Family Fun in Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee: Kid-Friendly Stops

The Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region is one of the easiest parts of New Hampshire to explore with children. Distances are short, the roads are scenic rather than stressful, and most of the best stops are outdoors, which means kids can run, swim and get muddy without anyone worrying about museum etiquette. This guide collects the things to do with kids around Lake Sunapee and the Upper Valley that hold up year after year: beaches, an easy mountain, a little history, and farms where children can pick their own fruit.

Why this region works for families

Lake Sunapee sits in Sullivan and Merrimack counties in western New Hampshire, and it is the fifth-largest lake located entirely within the state. Around it are small towns such as Sunapee, Newbury and New London, and to the northwest the Connecticut River valley towns of Lebanon, Plainfield, Cornish and Enfield. Everything in this guide is within a reasonable drive of the lake, so you can build a day around one big outing and one small one without spending the afternoon in the car.

The region is also unusually varied for its size. In a single weekend you can swim in a lake, walk through a sculptor's gardens, see buildings from a 19th-century religious community and pick berries on a working farm.

Beaches and lake days

Mount Sunapee State Park beach

Mount Sunapee State Park in Newbury covers nearly 3,000 acres, including most of Mount Sunapee and a beach on Lake Sunapee. The park offers swimming, picnicking, fishing and non-motorized boating, which makes the beach a natural first stop for families with young children. In winter the same park is home to Mount Sunapee Resort's ski area.

Arrive early on hot summer weekends. State park beaches are popular, and getting there in the morning also means calmer water and easier parking. Bring a picnic lunch so you can stay through the afternoon.

Wadleigh State Park

If the big lake feels busy, Wadleigh State Park in Sutton is a quieter option. It sits on the south shore of Kezar Lake, a 170-acre lake, and has a bathhouse and playing fields along with swimming, picnicking and fishing. The playing fields give restless kids somewhere to burn off energy between swims.

An easy mountain for small legs

Mount Kearsarge is one of the most recognizable peaks in the area, and Rollins State Park in Warner makes it unusually accessible. An auto road climbs the southern slope to within about half a mile of the summit, and hiking trails continue from the top of the road to the summit. For children who are new to hiking, that short final climb delivers a real summit experience without an all-day commitment. The park also has picnic facilities at the end of the road.

Bring layers. Even on a warm day, a summit can be windy and noticeably cooler than the valley below.

History kids can actually enjoy

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

In Cornish, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park preserves the home, gardens and studios of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, one of the most important American sculptors of his era. It was his summer home from 1885 and his permanent home from 1900 until his death in 1907, and it was the center of the Cornish Art Colony. Original sculptures and reproductions of his major works are on display, and three hiking trails explore the park's natural areas. Older children often enjoy spotting the sculptures in the gardens, and the trails are a good way to balance art with a walk in the woods.

Enfield Shaker Museum

The Enfield Shaker Museum is an outdoor history museum in Enfield, set in a valley between Mount Assurance and Mascoma Lake. Shakers lived on the site from 1793 to 1923, and the museum includes eight Shaker buildings, exhibitions and restored Shaker gardens. Because so much of the experience is outdoors and hands-on in feel, it tends to work better for kids than a traditional indoor museum.

The Fells

The Fells in Newbury, also known as the Hay Estate, was the summer home of John Milton Hay, a 19th-century American statesman. It sits on Route 103A near Lake Sunapee. The grounds make a pleasant outing for families who like gardens and lake views, and it pairs well with a beach morning at Mount Sunapee State Park.

Pick-your-own farms and farm stands

Farms are one of the best reasons to bring children to this region. Picking fruit gives kids a job, a reward and a story to tell, and most farms in the area are within a short drive of the lake. Crops and seasons vary from year to year, so always check a farm's website or call ahead before you go. These farms are listings in our directory.

Bascom Road Blueberry Farm, Newport

Bascom Road Blueberry Farm is a family-owned pick-your-own and produce farm in Newport. Its website says it was voted number one in WMUR's Viewers' Choice list of the top berry-picking spots in New Hampshire in 2024 and 2025. Blueberry bushes are a good height for children, which makes this an easy first picking trip.

