New Hampshire - 70 Great Things to Do in New Hampshire

Ten Great Things to Do in Merrimack Valley New Hampshire

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Craftsmen in Lake Sunapee Region

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Founded in 1932, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen is one of the oldest craft organizations in the country. The League was formed during the Depression to help New Hampshire craftspeople make a living through difficult financial times by building an audience and market for fine handmade craft. The League operates seven retail galleries throughout New Hampshire. The galleries present the work of juried craftspeople, along with demonstrations, exhibits and educational programs.
Galleries in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region are Hanover Retail Gallery, 13 Lebanon Street, Hanover, 603-643-5050.

Currier & Ives Trail Is a
Peaceful Meander Among Small Towns

The 30-mile Currier and Ives Trail displays the beauties of small-town New England along its entire length, through or near the towns of Hopkinton, Warner, Henniker, and Webster. The trail follows Route 127 from Salisbury at its northern end down to Contoocook and Hopkinton, and from there along Routes 103 and 202 towards Hillsborough. Hopkinton has its historic covered bridges and grand colonial houses along Main Street. Downtown is split by the Contoocook River runs shimmering through the heart of Hopkinton. Henniker is rich in the arts and culture of the region. Warner is the home of Rollins State Park and Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum. Webster is filled with old farms and fields. See map.

Etch-A-Sketch, Without Boundaries

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Wingdoodle (definition: a fanciful whatchamacallit) is an art gallery and retail store on East Main Street in Warner that invites visitors to pick up imaginative drawing tools and discover the artist within themselves. A new, populist art form that you can practice at Wingdoodle is known as zentangle, an easy-to-learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is a fascinating new art form that is fun and relaxing. Even though it is a specified series of steps, it results in a creative expression that transcends its own rules. Think of a free-form, Zen version of Etch-A-Sketch. Zentangle kits and advice from the folks at Wingdoodle can get you or another artist in your life buzzing on paper. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Phone: 603-456-3515

Hanover Has Charm and Culture to Spare

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The town of Hanover – home to Dartmouth College – offers a charming combination of urban cultural sophistication, Ivy-League New England village atmosphere and natural beauty and recreational opportunities. Hanover's historic, four-block downtown features more than 90 distinctive specialty shops, brand name stores and 20 restaurants. Downtown Hanover is home to nine theaters, the Hopkins Center for the Arts and the Hood Museum of Art. Immediately adjacent to the downtown is Dartmouth College's architecturally stunning campus. Within walking distance of the downtown is a challenging 18-hole golf course and boating on the pristine Connecticut River, a national heritage river. Within easy drive are hundreds of day hikes, some of the most beautiful biking in America. Phone: 603-643-3115.

Head to the Hood

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People with every taste and preference in world art will find something wonderful to savor at the Hood Museum of Art on East Wheelock Street on the campus of Dartmouth College in Hanover. The Hood is home to an outstanding collection of European, American, Middle Eastern, African, and Asian art and artifacts. The collections are especially strong in American art, with portraits and landscapes by noted Americans. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Closed on Mondays. Phone: 603-646-2808.

Jewels of Your Own Design for Neck, Wrists, Fingers

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Experience whimsy at Vessels and Jewels, a contemporary American craft gallery and bead boutique on Main Street in New London. The gallery consists of unique hand crafted art (pottery, jewelry, glass, metals, fiber, and more) by artists from New Hampshire, New England, and across the United States. The beautiful gallery space is accompanied by an eclectic bead shop filled with an array of beads and beading components. Design and create your own beaded jewelry, with a bit of help from the staff. Vessels & Jewels is located in the center of New London, in a retail space neighboring Ellie's Cafe and Deli and The Bank's Gallery. Hours: Year-round, daily except Tuesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Phone: 603-526-8902.

Meadows, Stone Walls, and Songbirds

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The Lower Shaker Wildlife Management Area in Enfield provides a beautiful – even spiritual – place to walk through lovely fields and woodlands, sit for a picnic, and enjoy wonderful views. Situated on the east side of Route 4A, the property includes over 70 acres of meadowland that rises 1,100 feet in elevation. The upper fields provide spectacular views of Mascoma Lake and a network of trails extends through the forested part of the property. Shaker stonework is found throughout the woodland in many walls and canals that collected water for powering a stone mill. Animals include big game and small game, as well as various songbirds. Located on the mid-level meadow is the Shaker feast grounds. Phone: 603-868-1095.

