Get out of town!
Great destinations well under two hours away
Monadnock Region
1 hour from Manchester
Get an early start to climb Mt. Monadnock, which is claimed to be the second most climbed mountain in the world. The White Dot trail is the easiest way up to enjoy views from Boston to the Green Mountains of Vermont. The town of Harrisville just to the north is a perfectly preserved mill town that is described as the prettiest small town in the state. Stop in the quaint general store for a sandwich or some ice cream. It's a must visit. Continuing east the town of Peterborough is worth exploring on foot, with interesting shops, several excellent restaurants, and a brewery. Miller State Park has an auto road to the top of Pack Monadnock, where several ledges and a fire tower offer excellent vantages. If it's Fall, keep an eye peeled for raptors as thousands visit the cliffs on their migration south.
Woodstock Vermont
90 minutes from Manchester
A picturesque historic town in the heart of the Green Mountains. Visit the Woodstock Inn & Resort, walk the village green, or browse the interesting stores and restaurants. The Billings Farm and Museum is a former Rockefeller estate that serves as a working dairy farm and educational homage to Vermont's rural past. The Quechee Gorge offers stunning views from the bridge and a short hike takes you down to the river, where pools and natural rock slides make for a great spot to cool off with the little ones. Bigger kids will want to head a mile upstream where the covered bridge includes deep water swimming with potential ledge jumps up to 60 feet. The Worthy Kitchen is a perfect and charming lunch spot when you get hungry.
Kancamagus Highway
90 minutes from Manchester
The Kanc might be the most famous road in New Hampshire and for good reason. Whether you just take in the views from the overlooks or plan a hike from one of the many trailheads you will be rewarded with breathtaking landscapes. Worth the drive in all four seasons. Sabbaday Falls is an easy short hike with a spectacular payoff, especially in the winter. Farther east, Lower Falls is right off the road and provides an opportunity to swim in the warmer months. More than a half dozen campgrounds mean you can make a weekend out of it
The Seacoast
45 minutes from Manchester
New Hampshire packs a lot into its 18 miles of coastline and there is plenty of variety. Jenness Beach in Rye is a family friendly spot with safe wading for the younger ones, a bathhouse, and multiple parking options(though a warm weekend day will see those fill up quickly). A favorite spot for surfers, you will see dozens almost any day of the year. It is a flat, somewhat wide beach that feels grandiose when the tide is out. Hampton Beach is more for the action crowd, with all shapes and sizes partaking in the sun and fun. Odiorne Point State Park to the north offers sweeping ocean views and a rocky shoreline, lots of hiking trails, a boat launch, and several beaches on Little Harbor. The in-park Seacoast Science Center makes for a great option when the weather doesn't cooperate.
The Perfect Weekend in Portland
90 minutes from Manchester
Day 1
- Stroll the Eastern Promenade, grab a sandwich from one of the food trucks, and enjoy the harbor views.
- Hit up one of the many breweries in Munjoy Hill for a pre-dinner drink.
- Dinner at Terlinqua, a barbecue restaurant like no other. If that isn't your thing, Jinq Yan Tavern is a few blocks away and serves up an inspired Korean menu that has been winning awards since opening.
Day 2
- Grab an early breakfast on the go at Standard Baking Co, easily the best bakery in the state.
- Decision time now. If you want to get on the water and be outside, cross the street to the Casco Bay Lines terminal and catch the Peaks Island Ferry. A 15-minute ride across Porstmouth Harbor brings outstanding views and fresh salt air. Once on Peaks, rent a bike and circumnavigate the island(45 mins) or just walk around the village. Kayak rentals are easily found as well. If you are still hungry there are several good places to eat near the harbor before catching the ferry back to Portland. If the water isn't calling your name, take a short walk to Congress Sq to the Portland Museum of Art. The PMA has a sizable permanent collection with a mix of European Masters and American Classics, as well as many Maine focused works.
- Lunch at either Duckfat, a nationally renowned sandwich shop; or Eventide Oyster Co, a Portland landmark.
- Spend the afternoon walking the wharf's and browsing through the galleries and eclectic stores that line the cobblestone streets.
- Dinner at Fore Street(if you are a planner, advanced reservations are needed) or grab kitchen bar seats at Central Provisions to watch the chefs plate up delicious and creative small plates.
- If you still have energy, hit up The Jewel Box, an award winning cocktail bar that feels decidedly like a local haunt despite the national praise.
Day 3
- Breakfast at Q Street Diner in South Portland on the drive out to Cape Elizabeth.
- Take a morning walk around Fort Williams Park for various views of Portland Head Light, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country. There are several WW2 gun batteries worth exploring.
- Head south to Two Lights State Park for expansive Atlantic Ocean views and lunch with a million dollar view at the Lobster Shack at Two Lights.