Seasonal
Activities

Conveniently located behind Sunday River’s Grand Summit Hotel, Après Aglow is a new activity for all ages. With trees wrapped in thousands of twinkling lights, this trail is adorned to make your winter visit with us shine bright. Fun for the whole family, take a leisurely half-mile-long stroll through the woods and stare in awe of this enchanted trail.

Chances are high that you’ve gone to Santa’s Village as a youngster yourself. Do you remember the thrill of seeing the reindeer, elves and even Santa himself? Santa’s Village is a little over an hour away from Bethel, and may just be the perfect respite from a week full of skiing.

The Mahoosuc Guide Service is a small family run business that offers a wide variety of activities during all seasons and for all levels of experience. Day trips on nearby trails offer a unique opportunity to experience the trill of dog sledding through beautiful mountain scenery.

Deepwood Farm offers old-fashioned sleigh rides during the winter for up to 8 people plus the driver. Traveling from the Bethel Inn, they are booked every ½ hour from 5 pm to 7:30 pm

If you’re in the mood for a movie on the big screen, The Gem Theater is the perfect spot to go. A completely- first-run theater, the Gem  shows blockbusters, art films, independent movies and offers a schedule of live events too.

Catch live music at Sunday River’s  Shipyard Brew Haus or at the Spring Apres Concert Series, featuring free slopeside jams.

Winter speaks for itself in Sunday River… some of the finest alpine and cross-country skiing and snowboarding in the Northeast as well as snowmobiling. So many choices to get your vacation off to the right start!

The Sunday River Ski Resort is the primary reason for being here in the winter. With eight peaks of snow-filled adventure, skiers with abilities that range from beginner to expert can find the trails of their dreams. The resort boasts the finest snowmaking in the Northeast and Sunday River Ski Resort keeps its snow well into the spring months.

Offering 131 trails and 18 lifts to service the multiple peaks of snow, Sunday River now prides itself with the Northeast’s first Chondola, a combination of six-person chairs and eight-person gondola cars on one high-speed lift. The resorts offers day and night skiing, snow tubing, ice-skating, a wonderful Ski School, Black Diamond Family Entertainment, and Fireworks on Saturday nights.

For a change of pace, you may want to head over to Mt. Abram in nearby Greenwood, Maine. This family-friendly mountain has 44 trails, 5 lifts, a snow school and daycare.

Of course, everyone has heard of Sugarloaf. It’s almost a 2-hour drive from Powder Ridge, but it is an awesome spot to ski or just visit. Bundle up well… it can get very cold up in those mountains! Those who grew up skiing on Sugarloaf will always have a soft spot for its world-class skiing and winter events.

Not only is the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum home to the largest piece of Mars on Earth, but it is also home to one of the world’s foremost collections of extraterrestrial rocks from the moon and the Asteroid Belt.

With a ten-lane ten-pin bowling alley, three pool tables and an arcade, Bethel’s River Lanes is a great entertainment center for the whole family. This Sunday River area entertainment center is located next to the Gem Theater.

Located a short drive away from Bethel in Jefferson, NH, Santa’s Village has brought magic to families for several generations. It’s a thrill for small children and fun for adults too!

Located at Story Land in Glen, NH, the Living Shores Aquarium is an indoor walk-through adventure that includes over 32,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, tide pools and immersive activities. Meet otters, pet the stingrays and talk with tropical bird.

The back roads and rough terrain of Newry are wonderful for trying out an ATV. If you didn’t bring your own vehicle, the folks at NorthEast  Snowmobile & ATV Rentals can get you set up for a true Maine adventure.

During the warmer months, Mount Abram in Greenwood, Maine offers a lift-accessible, downhill mountain bike park designed for beginners and families. Trail features include banked turns, whoops sections, long sweeping turns and amazing views. Be sure to visit the fine folks at Barker Mountain Bikes if you need bike rentals or repairs!

The Mahoosuc Land Trust provides wonderful summer hiking trails at several of it’s land conservation properties. Explore the McCoy-Chapman Forest, the Rumford Whitecap, Glassface Ledges and many others.

Founded in 1966 at Bethel, Maine (established in 1768 and incorporated in 1796), the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society collects, preserves, displays, and shares the history of western Maine and the White Mountain Region of New Hampshire and Maine through exhibits, lectures, events, and publications.