Small Engineering Gems

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This region of New Hampshire is wealthy with covered bridges. We have a tender spot for the puckishly named Blow Me Down Bridge in Cornish. The most famous of the region’s bridges is the Cornish-Windsor Bridge, the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States. Shutterbugs: try the interesting viewing challenges on both the New Hampshire and Vermont ends of the bridge.

A Bold Display of a Mighty Industry

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Located in the Androscoggin River Valley in the heart of New Hampshire's Great North Woods, the Northern Forest Heritage Park on Main Street in Berlin is a non-profit trust that interprets the history of the working forest and celebrates the heritage of the Great North Woods Region. This is a wonderful place to see and hear the logging traditions of the Great North Woods of New Hampshire come to life. The park includes a three acre site with access and walkways along the mighty Androscoggin River, an outdoor amphitheater, a full-size replica logging camp, the Brown Company House Museum, and an Artisans Gift Shop. The park art exhibits, concerts, major cultural festivals, lumberjack competitions, special blacksmith demonstrations and special events. A fascinating and impressive exploration for the whole family. Open year round with limited programming in the winter. Phone: 603-752-7202

Fiddleheads' Artists Celebrate
the Beauty of Nature

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Fiddleheads -- A Great North Woods Shoppe is a place to find distinctive gifts from the hands of artists. The shop’s website celebrates the artists who produce the fine glasswork, jewelry and metalwork, and leather work, much of it celebrating natural imagery. Work on display at the shop, on Main Street in Colebrook, includes glass by Stephen Kitras, pottery by Smoky Mountain Potter and right Off the Batt Pottery, jewelry by Gardella, and more. Stop, browse, exclaim. Phone: 603-237-9302

A Close Look at New England Farm Life

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The Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm on Cleveland Hill Road in Tamworth is a wonderful place for adults and youngsters to see up close the daily lives and chores of the agricultural way of life in New Hampshire from 1790 to the present. Naturally, raising and preparing food – from hatching chicks to stoking the woodstove – is a large part of the story. Workshops are offered through the year in homestead cookery and other crafts of the 18th to the 20th century like soap- and candle making, wool spinning and felting. Most workshops are for adults over age 16; some are open to children. Among the workshops in 2009 are woodstove cooking (October 24), pumpkin workshop (October 24), turkey processing (November 7), pig processing (November 7), candle making and soap making (December 5). Phone: 603-323-7591 or 800-686- 6117.

Accessories From the Art of the Forge

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Earthly Treasures on Lake Street in Bristol began as a place to sell hand-forged metal art by Vic and Elaine McAdams. Later, they added items such as candles, pottery, and glass and the store began to grow, expanding in 2000 to a 10,000-square-foot building in Bristol. Today the store features the works of more than 350 American artisans, mostly using designs inspired by nature. Almost everything is functional, ranging from fun and funky to inspiring and elegant. There are home and garden furnishings, accessories, lots of unique gifts, lovely jewelry, soaps, candles, New Hampshire and Newfound Lake memorabilia, inspirational items and lots more. Many artisans are from New Hampshire, a state where fine craft has a long tradition. Many more are from New England, every corner of the United States, and from Canada. Open daily. Phone: 800-480-0380.

Biking Alongside Winnipesaukee History

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Winnipesaukee River Trail is just right for people interested in taking a walk or bike ride on a scenic historic trail -- yet with the feel of wilderness -- close to the downtowns of Franklin and Northfield. This three-mile trail parallels the Winnipesauke River and passes the Sulphite upside-down covered bridge. Walkers on the trail can view mill ruins and remnants of dams that tell the history of the five mills that operated in the mid-19th century. In Northfield you can see the collection of antique rail cars and cabooses that operate on the local scenic railway. Phone: 603-934-5236.

Bluegrass & Gospel Jam Session, Live and Alive

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A jam session of local musicians playing old-time country, gospel and bluegrass music is held at the historic Old White Church on Route 109A in Center Tuftonboro from 6 to 9:30 p.m., every Tuesday night in June, July, and August, and Wednesday nights from September through May. This is a real, unprocessed, uncensored, old-time jam session in a historic church building. Musicians in these sessions range in ability from old-time country musicians that have played many grange hall dances to new country and bluegrass enthusiasts. Musicians and singers and listeners are all welcome. These jam sessions are open to the public and there is no admission charge, even though donations are appreciated. Phone: 603-569-3861.

Byway, Not the Highway

So, what’s so great about traveling by foot? To take in great sweeps of Lakes region scenery, get in your vehicle and tap into the Lakes region scenic byway tour, a designation of the National Scenic Byways Program. This 97-mile tour travels through the lovely villages of Alton, Gilford, Weirs Beach, Meredith, Holderness, Center Harbor, and Moultonborough.

