New Hampshire 2024 Eclipse Guide

2024

NEW HAMPSHIRE SOLAR ECLIPSE PL AN FOR THIS ONC E - IN - A - LIFETIME EVE NT

contents This special publication was produced by Yankee Publishing Inc. for the New Hampshire Division of Travel & Tourism. Copyright 2023–2024 by Yankee Publishing Inc.; all rights reserved. IMAGE CREDITS: Jerry Monkman/Ecophotography (cover photo); Oren Ravid/iStock (p. 2); NASA/Aubrey Gemignani (p. 6, top); Alhovik/Shutterstock 2

2 0 24 S O L A R EC L IP S E T R AV EL G U I D E

4 | All About the Eclipse From science nuggets to viewing tips—and even a look back at the history of eclipses in New Hampshire—here’s where to start your celestial exploration.

NEW HAMPSHIRE TRAVEL GUIDE FOR ECLIPSE VISITORS 8 | Great North Woods The epicenter of the 2024 total solar eclipse celebration lures lovers of the outdoors all year long.

10 | White Mountains The home of the White Mountain National Forest and New Hampshire’s highest peaks is also where you’ll discover terrific shopping, food, and history.

12 | Dartmouth/Sunapee The bustle of an Ivy League college town meets the placid beauty of Lake Sunapee, with a big dose of recreational appeal.

14 | Lakes Region This storied summer resort area draws visitors year-round to enjoy its magnificent waters and mountain-view villages.

16 | Monadnock A world-famous mountain rises above this rural oasis of Main Street shopping, scenic back roads, and New England heritage.

18 | Merrimack Valley Culture, fine dining, pro sports—you’ll find all this and more in a region anchored by both the state’s capital and its biggest city.

20 | Seacoast Sea, sand, and coastal communities make for a unique Granite State getaway.

(p. 6, bottom); courtesy of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Concord (p. 7, bottom); A.G. Evans Photography (p. 8); Cait Bourgault (p. 10); Dartmouth College/ Robert Gill (p. 12); Jim Salge (p. 14); Michael Blanchette (p. 16); courtesy of the Currier Museum of Art, Manchester (p. 18); Philip Case Cohen/The Daily Portsmouth (p. 20) N H S O L A R EC L IP S E.C O M

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● Pittsburg

TOTA L SOL A R EC LI PS E

100% coverage of the sun

● Colebrook

● Lancaster

● Berlin

● Littleton

North Conway ●

DEEP PA RTI A L SOL A R EC LI PS E

● Hanover ● Moultonborough

(minimum 95% coverage)

● Laconia

● Claremont

● Concord

Portsmouth ● ● Manchester

● Keene ● Peterborough

Hampton ●

(less than 95% coverage)

MON APRIL 8 2024 WHEN IT STARTS PARTIAL ECLIPSE: 2:15 pm

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TOTAL ECLIPSE: 3:28 pm

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HOW LONG IT LASTS PARTIAL ECLIPSE: 2 hr, 25 min

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TOTAL ECLIPSE: 3 min, 31 sec (max) ~ 20 sec (min)

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HOW MUCH YOU’LL SEE GREAT NORTH WOODS Pittsburg 100% Colebrook 100% Lancaster 100% Berlin 99.8% WHITE MOUNTAINS Littleton 99.8% North Conway 98.7% DARTMOUTH/SUNAPEE Hanover 98.6% Claremont 97.6% LAKES REGION Moultonborough 97.9% Laconia 97.2% MONADNOCK Keene 96% Peterborough 95.4% MERRIMACK VALLEY Concord 96.2% Manchester 95.4% SEACOAST Portsmouth 95% Hampton 94.5%

‘Nature’s Super Bowl’ COMES TO NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire has never been short on awe-inspiring natural vistas, whether from the peaks of legendary mountain ranges, the shores of crystalline lakes and rivers, or the sweeping sandy beaches that look out to the majestic Atlantic Ocean. So it’s only fitting that the Granite State’s great outdoors will provide visitors a front-row seat to one of the most spectacular sights that nature has to offer: a total solar eclipse.

