New Hampshire definitely has its more populated and traveled regions, especially around the major cities and tourist destinations. But if that’s not your thing and you want to explore places off the beaten path, there are plenty of those two. Here are a dozen to check out during the year.
- Fuller Gardens, North Hampton
Fuller Gardens/Facebook Fuller Gardens lies on what was once part of Alvan T. Fuller estate on the seacoast. Come and enjoy the finest horticulture paired with a scenic seaside location. Fuller Drive, Fuller Dr, New Hampton, NH 03256, USA
- Hood Museum of Art, Hanover
Hood Museum of Art Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College features some of the oldest and largest collections of art among any college or university in the country. Over 65,000 items are housed at the museum. Hood Museum of Art, 6 E Wheelock St, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- Cat Alley, Manchester
Ken MacGray/Flickr Cat Alley is an open-air art gallery tucked into an alley known as Dean Court in downtown Manchester. Whimsical murals line the brick walls of the alley and it’s said that the Cat Alley nickname was derived from a cat fight on the small street. Cat Alley, Manchester, NH 03101, USA
- Archie Andrews Statue, Meredith
Joe H/Google “America’s typical teenager”, Archie Andrews, is memorialized in bronze along Meredith’s Main Street. The town is home to Bob Montana, who illustrated the first Archie comic in 1942. The statue faces Montana’s former workshop and studio.
- Madison Boulder, Madison
David Burn/Flickr Lurking in the woods of Madison is Madison Boulder, the largest glacial erratic in North America, and one of the largest in the world. Left behind by a retreating glacier, the massive rock weighs 5,000 tons and stands 23 feet tall. Madison Boulder, Madison, NH 03849, USA
- Libby Museum Of Natural History, Wolfeboro
The Libby Museum/Facebook The oldest natural history museum in New Hampshire, Libby Museum Of Natural History houses the natural artifacts collected by Dr. Henry Forrest Libby, a dentist by profession but a lover of nature at heart. The Libby Museum of Natural History, 755 N Main St, Wolfeboro, NH 03894, USA
- Abenaki Tower, Melvin Village
Ravikumar Tamanampudi/Google The original Abenaki Tower was constructed in the 1920s to provide panoramic views over New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Today’s tower is a rebuilt version of the original and still has great views. Abenaki Tower, NH-109, Melvin Village, NH 03850, USA
- Historic Lime Kilns, Haverhill
Ken MacGray/Flickr Two well-preserved lime kilns from the 19th-century still stand a short distance off the hiking route known as Chippewa Trail. These kilns were responsible for heating mined limestone for a period of about 50 years. Haverhill, NH, USA
- Sculptured Rocks Natural Area, Groton
Ken MacGray/Flickr Sculptured Rocks Natural Area is a unique testament to the power of water. Here, the Cockermouth River has carved a graceful gorge out of the bedrock. Sands carried by the river have created potholes and curious shapes along the gorge. Sculptured Rocks Natural Area, 251 Sculptured Rocks Rd, Hebron, NH 03241, USA
- Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner
Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum/Facebook Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, located near the base of its namesake mountain, is dedicated to the preservation of the native peoples of the region and their values, art, and culture. Mount Kearsarge, Mt Kearsarge, Warner, NH 03278, USA
- Pondicherry Wildlife Sanctuary, Jefferson/Whitefield/Carroll
Ken MacGray/Flickr Pondicherry Wildlife Sanctuary is home to magnificent Cherry Pond. Easy walking trails leads to the pond’s shore, where there are spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, 289 Airport Rd, Whitefield, NH 03598, USA
- Cathedral of the Pines, Rindge
Cathedral of the Pines Cathedral of the Pines is situated on a hilltop with a fine view of southern New Hampshire’s tallest peak, Mt. Monadnock. It was created to honor the sacrifices of America’s military veterans. Cathedral of the Pines, 10 Hale Hill Rd, Rindge, NH 03461, USA
Did we miss anything on this list that you’d like others to know about? Have you been to one of these locations? Let us know in the comments.
Fuller Gardens/Facebook
Fuller Gardens lies on what was once part of Alvan T. Fuller estate on the seacoast. Come and enjoy the finest horticulture paired with a scenic seaside location.
Fuller Drive, Fuller Dr, New Hampton, NH 03256, USA
Hood Museum of Art
Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College features some of the oldest and largest collections of art among any college or university in the country. Over 65,000 items are housed at the museum.
Hood Museum of Art, 6 E Wheelock St, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
Ken MacGray/Flickr
Cat Alley is an open-air art gallery tucked into an alley known as Dean Court in downtown Manchester. Whimsical murals line the brick walls of the alley and it’s said that the Cat Alley nickname was derived from a cat fight on the small street.
Cat Alley, Manchester, NH 03101, USA
Joe H/Google
“America’s typical teenager”, Archie Andrews, is memorialized in bronze along Meredith’s Main Street. The town is home to Bob Montana, who illustrated the first Archie comic in 1942. The statue faces Montana’s former workshop and studio.
David Burn/Flickr
Lurking in the woods of Madison is Madison Boulder, the largest glacial erratic in North America, and one of the largest in the world. Left behind by a retreating glacier, the massive rock weighs 5,000 tons and stands 23 feet tall.
Madison Boulder, Madison, NH 03849, USA
The Libby Museum/Facebook
The oldest natural history museum in New Hampshire, Libby Museum Of Natural History houses the natural artifacts collected by Dr. Henry Forrest Libby, a dentist by profession but a lover of nature at heart.
The Libby Museum of Natural History, 755 N Main St, Wolfeboro, NH 03894, USA
Ravikumar Tamanampudi/Google
The original Abenaki Tower was constructed in the 1920s to provide panoramic views over New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Today’s tower is a rebuilt version of the original and still has great views.
Abenaki Tower, NH-109, Melvin Village, NH 03850, USA
Two well-preserved lime kilns from the 19th-century still stand a short distance off the hiking route known as Chippewa Trail. These kilns were responsible for heating mined limestone for a period of about 50 years.
Haverhill, NH, USA
Sculptured Rocks Natural Area is a unique testament to the power of water. Here, the Cockermouth River has carved a graceful gorge out of the bedrock. Sands carried by the river have created potholes and curious shapes along the gorge.
Sculptured Rocks Natural Area, 251 Sculptured Rocks Rd, Hebron, NH 03241, USA
Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum/Facebook
Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, located near the base of its namesake mountain, is dedicated to the preservation of the native peoples of the region and their values, art, and culture.
Mount Kearsarge, Mt Kearsarge, Warner, NH 03278, USA
Pondicherry Wildlife Sanctuary is home to magnificent Cherry Pond. Easy walking trails leads to the pond’s shore, where there are spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, 289 Airport Rd, Whitefield, NH 03598, USA
Cathedral of the Pines
Cathedral of the Pines is situated on a hilltop with a fine view of southern New Hampshire’s tallest peak, Mt. Monadnock. It was created to honor the sacrifices of America’s military veterans.
Cathedral of the Pines, 10 Hale Hill Rd, Rindge, NH 03461, USA
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