Craftsmen Among the Lakes

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Founded in 1932, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen is one of the oldest craft organizations in the country. The League was formed during the Depression to help New Hampshire craftspeople make a living through difficult financial times, by building an audience and market for fine handmade craft. The League operates seven retail galleries throughout New Hampshire. The galleries present the work of juried craftspeople, along with demonstrations, exhibits and educational programs.
Galleries in the Lakes region are the Center Sandwich Retail Gallery, 32 Main Street, Center Sandwich, 603-284-6831 (open May-October); Meredith Retail Gallery, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-279-7920; and Wolfeboro Retail Gallery, 15 North Main Street, Wolfeboro, 603-569-3309.

History Along a River Trail

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New Hampshire Heritage Trail is a 230-mile, walking trail that stretches across New Hampshire from Massachusetts to Canada. Following the main stems of the Merrimack, Pemigewasset, and Connecticut Rivers, the trail showcases the historic and scenic communities along their banks. Plymouth’s portion of the Heritage Trail, a 5.6-milewalking loop with 16 points of interest, begins at the Railroad Depot, constructed in 1909. Other highlights are the former Draper-Maynard Co. building, built in 1911 to manufacture sporting goods; a cottage where Robert Frost lived while teaching at Plymouth Normal School; Silver Cultural Arts Center, once a stop on the underground railroad; and more. Phone: 603-536-1001.

Into the Sunset

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Enjoy New Hampshire's beautiful Lakes Region on horseback. Travel throughout Gunstock's 2,400-acre resort aboard a well-mannered equines. All rides are accompanied by experienced guides and riders of all abilities are welcome. Enjoy the natural splendor the New Hampshire has to offer atop a horse whose rhythmic walking will lull you into unparalleled relaxation. The Cobble Mountain Stables of Gilford is the location of the daily horseback trails. Located on Route 11A, the stables and its surrounding trails and countryside offer miles of natural beauty and unbelievable vistas. Phone: 603-293-4341.

Penny Candy By the Yard

The Old Country Store and Museum On Whittier Highway in Moultonborough has been in business since 1781, and has been the site at various times of town meetings, the town library, the post office and a stage coach stop. Still a working general store, it is stocked to the rafters with everything from gumdrops to hardware. Start with the penny candy counter and see how far you get. Phone: 603-476-5750.

Textile History in Brick and Storytelling

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For people who are enthralled by the rich history of New England’s textile mill, the Belknap Mill is an excellent day trip. Built in 1823, the Belknap Mill, located along the Winnipesaukee River on Beacon Street East in Laconia, is the oldest, unaltered brick textile mill in America and the Official Meeting House of New Hampshire. The Belknap Mill offers a permanent exhibit on industrial history, changing exhibits on art and history, education programs for adults and children, workshops, lectures, festivals and other events, year-round. Open weekdays, year-round. Phone: 603-524-8813.

1 World Traders Offer Products
From Here to the Horizon

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For Earth-conscious shoppers, a visit to the southern New Hampshire city of Nashua should include a stop at 1 World Trading Company on Main Street, which offers fair-trade, locally made, and environmentally friendly products in a beautiful and friendly setting. Items range from colorful handmade Guatemalan friendship bracelets to traditional Granite State body lotions, shampoo and recycled (used) bicycles. Talk about diversity! Open daily except Tuesdays. Phone: 603-881-9111.

A Little Bit of Home in a Little Corner
of New Hampshire

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For some of us, winter is the time to hunker down near the fireside and wait it out ‘til spring. If you are going to be spending all that time at home, it is a good opportunity to spruce the place up a bit. A Little Bit of Home, a shop on Bridge Street in Pelham, is filled with products that are both locally and commercially made for the home and gift giving. They include soy candles, new and vintage jewelry, handmade baby gifts, home decor, framed prints, floral arrangements, wreaths, lamps and shades, garden products, angels, christmas goods, kitchen gifts, and collectable glass. Stop in form some browsing for your own home or a friend’s. Discover lovely things you didn’t know until now that you needed. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone:603-893-2921

Astronomical Calendar Mystifies Visitors to America's Stonehenge

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America’s Stonehenge, a maze of man-made chambers, walls, and ceremonial meeting places at 105 Haverhill Road, Salem, is most likely the oldest man-made construction in the United States (more than 4,000 years old). Who built it? No one knows for sure. Like Stonehenge in England, America's Stonehenge was built by ancient people versed in astronomy and stone construction. The site is an accurate astronomical calendar. Various inscriptions have been found throughout the site including Ogham, Phoenician and Iberian Punic Script. Visitors today can enjoy walking, exploring, snowshoeing (equipment rentals available), visiting the resident alpacas, and browsing the gift shop, stocked with rocks and minerals, greeting cards, and more. Open daily year-round. Phone: 603-893-8300.

