The Best Small Towns in New Hampshire To Chill Out
New Hampshire has the best mix of New England vibes, culture, and food, along with intense heartland nature and no sales tax. The state borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, and Maine to the east. It also shares a border with Quebec and boasts a scenic seacoast for 19 miles. The fifth-smallest state and the 10th-least populous, New Hampshire, is made for chilling in a scenically charged atmosphere with low crowds.
The "Live Free" state with lakes, state parks, mountains, and the seacoast lets you do just that on a quick getaway or a whole vacation worth of chillaxing action. Cool down at the beaches during the summer, or take a stroll through the refreshingly shaded parks. Choose a lakeside town, a mountain gem for wintertime skiing, or Portsmouth along the seacoast and roam along the shores in any season. Take a delightful hike through state parks and river walks, and lounge on the beach after a refreshing dip to really shine.
Exeter
Exeter, one of New Hampshire's friendliest and most walkable towns, is a great place to unwind. Chillax on a cultural walkthrough of Exeter, with plentiful independent bookshops and art galleries. The charming town is like an open history book to walk through pages from the colonial period amid architectural sights. There are also unique places to swipe your card for some retail therapy and great restaurants for dinner with views over the historically significant Squamscott River.
Visit during the summer for boating and chilling out by the refreshing river, particularly after trekking along trails or enjoying a bike ride, including riverside trails. Come back in the winter for the most picturesque holiday season with the town's roofs and trees adorned in frosting, when the locals strap on snowshoes or cross-country skis or head out for fun sledding and snowman-making competitions.
Franconia
This small and endlessly scenic town is a great place to chill out in the natural embrace of the White Mountains and state parks and forests like the White Mountain National Forest. Get to know Franconia on a stroll through the city, with many hotspots and peaky views right along the streets. Enjoy endless wanderings along the meandering hiking trails with beautiful fauna and flora sightings. The charming town is a real must-see when it gets really dressy for the autumn season, like no other.
Enjoy the glorious Notch State Park any season with activities and recreation like snowmobiling, hiking, biking, ATVing, swimming, camping, and fishing. Chill in the shaded forests intermixed with deciduous and coniferous trees or by the scenic river in the mountain valley. Cannon Mountain is a rock climber's dream, great for skiing and aerial tramway rides for a panoramic view of different states and even Canada. After a day spent outside, Franconia Inn invites guests for gourmet dining and cozy stays in rooms with a view.
Hanover
What can be cooler than chilling out college style without the studying part? The small town of Hanover, on the Connecticut River with Dartmouth College, is replete with student attractions at reasonable prices and outdoor pursuits for the serious crowd to blow off some steam. The historic Dartmouth campus is a must-experience on tour, with its impressive Baker-Berry Library and mountains on both sides that call for winter skiing.
Enjoy summertime hikes along the famous Appalachian Trail and see how far you can make it through the White Mountains when you hop on it right downtown. The town center packs a lot of action and renowned eateries, like the favorite pub food at Murphy’s on the Green, including seared pork, BBQ pork tacos, and fried calamari. The town of endless chills calls for a stay, with many guesthouses or the unique Savage Hart Farm.
Jackson
The peaceful resort town in the middle of the White Mountains is as appealing as it sounds and is worth a visit at any time. Enjoy a long weekend for a getaway from the city over low-key pursuits and breathtaking scenery right from the streets. Find trails for all levels throughout the foothills and in the mountains for summertime hikes and wintertime snowshoeing, skate skiing, and track skiing.
There is traditional skiing and snowboarding down Black Mountain and Wildcat Mountain, or Nestlenook Farm for a family day with sleigh rides and ice skating. Couples love all the Instagrammable moments across the Honeymoon Bridge over the Ellis River, where you have to kiss your partner underneath for good luck. Do not leave without a unique stop at White Mountain Puzzles, with hundreds of different puzzles to solve in a cozy setting.
