New Hampshire

Understand

Residents of the state are proud of the nature around them; so, careless actions that damage the local environment are not appreciated. If hiking in the White Mountains, make certain that your travel plans are sound, as volunteer rescue teams do not appreciate being called in the middle of the night to find lost tourists.

However, as tourism is the main industry in New Hampshire, tourists are certainly greatly appreciated.

• Visit New Hampshire website

Regions

Cities

Some of the major cities are:

• Concord — The capital of the state and its third-largest city
• Berlin
• Dover
• Hanover — Home of Dartmouth College, this college town on the Appalachian Trail also makes a good base for exploring the nearby Quechee area of Vermont
• Keene
• Manchester — revitalized mill town and its largest city
• Nashua — revitalized mill town and its second largest city
• Portsmouth — seaside town known for beer and Strawberry Banke Museum
• Rochester

Other destinations

• Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, Cornish — Former home and studios of noted sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
• Mount Washington State Park
• Waterville Valley — a resort town in the White Mountains.
• White Mountain National Forest — home of many peaks in the Presidential Range

Get in

By plane

• Manchester - Boston Regional Airport, Brown Av. Route 101 exit 2, Manchester, +1 603 624-6556. A convenient way to get to the city and much of southern New Hampshire. Sometimes used as a low-cost, low-hassle alternative to Logan International Airport in Boston.

By bus

• Greyhound, +1-800-231-2222. Service from Montréal, Boston, Vermont, and Maine.
• Concord Coach Lines, +1-800-639-3317. Service from Boston.

By train

There is limited access to New Hampshire by train, with no trains to the major cities. The two Amtrak routes that at least straddle New Hampshire are:

• Downeaster serves the seacoast region, passing through from Boston North Station to Portland, Maine. Note that if coming from south of Boston on the NE Corridor, trains terminate at Boston South Station, and you must connect via the T or taxi to North Station. Alternatively, buses (see above) leave directly from South Station.
• Vermonter primarily serves eastern Vermont, but also serves Claremont, although several other stops are across the Connecticut river from New Hampshire, including Bellows Falls (across from Walpole), White River Junction (across from Hanover and Lebanon), and Brattleboro (across from Hinsdale).

Get around

Concord Coach, Dartmouth Coach, and Boston Express offer service to much of the state. Information on New Hampshire Transit can be found here.

However, the easiest mode of transportation is by car. Buses and trains don't serve most areas; so, cars may be the only option.

Stay safe

New Hampshire is constantly ranked among the safest states in the country. Crime is typically not a problem, but make sure to be careful while driving—especially if you're unfamiliar with winter driving. Moose occasionally pose a hazard on roads in the White Mountains and northward. When hiking, bear encounters are possible and the weather can change rapidly at higher elevations, especially in the Presidential Range. The area surrounding Mount Washington is known for having some of the worst weather in the country. Please plan ahead when hiking.

Respect

New Hampshire's LGBT community is relatively obscure when compared with the other New England states, although the US Census reports that it has among the highest concentrations of gay and lesbian residents of any U.S. state. Gay venues do exist in the urbanized far south, but the heavily forested north is relatively more conservative. Overall, New Hampshire is less LGBT-friendly than neighboring states.

Go next

• Maine - The state's northeastern neighbor is known for its seacoast fishing villages, wooded and remote interior, and stunning vistas such as that found in Acadia National Park.
• Massachusetts - The birthplace of America's revolution, New Hampshire's southern neighbor is home to historical towns, the vacation hotspot of Cape Cod, and the always-interesting city of Boston.
• Vermont - The fall foliage in New Hampshire's western neighbor is a site not-to-be missed, while during the rest of the year the state offers a rural charm unique in America.
• Quebec - New Hampshire's northern neighbor, Québec's European feel, history, culture and warmth have made it a favorite tourist destination both nationally and internationally.