8 Of The Most Captivating Small Towns In New Hampshire

Whichever state you wish to visit in New England, you might be interested in picking the one that encapsulates the nation of England the most. New Hampshire contains a number of captivating small towns that were founded by the British Empire when the original 13 colonies were just beginning. Most of these small towns did rebel against British mandates when the American Revolutionary War flared, but much of the historic districts and buildings and landscapes have survived to the modern day. Visitors can immerse themselves into the various epochs and periods of American history by exploring eight of the most captivating small towns in New Hampshire.

Portsmouth

Portsmouth, situated at the mouth of the Piscataqua River and close to the border of Maine, is a beautiful getaway not far from the city of Boston, Massachusetts. From watching the Piscataqua River for tugboats to gawking at the 17th- and 18th-century homes composing Portsmouth, travelers will be awed by the town’s historic and natural appeals. At the Strawbery Banke museum, you will not only learn about the time when Portsmouth was the first capital of New Hampshire but also see costumed staff members recreating what life was like in the second oldest city in New Hampshire.

Get into the belly of a mechanical beast at the Albacore Park, where a decommissioned submarine awaits. Travelers might also be interested in Fort Stark State Historic Site, not far away from Portsmouth. Meanwhile, an old pipe organ from the early 1700s is still on display at St. John's Episcopal Church. When it comes to exploration, the Prescott Park and the Odiorne Point State Park — the latter with its Seacoast Science Center to entreat marine biologists everywhere — beckons visitors with all sorts of treks and trails. So consider Portsmouth as a destination in New Hampshire, and find great lodgings, such as the Martin Hill Inn and the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside.

Hanover

Hanover sits on the banks of the Connecticut River which separates New Hampshire from Vermont. Dartmouth College, the oldest university in New Hampshire, was established in 1769. An Ivy League schools, it contains the Baker-Berry Library, which holds some of the most renowned frescoes created by Mexican artist José Clemente Orozco. Just over the Connecticut River, one can tour the Montshire Museum of Science to admire the town’s aquarium and Science Park, which features a scale model of the solar system. Likewise, you might be interested in the home of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, just down the road; he was a sculptor who was part of the American Renaissance. Lastly, the Wilder Dam near Boston Lot Lake has amazed people with its impressive feat of human engineering. If ever you get weary from all the walking, you can always rest your feet at either the Hanover Inn Dartmouth or Six South St. Hotel.

Sugar Hill

Sugar Hill is one of the smallest towns in New Hampshire with a small population of less than 650 individuals. Only about 55 miles from Hanover, one can enjoy the simple solitudes of a close-knit community, particularly when exploring the large groves of sugar maples that gave the town its name. Sugar Hill is a pocket of loveliness in the deep wilderness of New Hampshire, where one can see and even climb the impressive mountain ranges of Presidential, Franconia, Kinsman, and Dalton, all part of the White Mountains. In June, Sugar Hill's fields and hills blossom with pink and purple lupine flowers. For good food, consider Polly's Pancake Parlor’s homemade pancakes or Harman's Cheese and Country Store's delicious selections. Places to stay in this home-away-from-home include The Sunset Hill House, Lovett’s Inn & Restaurant, and the Sugar Hill Inn.

Exeter

Located where the Exeter River becomes the Squamscott River — and just 20 minutes away from Portsmouth — the small town of Exeter first started out as a home for religious exiles from the Massachusetts Bay colony. The townsfolk withstood raids from Native Americans and even became a stronghold for American soldiers in the American Revolutionary War. Fortunately, some of Exeter’s historic structures, such as the Gilman Garrison House (1709), the Congregational Church (1798), and the Ladd-Gilman House (1721) have survived and continue to offer visitors and locals alike a glimpse into the past. Once visitors get a taste for history, they can either go strolling through the Henderson-Swasey Town Forest or spend evenings in cool accommodations like the Exeter Inn or the Inn by the Bandstand.

Peterborough

When the French and Indian War raged, the town of Peterborough sided with the King of England’s army even though hostilities with the Old World government were apparent. But when the American Revolution started, Peterborough sided with the revolutionaries, including many who fought during the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. Today, those who fought in Bunker Hill rest at the Old Street Road Cemetery, including William Diamond, the drummer boy of Lexington. Later on, during the War of 1812, a man named James Miller (1776-1851) became the Hero of the Battle of Lundy’s Lane and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1814. Author Nathaniel Hawthorne was so inspired by Miller that in his introduction to "The Scarlett Letter," he described Miller as “New England’s most distinguished soldier.” Although Peterborough’s more modern attractions include the MacDowell colony and the nearby Monadnock State Park — the former being an artist colony since 1907 — visitors will find no shortage of other historical sites in town. Consider booking a room at the Riverhouse for a lengthy vacation in Peterborough.

Amherst

On the eastern periphery of the Monadnock region and within the Merrimack Valley shines the sublime town of Amherst. Only around 60 miles from Peterborough, Amherst offers itself as a sanctuary and haven to a number of beautiful biomes in New Hampshire’s wilderness. From the Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary’s biodiversity to Minot J. Ross Memorial Bird Sanctuary’s birds and beasts, all kinds of travelers from the trekkers to the campers will be astonished by the lush woodlands of Amherst’s surrounding landscapes. More opportunities for exploration await in the Joe English Reservation, Pulpit Rock Conservation Area, and Hodgman State Forest, and those who enjoy a bit of fishing can certainly try their luck at the Baboosic Lake.

Meredith

Close to the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee, travelers will come across the rejuvenating small town of Meredith. Whether you are lounging about at Lovejoy Sands or journeying to one of the islands in Winnipesaukee, you will find no deficit of destinations to delight you around Meredith’s bucolic beauty. The Hamlin-Eames-Smyth Recreation and Conservation Area offers even more trails and treks for your feet to follow, whereas smaller lakes like Squam Lake, Lake Winnisquam, and Lake Waukewan will have you wading and kayaking about in fun. And if you should feel exhausted upon returning from all your aquatic and arboreal adventures, you can always refresh and recharge in comfortable lodgings such as The Oliver Lodge, The Nutmeg Inn, or Mill Falls at the Lake.

North Conway

North Conway gives travelers access to a number of magnificent regions. Between the White Mountain National Forest, the Cranmore Mountain Resort, Attitash Mountain Resort, and Merriman State Forest, you will have a hard time picking which ones to go toward first. You will feel humbled and awed regardless of whether you are admiring the natural waterfalls of Diana’s Baths, waddling through the swimming holes of Saco River, or standing atop the Cathedral Ledge Lookout for a grand view of North Conway. Do take care when going about in Mount Washington and in the White Mountains, since according to the Mount Washington Observatory Offices the winds around these mountain ranges are some of the fiercest in all of New Hampshire. If you prefer to stay indoors when the winds are howling, look to The Colonial Motel, North Conway Grand Hotel, or School House Inn for your daily and nightly needs.

With North Conway’s access to the White Mountains and Mount Washington, Portsmouth’s remarkable historic anecdotes and memorabilia, and Meredith’s simplistic atmosphere, it is no wonder why these towns have been considered eight of the most captivating small towns In New Hampshire. With a vast array of diverse attractions — from the culturally relevant to the naturally stunning - visitors will be enchanted and enamored by each of New Hampshire’s small towns. Consider yourself fortunate and blessed to have experienced New Hampshire's immersion into the past and the remarkable sceneries of its great outdoors.