The Conways

What was once home to the Pequawket people and, by the 19th century, had become a logging and farming village, is now a year-round resort area. That’s largely thanks to picturesque Conway’s proximity to the recreational offerings of the White Mountains [1], Echo Lake State Park [2], and Conway’s Cathedral Ledge [3], a favorite among rock climbers.

Tourism started flooding into the area in earnest in the 1870s, when railroad service came through the town; by the 1930s, the trains were bringing skiers into the area by the hundreds. They came with plenty of dollars to spend, and one of Conway’s villages, North Conway, answered that call by erecting clusters of restaurants, hotels, and brand-name shopping outlets. As a result, the towns have become as much a destination as the mountains themselves.