New Hampshire is one of just 13 states in the path of totality for the Great North American Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024. While most of the rest of the U.S. will experience a partial solar eclipse, this 100-milewide band is the only place to experience the unforgettable moment of totality, when the sun completely vanishes behind the moon, leaving only its corona blazing brilliantly around the edge.

The most recent total solar eclipse in the U.S., in 2017, was witnessed in one way or another by more than 200 million people—almost twice the number that watch the Super Bowl!—with a lucky 20 million of them viewing from within the path of totality.

This April, that same magical path will cross through New Hampshire’s Great North Woods, making this wild and scenic region the main attraction for eclipse tourists. At the same time, the southern two-thirds of the state beckons not only with deep partial eclipse views but myriad options for dining, lodging, and attractions—making it easier for visitors to come early and stay late, and get a taste of all that New Hampshire has to offer.

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Partial Eclipse

(safely viewed only with filter)

Total Eclipse

(may be viewed with the naked eye)

Partial Eclipse

(safely viewed only with filter)

THE LIGHT SHOW OF A LIFETIME A total solar eclipse is a revelation in the truest sense: It unveils amazing sights you will see nowhere else and at no other time, from the moon as the blackest of black spheres, to the gorgeous gauzy light streaming out from the corona of the sun itself. And while the experience of this phenomenon may be hard to put into words, fortunately, summing up its basic science is a bit easier.

T YPES OF ECLIPSES A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely or partially blocking the sun and casting a shadow on Earth. In a partial eclipse, the moon covers just a portion of the sun, and only its outer shadow (the penumbra) reaches Earth.

An annular eclipse occurs when the moon doesn’t quite cover the sun, instead creating a beautiful “ring of fire” effect around the moon’s edge.

Finally, the total eclipse: The sun is fully covered, and the moon casts its deepest shadow (the umbra) on Earth.

The sky goes dark, solar flares

and the sun’s fiery atmosphere (the corona) come into view, and other stars and planets brighten in the daytime sky.

The moment of totality is also the only time that the sun can be safely viewed with the naked eye.

E C L I P S E S TAG E S A total solar eclipse begins with first contact, when the moon takes its initial “bite” out of the sun. Second contact occurs as the moon actually covers the sun; a chain of pearly lights called Baily’s

ECLIPSE VIEWING SAFETY RESIST THE URGE TO PEEK. Just as with looking at the sun itself, looking directly at a solar eclipse—even just a quick glance—can permanently damage your eyes. The only safe time to look directly at the sun without solar filters is during the brief moment of totality.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT GEAR. Sunglasses, swim goggles, welding glasses, etc., are not safe for looking at the sun. You need special-purpose solar filters, preferably new, that meet

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Beads and the flaring jewel of the diamond-ring effect can be seen along the moon’s edge. In totality, the sun is completely hidden except for its outer atmosphere, the corona.

Third contact sees the moon moving away from the sun; the corona fades, and Baily’s Beads and the diamond-ring effect can be seen again here.

Finally, fourth contact is the point when the moon’s edge last touches the sun, marking the end of the eclipse—roughly two and a half hours after it began.

ECLIPSE FREQUENCY In one sense, total solar eclipses aren’t rare, coming around every 18 months or so.

But given that they often occur over remote locations—like the poles, or the middle of the ocean—the chances to see one are slim indeed. In contrast to a total lunar eclipse—which may be seen at any given point on Earth every 2½ years, on average—a total solar eclipse may appear at any given location just once every 300 to 400 years. The experience of a lifetime, indeed!

the ISO 12312-2:2015 safety standard and are marked with the manufacturer’s name and address. And any magnification device you want to use, like binoculars or a camera, should also have its own high-grade solar filter—eclipse glasses alone won’t prevent damage from magnified sunlight.

OPT FOR INDIRECT VIEWING. A safe, inexpensive, and kidfriendly way to see an eclipse is with a homemade solar viewer.

This can be as simple as a colander (which you use to project the eclipse onto the ground or a piece of paper) or something slightly more crafty, like a cardboard pinhole projector.

