Scenic Conway has a rich history of outdoor recreation
Since the 1800s, nature lovers have been drawn to Conway for the views and skiing of Mount Washington. “It has a very village feel, there’s a lot of history here,” says Bernadette Donohue, a Realtor with Badger Peabody & Smith. Donohue is a local resident and is licensed to sell real estate in New Hampshire and Maine. The Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad and the Maine Railroad once brought in vacationers from all over New England to enjoy the outdoor recreation and mountain air. In the ‘70s, the railroads were transformed into a Snow Train for skiers travelling from Boston to Conway. Now the train runs from April to November, taking visitors on scenic trips throughout Mount Washington Valley. “Mount Washington Valley includes many different towns,” says Donohue. “North Conway is the real heart of the village. Many people come into North Conway because they're hiking or skiing and then realize what a great little town this is.”
Skiing and hiking are popular pasttimes
Part of the Presidential range, Mount Washington State Park has a privately owned observatory at its peak that aims to track and understand the Earth’s climate. “You can see Mount Washington right from North Conway,” says Donohue. “Washington is one of the reasons people come hiking, and the Presidential Mountain Range is all part of that.” Cranmore Mountain Resort is primarily a ski area but also offers tubing and an adventure park with a zip line. The area is open during the summer and offers bike rentals for exploring Conway and the resort’s trails. On the other side of U.S. Route 302, the private North Conway Country Club has an 18-hole course with a restaurant. Throughout Conway are nature preserves, state lands and parks, such as Echo Lake State Park. The park has hiking trails and a lake with a beach area. The Suco River has many beachy areas along its shores, and tubing is popular through the Saco River Tubing Center. Residents may also kayak, canoe and fish in the river.
Primary and vacation homes fill the community
Homes, both primary and vacation, line winding roadways throughout Conway. The highest concentration of homes, especially vacation homes, is in North Conway, a hotspot for shopping and dining. Homes outside of this area are on large lots, surrounded by forested wilderness and outdoor recreation. Some houses in these locations rely on a septic tank and well water. National, Colonial Revival and Minimal Traditional are common housing styles and range from $200,000 to $775,000. Larger homes range from $850,000 to $1.1 million. Townhouses and condos sell for $250,000 to $600,000. Homes near the Saco River are prone to flooding.
Shopping and dining in North Conway
“The village has a very quaint and vacation feel to it,” says Donohue. “I love shopping in our town, because there are so many independent little stores.” Zeb’s General Store, in North Conway, resembles an old-fashioned farm store and offers handmade goods, a colorful sweets section and specialty sauces and foods. Many independent restaurants are part of Valley Originals, a cooperative group that highlights the importance of local establishments. Members include Delaney’s Hole In the Wall, which serves pub food and sushi, and Moat Mountain Brewing Company, a brewery and smokehouse. Settlers Green Outlet Village, an open-air shopping mall in North Conway, includes restaurants and clothing and shoe stores. The closest grocery stores are Market Basket and Hannaford.
Events in parks and the North Conway Community Center
North Conway holds the annual Mud Bowl, a series of football games played in the mud, in September. The bowl has its own Mud Coliseum, also known as Hog Coliseum, a large mud patch on an old football field next to the North Conway Community Center. The Mount Washington Valley Farmers Market is held at the community center on Tuesdays from June to early October.
Conway School District earns a C-plus
The area is served by School Administrative Unit #9, which oversees the Conway School District and receives a C-plus from Niche. Children may attend Lakeside Primary for kindergarten through second grade and Mountainside Intermediate for third through fifth grade. Both schools receive a C. Students continue to A. Crosby Kennett Middle, which also gets a C. Kennett High earns a B-minus and offers 12 career and technical programs through the Mount Washington Valley Career and Technical Center, including manufacturing, teacher education and visual media.
Close to U.S. Route 302
Conway is on the New Hampshire border, and major roadways such as U.S. 302 run through it. These lead to neighboring Fryeburg, Maine, 8 miles away and Portland, 56 miles away. State Route 16 leads 41 miles to Berlin, New Hampshire. Concord is 77 miles away using Interstate 93. MaineHealth Memorial Hospital is in North Conway and the Portland International Jetport is 55 miles away. Houses of worship, such as the Conway Village Congregational Church and First Church of Christ, are along state Route 113 and U.S. Route 302.
Mud season in New Hampshire
Outdoor excursions may be challenging during mud season, which lasts from mid-March through mid-May. Mud season is characterized by frozen ground melting and turning into thick sludge, making roads and trails difficult to navigate.
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Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
