6 Best Towns In New Hampshire To Visit In 2024
Part of the New England empire, "The Granite State," sits near the Canadian border, overlooking the Atlantic to one side and beautiful seasonal scenery along its mountains and dense forests. Discover New Hampshire as one of the 13 original colonies in Exeter, one of New England's first colonies during the 1600s. Did you know this state has no sales or income tax? Well, Exeter and New London have spectacular shopping scenes, as do the college town of Hanover and most certainly the capital city of Concord along its revamped downtown area! A small state with a tiny capital city to match—Concord—this first town is one of the most charming you will set foot in this year, with a population of under 50,000 locals! So step forth and discover the best towns to visit in New Hampshire in 2024.
Concord
Concord, a larger town of just under 45,000 in the geographic center of New Hampshire, is the state's capital city. As a very astro-centric place at the crossroads of all the regions, it makes for a great family destination for little scientists and celestial lovers, where you can meet world travelers from all walks of life! Put on your professor's glasses to mingle with the others at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, revealing wonders about this universe and space travel with captivating interactive exhibits for all ages, like aviation, astronomy, and space science. While here, don't cheap out on a ticket to the state-of-the-art planetarium show, where the universe feels both in the palm of your hand and forever out of reach!
Now, change into a formal casual for an entertaining and equally romantic evening at the Capitol Center for the Arts, over a live performance including nationally touring Broadway shows, popular musicians, and comedians! As the state's cultural hub, Concord feels ahead of other small towns, with excitement for new and returning visitors, like its newly revamped downtown main street. More charming and lively than ever around the iconic epicenter of the gold-domed State House, the stunning Merrimack River peeks through it all! You can stroll and poke around shops, galleries, and locally-owned restaurants in an atmosphere that many say feels like Boston's famous Newbury Street, but on an intimate level!
Exeter
Exeter, one of the best coastal towns in New Hampshire, looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean, offers a fun yet intimate atmosphere with around 16,000 locals. The historic town features a colorful past as one of New England's first colonies during the 1600s, particularly boisterous after George Washington and Abraham Lincoln set foot in Exeter! Remaining one of New Hampshire's most prominent towns, you can follow in their footsteps along pedestrian-friendly streets with enchanting architecture and a timeless feel, long attracting state-wide visitors. Notably, the American Independence Museum on Water Street lures historians from near and far for displays of its early history.
If you are looking for entertainment, it is all right here, along the same street, with a distinct feel of cultures, live performances, and a varied shopping scene, like the Water Street Bookstore, Whirlygigs Toy Shop, and, unmissable, The Chocolatier! Over-indulged? Walk it off along the popular Henderson-Swasey Town Forest hike in the summer, or go ice skating at the top-rated Rinks in Exeter right now. Now, for a new day that starts at Exeter Farmers' Market and ends with a live performance at the bandstand of the Exeter Brass Band, that sounds pretty great, eh?
Hampton Beach
There's no better town to kick back or cut loose with endless days of fun in the summer of 2024 than Hampton Beach. One of the most beautiful beach towns in the state, its picturesque coastline spans 29 km (18 miles) of seacoast either way from the central headland! No wonder it is the premier beach vacation spot in the Granite State. Although it is so popular, it still offers enough privacy along the unsurpassed beach to beat the summer heat! Attracting thousands of beach lovers and world travelers each year to this southeastern part of New Hampshire, many rush to their favorite seafood restaurants, so there's still plenty of room to swim in the ocean and relax on the beach.
Enjoy a few or many delicious dinners yourself with impeccable ocean views among fellow state visitors, locals, and globetrotters at the top-rated Wally's, and stay at Ashworth by the Sea! While you are here for some summertime lounging, why not rent a board from Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Company and practice or learn the new skill of handling the waves? In other seasons, the spotlight goes to Hampton Beach's casino and the historical society on a tour. Don't miss those lonesome strolls near the beating waves that turn the scenery from summertime-friendly to dramatic for a photogenic inverted side of New Hampshire's coastal vibes.
Hanover
An affluent community along the Connecticut River, with beautiful architecture, restaurants, bars, and museums, is great to discover in 2024, with fun for families and all! Hanover's downtown art museum, for instance, is free to visit and gawk at the works by none other than Pablo Picasso and Georgia O'Keeffe! Home to young professionals and families, Hanover has a youthful feel in the air, with parks, playgrounds, and top-notch services to share among only 12,000 locals. Make it a summer getaway for a high chance of catching a live band, with many in action around town and farmers' markets!
Not far from the border with Vermont, in the Upper Valley, Hanover is home to Dartmouth College, with energy and rigor in the air, and the Dartmouth campus is open for tours of the grounds right downtown. On your meandering stroll, don't miss the Baker-Berry Library and its Harry Potter-esque tower room, while the aforementioned Hood Museum is one of the most amazing art museums you will visit this year! Replete with restaurants and bars for every taste and entertainment, Lou's Restaurant & Bakery is great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, while the Nugget Theaters will set the mood for an evening over a movie!
New London
Nestled along the rolling hills under the beautiful mountain views, this tiny town of just under 4,500 is not just another skiing mecca in the state under the best skiing slopes down Mount Sunapee. One of New Hampshire's most quaint towns, New London offers year-round beautiful views in the fun outdoors, like walking trails and Clark Lookout. Attracting students, families, and young professionals, it's easy to love this tiny yet busy town with its greatest pride and joy, Main Street. Don't miss the community garden and the New London Barn Playhouse after dinner at Tucker's!
If you love live music, visit in the summer for an improvised evening picnicking series at the Mary B. Haddad Memorial Bandstand after a day spent at Pleasant Lake or Lake Sunapee. With a range of fresh air pursuits like hiking, fishing, and camping in the summer, there is a spectacular community ice rink for locals and tourists to enjoy in the winter, complete with romantic evening lights and ice skate rentals. Home to Colby Sawyer College, there's a lively feel in the air, happenings, two beaches, great service, and local retail shopping.
Sugar Hill
The Grafton County town of Sugar Hill is as sweet as it sounds and one of the best mountain towns in New Hampshire, in the heart of its "Alps!" Home to around 600 locals and spoiled with nature, Sugar Hill nestles against the towering White Mountain National Forest, offering views from the streets. Imagine the fresh air exhaling from the immense natural body of trees into the newer town, which was only incorporated in 1962! Don't miss the scenic Coffin Pont and St. Matthew's Chapel, both spectacular in falltime scenery, as well as Harmen's Cheese Store to pair with wine in your hotel room, like at The Sunset Hill House with mountain views! The small town is like a tiny heartbeat within vast agricultural land, mountains, and the forest around its vibrant historical homes and festivals.
Visitors still have plenty of time to take advantage of the most popular skiing area and a growing culinary scene without missing a beat! You can start the day with coffee and a stack at Polly's Pancake Parlor, a historic establishment serving famous buttermilk pancakes with real maple syrup. Can't make it in this snowy season? Plan for the wild Sugar Hill Lupine Festival when the town is bursting from all the gardens and bursting with purples, pinks, and white lupines in bloom! Offering a sensual overfill on flowers and various family-friendly activities, it attracts thousands of visitors each year for live performances, tours, and an open-air market!
From the Lakes Region to the Seacoast and the Great North Woods, choose your favorite scenery, like the 18-mile sea beach at Hampton Beach or the two pleasant lakes in New London, one of which is actually called "Pleasant!" For skiing, New London has got you again, while the sweetest town of Sugar Hill also has an apres-ski with a growing culinary scene! As a cultural hub for the state and one of the nation's most charming capitals, Concord will highlight any trip!