BEFORE YOU GO While millions will witness the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse in urban hubs such as Dallas, Cleveland, and Indianapolis, visitors to New Hampshire can immerse themselves in the rural beauty of the Great North Woods. To make the most of visiting this nature-rich region, here are tips to keep in mind: COME EARLY AND STAY LATE. There are no major freeways in the Great North Woods region; nearly all roads outside the few population centers are two-lane highways.

Traffic on Eclipse Day is expected to be extremely heavy, so plan to arrive and depart the region at least a day or two before/after.

COME PREPARED. Don’t assume you can simply show up in town and find everything you need. Set your lodging plans well in advance, and bring anything that may help you avoid long lines: supplies, cash, snacks, a full tank of gas.

BE WEATHER-WISE. April is “mud season” in New Hampshire, and it can feel like winter one day and spring the next.

Check the forecast and pack accordingly.

For more information and a searchable list of New Hampshire lodging, go to: nhsolareclipse.com

ECLIPSES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE:

PAS T, PRES E NT & FU T U RE

Compared with other areas of the United States—for instance, the city of Los Angeles, which hasn’t seen a total solar eclipse in nearly 300 years—New Hampshire has been relatively lucky. It’s already experienced two in the 20th century, and will witness two more in the 21st.

Aug. 31, 1932: Starting north of Siberia, this total solar eclipse traversed four New England states including New Hampshire. The path of totality ran down the state’s northeastern half, encompassing both the Great North Woods and the White Mountains, as well Lake Winnipesaukee and all of the Seacoast.

Oct. 2, 1959: Beginning from western New England, this total solar eclipse swept over southern New England, crossing New Hampshire towns such as Jaffrey, Nashua, and Plaistow—and giving Boston its first total solar eclipse since 1806.

April 8, 2024: Dubbed the Great North American Solar Eclipse, this event’s path of totality covers some 31 million U.S. residents as it arcs from Mexico to Canada—and dazzling viewers in New Hampshire’s Great North Woods along the way.

May 1, 2079: This will be a massive event for the northeastern U.S., with Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Portland all in the path of totality. In New Hampshire, residents of the Monadnock, Lakes, and Seacoast regions should plan to set their alarms: Totality will arrive in those areas around 6 a.m. on a Monday.

‘S TAR P OW E R’ I N TH E G R AN ITE S TATE Though its nickname is rooted in rock, New Hampshire has a number of notable connections to the realm of space. Perhaps most famous are its pioneering astronauts: Derry native Alan Shepard, who in 1961 became the first American to travel into space; and Concord’s McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Concord

Christa McAuliffe, the first schoolteacher to be chosen for a space mission, who was lost in the 1986 Challenger disaster.

The two are commemorated at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, an air and space museum whose planetarium is one of only three

in North America with cuttingedge 10K projectors.

New Hampshire has led the way to the stars in technology, too. At UNH in Durham, models of instruments designed here for space missions are proudly displayed in Morse Hall. On the manufacturing side, lenses from Optical Solutions (Charlestown), bearings from Timken (Keene), and a cryocooler from Creare (Hanover) have all gone into the celebrated James Webb Space Telescope, while BAE Systems of Nashua built the “brains” of Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity. And there’s more to come: The rockets for NASA’s new Orion spacecraft—taking humans into space farther than ever before—are designed with external plumbing from Laconia’s STS Aerospace.

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grea t nor t h woods

The Connecticut River, Pittsburg

The Great North Woods holds the visitor with its natural beauty and promise of adventure. In a region of only about 30,000 permanent residents, you’ll find small towns and villages that are all but surrounded by some of the most inviting waterways in New England. Whether exploring Lancaster or Berlin or Colebrook or Pittsburg, or the hamlets in between, you’ll meet people whose love of place is as deep as the waters around them and as vivid as a soaring eagle against a blue New Hampshire sky.

If you know where to look (and the locals do, and will tell you), you’ll discover forested trails for exploring, and the day will seem to have no end.

Enjoy Downtown Diversions The county seat and gateway to the Great North Woods, the town of Lancaster (pop. 3,218) is a destination in its own right. Among the highlights are the Polish Princess Bakery, which is said to make the best baked goods in Coos County, and the acclaimed Copper Pig Brewery, whose seasonal brews and signature Little Piggy Porter draw beer lovers from all over. A Main Street landmark for over 50 years, Fuller’s Sugarhouse is a family-owned maple producer with an attractive country store filled with maple syrup, maple candies, maple cream, and all sorts of North Country souvenirs.