Edgewater Farm, Plainfield

Edgewater Farm on Route 12A in Plainfield runs a greenhouse season, a harvest season, a farmstand and kitchen, and pick-your-own strawberries. It is a good stop on a drive along the Connecticut River, and it pairs naturally with a visit to Saint-Gaudens in neighboring Cornish.

Hemingway Farms, Charlestown

Hemingway Farms in Charlestown is a farm store and garden center that grows its own berries, vegetables, plants and flowers. It is a relaxed stop for picking up fresh produce for a picnic or a lake-house dinner.

Patch Orchards, Lebanon

Patch Orchards in Lebanon says the same family has farmed its land for eight generations. The farm offers pick-your-own, a farmstand, maple products and family-friendly activities, so it works in more than one season.

Five Sisters Farm, Plainfield

Five Sisters Farm in Plainfield raises registered Shetland sheep and sells its own natural yarn, roving and wool products, with an on-site farm shop open on weekends. For kids who love animals, a farm built around sheep is a memorable change from fruit picking. Check the farm's website for current shop hours before visiting.

Planning tips for a family day

• Pair one big stop with one small one. A morning at the beach followed by a farm visit is plenty for younger children.
• Pack for the outdoors. Sunscreen, water, bug spray and a change of clothes cover most situations here.
• Check seasons before you drive. Pick-your-own crops depend on weather, and many farms post updates online.
• Use the lake as your anchor. Most stops in this guide are a short drive from Lake Sunapee, so it is easy to come back for an afternoon swim.
• Keep summit plans flexible. Save Mount Kearsarge for a clear day so the view is worth the climb.

A sample summer day

Start with an early swim at Mount Sunapee State Park while the beach is quiet. After lunch, drive to a pick-your-own farm, letting the kids fill a container or two, and finish with an early dinner in New London or Sunapee. On a second day, head west to Cornish for the gardens and trails at Saint-Gaudens, then stop at a farm stand along Route 12A on the way back.

If the weather turns, the Enfield Shaker Museum and the exhibits at Saint-Gaudens are good options, and across the river in Norwich, Vermont, the Montshire Museum of Science is a hands-on science museum that many Upper Valley families use on rainy days.

FAQ

What is the best beach for kids on Lake Sunapee?

The beach at Mount Sunapee State Park in Newbury is the most accessible public option, with swimming and picnicking. Wadleigh State Park on nearby Kezar Lake is a quieter alternative.

Is there an easy hike for kids near Lake Sunapee?

Yes. At Rollins State Park in Warner an auto road climbs Mount Kearsarge to within about half a mile of the summit, leaving a short hike to the top.

Where can kids pick fruit near Lake Sunapee?

Several farms in the region offer pick-your-own, including Bascom Road Blueberry Farm in Newport, Edgewater Farm in Plainfield and Patch Orchards in Lebanon. Check each farm's website for the current season.

Are there museums for kids in the Upper Valley?

The Enfield Shaker Museum and Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park are both largely outdoors and work well for children. The Montshire Museum of Science is just across the river in Norwich, Vermont.

Sources

• Lake Sunapee, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Sunapee
• Mount Sunapee State Park, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sunapee_State_Park
• Wadleigh State Park, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadleigh_State_Park
• Rollins State Park, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollins_State_Park
• Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Gaudens_National_Historical_Park
• Enfield Shaker Museum, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enfield_Shaker_Museum
• The Fells, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fells
• Montshire Museum of Science, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montshire_Museum_of_Science
• Bascom Road Blueberry Farm: https://bascomroadblueberryfarm.com/
• Edgewater Farm: https://www.edgewaterfarm.com/
• Hemingway Farms: https://hemingwayfarms.com/
• Patch Orchards: https://patchorchards.com/
• Five Sisters Farm: https://www.nh5sistersfarm.com/