A major industrial center in northern New England with 110,000 residents. Known for its textile history, strong public schools, and high social mobility.
Manchester, New Hampshire gives you city life and easy trips to forests, lakes, and mountains. Walk by the Merrimack River to visit the Amoskeag Fishways Learning Center, watch baseball at the riverside stadium, or tour the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Zimmerman House. The Currier Museum of Art displays Picasso and O’Keeffe paintings. The SNHU Arena holds big concerts and hockey games. You can drive to Boston in under an hour or reach the White Mountains in 90 minutes. Explore shops with no sales tax, try restaurants serving everything from seafood to wood-fired pizza, and use trails that connect neighborhoods.
Museums, Sports, and Family Activities
Begin at the Currier Museum of Art to see European paintings and modern works. Book a tour of the Zimmerman House, New England’s only Frank Lloyd Wright home open for visits. Walk five blocks east to the SEE Science Center, where kids experiment with physics exhibits and study a LEGO model of Manchester’s 1800s textile factories. Watch the Fisher Cats play baseball at their riverside stadium with views of downtown. The Palace Theatre presents musicals and orchestra performances year-round. Check the SNHU Arena schedule for hockey games or concerts by popular artists.
Parks, Lakes, and Winter Sports
At Lake Massabesic, paddle a kayak or fish for bass along 10 miles of forest trails open for hiking. McIntyre Ski Area operates 15 lighted slopes for night skiing and snow tubing from December through March. Drive 20 minutes to Bear Brook State Park to hike 40 miles of paths past old logging camps and ponds. Between June and September, swim in the ocean at Hampton Beach State Park, an hour’s drive east. Follow the paved Heritage Trail from downtown Manchester to former textile mills converted into coffee shops and stores.
Factories, Education, and Local History
The Millyard Museum explains how water-powered mills made Manchester a leading producer of textiles in the 1800s. Nearby, former Stark Mill buildings now contain software companies and beer breweries. Watch salmon swim upstream through glass panels at the Amoskeag Fishways Learning Center. St. Anselm College displays handwritten books from the Middle Ages in its library, open for guided visits. Downtown galleries at the New Hampshire Institute of Art rotate exhibits of modern photography and sculptures.
Restaurants and Stores
Shop for records at Strange Brew Tavern’s vinyl annex or browse new books at Bookery on Elm Street. The Mall of New Hampshire contains department stores and specialty shops, all exempt from state sales tax. Order lobster rolls at Hooked or try thin-crust pizzas with local ingredients at Campo Enoteca. Café La Reine bakes croissants and macarons near rotating art displays. The Foundry Restaurant changes its menu weekly using vegetables from nearby farms. Sample seasonal beers during weekend tours at 603 Brewery or Stark Brewing Company.
Transportation and Day Trips
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport flies directly to Orlando, Chicago, and eight other cities. Free parking and a 90-minute drive to ski areas make it convenient for winter trips. Take Manchester Transit buses to reach downtown from residential zones. Boston Express buses depart hourly for Boston’s airport and train station. Rent bicycles at Manchester Bike Shop to pedal the flat Rockingham Rail Trail. Drive 45 minutes east to explore Portsmouth’s harbor and colonial-era homes. Hike up Mount Monadnock’s rocky summit trails, 80 miles west, or visit Boston’s museums within an hour by car or commuter rail.