Get a Farm-Life Flashback John Calvin Kenneth Poore passed away in 1983, yet he lives on at Stewartstown’s Poore Farm Historic Homestead and Museum, where it feels as though he just stepped out and will soon return.

The farmstead not only tells his story but showcases objects that were essentials to his family’s life in a time with no indoor plumbing, electricity, or running water. This is one of the most fascinating, under-theradar historical homesteads to be found anywhere— and will be open specially for the week of the eclipse.

Find a Covered Bridge Photo Op With eight historic and scenic covered bridges in the Great North Woods, lovers of these iconic and onceessential structures will want to embark on a driving tour, beginning with Lancaster’s Mechanic Street

Bridge in the south and ending with the River Road Covered Bridge 60 miles north in Pittsburg. The most photographed of them all is the Stark Covered Bridge, which may be the most classically sited bridge in New England: A village church and a cozy B&B are its neighbors.

Go Wild for Umbagog Lake In a region famous for its untamed beauty, Umbagog Lake stands apart. Stretching nearly 11 miles north to south, the lake and its environs—which include both Umbagog Lake State Park and the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge—teem with moose, loons, eagles, ospreys, and nearly every species of northern freshwater fish. It is considered one of the best paddling destinations in the East, while its remarkably clear and dark night sky seem to bring stars close enough to touch.

Celebrate Local Artistry In the plant world, fiddleheads are a succulent spring fern found near streams and riverbeds, greatly prized by foragers; in the Great North Woods, Fiddleheads is a treasure trove of local crafts and handiwork waiting to be discovered. Inside this Colebrook gallery, you will find the skilled creations from 100-plus New Hampshire craftspeople, plus more from New England and Canada. The store is not only a shop—or “shoppe,” as it bills itself—but also where artists offer workshops to invite others into their creative world.

GET CONNECTED! For more ideas on where to eat, stay, and play in the Great North Woods Region, visit the North Country Chamber of Commerce (chamberofthenorthcountry.com) and the Androscoggin Valley Chamber of Commerce (androscogginvalleychamber.com).

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white mountains

Sunrise on Glen Boulder in Jackson

Big mountains (starting with the Northeast’s tallest peak, Mount Washington) and big wilderness (the 800,000-acre-plus White Mountain National Forest) give this region its serious adventure clout, but a sense of exploration calls to visitors in other ways, too. There’s a bustling retail scene that ranges from antiquing to outlet shopping, and a generous helping of local breweries and restaurants that include a legendary pancake house in the aptly named town of Sugar Hill. The truth is, you could spend a weekend of hiking and grazing and shopping and still only scratch the surface of all the White Mountains have to offer. Which means, of course, you’ll simply have to make a return visit.

Soar Through the Air There are ziplines, and then there’s the Canopy Tour at Bretton Woods Ski Resort—a throughthe-woods experience that features nine different ziplines and descends more than 1,000 vertical feet.

Enjoy stunning views of the Presidential Range even while moving at a speed that makes your heart pick up the pace.

Take a Waterfall Hike Fed by melting snow and ice, the White Mountains’ picturesque waterfalls reach a splashy peak in springtime that’s well worth a little trekking to see.

Two favorites are the 160-foot-tall Arethusa Falls in Crawford Notch State Park, reached by a moderately challenging 1.5-mile trail, and the smaller but equally lovely Glen Ellis Falls in the White Mountain National Forest, conveniently located less than half a mile from the parking lot on Route 16 in Gorham.

Savor a Breakfast Tradition You’ll think you’ve died and gone to blueberrybuttermilk heaven at Polly’s Pancake Parlor, a family-owned institution that has been flipping delectable discs for more than 80 years. Polly’s has come a long way from its humble beginnings in a woodshed, and it’s now housed in a building spacious

enough to accommodate the nearly 60,000 pilgrims who make the trek to the tiny town of Sugar Hill (pop.

