Squam Lakes Natural Science Center

4.7 (1266)

23 Science Center Rd, Holderness, NH 03245
(603) 968-7194
nhnature.org

Claimed
Nature preserve
Museum
Non-profit organization
Science museum
Tourist attraction
Zoo
Natural retreat featuring live-animal exhibits, hiking trails, gardens & scenic lake cruises.

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair accessible entrance

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

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Julie's bites

2023-11

We took a squam boat cruise on a pontoon boat. It was extremely enjoyable. Great views, interesting birds, informative commentary.We went on the last trip of the season, October 14, and you had to be prepared for chilly weather. When the boat goes at full speed, the wind is penetrating. The boat has a roof, but it is open air otherwise. The boat has comfortable seats, there is one big step to get in or out, but the staff was helping anyone who needed help. Many elderly visitors were able to participate and had a good time.

Joshua Rosen

2023-11

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Duane Metz

2023-08

I can not say enough about this place! Having received an undergraduate degree in Recreation and Parks, I have a good understanding of what it takes to be successful. This park checks all of the boxes! Most of the animals there (if not all) are rescues, and it is very obvious how much the staff love them! They are in their natural habitats, which allows visitors to better understand how they live. There are a lot of hands-on exhibits, both physical and auditory, so that everyone can learn in the style best suited for them. The signage is well done and informative, and they also had 3 different animal encounters throughout the day. Furthermore, there are 3 trails you can hike, as well as a garden, and everything has signage that makes sure everyone can learn as much about something as they would like. With the fact that they have a nice picnic area just outside the exhibit area, plus a playground further into the park, you can easily find yourself spending anywhere from 2 hours to a full day there. My family and I are visiting from out-of-state, but if we lived nearby, we would definitely buy a membership!

dowling godin

2023-09

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Vic Deadly

2023-11

The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is a nature lover's dream. With engaging live animal presentations, informative exhibits, and scenic trails, it offers a perfect blend of education and enjoyment. The center's commitment to wildlife conservation shines through, making it a must-visit gem in the Lakes Region.

Sarah Hatfield

2023-11

I have grown up going to the science center and never realized how lucky I have been to experience it until I had the opportunity to take my son here. As a parent it's such an incredible experience to see young children explore and become familiar with the natural world. It's fun, it's exciting for kids and adults (who doesn't want to be one glass pane away from amazing mountain lions!?), it's educational and it takes a solid two hours of a two and a half year old running at full speed to get through the whole path and playgrounds. Thank you Squam Lake for the perfect toddler naps.

erick schneider

2023-11

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justin whitaker

2023-05

Had a wonderful time, self guided with interactive educational displays. Lots to do and all really neat exhibits, they really have utilized simple technology throughout the entire park to really make it interactive without being overly complicated or heavily dependent upon software. Loved it highly recommended for children.

Caitlin Hill

2023-05

Brought my son and nephew here, they are 3 and almost 7. The boys had an absolute blast! They loved seeing the animals in their natural habitats and all the interactive things at each one. They also had so much fun looking for the giant animatronic bugs! All in all it was a great time, with nice trails to walk on although they are not very wide and the staff was extremely helpful and nice!

Janet 603 Redstone Realty Ctr. Conway NH

2023-08

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Jacob Archibald

2023-11

Wonderful time here with our daughter! It's educational and lots of hands on stuff with lively animals to see. Hopefully they do seasonal events and such to make membership worth it.

B. B.

2022-05

Very friendly staff, a nicely shaded walk and the exhibits were well spaced apart. Very kid friendly with a cool playground for the kids halfway thru the walk. Staff were out here and there with live falcons, owls and raptors for showing and were very informative and friendly to questions. The pathway throughout the "hike" was stroller friendly and although you "could" use a wheelchair as well, I do suggest having someone available to help push your chair or supervise your visit in a chair (there are boardwalks and lots of up/down hill.) Overall, a very pleasant trip! Even in 90F heat, the path was shaded with plenty of restrooms available.

Kristen Wells

2022-05

Amazing place!This place had it all! Fun trails though the forest, wild animals up close, educational. We got here at opening and had the trail almost completely to ourselves. The animals in their care all came from the wild either injured or orphaned. So many fun facts were learned! There were educational games at many exhibits. There were also the occasional tunnel, zip line or slide at an exhibit as well as a huge playground. We saw some animals up close and others were sleeping! I could see this as a great place to go to often if we lived local, as I’m sure you’d have a different special experience each visit. It’s never the same visit at a place with animals like this, you may have a special encounter with one animal at one visit and a different one on the next.

