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Concord: Outdoors in Concord

A look at Concord's downtown and surrounding streets

Special Message

Concord has a variety of types of entertainment, both indoors and outside.  Check out the various places to hear live performances such as concert venues (we have a number of them)-- Capital Center for the Arts, The Bank of New Hampshire Stage, Hat Box Theatre; and various bars and restaurants that provide live music; it's essential to keep checking each venue's website to see what is on offer. It's a scene that's changing daily.  Concord has a variety of walking trails and parks or you can get some fresh air walking around the neighborhoods near the law school. There's interesting architecture, some smaller parks and lots of dog walkers!  As the weather cools, area parks, and businesses outside of the area, and in neighboring states will have many outdoor activities to keep you busy. You'll need a break from studying, right?

Walking Trails/Fruit and Vegetable Stands

Hiking Trails are located within the city and on the outskirts of the city.  There are more than 30 walking trails that you can visit. Your leashed dog can walk along many trails (please pick up after your pet).  These areas are all carry in/carry out. Volunteers maintain the trails, so please be kind to these areas. Please stay on marked trails and do not disturb plants and wildlife.  For more information, please visit https://www.concordnh.gov/1033/Hiking-Trails.  There you'll find a list of trails and a map of where they're located.  Please also be aware of some current trail closures and trail projects.  

Apple Orchards are abundant in and around New Hampshire, with a few right here in Concord.  Many of these farms make famous cider donuts.  If you've never tried one, you must! Locals orchards (with cider donuts) include Apple Hill Farm, Carter Hill Orchard, Appleview Orchard, Gould Hill Farm, Hackleboro Orchard, French Pond Orchards, and Meadow Ledge Farm (you'll wait quite a while for Meadow Ledge Farm's apple cider donuts! Get there early!).  Make sure you visit websites for directions, when they're open, and hours of operation.

Vegetables/Fruit (for sale) Family Farms are popular here too. Please check their websites for availability, hours, etc.  Many farms offer vegetables (many into the month of October) and fruit as well. Some sell flowers, honey and other items.  Vendors at the Concord Farmers' Market bring their goods from the surrounding farms.  Please follow COVID-19 protocol.  You can visit: Rossview Farm, Lewis Farm, Vegetable Ranch, LLC, Found Well Farm, Dimond Hill Farm, Apple Hill Farm, Carter Hill Orchard, Beech Hill Farm and Ice Cream Barn, Meadow Ledge Farm, Work Song Farm, Lef Farms and LaValley Farms, plus a few more.  

Although Concord is a city, it's a city that's spread out.  You can enjoy calming scenery, quiet spaces, and places to take your bike, walk or just take a ride to enjoy the beauty of the area.  Head on out past the law school, out Centre Street to Liberty to Warren, then take a right and go beyond the high school and hospital.  There you'll find lots of green spaces with some trails in this area too. 

 

Lovin' the Outdoors

Free Clip Art Beach Scenes | clipart catalog travel sea beach with deck  chair and sunshade summer ... | Beach illustration, Beach scenes, Clip art

Visit New Hampshire

Visit New Hamsphire's website is New Hampshire LIVE FREE is https://www.visitnh.gov/. You can explore each season, order a visitor's guide, find things to do per each region (we are located in the Merrimack Valley region, in Merrimack County), get trip ideas, including places to stay and finally getting around the state. 

Parks

Parks - Concord boasts many parks with plenty of places to toss a ball, and walk your dog, among other activities. Right outside the front door of the law school is White Park.  This park is one of the largest parks in the city and is a wonderful place to walk, relax, and sit by the pond.  You can also sled, ice skate, and attend different events in the park during the year, including the famous Black Ice Pond Hockey tourney held in January or February each winter.  UNH Franklin Pierce proudly puts together a hockey team to take part. Other parks include Rollins Park in the south end, Merrill Park in East Concord, and Garrison Park in West Concord, among others. 

There's also a dog park -- Terrill Park Dog Park located at the corner of Manchester Street and Old Turnpike Road.  Watch signs for reopening!

