Fodor's Expert Review Mount Washington Cog Railway
In 1858, Sylvester Marsh petitioned the state legislature for permission to build a steam railway up Mt. Washington. One politico retorted that Marsh would have better luck building a railroad to the moon, but 11 years later the Mount Washington Cog Railway chugged its way up to the summit along a 3-mile track on the mountain's west side. Today it's a beloved attraction—a thrill in either direction. A small museum has exhibits about the cog rail, and a casual restaurant offers great views of the trains beginning their ascent. The full trip on these eco-friendly, biodiesel trains takes three hours including an hour at the summit. In winter, the railway runs shorter and less-expensive trips to the Waumbek Station (elevation 3,900 feet), which still offers impressive vistas of the snow-covered countryside.