Small schools are becoming increasingly popular nowadays, and who can blame the students? With the benefits of being on a first name basis with your teachers, a quiet environment to study in, and knowing almost everyone you see around town, it's no wonder students are choosing small colleges over huge universities in big cities. New England College offers just that, plus the quaint in-the-woods appeal. However, a large barrier that these schools face is that they're also in small towns with not much to do. At first glance, Henniker (although it's the only one on Earth) is not the most exciting place on earth. Dig a little deeper, and you'll see that this town has so much more to offer than you first thought.
1. Hiking/biking
Past the buildings and the roads, hidden all over town, there are trails that lead literally EVERYWHERE. I have been running them for four years and I haven't found them all. You would be surprised at where you end up, and it's a great way to explore the town. You can find a map of the trails here: http://www.henniker.org/general/page/henniker-hiki...
Pat's Peak also offers some great hiking and mountain biking trails, with some great views at the summit. They host a mountain bike festival in June every year, more information can be found here: http://www.patspeak.com/bike.html
2. Speaking of Pat's Peak...
In the winter time, Pat's Peak offers terrain for all levels of skiers and snowboarders and is one of the few areas to offer night skiing. As NEC students, we get a free lift pass anytime, just show your ID at the lift! This is a great opportunity to learn a new skill or go out and have some fun. And be sure to say hi to me at the lift!
3. The rope swing
If you haven't already seen it, the rope swing is the best place in town to cool off and go swimming. You can see it right on the side of the Contoocook from the stone bridge in the middle of town, and you can get the from a trail on the athletic fields side of the covered bridge. There are also picnic tables for having lunch!
4. Disc Golf
NEC has a brand spanking new disc golf course located right in the NEC woods behind West parking lot. If you've never tried it before, it can be loads of fun, especially if you go with friends. Discs are not provided, so you'll have to bring your own. The course is well marked and a map is provided at the start.
5. Summer Concert Series
Starting in June, the Town of Henniker puts on a concert series for 10 weeks, so if you're around in the summertime it's worth it to go check it out! It happens every week on Tuesdays at 7 PM, and it's free. This takes place at the town green where the gazebo is.
6. Farmer's Market
Another event that mostly takes place in the summer and early fall is the Farmer's Market. This happens weekly on Thursday's from 4-7 at the town green. People from all around town come to sell homegrown, homemade products. Among them are fruits, vegetables, herbs, maple syrup, and even some meat, all produced by local farmers. This is a great way to support local farmers and get some VERY high-quality food at the same time.
7. Henniker Brewery
Right off Old Concord Road is the Henniker Brewery. They host all kinds of events which you can find out more about here: http://www.hennikerbrewing.com/events.html They also do tours of their facilities on Saturdays from 12-6 PM, you can sign up for a tour here: http://www.hennikerbrewing.com/brewery.html. Their tap room is always open for purchasing merchandise as well as alcohol (as long as you're 21!).
In addition to this, the college puts on all kinds of events throughout the year. Bingo is my personal favorite, but there are so many more and they can be very entertaining. Don't be shy - get out there and do something!