Barns Gave Their Best to These Reproductions

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G.R’s Trading Post, Inc. on Chester Road in Derry calls itself the number-one source of farmhouse chair and table reproductions, and that would be a hard claim to dispute. The company uses wood from dismantled barns throughout New England. “The boards are examined and manicured to perfection. We extract the original square head nails and take care to preserve the original knots and wood markings,” the Trading Post website explains. “The selected pieces then make their way to our woodshop where we apply the farm house table base -- hand-turned legs imported from England. After the base is completed, the one-of-a-kind antique barn boards are applied to the top of each table.” Each finished piece is beautiful and unique. Phone: 603-434-0220.

Bring a Camera for Photos with a Clydesdale

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A visit to the Anheuser-Busch brewery on Daniel Webster Highway in Merrimack offers a broad menu of pleasures: see how the brew is made; stroll through the gardens; visit the gift shop. On the first Saturday of each month, a Clydesdale horse – one of the gentle giants that pulled Budweiser wagons back in the day – is brought out for picture-taking with the public. Phone: 603-595-1202

Craftsmen in Merrimack

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Founded in 1932, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen is one of the oldest craft organizations in the country. The League was formed during the Depression to help New Hampshire craftspeople make a living through difficult financial times by building an audience and market for fine handmade craft. The League operates seven retail galleries throughout New Hampshire. The galleries present the work of juried craftspeople, along with demonstrations, exhibits and educational programs.
Galleries in the Merrimack region are Concord Retail Gallery, 36 North Main Street, Concord, 603-228-8171.

I, Whirlygig

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Here’s a chance to get the fun of flying without the fear of flying. SkyVenture, located on Poisson Road in Nashua, is a vertical wind tunnel where visitors can experience the freedom of flight. There is no falling sensation. You just float above the trampoline floor with ease. The indoor vertical wind tunnel is not only used by the world’s best skydivers to train in but it was also designed for the general public to experience the sport of body flight. No experience necessary! Almost anyone can do it. Reservations are recommended whenever possible. Open daily. Phone: 1-888-SKYVENTURE.

Meet the Llamas (and a Ffew Aalpacas Ttoo)

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The owners of Cicely Farm, on Flaghole Road in Concord started to get stuck on llamas in 1999, when two llamas joined the farm as a 50th birthday present. Now, the farm is home to 31 llamas and some alpacas, and the public is welcome to visit the barn, and meet and pet these lovely creatures. The farm also offers Guided hikes on the property. Hikes offer hands on experience with a focus on Llama 101, on packing theory and etiquette or on family fun and range from very easy to moderately strenuous. Come on by! Who doesn’t llove a llama? Phone: 603-783-9982.

Pamper That Mailman

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A wonderful opportunity to see a dynamic example of modernist design -- via the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright -- is available through the Currier Museum for the Arts in Manchester, where people can tour Wright’s 1950 Zimmerman House. Enjoy the built-in and freestanding furniture, its textiles, and gardens. Dig this: Wright even designed the mailbox. The Currier offers a variety of public walk-on tours for visitors of the house and its gardens from April through December each year, and private group tours are also available by reservation. Phone: 603-669-6144. (Photo from Currier Museum of Art, Manchester, NH. Bequest of Isadore J. and Lucille Zimmerman)

Pirates, Tree Houses, and Room to Crawl

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Moms and Dads of very young children, be advised that a new children’s museum opened in July 2009 at the old Waumbec Mill in Manchester. Kaleidoscope Children’s Museum, on Commercial Street, is designed for children age 1 to 5, though older children are welcome as well. Many of the special events are great for all ages. Kaleidoscope is designed specifically to encourage creative play and thinking. Among the exhibits is Mini-Main Street, Crawlers Corner, ZOOM!, Let the Show Begin, Read to Me!, Jammin' Tree House, Dino Discovery, You're the Star, Movin' N Groovin', Ahoy Me Mateys!, and Arts Alive! Art classes and workshops, music classes, sign language and more are offered on a rotating basis. Even the big kids will be tempted to get down on the floor and play. Phone: 603-606-3381.

