About an hour from New Hampshire’s capital city, Concord, along scenic I89, you’ll pass through ski country as the highway rolls over mountains and through the thick forests of this New England state. Pat’s Peak in Henniker, Sunapee in New London and even Whaleback along the side of I89 in Enfield.
Then a right on exit 18 and you’ll find your self driving past the giant Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center complex and on into the village of Hanover, home of the Ivy League institute of higher learning known as Dartmouth College.
Dartmouth is a private Ivy League research university in Hanover, whose history stretches way back to 1769. Originally chartered to educate the Native Americas, it is the ninth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Dartmouth College is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution!
The downtown of Hanover is dominated by the college but intermixed with the dorms and classroom buildings are a bunch of interesting hotels, inns, restaurants and shops.
Some interesting shops include The League of N.H. Craftsman store, Simon Pearce glass and pottery as well as clothing stores and even a Starbucks.
For restaurants, try Lou’s Restaurant and Bakery for breakfast if you don’t mind waiting in line. Molly’s is the perennial favorite among college kid and visiting parents. Murphy’s on the Green provides a
A branch of the local chain, Salt Hill Pub has Guinness on tap and Irish favorites such as Shepard’s pie.
Morano Gelato serves up some of the best authentic gelato this side of Italy.
For activities, catch a student production of a musical, or a music performance at the HOP (Hopkins Center for the Arts). Or catch a movie at the Nugget, the town owned 102 year old movie theater. There is a skating rink in town, canoes and kayaks to rent down at the river. The Montshire Science Museum is great for kids and lays just over the river in Norwich, Vermont. The newly renovated Hood Museum of Art (free admission) with 16 galleries of art from modern to ancient treasures.