As a tourist myself, I really appreciated this location. The inner hiker anf nature lover in me wished we had hiked it, but there's no way my wife and kiddo would have made it. So drive we did, and while I will go back to hike it someday, I'm glad we drove it this time. The road is twisty and curvy with some steep sections and has no guard rails, but once you get to the top, well.... It CAN be gorgeous, or it can be foggy and disappointing. We were fortunate in that after we got to the top and found it foggy, we faffed about a bit in the gift shop and went to the bathroom, then the fog lifted and we had amazing views. Not all-around at once, you kinda had to chase the openings in the fog, which was fine as you're allowed to climb about most of the peak. There is a photo opp at the summit, but we skipped thst due to the long line.

Dogs are permitted at the peak. There were quite a few so keep yours on a short leash, and if they aren't good in crowds, I'd not recommend bringing them.

I'm gonna repeat, the drive can be intense! There are no guard rails! I'm a super confident driver and trust my skills and my Subaru and mostly trust other drivers, so all went well. But my wife was quite nervous as a passenger. You do need to stop on the way down to let your brakes cool, but there are plenty of turn-outs just for thst purpose with wonderful views. As long as you don't suffer from a fear of heights, go slow and you'll be fine.

There is a fee to drive up the road. It's per person, so check pricing ahead of time. They do accept credit cards.

There is also a cog-driven train that can take you to the top, please look ahead for prices, times, and capacity, as we didn't look into it. I believe I saw a sign near the bathroom that said you can purchase a one-way ticket to ride the train back down, but please verify that before planning to use the service.

So, long story short, if you come here, mentally prepare yourself for the worst weather and poor views att he top, but the path up will most likely be worth it no matter how you choose to go. However, catch it on a good day and the peak can provide breathtaking views.

Photos show our initial foggy view from the top, a wonderful vista showcasing the grandeur of the white mountains after the fog lifted, and one of several beautiful brake-cooling turnouts on our way back down.