Smokin’!

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Located at the end of a small gravel road off of Shaker Road in the small town of Canterbury, Fox Country Smoke House began in 1969 as a service for local farmers. Using his own hand-mixed cures and a special blend of woods from the farm, Charley created superior hams and bacon. Today, Fox Country Smoke House offers a full line of smoked products, including, ham, bacon, sausages, cheese, fish, and beef jerky. Open to the public daily from May through Christmas. Call ahead for hours of operation. Phone: 800-339-4409

The Sky Is No Limit

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At the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium on Institute Drive in Concord -- the most technologically advanced planetarium theater in New England -- visitors can participate in a rocket-making workshop, land the space shuttle, find cool space toys in the Celestial Treasures gift shop, join a Friday night adventure for families or just for teens, and look through a telescope at the rings of Saturn or sunspots on our very own star. Open daily, year-round. Phone: 603-271-7831

Wholesome Living

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A fascinating day of history and fine dining awaits the curious visitor at the Canterbury Shaker Village and Shaker Table Restaurant in Canterbury. This National Historic Landmark preserves 200 years of Shaker life on 694 acres, 25 original buildings, gardens, and trails. Known for its tranquil beauty, the village offers tours, exhibits, workshops, family programs, hiking trails, unique shopping and delicious food. There is a great museum store, and the Shaker Table Restaurant features Shaker-inspired cooking using fresh ingredients from area producers as well as many fruits, vegetables, and herbs grown on the Village grounds. The Village is open daily, May through October and weekends November, December and April. Phone: 603-783-9511

A Tisket, a Tasket

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From knitting baskets to bicycle baskets to picnic and pie baskets – and other uses you have never imagined -- Peterborough Basket Company and its factory outlet store on Grove Street in Peterborough are ready to serve your basketry needs. Hand-made Peterborough baskets are made from Appalachian white ash, the same hardwood that baseball bats, snowshoes, and axe handles are made from. The wood is harvested from Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, and the baskets’ solid brass nails prevent rusting. All of the baskets are made on site at the factory in Peterborough, and the factory store has great bargains and wonderful gift ideas. Factory outlet store hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Closed most holidays. Phone: 603-371-9020

Art of Six Continents Resides Here

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The town of Peterborough is home to the Mariposa Museum, whose collection centers on folk art, textiles, costumes, art, puppets, toys and instruments from six continents. This is the place to celebrate cultures of the world. Most artifacts are available on permanent display, supplemented by rotating exhibits by visiting artists in residence, other galleries, photographers, and special events including multicultural performances. Phone: 603-924-4555

Cottage in the Forest

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The sweet little cottage at Pickity Place on Nutting Hill Road in the town of Mason has stood for more than 200 years (historic note: Pickity is the setting for Little Golden Books’s 1948 version of “Little Red Riding Hood”). These days, the cottage is a place to enjoy peaceful gardens, a greenhouse shop, and elegant gourmet luncheons accented with herbs and edible flowers. Lunch is served every day and the menu changes monthly. Phone: 603-878-1151.

Hannah’s Here to Help With Creative Shopping

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Hannah Grimes Marketplace on Main Street in Keene is a education center and incubator for New Hampshire products, crafts, and artwork. For visitors, the Marketplace is a great place to browse for local foods, including maple syrup, children’s books, and luxuries from fancy shampoos to original art. Think about your gift shopping for the next several months, and go explore what Hannah has to offer. Hours: Store Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 11a.m.- p.m. Phone: 603-352-6862.

Milk and Salsa, But Not in the Same Bowl

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Stonewall Farm on Chesterfield Road in Keene is a farm with an organic attitude, and the public is welcome to come and check it out. The farm showcases local vendors such as Cheshire Gardens of Winchester, which produces preserves, mustards, vinegars, salsas and sauces. Visitors are welcome daily from dawn to dusk for milking, educational events, and shopping at the farm stand and gift shop. Phone: 603-357-7278.

Pewter in Process

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Hillsborough Center retains the atmosphere of a 19th century New England town, with its central Common, surrounded by buildings that once housed taverns, a blacksmith shop, and a post office. This is the workplace of pewtersmith Jon Gibson, owner of Gibson Pewter on East Washington Road. Watch Gibson create pewter objects in the 200-year-old barn where he apprenticed as a boy. More than 100 traditional and contemporary pieces are for sale. Phone: 603-464-3410

Pull Up a Book and a Toadstool

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The three Toadstool Bookshops at The Colony Mill Marketplace in Keene, (603-352-8815), Lorden Plaza on Nashua Street in Milford (603-673-1734), and 112 Depot Square in Peterborough (603-924-3543) are a haven for book lovers. Browsing is encouraged, rewarded, and addictive. The stores are sociable too: the Peterborough store hosts live music and the Milford store is the home of a classics reading group.

