Hillsborough County: Discover Mountains, Nature and Culture

Hillsborough County combines impressive Monadnock landscapes with water, forests, art and vibrant regional history. For your travel planning, it is worth first deciding on your preferred focus: mountain panoramas and hiking trails, nature experiences by the water, outdoor sculptures or cultural destinations in and around Manchester. You can then choose an apartment or holiday home based on your planned daily activities, without having to limit yourself to just one type of excursion.

Pack Monadnock and Mount Monadnock

A prominent starting point for days in nature is Miller State Park. It is located on the 2,290-foot summit and slope of Pack Monadnock in Peterborough. A winding, 1.3-mile paved road leads to the scenic summit and is open seasonally to visitors by car. Three main hiking routes lead from the park up Pack Monadnock, where there is an observation tower.

On a clear day, the view from Miller State Park extends to Mount Washington, the Boston skyscrapers and the hills of Vermont. Those looking for a longer route through the landscape will find a 21-mile route in the Wapack Trail, from Mt. Watatic in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, to North Pack Monadnock in Greenfield. These different formats help with travel planning: you can schedule a day of scenic driving and short excursions as well as a longer hike.

Monadnock State Park is surrounded by thousands of acres of protected upland areas. Mount Monadnock was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1987. The park offers recreational opportunities year-round; from the Monadnock headquarters, the main trails lead by the most direct route to the summit of Mount Monadnock. Because parking capacity is limited, reservations are strongly recommended before arrival. The park has two camping areas: one at the headquarters and one at Gilson Pond.

Water, Forest and Outdoor Art

Greenfield State Park offers a different perspective on the landscape. It includes ponds, marshes and a forest extending to the shore of Otter Lake. Hiking trails lead to ponds and other points of interest in the park. Picnic Beach offers an opportunity for swimming, and kayaks and canoes can also be rented at Greenfield State Park. Because parking capacity is limited, visitors can make a reservation before their arrival.

At the Andres Institute of Art, art and mountain landscapes come together. The institute features more than 107 sculptures across 140 acres of mountain landscape with art and nature. There are also 10 miles of hiking trails and more than 400 feet of elevation change. The trails are open daily, 365 days a year, from sunrise to sunset. Depending on your travel plans, this allows you to experience the site as an art walk or as a longer outdoor visit.

Culture, Markets and Discoveries for Different Age Groups

Franklin Pierce Homestead was the home of the 14th president of the United States from infancy until his marriage in 1834. It is also considered an outstanding example of New Hampshire village architecture. The Currier Museum of Art offers guided and self-guided tours for private groups. Those looking for regional produce will find local products, meat, fish, eggs, baked goods, preserves and jellies, as well as handmade goods from local small businesses, at the Peterborough Farmers' Market.

At Stark Park, the “Walk in the Woods” trail network is suitable for walking with or without a dog, jogging, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and mountain biking. “Molly Stark's Wildwoods” is an outdoor nature play area for children there. Beaver Brook also has a shaded nature play area with play features made from natural materials. Stark Park is also the final resting place of John Stark, his wife and several of their children.

Amoskeag Fishways offers educational programs and experiences relating to the nature of the Merrimack River and the wider Manchester, New Hampshire, area. Its offerings include museum-quality exhibits, including exhibits with live animals. In May and early June, visitors can watch migrating fish through the underwater viewing windows as they make their way upstream.

Places for Further Travel Planning

If you would like to compare suitable locations for your trip, you can also use the directly linked places of Merrimack, Nashua, Bedford, New Boston and Francestown as points of reference. Rockingham is also available for further regional orientation. This allows you to tailor your accommodation search to your preferred mix of mountain landscapes, nature, culture, water and shared discoveries.

For the overarching travel overview: New Hampshire.