647) each year for homemade pancakes topped with real New Hampshire syrup.

Have an Epic Souvenir Hunt Named for Zebulun Northrop Tilton, an early 1900s schooner boat captain, Zeb’s General Store is a multi-floor tour of nostalgia, souvenirs, and locally made products. Amid the store’s antique fixtures, discover an array of penny candy, Moxie soda, and more—including the area’s largest collection of New England–made specialty foods—at this bucket-list stop in the heart of one of the White Mountains’ most popular towns, North Conway.

Embark on a Scenic Drive While it may be famous far and wide as New England’s go-to foliage drive, the Kancamagus Highway has been wowing drivers in every season since it first opened in 1959. Spanning 34½ miles of Route 112 between Lincoln and Conway, this winding mountain road climbs to an impressive height of 2,855 feet, offering a scattering of lookouts where you can pull over and take in the surroundings. The views encompass Mad River Notch, Mount Osceola, and Mount Wolf, among other sights.

GET CONNECTED! For more ideas on where to eat, stay, and play in the White Mountains Region, visit the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau (visitmwv.com); the Western White Mountain Chamber of Commerce (westernwhitemtns.com); and the White Mountains Attractions Association (visitwhitemountains.com).

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dar t mout h sunapee

Dartmouth College, Hanover

In a region sprinkled with lakes and cradled in the arms of mountains, you find a center of education and culture, a national park, homes of famous artists, pastoral communities layered in tradition and history, and some of the loveliest walks and early spring drives in New Hampshire.

Dartmouth College and Lake Sunapee not only inspire the name of the region, but they also have long helped shape its character. In this idyllic landscape bordered on the west by the Connecticut River, one of the hardest decisions may be where to explore next.

Visit an Ivy League Gem

Dartmouth College’s lovely campus links gown with town so easily you can pass several hours wandering past shops and eateries and then be enthralled by masterpieces at the school’s Hood Museum of Art or performances at its Hopkins Center for the Arts. Join a free campus tour, or take a few steps along the famed Appalachian Trail that cuts right through town, then make your way to the Baker-Berry Library and lose yourself gazing at José Clemente Orozco’s famous mural, The Epic of American Civilization, all in the midst of students reading quietly nearby.

Shop an Antiques Mecca

A visit to Prospect Hill in Sunapee Harbor begs the question: What do you get when you have 6,500 square feet of space spread over three floors, filled with antiques, custom and fine furniture, and curated art from regional and national artists?

Hours of browsing, with unexpected finds in every nook and cranny.

Take a Historical Side Trip

While a solar eclipse provides otherworldly amazement, here on earth you can feel inspired walking the expansive grounds where one of America’s greatest sculptors lived. At SaintGaudens National Historical Park in Cornish—

one of only two National Park properties devoted to visual artists—you will look in awe at Augustus Saint-Gaudens’s famous Robert Gould Shaw memorial. (While the buildings do not open until Memorial Day, the grounds remain open year round.)

And just two miles away is one of New England’s wonders: The Cornish-Windsor Bridge, the longest covered bridge in the country open to autos.

Fill Up at a Classic Diner

If you like your meal with a side of nostalgia— think lots of chrome, cozy booths, spinning stools— West Lebanon’s 4 Aces Diner is the real deal.

Red clapboard surrounds the circa-1952 Worcester diner car where down-home cooking is dished out to hungry locals, Dartmouth students, and roaming foodies. And if you’ve never tried the addictive French-Canadian dish known as poutine, the 4 Aces version will show you what you’ve been missing.

See Heirlooms Being Made

Jon Gibson, one of America’s top traditional craftsmen, learned the art of pewtering from his father, and his creations carry on the wonder of this historical metal alloy that preserves the past and reflects the present. Located in the rural, scenic town of Washington, Gibson Pewter Shop & Art Gallery features Gibson’s own work, along with centuries-old heirlooms.

GET CONNECTED! For more ideas on where to eat, stay, and play in the Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Region, visit the Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce (lakesunapeeregionchamber.com) and the Upper Valley Business Alliance (uppervalleybusinessalliance.com).

