7 Prettiest Downtown Strips In New Hampshire
New Hampshire is famous for its charming towns and vast expanses of wilderness. The small cities throughout the Granite State are known for their charm, architecture, and romantic covered bridges. New Hampshire is a year-round winter sports destination with incredible White Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee opportunities. The towns around these areas serve as gateways to mountainous adventure, and the small cities embrace this spirit with rugged lodging and culinary options in the downtown areas.
Many of these towns, such as Portsmouth, boast a storied maritime history and offer many cultural opportunities to celebrate this heritage with museums and heritage sites downtown. Their aesthetic, architecture, and stunning scenery make these downtown strips spectacular, among the state's best. Check out the prettiest downtown strips in New Hampshire, each one blending the outdoors with sophisticated cultural venues and fun attractions.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a scenic coastal town with a rich maritime history. Its sophisticated downtown district features cobblestone walkways and beautiful architecture. 17th—and 18th-century mansions line the roads of this historic town, including the landmark Strawbery Banke Mansion. The museum covers 350 years of history, including Indigenous, colonial, and a 1940s general store, now available for tours.
Downtown, with its trademark steeple, centers around historic Congress, Market, and Pleasant Streets, which blend to make Portsmouth one of the prettiest downtown areas in New England. The fountain is a popular spot for people watching, and Market Square is available for guided tours to help visitors absorb this region's vast history. Vintage residences like the Moffatt Ladd House, Warner House, and the Portsmouth Athenaeum add to the charm, making downtown Portsmouth a remarkable destination.
Dover
Dover has a classic downtown area lined with brick commercial structures, artisans, shops, and museums. Main Street is where you can get the lay of the land and meet the friendly community at fun events like the Run Before You Crawl 5K and Pub Crawl. The walkable district is full of restaurants and breweries, like La Festa Brick and Brew and Ember Wood Fire Grill, which are perfect after shopping.
Speaking of shopping, there is no shortage of shops in Dover that satisfy every taste, like Fire on the Mountain. The district has an artistic atmosphere, and many galleries celebrate this fact with local exhibits, especially at The Art Center on Washington Street. The 6,000-square-foot space offers 10 artists' studios, a printmaking studio, and many other attractions for artists and art lovers, adding to the charm of Dover's downtown strip.
Littleton
The scenic town of Littleton has an incredible downtown and historic district. It is considered the last classic Main Street in the US. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center, headquartered in Washington, DC, honored the road with the Great American Main Street Award for the community's revitalization efforts. Many downtown structures retain their original architecture, so stop at the Go Littleton Glad Shop to grab a tour map and explore.
One cannot leave downtown without checking out the iconic Pollyanna statue. The jubilant bronze statue, arms flung open in a welcoming gesture, honors Littleton's own Eleanor H. Porter, the creator of the world's most optimistic character. Arts and culture abound here, evidenced by the Pollyanna archway and galleries like Bad Art, Littleton Studio School, and the League of NH Craftsmen. This provides an ideal way to spend a quiet afternoon.
Plymouth
In the White Mountains region, Plymouth has a classic and vibrant downtown district and a distinct atmosphere only a college town can provide. It is home to Plymouth State University, so the city stays open year-round. Walkable Main Street is the main strip filled with friendly merchants, local shops, and cultural venues like Artistic Roots. The gallery feels like a museum with no admission charge and features fine arts and crafts from over 40 local artists and artisans.
Shopping is another trademark activity in town, with boutiques such as Backroad Boutique, Off the Hanger, and Simply Sunflowers. Shopping works up an appetite, which is no problem in Plymouth, where visitors can find various restaurants and pubs. Local favorites include The Main Street Station, Fosters Boiler Room, and Italian Farmhouse.
Hanover
Hanover is famously home to Dartmouth University, one of the world's greatest academic institutions. It is also known for its compact downtown, which has much to offer, from farm-to-table restaurants to curated selections of artisanal goods. The district is a foodie's paradise, with an eclectic range of international cuisine at places like Base Camp Cafe, Lou's Restaurant and Bakery, and Murphy's on the Green. The cultural side of downtown is just as lovely as its culinary side, featuring local shops, Bean's Art Store, and the Dartmouth Co-Op, among many others.
Booking a luxury or historic hotel downtown is the best way to immerse yourself in Hanover's culture, and there are excellent options. The Hanover Inn is a classic New England brick inn boasting over 200 years of history in the heart of the Dartmouth campus. The reimagined Six South Street Hotel provides luxurious rooms steps away from restaurants and other attractions downtown.
North Conway
North Conway's historic downtown in the scenic White Mountains region is brimming with modern and classic merchants housed in vintage architecture. Zeb's General Store and N. Conway Five and Dime Shop should not be missed for their charming throwback aesthetic and appeal. Those looking for the eclectic need look no further than the Naked Bohemian or New England Charms. The combination of culture and cuisine adds another layer of beauty to North Conway.
The Met Coffeehouse and Art Gallery is a superb way to start the day. It is filled with comfortable furniture and a rotating exhibit of 2D art. The artists whose work is displayed at the coffeehouse also exhibit their work around town. The Pope Memorial Library and Adventure Suites are notable places to find the exhibits. Do not leave town without a photo opportunity at the Conway Scenic Railroad, which adds another layer of elegance to the downtown district.
Exeter
Founded in 1638, Exeter is filled with history, including much of the downtown area adjacent to the Squamscott River. Significant historical sites include 24 Front Street, where Amos Tuck held his famous meeting in 1853, launching the Republican Party, and Town Hall, where Abraham Lincoln stopped on his Cooper Union Tour of 1860. The history and preservation of the landmark structures make Exeter one of New England's most impressive downtown districts.
As you continue down the walkable area, stop at the Exeter Historical Society on Front Street to explore Exeter's beginnings. Learning the significance of this town and its evolution will leave you with a deeper appreciation of its present and future. Booking a stay at the Exeter Inn enables guests to bask in the beauty and history of Exeter, a short walk from coffee shops, bookstores, and a trove of historic sites.
These seven small towns have the prettiest downtown streets in New Hampshire. The compact areas hold a lot of history, much of it preserved in their architecture, shops, museums, and exceptional restaurants. The best way to discover these areas is by slowly strolling the tree-lined roads and window shopping. You will come across a combination of quirky and unique local shops and artisans, mixed with the historical sites.
Towns like Portsmouth have vintage homes throughout the downtown area, some more than 300 years old. These homes add a quiet elegance and a tangible piece of history that defines these areas, especially the maritime heritage. Although these towns offer something unique, they all have that classic New England feel mingled with the community's signature, which is one of the many unique aspects of these regions.
