Among the six states in New England, New Hampshire is one of the most picturesque. The Granite State has a number of small towns surrounded by lush forests, grand mountains, and rivers. These 10 small towns in New Hampshire look like they appeared in a Norman Rockwell painting. Their overall views can be captured in a picture or, these days, in a social media post. Additionally, they all offer outdoor adventures, family-friendly attractions, shopping opportunities, and restaurants with refined or casual dining.
10 Sugar Hill
Founded in 1962, Sugar Hill’s name comes from the large groves of sugar maples within the limits of the town. Its picturesque setting is due to the town not overlooking the White Mountain National Forest, along with views of the Presidential, Franconia, Kinsman, and Dalton ranges. Usually, early June is peak lupine season, in which these field flowers aligning roads in Sugar Hill burst in colors of purple, pink, white, and sky blue. Usually, there's a festival held in timing with their blooming but check this website for future updates.
Polly’s Pancake Parlor is a longtime eatery in Sugar Hill. Menu orders can involve made-from-scratch pancakes and waffles using the restaurant’s onsite ground wheat, buckwheat, and cornmeal flours. Harman’s Cheese & Country Store sells their premium-grade white cheddar that’s made from whole milk.
9 North Conway
Due to proximity, North Conway is considered to be a starting point for those looking to hike the White Mountains along with carrying out other nature pursuits. The Conway Scenic Railroad runs heritage rail excursions and scenic train rides through Mount Washington Valley and Crawford Notch. The railroad offers four different types of rides that seem like trips back in time; they involve vintage passenger cars chugging along historic routes. Another taste of nostalgia can be found at Zeb’s General Store, which sells specialty foods, bath bombs, products relating to soft drink, movies, maple products, and candies. There’s also a brewing community around North Conway, with venues such as Sea Dog Brewing Company and Moat Mountain Smokehouse & Brewing Co.
8 Littleton
Located at the northern edge of the White Mountains, Littleton is a vibrant town because of various reasons. Littleton’s Main Street has two classic longtime diners, The Coffee Pot Restaurant and The Littleton Diner. Along this street, the candy store, Chutters, has a Guinness World Record for having the longest continuous candy counter. It measures 112 feet. Littleton is also an artsy town with galleries, theaters, an opera house, and a multidisciplinary creative space bridging art, music, and a tech called The Loading Dock. Art classes in various mediums are offered at the Littleton Studio School Littleton also has a number of nature trails, and its most welcoming attraction is a downtown statue of the literary character Pollyanna, whose author Eleanor H. Porter was a Littleton favorite.
7 Exeter
Based along the seacoast area of Southeastern New Hampshire, Exeter is the subject of a neat local history fact - it served as New Hampshire’s capital during the American Revolutionary War. The American Independence Museum delves into this period with a collection holding over 3,000 related objects, including the first printing of the Declaration of Independence and virtual programming. Some of these items can be seen digitally.
Stroll along the Swasey Parkway, a walkway across the Squamscott River, or through Founders Park, which was built to mark Exeter’s 350th anniversary. Exeter is also artsy with the Seacoast Artist Association, which displays the talents of New Hampshire’s seacoast region. Otis Restaurant, a local favorite spot, currently has a five-course tasting menu that changes weekly.
6 Jackson
As another resort town in the White Mountains, Jackson has been a longtime picture-perfect New England backdrop. In particular, the wooden Jackson “Honeymoon” covered bridge is a popular photo stop that goes over the Ellis River, whose nickname may come from couples who kissed underneath it to get good luck. Jackson is also the location of Black Mountain Ski Area, which has been operating in this area since 1935. Over time, the ski resort has grown to now encompass skiing and riding programs for children and adults amid five lifts and 45 trails across 143 acres of skiable terrain. Suggested places to eat in Jackson include The Shannon Door Pub & Restaurant, a longtime Irish pub, and Thompson House Eatery, which offers fine dining in a farmhouse setting. Puzzle lovers can shop for new sets at the store White Mountain Puzzles.