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lakes region

Lake Winnipesaukee, seen from Mount Major

One of America’s first and most famous summer resort areas now draws visitors year-round to the shores of its majestic waters. There are more than 250 lakes and ponds here, including New Hampshire’s largest lake, Winnipesaukee, and neighboring Big Squam and Little Squam, which provided the Hollywood-perfect setting for the classic film On Golden Pond. Before the summer crowds arrive, the so-called shoulder season of mid-spring is a terrific time to take in the Lakes Region’s charms— rolling landscapes, sparkling waters, mountain-view villages, Main Street diversions—at a more leisurely pace.

Discover Childhood Delights

Many of the attractions in Laconia’s Weirs Beach, situated on the shores of Winnipesaukee, are quiet until May or June—but don’t let that deter you from making a springtime stop. Kids of all ages will be instantly entranced when they step foot inside Funspot, home to the American Classic Arcade Museum and recognized by Guinness as the world’s largest arcade. When you’ve had your fill of games, be sure to visit the nearby Kellerhaus, one of the region’s oldest candy and ice cream shops, and score some treats to enjoy as you soak in the view.

Enjoy Old-School Shopping

After you’ve taken in the classic fun of Weirs Beach, nostalgia of an even earlier sort beckons from the eclectic shelves of one of the nation’s oldest businesses. At the c. 1781 Old Country Store and Museum in Moultonborough, the focus is equally divided between selling traditional and local food and products and displaying an expansive collection of antiques (vintage cash registers, ice boxes, farming and logging tools, etc.). Aisle after aisle serves up American history and unexpected delights.

Learn All About Loons

A great stop for nature lovers in Moultonborough, The Loon Center honors its namesake speckled (and spectacular) diving bird with an interpretive center and a sanctuary with more than 200 acres of woods, marshes, ponds, and streams. Easy walking

trails abutting the water offer an opportunity to see and hear the resident loons. Don’t miss the gift shop, where your dollars go in part to support the protection and preservation of loon nesting areas.

Hike to a Lake Vista

One of the best ways to appreciate the Lakes Region’s dazzling bodies of water is from on high— especially when you can reach the top without sweating the whole day away. Perched right between Winnipesaukee and Squam, Red Hill has an easy 3.8-mile loop hike that pays big dividends: an open summit with a fire tower providing 360-degree views. Get a bird’s-eye view of another watery gem, Newfound Lake, by hiking the 1.4-mile loop to the summit of Little Sugarloaf: The whole trip takes under an hour but will leave a lasting impression of this lake’s pristine beauty.

Cozy Up to a Heritage Pub

Chase away any lingering spring chill at Wolfe’s Tavern, a downtown Wolfeboro institution for more than 130 years. Set into the same c. 1812 building as the Wolfeboro Inn, it serves upscale pub food amid New England-y décor that includes rough-hewn beams, a giant mounted moose head, and a ceiling absolutely blanketed with pewter tankards earned by members of the tavern’s Mug Club—an honor bestowed on the more than 2,000 patrons who have worked their way through 100 different beers, rung the bar bell, and kissed the moose.

GET CONNECTED! For more ideas on where to eat, stay, and play in the Lakes Region, visit the New Hampshire Lakes Region Tourism Association (lakesregion.org) and the Lakes Region Chamber (lakesregionchamber.org).

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monadnoc k

The historic mill village of Harrisville

The secret to savoring the Monadnock Region is to drive slowly—and stop often. The combination of lakes, woods, preserved villages with pristinely white churches, and meandering, stone-walled-lined back roads almost makes you want to get lost. At this region’s center is its grand peak, Mount Monadnock, which has lured countless explorers since the area became a favored getaway in the 19th century. Extending from the mountain’s base is a collection of 40 towns—plus Keene, a city with a small-town feel—replete with one-of-a-kind shops, local restaurants, and, of course, scenic vistas.

It’s storybook New England, pulled together in one tidy package.

Visit a Timeless General Store Founded in 1838, the Harrisville General Store is a destination within a destination. The surrounding town center and its campus of beautifully restored mill buildings are a draw, but so are the wonderful homemade sandwiches, made-from-scratch pizza, and local coffees and breads that stock the shelves of the town’s beloved market. Indoor and outside seating—not to mention a classic front porch—make it a place for lingering.

