7 Fairy-Tale Small Towns In New Hampshire

Who doesn’t want to spend time in a small town that seems to have leapt off the pages of a storybook, complete with covered bridges, cozy inns, snow-dusted rooftops, forest trails, never mind a pancake parlor and an old-fashioned cheese shop. Known as the Granite State for its rugged mountains and historic stone quarries, New Hampshire is also home to some of the most picturesque villages in New England. Here are seven fairy-tale towns in New Hampshire, which will make you want to stay up a little bit longer reading under the covers with a flashlight, just so the fairy tale doesn’t end.

Sugar Hill

In one of the oldest states that became the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on June 21, 1788, Sugar Hill is one of New Hampshire’s “newest” towns. Incorporated in 1962, the colorful mountain town sits in the picturesque White Mountains with stunning views of its renowned fields of pink and purple lupines every June. In another historic first, Sugar Hill is also the location of the first resort-based ski school in the U.S. in 1929 at Peckett’s-on-Sugar-Hill near Franconia, where you’ll find a historical marker.

Learn more about the history of this quintessential New England town at the Sugar Hill Historical Museum, then enjoy a stack of buttermilk pancakes at world-famous Polly’s Pancake Parlor. No trip to Sugar Hill is complete without a stop at Harman’s Cheese & Country Store, whose little red country store sells about 13 tons of aged white cheddar cheese annually. Giving you all the good old-fashioned feels, they slice the cheese with a traditional wire cutter, then wrap it in Kraft paper.

Jackson

Nothing says fairy tale more than a classic New Hampshire town with its own covered bridge over the Ellis River, the Honeymoon Bridge (also known as Covered Bridge No. 51). Built in 1876, the bridge earns its nickname by the throngs of visitors who stop to pose for a kiss under its entrance for a photo op. Capture more photographs of the pretty landscape surrounding the bridge, including rolling hills, lupine-covered fields, and the moss-covered boulders on the banks of the Ellis River.

Keep discovering the romantic town with a stroll down Main Street, stopping in at the J-Town Deli & Country Store for a homemade sandwich and cold beer, Ravenwood Curio Shoppe for funky artwork or a garden gnome, or pick up a jigsaw puzzle at White Mountain Puzzles.

Waterville Valley

With only one road leading in and out of the resort village of Waterville Valley, this fairy tale town is a hideaway deep in the White Mountain National Forest, surrounded by mountain peaks like the whimsically-named Sandwich Dome, part of the Sandwich Range of the White Mountains. A hiker’s paradise, Waterville Valley is home to the first network of trails in the U.S. There are dozens of trails covering more than 100 miles that start right near the Waterville Valley Resort, as well as opportunities for biking with onsite rentals available, an 18-hole disc golf course at Snow’s Mountain, or a 9-hole course at Town Square Disc Golf. Step back in time with a visit to old-timey Jugtown Country Store, where you’ll find everything from deli meats, fresh produce, craft beer, and made-in-New-Hampshire merch, or pop into the Bookmonger for your next whodunnit mystery.

Harrisville

Time seems to stand still in historic Harrisville, with its perfectly preserved 19th-century brick mill buildings, mirror-like lake, and old-fashioned Harrisville General Store. It’s one of the only intact “mill towns” left in the U.S., home to Cheshire Mills from the 1850s through 1970. Thanks to the tightly-knit community, Historic Harrisville has worked since the mill’s closure to maintain and renovate the old mill buildings, breathing new life into them as retail stores, space for artists and writers, and small businesses like Harris Designs and Horse Hill Studio, who make bowls, boxes, and satchels from leather and found objects. A designated National Historic District, stream the audio walking tour of the town on your mobile device, as you visit 26 sites in the village, including the 1840 Vestry, now the Harrisville Public Library.

Peterborough

Inspired by Thornton Wilder’s 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Our Town,” in which he explores everyday life in the early 1900s in the fictional town of “Grover’s Corner, New Hampshire,” Peterborough is the real fairy tale town. Enjoy kayaking along the Contoocook River that flows right through town, or wander down Main Street as you discover quaint antique shops like Bowerbird & Friends Antiques and Remarkable, cozy cafés, and art galleries, including the upscale New England Art Exchange. In the center of downtown Peterborough, known as Depot Square, stop for a late lunch at the photogenic Peterborough Diner, a historic 1950s Worcester Lunch Car painted bright cream and green, and enjoy an old-fashioned lunch basket with fries.

Canterbury

Home to the storied Canterbury Shaker Village, Canterbury feels like it stepped out of the pages of a storybook, part fairy tale, part “Canterbury Tales.” Instead of knights and pilgrims, you’ll find whitewashed Shaker buildings, heirloom gardens, and rolling fields. The Village has operated as a living museum since 1992, when the last member of the religious society, known as the Shakers, passed away. Designated as a National Historic Landmark for its architecture and significance, there are gardens, nature trails, mill ponds, and over two dozen Shaker buildings, including the 1792 Moses Johnson-style Meeting House in its original location. Afterward, a stop at the Village Store is worthwhile, where you’ll find soaps, candles, Shakers’ Pure Maple Syrup, and artisan-quality goods.

In Canterbury Center, visit the old-timey Canterbury Country Store, which showcases the products of more than 40 local craftspeople. End the day with a proper English pint of Coddiwomple or Canterbury Ale at the Canterbury Aleworks.

Glen

What better way to end a tour of fairy tale towns in New Hampshire than in the village of Glen, home of Story Land, where fairy tales come to life. Meet characters like Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Tinkerbell. The popular amusement park was founded in the 1950s by the Morrells, who based the theme park on handmade dolls from classic children’s books. Enjoy more family fun next door at the Living Shores Aquarium, where you can discover what lives on the ocean floor in the indoor aquarium, play in the touch tanks, and see American alligators at the Alligator Exhibit. Head over to one of Glen’s favorite spots, the Red Parka Pub, after a day of excitement, and wind down over cold drinks, pub fare, and live music, and let the younger members of the family order something off the Kids' menu.

Finishing Thoughts

Turn the pages of the storybook called "the Granite State," and discover seven fairy tales towns, past the lupine fields of Sugar Hill, the romantic covered bridge in Jackson, and the mill-town charm of Harrisville, where you’ll discover the hideaway of Waterville Valley, the antique-filled streets of Peterborough, and the Shaker-filled history of Canterbury. And just when the fairy tale feels complete, you find yourself in Glen, where Story Land brings the magic to life with castles, characters, and happily-ever-afters.