Sunapee

This spectacular overlook offers one of the best views of Lake Sunapee with just a short 10-minute hike up a moderate trail. The trail emerges as a stunning surprise at the end of a graveled woods road lined by stonewalls and large hardwoods, ending at a granite bench where you can take in panoramic views stretching down the length of Lake Sunapee. It's managed by the New London Conservation Commission and features a tiny trail library box at the kiosk.

Hidden in the woods just off Stage Coach Road lies this beautiful 10x12 foot stone chapel built in 1934 in memory of fifteen-year-old John Crowther who died of leukemia. The lovely stone structure features stained glass windows and is surrounded by a low stone wall with a wrought iron gate. Open only briefly four times each summer with docent-led tours, it offers a peaceful and poignant glimpse into local history.

This narrow green space along the Sunapee Riverwalk hides a refreshing swimming hole that provides the perfect summer retreat for locals looking to cool off. The park offers a scenic and historic escape as it winds toward the harbor, with remnants of the area's industrial past visible along both sides of the Sugar River. Exercise equipment and interpretive signage detail the park's industrial history, while winter brings sledding and makeshift ski jumps.

This small historic park sits quietly on the north side of the Sugar River near the intersection of Central and Main Street, dedicated in 1999 to remember the deep history of 'hames' production in Sunapee. Hames were iron or wood pieces that formed the sides of horse collars, and this location housed the first building on the north side of the Sugar River in 1865. A sign on the lower level displays more of this forgotten industrial history.