Climb the Other Monadnock To be sure, summiting Mount Monadnock should be on any visitor’s bucket list. For a less-expected but similarly rewarding hike, though, head to Miller State Park: Created in 1891, it has the distinction of being New Hampshire’s oldest state park. It’s crowned by the 2,290-foot Pack Monadnock, whose auto road typically doesn’t open to cars until later in spring but still gives hikers a paved option to the top. At the summit is an observation tower from which you can see Mount Monadnock, Vermont’s Green Mountains, and Mount Wachusett in Massachusetts—and on a clear day, you can make out the Boston skyline, 55 miles distant.

Spend a Day in “Our Town” Bring your walking shoes to explore Peterborough, famed as the inspiration for Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, and whose appealing assortment of local shops and eateries may just rival its pretty river views. Find

antiques and home décor at Bowerbird & Friends, elegant hand-made rugs at Tribals, and books for every kind of reader at the Toadstool Bookshop, one of the state’s best indie bookstores. When it’s time for refueling, Baker’s Station has excellent coffee and pastries; next door, enjoy entrees, cocktails, and riverside seating at The Waterhouse.

Own a Piece of History There are places that portray a different time period, and then there are places like Frye’s Measure Mill, a water-powered mill whose wooden wares are still produced on much of the same machinery as when it first opened its doors in 1858. Visitors get the chance not only to take a tour of the Wilton mill, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but also to choose from the many high-quality colonial- and Shaker-style boxes, classic wooden measuring vessels, and other crafts in the gift store to take home.

Catch a Downtown Show A recent $12 million renovation has breathed new life into Keene’s Colonial Performing Arts Center, which marks its centennial in 2024. Originally opened as a venue for film, opera, theater, and vaudeville, the Colonial is now a year-round home for first-rate movies and live performances. In addition, a newly opened smaller, multipurpose venue called Showroom puts a spotlight on emerging artists, local performers, and educational programming.

GET CONNECTED! For more ideas on where to eat, stay, and play in the Monadnock Region, visit the Greater Monadnock Collaborative Regional Chamber of Commerce (monadnocknh.com).

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merrimac k valley

Currier Museum of Art, Manchester

New England’s second-largest river flows through the Merrimack Valley, a region dotted with small, idyllic towns and punctuated by the state capital, Concord, and New Hampshire’s biggest city, Manchester.

And while this dynamic area has a number of seasonal attractions that don’t emerge until late spring, its top-notch arts, culture, and shopping destinations are year-round highlights. Entertainment and dining options abound, and sports fans will want to check the schedules at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon—New England’s only NASCAR track—and Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, where April sees the Fisher Cats just launching their Minor League Baseball season.

Marvel at World-Class Art Founded in 1929, the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester has been something of a local secret for far too long. The exquisite array of European and American masterpieces—including works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O’Keeffe, Calder, and Wyeth—rivals that of Boston’s more high-profile institutions. The cherry on top of the Currier’s collection is the pair of complete and original houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the only two such properties in New England that are open to the public.

Shop for Artisan Treasures For travelers who’d like to bring home a bit of Granite State art, there’s no better place to browse the work of local artisans than at the League of NH Craftsmen Fine Craft Gallery in Concord. This celebration of handcrafted excellence includes pottery, woodworking, and jewelry, along with a cornucopia of other creations that are as varied as the artists behind them.

Explore a Supersize State Park Looking to infuse some of the great outdoors into your eclipse visit? Bear Brook State Park is beautiful year-round, although spring trekkers are well advised to pack some mud boots. Clocking in at 10,000-plus acres, New Hampshire’s largest state park is filled

with hiking trails, picnic spots and lake views—and in quieter weeks of the spring, you may feel you have this nature escape all to yourself.

Savor a Farm-Fresh Meal The bounty of New Hampshire’s independent farms and food producers shines brightly on the Merrimack Valley dining scene. At The Foundry in Manchester, the state’s largest certified farm-to-table restaurant, meats from North County Smokehouse and Robie Farm and local produce like Dunk’s Mushrooms go into a seasonally changing menu of upscale American fare.