5 Harrisville
A historic mill town in the Monadnock region of southern New Hampshire, Harrisville maintains its 19th-century roots alongside the modern-day living. A preservation brick and granite mill complex are at the center of this village. Today, these buildings cater to local businesses and residents. In 1977, the U.S. Department of Interior designated Harrisville a National Historic Landmark. In reflecting New England charm, the Harrisville General Store has been around since 1838; where nowadays, customers can make breakfast and lunch orders and purchase book goods from local merchants. As a reflection of Harrisville’s woolen mill history, Harrisville Designs was established to protect and continue the village’s tradition of producing textiles and to provide local jobs. Their retail store is stocked with yarn and other materials for weaving, knitting, and looming.
4 Meredith
As a resort town within New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Meredith is a lively place. The Mills Falls Marketplace is a shopping and dining experience within the Mills Falls at the Lake resort. The resort’s Ekal Activity Center gets guests out on Lake Winnipesaukee through kayaks, canoes, and SUP rentals. Or go by rail as the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad offers one and two-hour long train rides from Meredith to Weirs Beach.
The Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery was previously featured in Food & Wine Magazine's 2017 “500 Best Wineries in America” guide. Their wine production extends to meads, dessert wines, and red and white wines. Their 2020 releases include their Northern Berry Red, a complex blend of blueberries, honey, and primarily honeyberries, and WILD BLUE, a blueberry sparkling wine. Try them within their onsite tasting room.
Held in August, the Lakes Region Fine Arts & Crafts Festival happens along Main Street and amid shops at the Mills Falls Marketplace.
3 Hanover
Located in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, on the western side of New Hampshire, Hanover is the location of Dartmouth College. Academics aside, this New Hampshire town has nearby attractions relating to history, museums, and winter sports. There are places for partaking in outdoor sports, too.
A different way to get into Dartmouth is by visiting the Hood Museum of Art; The museum holds 65,000 objects signifying the traditions of Native American, European and American, Asian, Indigenous Australian, African, and Melanesian art.
The Dartmouth Skiway has a legacy with skiing, so much so that many Dartmouth alumni have been Olympics skiers, and today the ski venue welcomes current and newbie skiers and snowboard riders to their mountain landscape. Their Snow Sports School holds weekly programs, specialty camps, and private lessons. Passes and rentals are also available. For dining, Base Camp Café serves Nepalese cuisine, including Tarkari Curry dishes, amid Nepalese-related art and decor. Molly’s Restaurant & Bar brings in college students and locals with their three-dollar margaritas.
2 Franconia
Franconia is surrounded by the White Mountains. This town partly contains Franconia Notch State Park, which is in the White Mountain National Forest. It was the location of the Old Man in the Mountain, also known as “Stone Face,” a resemblance to a human face shaped from granite cliff ledges that collapsed in 2003. This former face was based on Cannon Mountain, where the latter can be seen via the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway. The seasonally-operating tramway brings passengers to the mountain’s summit. Also, at this state park, the New England Ski Museum tells how this winter sport evolved over time and some local ski history. The poet Robert Frost had a home in Franconia that is now The Frost Place, a museum and nonprofit education center for poetry. Due to COVID-19, visitation to The Frost Place has changed; check their website for updates. Franconia Coffee House is located inside a hardware store, while Iron Furnace Brewing usually produces hop-forward beers but also rotates in porters, IPAs, and Stouts.
1 Lincoln
Also based in the White Mountains, the town of Lincoln attracts visitors due to its many outdoor activities. It is linked to Franconia Notch State Park, which contains the Flume Gorge, an 800-foot natural wonder extending to the base of Mount Liberty. The story goes that in 1808 an elderly woman named “Aunt” Jess Guernsey came across the Flume Gorge while fishing, but geologically it formed amid the Jurassic Period. See this website for information on visiting the Flume Gorge. Lincoln is also the endpoint for the Kancamagus Highway, a 34.5-mile scenic drive along Rt. 112 in Northern New Hampshire.
The seasonally-open Clark’s Trading Post is a family attraction with a headlining act of a performing bear show along with rides and a magic mansion. A ride aboard The White Mountain Central Railroad is included with park admission. Whale’s Tale Water Park has various water slides, lazy rivers, and other waterside activities, such as its Akua Beach, where park visitors can try flow boarding or body boarding. Seven Birches Winery uses European grape varietals and fruits in their winemaking production within their facility at RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain; the location also has a tasting room. As for dining, the Gypsy Cafe brings made-from-scratch dishes from different parts of the world to their table settings.