 

Outside of Concord -- Rivers and Beaches

Get outside NH!  Kayaking is a wonderful way to enjoy the wildlife in New Hampshire!  We have the Contoocook River Canoe, Co., located at 9 Horse Hill Road, Concord. There are other places to kayak along the Merrimack River, and kayaking opportunities on the seacoast.  The seacoast...Although New Hampshire has 18.57 miles of coastline, it's worth the trip out there! Visit https://www.visit-newhampshire.com/seacoast/ to find out more.  One of our beaches -- Hampton Beach -- has been voted in the top 10 beaches in the United States, among other accolades.  Find out about parking and other logistics at https://www.visit-newhampshire.com/seacoast.

Kangamagus Scenic Byway

Scenic Driving on the Kancamagus, photo taken by Terry Miller

Ski Areas

New Hampshire is well-known for skiing.  Visit https://www.skinh.com/resorts to find places for both Alpine and Cross Country skiing. Big skiing resorts and small offer a day of skiing, and many include snowboarding too.  Resorts include Bretton Woods, Cannon Mountain, Loon Mountain, Cranmore, King Pine and more!  Closer to Concord are McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester and Pats Peak in Henniker (Pats Peak offers night skiing!), that are about 20 minutes away.

Community Events

Community Events -- Our Community at https://www.concordnh.gov/140/Our-Community provides the reader with Attractions within Concord, where you can golf or just hit balls at Beaver Meadow Golf Course located in the west part of Concord.  Beaver Meadow is an-18 hole golf course, with a putting green and a well-loved eating area that offers indoor and outdoor seating -- all set in a picturesque setting.  Concord also boasts the Concord Country Club, but you need to be a member or know someone who's a member if you want to play there.  The Douglas N. Everett Area offers ice skating, ice hockey, roller skating and in the past has offered all kinds of shows, from Cats to Gems to Railroad shows, and others.  Check to see what's on their calendar at https://concordnh.gov/496/Everett-Arena.  Here you'll also find a calendar for the Concord Public Library.   Another place off the beaten path, that offers a day of enjoying the outside (and some inside) is the McLane Center at the New Hampshire Audubon Society, located on Silk Farm Road.  There are usually a couple of owls on site, walking trails, and a nature store.  It's a great place to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy outdoor activities.  Check out their website at https://www.nhaudubon.org/ for any programs or events. 

Outside of Concord - Lakes and Mountains

The wonderful thing about New Hampshire is that you're only 1 to 1 1/2 hours away from the lakes, mountains and beaches!  New Hampshire is home of the White Mountains and the Lakes Region.  Both offer many outdoor activities.  If you want to camp, fish, bike, hunt and/or hike, you need to get to the White Mountain National Forest.  One of the best things about living in New Hampshire AND being outside are Fall Foliage. The leaves start turning colors in New Hampshire typically around mid-to-late September and peaking around mid-October. One of the best-traveled scenic rides is the Kancamagus (locals call it the "Kanc" or Kang-a-mangus). This 34-mile scenic trip is a must see while you're in New Hampshire.  

 

More Lakes

Visiting the Lakes Region is magical.  There's so much to do!  The lakes include Lake Winnpesaukee, Squam Lake, Lake Winnisquam, Newfound Lake, Ossipee Lake, Lake Waukewan and Paugus Bay among many others. The largest lake is Lake Winnepasaukee, which is 71 miles. There's so much to do in the Lakes Region -- swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, biking, viewing gardens, art, shopping and dining.  There's even a castle!  Visit Castle in the Clouds, in Moultonboro, where you can tour the beautiful mansion, take a hike, feed the jumping rainbow trout and ride on horseback!  There's Cafe in the Clouds, the Carriage House Restaurant and even a gift shop. Visit https://www.castleintheclouds.org/things-to-do/  Not to be missed -- The Old Country Store in Moultonboro.  Built in 1781, this bright goldenrod-colored building offers anything and everything, including maple syrup, penny candy and a pickle jar!  Good for kids too!