Other farm-centric restaurants for a memorable night out include Cotton in Manchester; Revival Kitchen & Bar in Concord; and Rambling House in Nashua, where grass-fed beef, lamb, eggs, and produce are sourced from the restaurant’s sister farm.

Trek to America’s Stonehenge The hilltop grounds of America’s Stonehenge—an ancient archeological site located in Salem—are not only home to some of the region’s most enigmatic stone structures, but they also offer an excellent vantage point for eclipse viewing. Whether you are still marveling at celestial wonders above or pondering the site’s murky origins, one thing’s for sure: There will be plenty to talk about on the ride home.

GET CONNECTED! For more ideas on where to eat, stay, and play in the Merrimack Valley Region, visit the Greater Manchester Chamber (manchester-chamber.org) and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce (concordnhchamber.com).

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seacoast

Sunset at Pirate’s Cove, Rye

With its dynamic mix of history, culture, and entertainment, the Seacoast is guaranteed to be a favorite destination of any New Hampshire visitor. It begins with the water: a clear, blue Atlantic that sets the scene in Hampton Beach, where year-round fun can be had at the beach’s namesake state park. Stately mansions line the coast in Rye, while just north in Portsmouth, there’s a premier cultural and artistic hub to enjoy. Inland, Dover’s mill complex and environs have been renovated into one of the finest walking districts in New Hampshire, while Exeter’s stately ambiance matches that of the famous prep school that calls it home.

Take a Seaside Stroll Lace up your walking shoes and get ready for a slew of ocean vistas when you step onto the 1¼-mile loop walk at the 330-acre Odiorne Point State Park, which represents the largest swath of undeveloped coastline in New Hampshire. Located in Rye, this park is also popular with sea kayakers and birdwatchers on the hunt for red-throated loons, broad-winged hawks, and other bucket-list species. Plus, the aquariums, whale skeletons, and other wonderful pieces of local natural history at the Seacoast Science Center provide just the right touch of educational diversion.

Become a Time-Traveler Spanning four centuries in its 10 acres, Strawbery Banke Museum is one of the best living history villages in New England and a must-visit for any Portsmouth newcomer. Against a backdrop of more than three dozen historic buildings and several vintage gardens, costumed interpreters and artisans lead visitors back in time, while formal exhibits on such things as archaeology, architecture, and woodworking tools and skills help further educate and entertain.

Sample the Craft Beer Scene Richly flavorful IPAs, stouts, and other brews made with ingredients largely sourced from within 200 miles are the main draw at North Hampton’s Throwback Brewery, New Hampshire’s first all-women-owned craft beer maker. But there are many other reasons to

linger: the charming 1860s barn and beer garden, cute farm animals, fresh-from-the-field cooking at the onsite restaurant, and an events calendar sprinkled with open-mic nights, yoga classes, and more. It’s a great first stop on a memorable Seacoast beer-tasting tour that could also include Smuttynose in nearby Hampton: Founded in 1994 and headquartered on a 17-acre farm, it’s heralded as the state’s very first craft brewery.

Indulge in Child’s Play The fun and imaginative interactive exhibits found at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover are a hit with kids big and small—and their parents, too. There’s an actual Yellow Submarine to test-drive, as well as caves to explore. You can discover dinosaurs—and even learn to fly. Throughout the year, the museum hosts numerous ongoing STEM innovation programs as well as special events.

Taste the Catch of the Day Fine-dining options for seafood lovers are plentiful along New Hampshire’s ocean shore, but for a timehonored New England tradition, seek out an old-school seafood shack by the water. A number of these summer institutions are actually open in spring, too, such as Petey’s Summertime Seafood in Rye, where lobster buoys hang from every corner and lines form even in the off-season. If you’re in Portsmouth, though, grab a takeout lobster roll from Sanders Fish Market and eat it on a bench in the waterfront Prescott Park: On a beautiful spring day, there’s nothing finer.

GET CONNECTED! For more ideas on where to eat, stay, and play in the Seacoast Region, visit the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth (portsmouthchamber.org) and the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce (hamptonchamber.com).

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