8 Unforgettable Small Towns to Visit in New Hampshire
New Hampshire does not lack small towns to engage the curious traveler. Fans of New England charm will find loads of it in the state. Classic college towns like Hanover and Keene provide brick buildings and a youthful atmosphere, while waterside areas — from Wolfeboro and Meredith on Lake Winnipesaukee to Seabrook and Portsmouth on the Atlantic Sea coast — give a classic flavor of a New England whose history is anchored in maritime traditions. These towns in New Hampshire are as different as possible for one state, but they share one trait in common: tourists will find them unforgettable.
Wolfeboro
Wolfeboro, population 6,600, is a charming lakeside town on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee with sought-after attractions. It is well known for its classic Main Street, with post-card-perfect views and all-American storefronts that will make you think you've stepped into a vintage catalog.
Wolfeboro Bay offers unparalleled access to the lake, and adventurous visitors can cruise aboard Mount Washington, an old-time pleasure boat — and the lake's largest. Travelers can grab a chair at the town's numerous restaurant and cafe patios for on-the-water views of the lake and the surrounding White Mountain range. For history buffs, the Wright Museum is a top draw in town, with displays about World War II and the testimonies of veterans who served in the war. Other organizations for the culture-minded traveler include the Wolfeboro Historical Society, whose collections of artifacts bring to life the days of Old New England.
Seabrook
Seabrook, with 8,400 residents, lies in the southeast corner of the state on New Hampshire's short Atlantic sea coast. With part of its border on the state line with Massachusetts, Seabrook allows for a mix of New Hampshire and regional offerings for the visitor passing through or looking for a longer stay. Visiting adults with children can stroll Seabrook's Beach or opt for the Blackwater River estuary, while the Seabrook Back Dunes offer many ways to enjoy the state's seaside natural settings. A recent surfing trend makes the town unique among New Hampshire's warm-weather destinations and serves as an unexpected base for surfing fans from New England and beyond.
Hanover
Well-known for being the hometown of Dartmouth College, founded in 1769 and ranking among the United States Ivy League universities, the 11,000 inhabitants of Hanover have as many reasons to stay as to welcome visitors. Hugging the western border with Vermont and established in 1761,
Hanover boasts cultural draws like the Nathan's Garden botanical site, the Hopkins Center for the Arts, and the historic Baker-Berry Library, which is the primary library on Dartmouth's campus. Another major draw at Dartmouth is the Hood Museum of Art, a robust modern collection. Travelers of all ages and tastes can come and enjoy Hanover's diverse charms, given its status as one of America's quintessential college towns.
Rye
The seaside town of Rye, population 5,600, lies along 8 miles of seacoast, the most of any New Hampshire town. It is about 5 miles from Portsmouth and near the state line of neighboring Maine. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy Odiorne Point State Park, a state park with beachfront grounds.
Rye Harbor welcomes those looking for boating or other options on the water, while the Seacoast Science Center is a hands-on marine museum geared for students of the coastal world, no matter what age. Wallis Sands State Beach makes for another choice in Rye's menu of tourist-friendly options. Jenness Beach, in the southern corner of town, draws visitors year-round for its sweeping maritime views.
Portsmouth
A seaside neighbor to Rye, Portsmouth, with 22,300 inhabitants, balances the bustle of a larger place with small-town New England quaintness. The town's historic main street attracts visitors of all kinds. Outdoor adventures to places like Pierce Island and Four Tree Island make for a great place to picnic.
Prescott Park, a celebrated local garden and green space, hosts a warm-weather concert schedule every year. As a classic New England small town, Portsmouth's other standout attractions include the Strawbery Banke, an outdoor history museum that takes its name and its Old English spelling from the many wild strawberries that 17th-century settlers found to grow locally. Portsmouth also has historic connections to the Revolutionary War.
Keene
Keene, population 22,800, is a mid-sized small town with an abundance of charm. Located in the state's southwest corner, the town makes for a pleasant stop in close distance with the neighboring state of Vermont to the west or Massachusetts to the south. Walkers and hikers can take in Chesterfield Gorge or the Cheshire Rail Trail. The town hosts an annual pumpkin festival in the fall and serves as a two-school college town: both Keene State College and Antioch University New England call Keene home. Natural offerings include the much-loved Wheelock Park, the Horatio County Nature Preserve, and the Greater Goose Pond Forest.
When the snow comes, these areas also organize winter activities like cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The town hosts its Keene Ice and Snow Festival each February, which displays wow-factor ice sculptures from ice artists across New England.
Meredith
Located along the northwest shores of Lake Winnipesaukee and not far from Wolfeboro, the small town of Meredith claims a total population of just 6,800. Meredith makes for a pleasant stop for summertime visitors and longer-term vacationers in New Hampshire's Lakes Region.
Cultural mavens will enjoy the Innisfree Bookshop, and parents with young children may delight their kids with a visit to Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf. Meredith is also known as the "gateway to the White Mountains," a local range that offers hiking in warm weather as well as skiing when the winter snow comes. Visitors who enjoy America's old train systems should not miss the chance to ride the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad.
Exeter
Exeter, population 16,000, hosts elements of colonial history and modern interests in equal measure. Set near the Atlantic coast in New Hampshire's southeast, Exeter is famous as the hometown of the elite boarding school Phillips Exeter, which has operated since 1781. Fans of New England traditions can see the school's imprint all over town.
For geography enthusiasts, Exeter itself lies at the confluence of the Little and Exeter Rivers before they become the Squamscott River on its way to the Atlantic Ocean. For a town of its modest size, Exeter boasts more than half a dozen parks and green spaces, from the team sports facilities at Brickyard Park and the statues in Gale Park to Stewart Park and its walkways along the Exeter.
New Hampshire offers a depth and breadth of small towns to visit. Coastal settlements, including Seabrook and Rye, have long inspired visitors with their salty air and connection to the ocean. The state's inland towns are no different, as Exeter and Keene give a flavor of a part of the region that is distinguished from coastal life — but no less a part of New England's cultural richness. Whether traveling as a couple, with children or simply solo, New Hampshire makes a great choice as one's next travel destination, no matter how many times a person has already visited.
