages.
• Confirm seasonal schedules. Pick-your-own crops depend on the weather, and farms post updates as the season goes.
• Plan around school groups. Museums can get busy with school trips during the school year, so ask about quieter times.
• Pack for the farm. Closed-toe shoes, sun protection and a bag for your picked fruit make the day easier.
• Make it a learning trip. The State House, the Discovery Center and the historical society's resources together give kids a real sense of state and city history.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best rainy day activity in Concord for kids?

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Altitude Trampoline Park and Escape Room Concord are all indoor options, suited to different ages.

When can you pick apples at Apple Hill Farm?

The farm's approximate schedule lists apples from late August to mid-October. Check the farm's updates before you go.

How old do kids need to be for Escape Room Concord?

The company says games are designed for ages 10 and up, and players under 14 must have a parent playing.

Can kids visit the State House?

The State House is a public building in the middle of downtown, and its gold dome and plaza are an easy first stop on a family day.

Sources

• Concord, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord,_New_Hampshire
• McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McAuliffe-Shepard_Discovery_Center
• Concord Historical Society official site: https://concordhistoricalsociety.org/
• Apple Hill Farm official site: https://www.applehillfarmnh.com/
• Beaver Meadow Golf Club official site: https://bmgc.golf/
• Altitude Trampoline Park Concord official site: https://www.altitudeconcord.com/
• Escape Room Concord official site: https://escaperoomconcordnh.com/