While taking an Albany vacation, take some time to visit a few of of the natural wonders nearby. Many people focus their entire vacation on visiting museums or other manmade attractions because those are the ones that get the most attention. The natural wonders that the state of New Hampshire has to offer are going to be far more beautiful than anything else you've ever seen because man can never top anything that nature has done.
Cathedral Ledge
Mt. Washington Valley
North Conway, NH 03860
This is a cliff ledge that is very popular with climbers, but it is also a must see on any Albany vacation. To reach the top of the Cathedral Ledge you have two options: climbing the steep face until you reach the ledge or driving on a road that is located behind the ledge. Even though you can drive to the ledge, you still need to walk a short distance, so wear some good walking shoes. You can walk out to the very edge of the ledge with no worries about falling because of the fence that surrounds it. To get a different view of the ledge, visit the Hale's White Mountain Inn parking lot.
Whitehorse Ledge
White Mountains
North Conway, NH 03860
Whitehorse Ledge is an area for climbers only, unlike Cathedral Ledge. If you plan to climb Whitehorse Ledge you will need to leave your Albany Bed and Breakfast fairly early in the morning, especially during the summer, so you can climb the mountain before it gets too hot. At Whitehorse ledge there are several different paths that you can follow. Some of the paths are great for beginners (Beginner's Route), while others should be left to the more experienced climbers (Sea of Holes).
Mount Chocorua
White Mountain National Forest
Tamworth, NH
Mount Chocorua's summit can easily be seen from any Albany Inn because it has an elevation of 3,490 feet. You can easily tell Mount Chocorua from other summits in the Sandwich range because it is the easternmost peak. There are numerous hiking trails that go up the mountain to the summit, but the most popular ones are Piper Trail, Champney Falls Trail and Liberty Trail. There is also a legend that goes along with Mount Chocorua, which is an interesting story.
Bemis Rock
North Conway, NH
Bemis Rock is something that can't be missed if you're hiking on your Albany vacation. Bemis Rock is located along the Arethusa Falls Trail and is truly a natural wonder. Bemis Rock is used to create New Hampshire's tallest falls, because the face of the mountain plummets down more than 200 feet. At the end of the drop there is a huge swatch of lacy mist that is simply amazing to look at. Even though the bottom of the drop provides the best view, there is still plenty to look at while you are climbing up the mountain face, including tiny pools that allow you to cool off in the heat of the summer.