Theme Parks and Amusement Parks in New Hampshire

A wonderful, traditional trolley park, and one of the few remaining family-owned, independent parks in the nation. Highlights include the Yankee Cannonball wooden coaster and Untamed, a vertical drop steel coaster. The park also offers some water park attractions and a lovely boat tour around its lake. 

More a roadside attraction that's grown through the years than a theme park, Clark's nonetheless offers "Merlin's Mystical Mansion," a spinning room illusion attraction, bumper boats, an antique train, and other rides. The highlight is a trained bear show. Like a few of the state's other attractions, it's located in the White Mountains.

It used to be known as Six Gun City and was a small, Old West-themed park. Now, it is a free-admission park that offers pay-as-you-go attractions including water slides, laser tag, go-karts, a carousel, and bumper boats. There is also a campground and cabins to rent.

There are no major rides at this lovely stretch of beach, but there are a lot of arcades, food joints, a couple of water slides, mini-golf, the Casino Ballroom, which features national musical acts, and other great honky-tonk attractions.

There have been a number of parks called "Santa's Village," but the New Hampshire one, which dates back to 1952, is the original. It has the perfect blend of authentic nostalgia and contemporary appeal. Young children and adults alike will find its charm irresistible.

Highlights include Rudy's Rapid Transit Coaster and visits with a certain red-suited gent. Included with admission is the Ho Ho H2O Water Park (great name!). Santa's Village is open in the summer and fall as well as the weeks leading up to Christmas (of course).

Story Land is a beguiling and meticulous park themed to classic fairy tales. The log flume and other rides have been toned down for the under-12 set. It's loaded with charm and reasonably priced too. Highlights include a small, but especially potent wooden roller coaster, Roar-O-Saurus, as well as Dr. Geyser's Remarkable Raft Ride and the Bamboo Chutes log flume. (Don't worry; you won't get too wet on those last two.)

 Here are some resources to find nearby fun places and make travel plans:

• Water Country- A huge water park in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
• More New Hampshire water parks
• Massachusetts theme parks and amusement parks
• Massachusetts water parks
• Maine theme parks and water parks