Five Fun Things to Do During Seek the Peak Weekend

By MWOBS Staff

Seek the Peak weekend is almost here, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring together the amazing community that makes our work in weather and climate research possible. Even if you’re not hiking or fundraising this summer for the event, we invite you to join us for a fun weekend in the Mount Washington Valley celebrating outdoor recreation, weather safety and forecasting, and the partners and supporters that make it all possible. Join us July 18 and 19 for Seek the Peak’s 25th Anniversary celebration by registering for our hike-a-thon or joining us for the Expo (if you sign up to hike, Expo entry is included). To help make the most of your weekend adventure, we’ve rounded up some events and activities to check out in the area while your seeking your peak.

1. Kick-Off Party at Tuckerman Brewing Company

First things first—to kick off Seek the Peak weekend off right, you have to join us at the Kick-off party! We hold this gathering every year to bring everyone together in a more laid back gathering ahead of the Expo. Tuckerman Brewing is the ideal spot for this, as hikers, participants, supporters, and strangers/soon-to-be friends can meet and mingle over a beverage, talk trails, meet some of the event’s sponsors, and learn more about Seek the Peak and Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) in general. There will be many MWOBS staff and volunteers there, as well as former staff and friends of the Observatory. But we’re also mentioning the kick-off party here because even if your not participating in Seek the Peak, Tuckerman Brewing is the place to be on a Friday evening in the summer, with live music, a lawn to play in, and a convenient bar outside (just make sure you stop by our tent to say hi!). We also have to mention our collaborative beer here, the 6,288 Stout, with a portion of proceeds helping to support our mission thanks to our partners at Tuckerman. If you think this evening sounds like fun, you should definitely stop by Saturday’s Expo— Learn more about what you can expect at our biggest Après Hike Expo yet here.

2. Sherman Adams Visitor Center

In keeping with the spirit of Seek the Peak, a perfect thing to do over the weekend is visit the summit, located at Mount Washington State Park. If you’re not hiking up Mount Washington, you can take the Cog or drive yourself via the Mt. Washington Auto Road. There is so much to explore on the summit— for one, stroll the grounds and take in the surrounding mountains while imagining what life was like in the late 19th century through its historic buildings. Inside, be sure to speak with the knowledgeable New Hampshire State Park Staff to learn what it takes to run a mountaintop station. The Mt. Washington Auto Road, NH State Parks, and Mount Washington Observatory all have gift shops to browse, and there is also food and drinks available in the main concourse.

Be sure to go downstairs to the Extreme Mount Washington Museum, featuring the science and excitement of a Mount Washington winter to summer visitors of all ages through high-tech, hands on exhibits. Learn how rime ice forms, pilot a snowcat, see how Mount Washington Observatory scientists observe and record the infamous conditions and more. Remember, you also qualify for a free MWOBS weather station tour if you are registered for Seek the Peak or are a Mount Washington Observatory member: This 20-30 minute tour provides a peek behind the curtain of life as a weather observer, providing a unique opportunity to interact with our summit weather team, learn how they create forecasts, see the instruments they use to capture Mount Washington’s legendary extremes, and experience our unique facility. Tickets are $17 for general public/free for children 5 & under.

Up for a challenge? In celebration of NH State Park’s 90th Anniversary, they’ve launched a fun and interactive scavenger hunt experience in parks across New Hampshire. Go on missions, complete tasks, answer trivia, upload photos and have the chance to win some great prizes. Learn more and sign up here!

Visitors enjoy a weather station tour during Seek the Peak 2024.

3. Vintage Market in the Mountains

If you’re joining us for Seek the Peak’s Expo on Saturday, July 19, but not hiking during the day, we highly recommend checking out Vintage Market in the Mountains at the Wayside Inn! This outdoor antique market not only has vintage treasures but also art, clothing, home décor, live music, food trucks and more— plus, it is set on the sprawling field of Bethlehem’s beloved Wayside Inn, making it a perfect destination to explore by foot if you’re not heading into the mountains. The event runs July 19 from 9am to 4pm and also on Sunday July 20 from 9am to 3pm. Tickets and more information can be found at vintagemarketinthemountains.com.

Photo courtesy Vintage Market in the Mountains.

4. Sunset Concert Series with Believe in Books Literacy Foundation

Theater in the Wood (Photo courtesy Believe in Books Literacy Foundation).

On Friday, July 18 from 6:30 to 10pm, an ongoing concert series to support literacy initiatives throughout North New England will feature The Devil’s Brigade at Intervale’s Theater in the Wood. Organized by and benefitting Believe in Books Literacy Foundation (BIBLF), this is a fantastic and fun way to support this wonderful community non-profit while spending a night outdoors in a beautiful amphitheater.

(We’re also very excited to have the BIBLF Bookmobile join us again this year at the Expo! Be sure to stop by and step into their wonderful world of books.)

A note for the concert event: BYO lawn chair/blanket: Food and drinks available for purchase. To learn more about Believe in Books Literacy Foundation and this concert series, visit https://www.believeinbooks.org/sunsetconcertseries.

5. Summit Salute with Mt. Washington Auto Road

On Sunday, July 20, North Country veterans will come together to bring this meaningful event back after a two-year hiatus, celebrating service members, veterans, and military families. The event starts at 2:00pm and will feature guest speakers, a cookout, prizes and a summit ride. For more information, including a full schedule and link to registration, click here.

Looking for a place to stay? Check out our lodging partners Cranmore Mountain Lodge and Fairfield Inn & Suites North Conway for accommodation discounts during Seek the Peak weekend.