Warm and Colorful Artwork

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The Sharon Arts Center opn Grove Street in Peterborough offers fine art galleries, a fine craft store, and even a school of arts and crafts. The craft store is a warm and colorful excursion into beautiful, highbrow textiles, pottery, jewelry, glass art, wooden objects, and more from regional and national craftsmen. Phone: 603-924-2787.

A New Hampshire Country Store,
from Aged Cheese to Pewter Gifts

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Calef’s Country Store, at routes 9 and 125 in the Seacoast town of Barrington, has been dispensing welcome, hospitality, and good food since the horse-and-buggy days. Stop in for a deli sandwich during your explorations of the area, and, if you can, pick up some great food gifts to charm the people you left back home. These include Caleb’s Snappy Old Cheese, maple foods, jams, jellies, butter, pickles, relishes, olives, chutney, salsa and pretzel dips, soup mixes, and more. Caleb’s also carries beautiful artwork by the New Hampshire Pewter Company. Open daily. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Phone: 800-462-2118

Artistic Workmanship on Display
in Downtown Rochester

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The Main Street of downtown Rochester, New Hampshire’s “Lilac City,” swarms with interesting galleries and shops. A stroll through these places of artistry and imagination should include a stop at Strafford Stained Glass(603-332-1619), with beautiful glass artwork that will practically take your breath away. The Jenny Wren Gallery (603-335-3577), represents the original work of nearly 100 of New England's finest craftspeople, with new items arriving all the time. New work includes colorful crocheted pins and freshwater pearls jewelry. Look for refurbishing cigar boxes into tea boxes and jewelry boxes -- a fun gift for someone who has everything. Browse for fun and browse for gifts – you won’t be disappointed.

Beaux Arts Glory

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Visitors to the wonderful Colonial city of Portsmouth who also appreciate great architecture should sign on for a behind-the-scenes tour of The Music Hall, including its stunning Beaux Arts style lobby. The tour paints a picture of the history of the hall, including the tales of sailors who rigged the theater in the late 19th century, its flashy and famous owners, and stars who appeared there since the curtain first rose in 1878.
First stop on the tour is the new Beaux Arts lobby which has been heralded in the regional and national press as “jaw-dropping.” The tour continues into the theater’s auditorium and up to its magnificent horseshoe balcony. Finally, visitors are invited backstage to view antique riggings still operating today. In April, May, and June the doors will open twice monthly for the 90-minute tours, alternating mid-day and early-evenings tour times. In July and August, the tours will run weekly on Thursdays, again alternating lunch and early evening tour times. Call for details. Phone: 603-433-3100.

Brewery Hounds Alert

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People who appreciate the fruit of the beer maker’s art should be advised to visit two local breweries in the Portsmouth area: the large Portsmouth Brewery & Cataqua Public House on Corporate Drive at Pease International Tradeport, (603-430-8600) which offers tours, samples, and a restaurant, and the Portsmouth Brewery on Market Street in downtown Portsmouth (603-431-1115). You won’t be disappointed.

Corn Maze is Studded with Clues to Solution

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This professionally designed corn maze at Coppal House Farm on North River Road in Lee takes approximately 40 minutes to complete, but it could take longer, depending on which path of several paths travelers select. The maze also has "mail stops" pertaining to the theme of the corn maze and how it benefits farming. A correct answer leads travelers to the correct path. Flashlight night maze tours offered in October. Picnic area, bathrooms, and free parking. Open through October 31. Call for schedule. Phone: 603-659-3572

Dover Mill Is a Monument
to Region's Industrial History

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The Cocheco Falls Millworks on 100 Main Street in Dover is a 19th-century mill complex that has been elegantly restored and now serves as home to professional offices, the Blue Latitudes Bar and Grill, and an outdoor courtyard where live concerts are held in the warm weather. The history of the mill – told in detail on its website – follows the story of many vast and once-prosperous mills that dotted the region in the 19th century. A wall mural in the complex traces the history of the town with images of the Cochecho River; a gundalow, a type of shallow-bottom river boat; a B&M locomotive; industrial leather belting and loom machinery; the beautiful calico that was produced in the mill; Cochecho Falls, the source of power for the original mill; and Dover City Hall. Enjoy the lovingly preserved mill and then stop in, if you wish, at the Blue Latitudes for a little local food and hospitality as you ponder this former giant of the American Industrial Age.

