8 Quirkiest New Hampshire Towns You Didn't Know Existed

New Hampshire is, for many, the quintessential state of the New England region: the seacoast, lovely lakes, and mountains and hills that are alive with fall colors. Also called the Granite State, for the large proportion of rocky soil and topography found here, New Hampshire brings together some of the broader region's best features, from mountains and forests, to seacoast and the famous Lakes Region, a favorite among summer vacationers. Some of the state's towns run quirky, with one-of-a-kind features that draw travelers looking for all things curious and unusual. Beyond its capital, Concord, or larger towns like the historic Portsmouth, these places showcase the best and most unique attributes of all that New Hampshire has to offer.

Henniker

West of the Concord capital area, the south-central town of Henniker stands as a quaint choice among New England's quiet mountain villages. The town is renowned for its diverse collection of historic bridges, some of them covered, others built in stone. In winter, ski and snowsports fans flock to town given its location near the Pat's Peak recreation area.

Henniker's cultural offerings should interest the visitor at all times of year. For a truly local taste, Daniel's Restaurant and Pub serves up the region's traditional recipes in a space with low ceilings that are typical of historic New England buildings. The Contoocook River courses through the downtown area, making a picturesque setting that brings the surrounding natural beauty into Henniker proper. Architecture fans should seek out the Tucker Free Library, constructed in brick and open since 1903.

Meredith

On the northwest edge of Lake Winnipesaukee, the small town of Meredith is well-known among summertime visitors and longer-term vacationers in New Hampshire's Lakes Region. Visitors can even travel by boat to the town's numerous restaurants, including Enso Japanese Steak House, Surfside Burger Bar, and for Italian flavors in upscale digs, the waterside Lago.

Fans of culture will enjoy the Innisfree Bookshop, which sells local as well as international titles and features its own "New England Best Sellers" selection. Families traveling with children should check out Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf. Meredith calls itself the "gateway to the White Mountains," a local area offering hiking in warm weather, and skiing when snow falls. Train buffs of all ages can catch a ride on the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad.

North Conway

North Conway, almost on the state line with neighboring Maine, knows how to welcome travelers, especially when the leaves change color in the fall. The visitors, sometimes called 'leaf-peepers,' arrive in town and the White Mountains to take in the reds, oranges, and yellows that fire up across the local forests. To view these autumn leaves in comfort, the Conway Scenic Railroad brings visitors on a picturesque tour of the region. And year-round, the White Mountain National Forest, as well as the stately Mount Washington — at almost 6,300 feet, is New Hampshire's tallest peak — brings in visitors from all over the world. North Conway is also home to the New England Ski Museum, honoring the early-20th-century days when this was the United States' most popular area for downhill skiing.

Pittsburg

Different from the Pennsylvania city with a similar name, the tiny New Hampshire town of Pittsburg is tiny, yet it offers nature-focused travel options galore. Its location at New Hampshire's northern limit, just below the national border with Canada, allows visitors proximity to both countries. Among natural attractions here, First Connecticut Lake and Back Lake are local favorites. Lake Francis State Park awaits to Pittsburg's south.

The town's Bacon Road Bridge warrants its own visit, offering picture-perfect New England scenes around a covered wooden bridge that is now reserved for pedestrians. And for a swing through Canada, the large town of Sherbrooke, in the province of Quebec, stands about an hour's drive north.

Rye

The seaside, southeastern town of Rye boasts 8 miles of coastline — more than any other town in New Hampshire. Families rave about Odiorne Point State Park, which offers beachfront grounds, picnic tables, bike trails, and ocean views. Wallis Sands State Beach is another favorite for fun for all ages.

Rye Harbor has great options for boating and similar water activities. The Seacoast Science Center, a marine museum, provides immersive programs for young minds. Local flavor awaits at Petey's Summertime Seafood and Bar, a waterside restaurant running since 1990, with New England-style clambakes and a lobster roll — New England's iconic sandwich — that Petey's says is the best in the state.

Seabrook

A dozen miles south of Rye, the town of Seabrook, as the name suggests, also lies on New Hampshire's Atlantic coast. The town's limits help form New Hampshire's southern border with Massachusetts. Visiting families enjoy Seabrook's beaches or head to the Blackwater River estuary, a nature preserve. The Seabrook Back Dunes make for yet another nature-focused attraction here, and a favorite among bird-watchers.

The town is home to a surprising subculture. Surfing, not commonly thought of as a New England sport, nonetheless has a set of devoted amateurs who call Seabrook home and use the town's coastal waves as their main surf break.

Tamworth

The tiny place called Tamworth, in the east-central part of the state, combines natural beauty with a cultural history that has influenced the world. Settled in 1766, Tamworth lies in the state's Lakes Region. Famous local waterways, especially Chocorua Lake and White Lake State Park, call out for a visit and a quick swim in one or both.

For families, kid-friendly options around Tamworth include the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, a historic homestead that displays the medicine and agricultural customs of old New Hampshire. Famous literary giants, like poet E.E. Cummings, novelist Henry James, and Julia Ward Howe — who wrote the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" — all spent time in this scenic town.

Wolfeboro

Wolfeboro ranks as a perennial favorite among visitors. Set on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, its classic Main Street looks like something out of a movie, with breathtaking scenes and all-American stores from the bygone days of small-town New England. Wolfeboro Bay offers access to the lake and features a large set of docks, with capacity even for the Mount Washington, a vintage pleasure boat, and Winnipesaukee's largest vessel.

History fans love the Wright Museum, which exhibits artifacts and the stories of local veterans from World War II. The Wolfeboro Historical Society also operates downtown, preserving the area's heritage for current and future visitors. For some sugar and caffeine, travelers would be remiss to skip the Yum Yum Shop, a bakery, cafe, and ice cream vendor that had made gingerbread men and other sweet specialties since 1948.

Quirky New Hampshire Lives In Its Small Towns

Towns like these show that New Hampshire hardly lacks for unusual, even eccentric attractions. Singular points of interest, from the natural to the cultural, help define the Granite State today. Ski hubs like Henniker and North Conway have long brought outside visitors to New Hampshire's mountains, while literary heritage in Meredith and tiny Tamworth proves that New Hampshire creatives have always had stories to share. Last but hardly least, the seafood in Rye and the baked confections in Wolfeboro suggest that the state's culinary culture might be worth a trip on its own. Whatever a traveler's tastes, something original waits for discovery in small-town New Hampshire.