Meredith
This iconic resort town is your ultimate destination to chill amid some of the state's largest lakes, with scenery, pursuits, and wine tastings that inspire a romantic getaway. Get away from the city on a lakeside respite or a whole vacation to relax along the shores under chill vibes. There are plenty of boat rides, charters, kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing. Enjoy the scenic waterside views from the comfort of your vehicle while traveling along the 97-mile loop of Lake Winnipesaukee with picnic stops and exploring the surrounding villages and towns.
Relish in the unique culture at the scenic Mills Falls Market in Meredith while shopping and trying excellent cuisine. Come in the fall to chill on a four-hour ride along a fall foliage train from Meredith Station, overlooking some of New England's best scenery. Chill out with a glass of local wine in hand at Hermit Woods Winery & Deli with dessert tastings or a selection of New Hampshire craft beers. There are many options for a memorable stay, from a cool craftsman cottage to waterfront rentals.
North Conway
The small town chilling in the Mount Washington Valley is a great place to chill in the outdoors over relaxing and active pursuits for every mood and taste. With over 700,000 acres of pristine forest playground, you can immerse yourself in nature while enjoying your favorite activities. Visit in the winter for skiing and snowboarding, in the summer for fishing and swimming, as well as for explorative hikes, camping, and chasing waterfalls.
Enjoy retail therapy with no sales tax at the regional destination of Settlers' Green Outlet Village, with antique and craft shops, among others, and delicious restaurants to keep up your shopping rigor. Hop on the Conway Scenic Railway for a fun ride through the region's history and photogenic nature, and extend your stay at cozy inns, luxurious bed and breakfasts, and manicured campgrounds.
Portsmouth
The coastal town of Portsmouth is arguably the most popular place to chill out in New Hampshire, just an hour north of Boston along the coast. Visit during the summer for relaxing shore strolls and lounging at its beautiful beaches, among other warm-weather fun pursuits for every taste. Enjoy serene fishing, whale watching, kayaking, and canoeing, and venture to Portsmouth Harbor, with fantastic views over the Piscataqua River and a lighthouse.
Wake up with breakfast from Friendly Toast, like banana and chocolate chip pancakes or cheesecake-filled French toast, and check out the notable Strawberry Banke Museum. The Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden calls for a peaceful stroll through scenic history and natural beauty. Chill over dinner and drinks at Portsmouth Brewery or Cure and Surf for a sunset dinner at the waterside, and choose an atmospheric stay aboard a houseboat for a lulling sleep with the water literally at your door.
Sugar Hill
Sugar Hill is host to the renowned Lupine Festival every June, the place for fun, mingling, and exhibits to chill alongside the scenic attractions of purple lupine flower fields. Explore the festival grounds with events like wagon rides and concerts, as well as farmers' markets for fresh produce and local culture. Start your morning with homemade pancakes at Polly’s Pancake Parlor, doused in New Hampshire maple syrup, to charge up for meandering hikes and walking trails around the lovely town, complete with the scenic Riverwalk.
Find the retro-covered bridge for an Instagrammable moment and chill the rest of the day at Echo Lake Beach. Chill out in the quiet ambiance of the beautiful foliage along Coffin Pond with a picnic overlooking breathtaking scenery. For hard-core chilling, you can hike to Mount Lafayette or the Basin at Franconia Notch State Park. Be sure to scope out the countryside, particularly in the fall season, aboard the panoramic Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway.
The state was one of the original thirteen colonies and the 9th to sign the Constitution, as well as among the earliest to rebel against the English colonization of America. These towns have a long colonial history, diverse cultures, and many festivals, like the renowned Lupin Festival in Sugar Hill. Enjoy waterfront dining and mountain views, and plentiful accommodation options, from lakeside living and houseboats to towns in the valley creases by the slopes. The Granite State, or "white mountain state," was named by Cpt. John Mason, after his county home in England and is a great summertime destination for hikers, climbers, and mountain bikers. The autumn season in New Hampshire is the most scenic, with concentrated nature along the foothills covered by state parks of coniferous and deciduous forests.
