"I grew up in New Hampshire. My closest neighbor was a mile away. The deer and the raccoons were my friends. So I would spend time walking through the woods, looking for the most beautiful tropical thing that can survive the winter in the woods in New Hampshire". -Steven Tyler
I recently took a wonderful trip up to New Hampshire with a friend of mine from school for Easter Weekend. After shopping until our debit cards could no longer slide through the machine due to overuse, and walking through nature as if we could "paint with all the colors of the wind," I thought writing an article on the top five best places in New Hampshire would help me cope with the fact that I unfortunately do not live here. Damn you, New England.
1. Portsmith
Talk about a utopian society. This humble abode of a town has some of the best boutiques you could ever find. With downtown having some grade A eateries, and lovely specialized culinary stores such as The Salt Seller, which is literally a store dedicated to different types of salt, you will never have a boring day in Portsmouth. If you get the chance to explore a bit, make your way down to the Friendly Toast. Its an indie, semi-edgy diner with an additional bar. So get turnt with some friends, and then cure your hangover with a variety of damn good food options. Plus, you get a free post card with every meal!
2. Hampton Beach
To be honest, the whole coast of New Hampshire is pretty rad. I don't use the word wicked, but if I did, I would totally describe Hampton beach as "wicked." With a classic boardwalk bringing the community together through unique stores, restaurants, and an arcade for the kids, a family vibe is created. Though the beach itself is obviously gorgeous, its the sand sculptures on the beach that draw the crowds, who can then enjoy some live music right by the water.
3. Lake Winnipesaukee
There is, literally, so much here. You can go boating, swimming, bike riding, and hiking. The outdoors really do call your name here. There are some excellent towns such as Meredith or Wolfeboro for shopping and dining if its a rainy day.
4. White Mountains
They're simply amazing. If you like the outdoors, this is a must see. The hiking trails on the White Mountains are without a doubt challenging, as the mountains cover a quarter of the state of NH, but I cannot imagine a better way to get your cardio in. With the wildlife being so accessible to see, you're in for a real treat. You can even take horse back tours through the mountains and the natural caves within.
5. Merrimack Outlets
People bus here from Canada, and theres a reason why. First off, New Hampshire has no income tax or sales tax. Basically every shopaholic's dream. I walked into the Free People section of Saks Fifth Avenue at the outlets today and almost went into cardiac arrest due to the inexpensive prices, a word never associated with Free People, and the unbelievable reality that I wouldn't be paying taxes on anything I bought. It was a truly religious experience, I have to say. The overall architecture of the stores, which are surrounded by natural granite rock, is enough of an incentive to visit, in my opinion.