Enjoy the Art, Then Take Some Home

Images of the Past Gallery in Dover offers a charming collection of historic photos to enjoy at the gallery or to purchase and make your own. The store features archival sepia and hand colored photographs printed by hand from original glass plate negatives and offered with mat and frame for home of office wall decor. More than 100,000 images of early New England’s people, workplaces, lighthouses, barns and farms are available.

Fall for Beautiful Stoneware

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Simple, elegant stoneware says “New England” better than anything else you can use to dress your table (Ok, maybe pewter, too). Salmon Falls Stoneware on Oak Street in Dover is one of the nation's most popular makers of traditional New England salt-glazed pottery. Each pot is handmade and decorated in the Oak Street Engine House in Dover. The production studio and factory store are among New England's most popular tourist destinations. Phone: 800- 621-2030.

Four Centuries of Daily Life

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Strawbery Banke Museum on Hancock Street in Portsmouth is a community composed of restored and furnished houses, exhibits, historic landscapes and gardens, and costumed role players. Together, these elements bring to life the daily activities of New England people from European settlement in the 17th century to the mid-20th century. In addition to ongoing exhibits, lots of special events take place during warm weather. Phone: 603-433-1100.

Maritime Life of Colonial Times

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The Portsmouth Historical Society interprets the history of Portsmouth through its diverse collections of furniture, paintings, ceramics, costumes, and maritime artifacts at the John Paul Jones House on Middle Street in Portsmouth. Portsmouth was well known as a center for the furniture trade in the 18th and 19th centuries and the society displays some exceptional examples of Portsmouth craftsmanship. The collection of portraits is one of the most extensive in the New Hampshire seacoast. The collection also includes portraits, glass and ceramics along the New Hampshire seacoast, China trade wares, textiles, clothing, needlework and kitchenwares. Phone: 603-436-8420.

Stop to Shop

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The Seacoast region has wonderful shopping for beautiful and unusual items. The Fox Run Mall in Newington is a place to start for national names, followed by a trip to Boardwalk Strip at Hampton Beach. The cream of the shopping experience has to be Portsmouth's Market Street , crammed with art, toys, home decorations, clothing, hardware, jewelry, flowers, and more. Voted one of New England's Best Shopping Streets by Travel and Leisure Magazine.

America’s Oldest Continuously Operated General Store

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The Brick Store is a genuine old-fashioned general store that dates back as far as 1790 – in fact, the store calls itself America’s oldest continuously operated general story. It is located on the main street – Route 302 – in the delightful town of Bath. Customers include some old-timers in their 90s who tell the owners, Mike and Nancy Lusby, that they remember buying penny candy there as kids. How authentic is that? At the Brick Store, visitors can buy distinctive New England specialties — including smokehouse meats and cheese, homemade fudge, gift packs and gift baskets, maple syrup, weathervanes, and much more. It is open daily. Phone: 800-964-2074

Cherry Pond Designs Makes
Artwork of Furniture

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Beautiful, artfully designed, high-quality furniture is something you shop for, but it also something to enjoy for its artistry. On a trip in the White Mountains, people who love furniture should visit Cherry Pond Designs on Meadows Road in Jefferson. Since 1990 Cherry Pond has been manufacturing solid wood bedroom, dining room, and occasional furniture that is designed and built to last for generations. Cherry Pond builds five distinct styles of high grade cherry furniture inspired by Shaker design and philosophy. The shop’s basic styles are known as "Cambridge", "Canterbury", "Essex" and "Verdana". Cambridge and Canterbury are identical except for details which give each a distinctive look. Canterbury adheres to traditional, elegant Shaker design. Cambridge is a bit more sophisticated and contemporary. The Essex look uses dovetail joinery, chamfered front frame, gently swept base and a molded top edge. Verdana features curved legs and end panels and a bowed top. Pay a visit; see and enjoy for yourself. Phone: 603-586-7795.

Craftsmen in the White Mountains

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Founded in 1932, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen is one of the oldest craft organizations in the country. The League was formed during the Depression to help New Hampshire craftspeople make a living through difficult financial times by building an audience and market for fine handmade craft. The League operates seven retail galleries throughout New Hampshire. The galleries present the work of juried craftspeople, along with demonstrations, exhibits and educational programs.
Galleries in the White Mountains region are Littleton Retail Gallery, 81 Main Street, Littleton, 603-444-1099; and North Conway Retail Galler, Main Street/Route 16, North Conway, 603-356-2441.

