Guidebook for Back of the Forty
Food Scene
Harpoon has good pub food and delicious beer. You can also take a brewery tour! Their beer garden is a great place to relax in the summer and have a few beverages.
125 locals recommend
Harpoon Brewery Taproom and Beer Garden
336 Ruth Carney DriveHarpoon has good pub food and delicious beer. You can also take a brewery tour! Their beer garden is a great place to relax in the summer and have a few beverages.
Thyme Restaurant
85 N Main StAmazing food! Great drinks! Wonderful and intimate atmosphere!
Great little restaurant offering local foods in creative dishes. They also make some pretty tasty cocktails.
7 locals recommend
Market Table
44 Main StGreat little restaurant offering local foods in creative dishes. They also make some pretty tasty cocktails.
This is one of my favorites. Great atmosphere, great cocktails and the food is always yummy! They often have live music during the dinner hours which is fun too! Did I mention that they have great cocktails?
33 locals recommend
Elixir
188 S Main StThis is one of my favorites. Great atmosphere, great cocktails and the food is always yummy! They often have live music during the dinner hours which is fun too! Did I mention that they have great cocktails?
Entertainment & Activities
You can't chose a place more quintessentially New Hampshire than this farm. During the fall months you can pick your own apples, pumpkins, raspberries and blueberries. On the weekends they also offer horse drawn wagon rides and fresh doughnuts made in the farm house kitchen. It is a great place for families and couples alike!
13 locals recommend
Riverview Farm
141 River RdYou can't chose a place more quintessentially New Hampshire than this farm. During the fall months you can pick your own apples, pumpkins, raspberries and blueberries. On the weekends they also offer horse drawn wagon rides and fresh doughnuts made in the farm house kitchen. It is a great place for families and couples alike!
A great place for kiddos and adults alike. The Montshire has science related activities of all sorts from giant bubble wands to outdoor interactive water features to glass enclosed beehive and more. I grew up going to this museum and love going as an adult. Great for a rainy day or if you just need to let minds explore!
121 locals recommend
Montshire Museum of Science
1 Montshire RdA great place for kiddos and adults alike. The Montshire has science related activities of all sorts from giant bubble wands to outdoor interactive water features to glass enclosed beehive and more. I grew up going to this museum and love going as an adult. Great for a rainy day or if you just need to let minds explore!
This is a really fun and unique way to spend a few hours. Large sculptures, a living maze of hedges and pathways down to the Connecticut River make for a pleasant time getting some fresh air in the warmer months. You can also walk to Harpoon Brewery, Silo Distillery and Simon Pearce from here.
24 locals recommend
Path of Life Sculpture Garden
36 Park RdThis is a really fun and unique way to spend a few hours. Large sculptures, a living maze of hedges and pathways down to the Connecticut River make for a pleasant time getting some fresh air in the warmer months. You can also walk to Harpoon Brewery, Silo Distillery and Simon Pearce from here.
Arts & Culture
St. Gaudens is not only a museum but a living homage to the Cornish Colony which was an artist colony that settled in this area during the turn of the last century. Augustus Saint Gaudens created many famous statues that we recognize from memorials all over the country including the "Standing Lincoln." The grounds are also beautiful and during the summer they have a concert series on Sundays.
62 locals recommend
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park
139 St Gaudens RdSt. Gaudens is not only a museum but a living homage to the Cornish Colony which was an artist colony that settled in this area during the turn of the last century. Augustus Saint Gaudens created many famous statues that we recognize from memorials all over the country including the "Standing Lincoln." The grounds are also beautiful and during the summer they have a concert series on Sundays.
Go online to see their current schedule. They have a great offering of concerts and performances throughout the year.
19 locals recommend
Lebanon Opera House
51 N Park StGo online to see their current schedule. They have a great offering of concerts and performances throughout the year.
You can find a diversity of things on offer at the HOP. With a diversity of concerts and performances there is truly something for everyone.
42 locals recommend
Hopkins Center for the Arts
4 E Wheelock StYou can find a diversity of things on offer at the HOP. With a diversity of concerts and performances there is truly something for everyone.
Owned and operated by Dartmouth College, the Hood Museum has a large permanent collection as well as visiting exhibits throughout the year.
35 locals recommend
Hood Museum of Art
6 E Wheelock StOwned and operated by Dartmouth College, the Hood Museum has a large permanent collection as well as visiting exhibits throughout the year.
Essentials
You can find basic grocery items as well as yummy prepared foods and deli sandwiches at this local stop. They also do a sit down diner style breakfast and lunch.
Price Chopper
2725 US-5Five minutes away-everything you could need.
ANNE'S Plainfield Country Str
1190 NH-12AShopping
This place is a grocery store and then some! You will find a wonderful array of local vendors and products as well as an extensive wine and cheese selection. If you like local and organic food, this is the place for you.
21 locals recommend
Coop Food Store
12 Centerra PkwyThis place is a grocery store and then some! You will find a wonderful array of local vendors and products as well as an extensive wine and cheese selection. If you like local and organic food, this is the place for you.
This mall is in an old mill building and is home to LL Bean, Eastern Mountain Sports and a bunch other boutique stores. You will also find Lui Lui's which is a popular local choice for Italian food and a casual atmosphere.
