7 Most Idyllic Small Towns In New Hampshire

As the fifth smallest and 10th least populous state, New Hampshire might be an afterthought for a vacation destination. Yet its quaintness and remoteness are precisely what make it paradise. New Hampshire is the R&R capital of America, replete with cute shops, cozy inns, and miles upon miles of miniature mountainous countryside: not so tall as to be intimidating but not so flat as to be boring. The bases for such satisfying scenery are New Hampshire's numerous small towns, seven of which stand out as the most idyllic.

Peterborough

Now boasting about 6,500 people, Peterborough is a former mill town that was powered by the Contoocook River and Nubanusit Brook. While the mills are gone, their sites are marked by monuments and foliage and tourists admiring the scenic waterways that nourish even prettier parks. Monadnock State Park lies just west of town and contains 3,165-foot Mount Monadnock, while Miller State Park sits in the east and features 2,290-foot Pack Monadnock.

Peterborough proper is properly pretty for different reasons since it has a picturesque downtown with splendid businesses like Toadstool Bookshops, Ava Marie Handmade Chocolates, and Bowerbird & Friends. Chase sightseeing and shopping with drinking/dining at Harlow's Pub or Kogetsu.

Sugar Hill

Sugar Hill promises sweet scenery and does not disappoint. This 650ish-person town was named for the sugar maple trees that decorate its hilly terrain. But the true icing on Sugar Hill's cake is pink, purple, and blue lupine flowers. They bloom in such gorgeous abundance as to attract tourists in late spring. They even inspired a June-held festival and market.

Let maples and lupines be your appetizers before savoring the famous flapjacks at Polly's Pancake Parlor and the delectable dairy at Harman's Cheese and Country Store. If not too full, consume more colorful scenery in the Green Mountains and White Mountains since Sugar Hill is a gateway to both ranges. The latter range is closer and partially preserved within Franconia Notch State Park, whose jaw-dropping landmarks include 800-foot Flume Gorge, 4,080-foot Cannon Mountain, and the highest elevation ski resort in New Hampshire.

Bartlett

Located on the other side of the White Mountains, Bartlett offers similar sights as Sugar Hill but in a much different medium. The Conway Scenic Railroad takes passengers from North Conway to Bartlett, starting from a historic station and crossing fields, woodlands, and rivers in 1920s-era train cars. But this 3,200ish-person town is not just for railfans. It is for fans of skiing (Attitash Mountain Resort), covered bridges (Bartlett Covered Bridge), waterfalls (Diana's Baths), wine (Alpine Garden Winery), craft beer and tacos (Ledge Brewing Company), and both freshwater and saltwater creatures (Living Shores Aquarium).

Bartlett is even for fans of amusement parks, because Story Land, a fable-themed park spanning some 35 acres, is within the town's seemingly neverending limits.

Hancock

Bartlett may look like it is from a fairy tale, but Hancock is actually from a painting. A Snowy Monday by Lilla Cabot Perry depicts a white, one-housed Hancock from almost 100 years ago. Today, Hancock is a little busier (1,731 residents as of the 2020 Census) yet still as winsome whether white or green. In fact, Hancock might be best visited in fall, when the trees around Norway Pond, Powder Mill Pond, and Nubanusit Lake cross the color spectrum.

You can cross the entertainment spectrum in downtown Hancock by walking from historic haunts like the First Congregational Church to modern businesses like Fiddleheads Cafe. A perfect middle ground is Main Street Cheese, which sells goat milk products on an honor system in an early-19th-century redbrick building. You will say "cheese" for multiple reasons in picturesque Hancock.

Plymouth

Sitting at the foot of the White Mountains and at the arms of the Pemigewasset and Baker rivers, Plymouth is a full-bodied destination. Beyond outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, swimming, boating, tubing, and skiing, this 6,700ish-person town offers shows at The Flying Monkey, dips at The Common Man Inn & Spa, and sips at Cafe Monte Alto. Plymouth's top attraction is Plymouth State University, which was founded in 1871 and provides tours of its iconic buildings. These include Rounds Hall and Clock Tower, the Ice Arena & Welcome Center, and the Museum of the White Mountains.

While technically in neighboring Rumney, Polar Caves Park, a system of nine glacially formed caves so deep as to emit "polar" breath, is literally the most breathtaking place in the Plymouth area.

Littleton

Located a little ways from Sugar Hill, Littleton is a little town with a lot of wonder. Several thousand residents and visitors stroll through a storybook-style downtown complete with magical shops like Chutters, which claims the world's longest candy counter; the Little Village Toy & Book Shop, an award-winning child and parent playhouse; and Schilling Beer Co., a European-inspired craft brewery in a red 18th-century mill. Best of all, Littleton's already scenic shops are backdropped by the White Mountains, which supply spectacular views for in-towners and spectacular recreation for adventurers.

Numerous trails can take the latter type deep into the adjacent greenery. In fall, it becomes redder and yellower and gets photographed by leaf peepers. If you want a mix of commerce and nature, take the Riverwalk Covered Bridge over the Ammonoosuc River and then back downtown to the beautiful boutiques.

Meredith

We have spoken at length and width about New Hampshire's mountains, but we cannot pretend to have a deep knowledge of idyllic New Hampshire without mentioning the Lakes Region. This east-central area of the state is filled with dozens of sizeable, serene lakes, including Wickwas Lake, Pemigewasset Lake, Lake Waukewan, Lake Winnisquam, and Lake Winnipesaukee. All of said water bodies hug Meredith, a town with over 6,000 people and about as many outdoor activities.

On the lakes, residents and tourists enjoy swimming, fishing, skating, canoeing, kayaking, boating, paddleboarding, and yoga paddleboarding. Off the lakes, they hike, bike, snowshoe, shop, stargaze and meditate. Mills Falls can be your access point for virtually every Meredith activity since it is a waterfront entertainment hub with restaurants, stores, equipment rentals, planned events, and even accommodations via four distinct inns.

New Hampshire is a small state with many of the prettiest small towns in America. It was not easy to choose only seven, but riverside Peterborough, floral Sugar Hill, transitional Bartlett, historic Hancock, cavernous Plymouth, mountainous Littleton, and lakefront Meredith are distinct yet filling slices of the New Hampshire scenic pie. Go experience the towns for yourself.