Stephen Trajeski

2023-05

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Desiree Perez

2023-05

Visited with my significant other on May 9th. Was not busy at all! Has so many interactive exhibits to learn from. Though we are both adults, we enjoyed playing and reading all the information along the trail. Love the hands on learning, it's the perfect place for children to learn new things about animals and nature while having tons of fun (and seeing animals!). The animals looked happy, and the enclosures were very natural and large for them to roam around. Will definitely return in the future!

Mark McAvoy

2023-05

Awesome place!! My cousin and I visited and both of us agreed that if we had gone as kids we would have spent all day there. As adults, it was a total blast and getting to see the animals was awesome.The animals there are unable to survive in the wild, either due to injuries or human intervention, so it's much more "morally just" than going to one of those huge megamart zoos.Only disappointment for us was that the Mountain Lion didn't come out of his inside cage. Totally understandable because he's about 20 years old, and they don't live much longer than that, so the center lets him decide if he wants to come out into the play area or not.Highly recommend to bring your kids here. Or even bring a friend or two. It's great fun for everyone!

Rhea Votipka

2023-05

Don't let the price deter you. We thought about not going due to how expensive it was, but we had a great time. It s like a zoo for wild animals....and honestly we were happy to support it. The educational parts were great and very well done. My 4 yr old had an absolute blast and we were there easily for 3 hours and she probably would have stayed longer. The site is stroller friendly which was great for my younger daughter. Would highly recommend.

Peng Hsu

2022-05

This is a place that is really good for family fun. There are animals and birds for kids to see. There are also trails for hiking fun. If you are going to include a hiking trip for your visit with seniors or younger kids, don't choose the Mt. Fayal trail. It's a good trail for adults but not for all... Pick a sunny day to visit... I did have great fun here.....

Elizabeth Funk

2023-09

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Brianna Fithian

2022-05

I loved coming here as a child and the place still doesn't disappoint. I brought my daughter here for for first time and she loved seeing all the animals and interacting with all the exhibits. The trails were great too and easy to follow and walk on.

Emily Morgan

2021-05

Since discovering this place a few years ago I have been in love. I make it a mission to visit at least once a year. Last year I even had my daughters birthday here! Most recent visit was Saturday when me and my husband were celebrating our wedding anniversary. I highly recommend this place. Animals are amazing and well taken care of. The path ways are also well tended to.

Ann-Marie Ames

2022-05

Absolutely exceptional place to go. I've been to other nature centers in Maine and New Hampshire and love this the most. The enclosures were well taken care of and the employees cared very much for the animals. The raptors were very well taken care of and the place was not run down like some other places. A lot of my family went of all different ages and every one of them was captivated by the beautiful animals. A very natural Scenic setting and much education. Check out some of the photos.

Megan Donoghue (Mo)

2019-05

We LOVED this place! So much to explore, and creatures to see, and information to learn. We enjoyed the Chipmunks scurrying around the park and learning about them and seeing all the animals in beautifully constructed habitats. It seems a little pricey, but we easily spent four hours here on a quiet Monday. So much interaction and play.

Michelle Galzin

2022-05

Great place to bring kids. Great playground. Animals spread out along a trail. Walking trails if u choose. We also did the lake cruise and it was fantastic we saw plenty of loons in natural habitat. Young eagle also. Our guide was very informative.

Jared Avery

2022-05

This place was great. We spent a couple hours here on a cloudy day instead of the lake. It was well worth it. It was very clean, the staff was friendly, the animals were well cared for, and there were tons of kid friendly exhibits.

Shane Fowler

2020-05

We had a lot of fun. This is great for kids. Lots to learn about plants animals in the white mountains. lots of educational exhibits. Live animals including Bear coyotes deer fox owl etc.. Awesome playground and indoor play area with multiple levels and a spiraling staircase.

Alexander Hails

2023-08

Pleasantly surprised! We were vacationing with our 11 month old near Squam Lake for the 4th, and it ended up being a rainy weekend. We audibled to the Natural Science Center without expecting much, but it was pretty awesome....even in the rain!! Lots of shelter and interactive exhibits for kids of all ages, and the animals were still out. We'd love to come back on a sunny day 😊

Steve Bagnato (nissanlord)

2023-05

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Jacquelyn Domaingue

2020-05

Lots of wildlife to see and many exhibits for children of all ages to interact with. A great (and fun) "learning" center. There was a fantastic Dinosaur exhibit while we were there, and I hope you get to see it. We had a wonderful day's outing here!

Brianna (Crimsonetta)

2023-05

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Opening Hours

Monday 9-9:30 AM
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday Closed
Thursday Closed
Friday Closed
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

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