6 celebrities who love vacationing in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has beautiful weather and even more stunning scenery. Check out these six celebrities who come here to unwind from Hollywood and touring.
Up north, we think of vacations as including tropical beaches, ancient architecture, and perhaps even a Disney theme park, whether in California or Paris. After all, there’s a reason so many of us retreat to the likes of Florida for some summer wind-down time.
Still, there’s a lot to love here, from Claremont’s indoor mini-golf course to New Hampshire’s cozy and quaint tea rooms that promise delightful sips and a good time. We also have stunning scenery in the form of glistening lakes, snow-capped mountains, and driving routes that blaze in the fall thanks to blizzards of falling crimson leaves. Plus, don’t get us started on how delicious the food can be here.
With so much to love, it’s probably no surprise that many celebrities have vacationed in the Granite State. It also makes perfect sense; while many of us leave for places like California, many celebs already live there, so they need to find the opposite of their home state, which, in many cases, is New Hampshire. You don’t get a cool, New England-style fall—or really any fall, for that matter—in Los Angeles!
With that established, let’s take a look at six celebrities who have enjoyed time in New Hampshire—and maybe learn a new place or two to visit in our state.
Drew Barrymore has apparently vacationed in New Hampshire for many years
You may know Drew Barrymore for her work in “Charlie’s Angels” or “Scream,” or perhaps you know her for “The Drew Barrymore Show,” her eponymous talk show. But did you know that she’s long vacationed in New Hampshire?
According to Seacoast Current, Barrymore and her family, who are from California, have repeatedly retreated to Lake Winnipesaukee when the hustle and bustle of Hollywood becomes a bit too much. One of her family members even performed in a local production, per the outlet. If that weren’t enough, Barrymore recalled on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” “this beautiful lake in New Hampshire” that she loved visiting as a child.
If you’re wondering where to spot the star, look no further than Wolfeboro, a quaint town that sits on the lake (via Travel + Leisure). The town is so picturesque and well-established—it’s been an incorporated town since the 1700s—that it calls itself “the oldest summer resort town in America.”
Overall, it truly does appear that the Granite State is close to the “50 First Dates” star’s heart, as she’s quoted in an October 2022 Instagram post of photos from the set of her talk show saying, “I love a New Hampshire girl.”
Jimmy Fallon is no stranger to Wolfeboro, N.H., either
Jimmy Fallon lights up late-night television with his quirky hosting skills and irreverent sense of humor, and it turns out that when he’s not interviewing your favorite celebrities, he likes to visit New Hampshire. Like Drew Barrymore, Fallon, who hails from New York, has been spotted around Wolfeboro for years.
His love for the Granite State isn’t surface-level, either. One 2016 skit from “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” sees the talk-show host at Camp Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire with “It’s Gonna Be Me” singer Justin Timberlake. Then, there’s the fact that Fallon proposed to his wife, Nancy, while vacationing at Lake Winnipesaukee, too (via 97.5 WOKQ).
When he’s in town, Fallon can be spotted all over, and he always seems to be having a blast. Over the years, he’s been spotted at Story Land in Glen, Flatbread Company in North Conway, Localtopia in Wolfeboro, and more.
Adam Sandler was raised in New Hampshire and returns often
Adam Sandler is one of the biggest examples of famous comedians who have ties to New Hampshire, and his connection isn’t because he was born here. No, Sandler was born in New York City, but he spent his childhood in Manchester, N.H.
It’s clear that being raised here greatly touched him, too, as he returns for vacations fairly frequently. The “Uncut Gems” actor is papped out and about in New Hampshire so much that, according to 97.5 WOKQ, he’s become a “Where’s Waldo” in the state. One such example arose in November 2024 when the owners of the Puritan Backroom restaurant in his hometown of Manchester posted a photo with him. “It’s always a wonderful surprise when Adam swings by the Puritan for dinner! Thanks for stopping by last night and saying hello to all of our staff! @adamsandler,” the restaurant’s Facebook post read (via WMUR9).
Like Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon, Sandler can’t resist the allure of Lake Winnipesaukee. He’s vacationed lakeside many times, and based on how many snaps of him pop up each time he does, it would seem that he rarely turns down photo requests. Case in point: A June 2016 Facebook post from the NASWA Resort shows Sandler with a fan. Sandler’s character in the 2006 comedy film “Click” even has a flashback at Lake Winnipesaukee, further showing how much his New Hampshire childhood has impacted his life and career.
So, next time you’re in the area, keep an eye out for the “Happy Gilmore” actor; you might just see him!
Gabrielle Union has visited New Hampshire many times to see her son
Vacationing in a beautiful lakeside town is fine on its own, but it can feel extra special when you see family while doing so. “Bring It On” actor Gabrielle Union knows this all too well, having frequented Wolfeboro to spend time with her son, Zaire Wade.
In August 2020, Wade began attending Brewster Academy, a private boarding school in the area, which naturally made Union emotional. “Sending a young Black man across the country alone to school is scary but I am hopeful @zaire is one step closer to his dreams,” the “Riff Raff” actor wrote on Instagram at the time (via ET).
Luckily, Wade was never too far from his mom, as 97.5 WOKQ notes that Union visited often and stayed at her preferred Pickering House Inn when in town. She didn’t know it at the time, but Union has now given us a very charming new getaway option for our bucket lists!
Steven Tyler owns an expansive and beautiful vacation home in New Hampshire
Steven Tyler is a legendary musician, and his role in Aerosmith has taken him across the world more times than we could possibly count. Of course, with this decades-long career comes riches galore, and Tyler has put a lot of his money into owning multiple homes. For instance, the “Dream On” musician owns a home on the Hawaiian island of Maui, which he purchased for nearly $5 million in the early 2010s (via The Wall Street Journal), but he seems to spend a lot of time vacationing at his home on Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire.
The Aerosmith frontman is associated with New York City, where he was born, and Boston, where the band was formed, but Tyler has always thought fondly of New Hampshire. Like Adam Sandler, Tyler spent much of his youth there, so it makes sense that it’s a go-to vacation spot. He’s made his home his own, too.
As seen in photos provided to Oprah.com, the large house has beautiful red detailing on the outside and sits directly on the lake, with flowers and a shallow rock barrier erected between the water and the home. Inside, you’ll find countless photos and tchotchkes—no doubt memories of a lifetime of touring. Naturally, the fence outside even features a sign that reads: “PEACE LOVE ROCK & ROLL.” If that doesn’t sum up the “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” performer, we don’t know what does.
Neil Patrick Harris has been spotted enjoying local New Hampshire restaurants
“How I Met Your Mother” star Neil Patrick Harris knows a thing or two about a good vacation, and in July 2024, he and his husband, David Burtka, spent some time soaking up the New Hampshire sun.
The lovebirds were spotted at several restaurants while in the Newmarket area, including The Riverworks Restaurant and Tavern, a local institution that’s widely beloved. While there, he stopped for a selfie with fans that was later posted to Facebook in his beachy attire, fitting right in with the locals. “Fabulous! Neil Patrick Harris come back to our beautiful state anytime,” one enthusiastic user commented on the photo. Another user even mentioned another sighting of the “Smurfs” actor: “He was in [W]hole [F]oods Friday.” Now, if you don’t mind us, we’ll be spending the rest of the day imagining what go-to snacks and drinks Harris and Burtka grabbed for their stay.
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