7 locals recommend
PowerHouse Mall
8 Glen RdThis mall is in an old mill building and is home to LL Bean, Eastern Mountain Sports and a bunch other boutique stores. You will also find Lui Lui's which is a popular local choice for Italian food and a casual atmosphere.
Hanover is full of restaurants, shops and all things New Hampshire. It is home to Dartmouth College and is a fun place to walk around while immersing yourself in classic small town New England. Lots of boutiques, cafes and eateries. Parking can be tricky but it's worth it!
59 locals recommend
Hanover
Hanover is full of restaurants, shops and all things New Hampshire. It is home to Dartmouth College and is a fun place to walk around while immersing yourself in classic small town New England. Lots of boutiques, cafes and eateries. Parking can be tricky but it's worth it!
Beautiful handblown glass. They have a viewing gallery and a showroom. You can also head to Harpoon and the Path of Life Garden from here.
21 locals recommend
Simon Pearce
109 Park RdBeautiful handblown glass. They have a viewing gallery and a showroom. You can also head to Harpoon and the Path of Life Garden from here.
One of the longest running farmer's markets in VT, Norwich has the perfect blend of craftspeople and local farmers as well as some excellent bakers and cooks. It runs every Saturday from 9am-1pm during the warmer months until the end of October but there is also a special winter market schedule available online.
25 locals recommend
Norwich Farmers Market
One of the longest running farmer's markets in VT, Norwich has the perfect blend of craftspeople and local farmers as well as some excellent bakers and cooks. It runs every Saturday from 9am-1pm during the warmer months until the end of October but there is also a special winter market schedule available online.
Everything Else
White River is an old railroad town. It has gone through a renovation in the last decade and is a neat place to spend an afternoon. It has an eclectic mix of junk and antique shops to upscale home goods and florist shops. I highly recommend Valley Flower Company, Uncommon Goods, Oodles and Revolution. See restaurant suggestions above for a few of my favorite places in White River Junction.
30 locals recommend
White River Junction
White River is an old railroad town. It has gone through a renovation in the last decade and is a neat place to spend an afternoon. It has an eclectic mix of junk and antique shops to upscale home goods and florist shops. I highly recommend Valley Flower Company, Uncommon Goods, Oodles and Revolution. See restaurant suggestions above for a few of my favorite places in White River Junction.
Parks & Nature
Plainfield has a wonderful trail network that leaves from the Elementary School. The trails range from easy, flat strolls to more strenuous uphill hikes. You can hike up to French's Ledges to see spectacular vistas of Plainfield, Cornish and Lebanon. This is one of my favorite places for running, walking with the pup or skiing in the winter (trails are well groomed in the winter...provided there is enough snow),
Plainfield Elementary School
92 Bonner RdPlainfield has a wonderful trail network that leaves from the Elementary School. The trails range from easy, flat strolls to more strenuous uphill hikes. You can hike up to French's Ledges to see spectacular vistas of Plainfield, Cornish and Lebanon. This is one of my favorite places for running, walking with the pup or skiing in the winter (trails are well groomed in the winter...provided there is enough snow),
If you are looking for a slightly more ambitious hike without driving all the way to the White Mountains, Mt. Ascutney is a great option. This is definitely a day hike but one that is easily done with a family. The reward is amazing views of Vermont and New Hampshire. Stop at Harpoon Brewery on your way back to have a celebratory brew!
19 locals recommend
Mt Ascutney State Park
1826 Back Mountain RdIf you are looking for a slightly more ambitious hike without driving all the way to the White Mountains, Mt. Ascutney is a great option. This is definitely a day hike but one that is easily done with a family. The reward is amazing views of Vermont and New Hampshire. Stop at Harpoon Brewery on your way back to have a celebratory brew!
Mt. Cardigan is unique in that it is a bald mountain providing 360 degree views of the surrounding area. The drive through Canaan and Orange is scenic and the hike though not long, is nothing to sneeze at! This is a good morning or afternoon hike. Pack a lunch and make more of a day out of it!
19 locals recommend
Mount Cardigan
Mt. Cardigan is unique in that it is a bald mountain providing 360 degree views of the surrounding area. The drive through Canaan and Orange is scenic and the hike though not long, is nothing to sneeze at! This is a good morning or afternoon hike. Pack a lunch and make more of a day out of it!
If you like mountain biking-this is a place for you! Single tack abounds as well as some challenging terrain. It is also a good place for running and walking.
6 locals recommend
Boston Lot Lake
If you like mountain biking-this is a place for you! Single tack abounds as well as some challenging terrain. It is also a good place for running and walking.
I love the Green Woodlands. There are two ways to access this local gem. The address listed here is for the Dorchester end of the trails which has two 2.5k homologated mtn bike/xc ski loops as well as a connecting trail to the main network in Lyme, NH. You can access the Lyme end of the Woodlands by heading towards the Dartmouth Skyway but continuing on Dorchester Rd. Ask me for directions. I ski here in the winter often and it is always a good time!
19 locals recommend
Green Woodlands Foundation
1756 New Hampshire 118I love the Green Woodlands. There are two ways to access this local gem. The address listed here is for the Dorchester end of the trails which has two 2.5k homologated mtn bike/xc ski loops as well as a connecting trail to the main network in Lyme, NH. You can access the Lyme end of the Woodlands by heading towards the Dartmouth Skyway but continuing on Dorchester Rd. Ask me for directions. I ski here in the winter often and it is always a good time!