Craggy Beauty, 90 Feet Tall

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The Flume Gorge at Franconia Notch State Park in the White Mountains National Forest is a natural granite gorge extending 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty. The towering granite walls on each side of the gorge rise to a spectacular height of about 90 feet. Footpaths and bridges allow walkers to move among towering moss-covered granite walls, past cascading waterfalls, historic covered bridges, glacial boulders and much more. This is a beautiful nature wonder of the Granite State that you just should not miss.

General Store Celebrates Inspired Nonsense

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Zeb’s General Store in the mountain village of North Conway is the place to find New England products of all imaginable kinds – and some you might not easily imagine, like Nantucket Sea Clay Soap, Maine Maple Champagne Mustard, or Out on a Limb Blueberry Pie Filling. Some products are eccentric and all are worth a ride home in your shopping satchel. There are plenty of New England specialty foods and classic favorites like penny candy. You can even design your own gift basket from crates, baskets, or boxes (one of them a replica of the store itself), which you then fill with Zeb’s goodies. Phone: 800-676-9294.

Gifts From the Hands of Artists

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The beautiful Franconia Notch area offers opportunities to shop for art-inspired gifts to be found nowhere else. For example, the Pine Needle Card and Gift Company in Franconia (603-823-5907) presents greeting cards with photos of surrounding vistas; Plough Wind Antiques on Main Street in Franconia (603-823-9571) is filled with vintage treasures as well as beeswax candles and wonderful Woodstock Chimes; and P.C. Anderson Handmade Furniture in Sugar Hill (603-823-5209) creates furniture (including custom designs) as an art form. ‎

Indoor Comfort; Outdoor Adventure

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For indoor and outdoor pleasures, the resource in East Conway on Route 113 is Town & Country, offering country gifts, wood and gas stoves as well as snowmobile sales, service, rentals for outdoor adventurers. The country store offers Lodge Cast Iron Cookware, country furniture, weathervanes, Warren Kimble Prints, candles and gifts. The outdoorsman can find Polaris and Yamaha recreational vehicles for sale or rent. Snowmobile renters can hit the trails immediately through the Snoward Bound Covered Bridge parking area located just behind the store. Cross the covered bridge and enter a groomed scenic trail connection to New Hampshire's Corridor 19 snowmobile trails. (While the indoor people stay put and shop.) The store is open daily through the winter. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Phone: 603-939-2698.

Kancamagus Has Scenic Beauty Like No Place Else

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The Kancamagus Scenic Byway passes through the heart of the White Mountains National Forest while traversing the flank of Mount Kancamagus, filled with scenic areas and overlooks. The byway coincides with Route 112 from Conway to Lincoln. Visitors know this area as one of the world's most spectacular fall-foliage trips, but a stunning spectrum of color underscores the region's natural beauty year round. The road meanders through vast forests, old logging roads, and Indian hunting paths. An abundance of history and recreation lies here, so take the time to pull off the road and explore all that the byway offers.

Moose Crossing

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Breath taking views, sweet mountain air, and a 95 percent chance of seeing a moose are three great reasons to head to Gorham and out on the Moose Tours. This 3-hour guided bus tour allows visitors to New Hampshire to gaze upon deer, osprey, and the majestic moose. Tours run daily from May to October 3, and depart at dusk. While people are settling down after a day with their nose to the grind, this scenic nature tour offers the opportunity to see animals in their most active time. Located on Route 16, Moose Tours is a great way to explore the North Country, with out all that pesky walking. Phone: 603-466-3103.

Polly Want a Pancake?

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All people who hold an appropriate reverence for pancakes need to trek to Polly’s Pancake Parlor on Route 117 in Sugar Hill, a third-generation family business that has been making and serving pancakes since 1938. All day long, Polly's serves whole wheat, buckwheat, and cornmeal pancakes, sausage or bacon, and maple toppings. Visit the gift shop and take home the pancake mixes and maple syrup to hold you over until your next visit. Phone: 800-432-8972.

Pollyanna Was Here

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One of the last classic Main Streets in New England, downtown Littleton is a vibrant community on the bank of the Ammonoosuc River. Downtown offers a nice variety of restaurants, a historic inn, a 100-year old opera house, specialty shops, a majestic post office, a working gristmill, the world’s longest candy counter, and a sculpture of the original “glad girl” herself: Pollyanna.