11 Fun Things to Do in Concord NH | New England With Love

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Concord, the capital of New Hampshire, is a fun place to visit. There are lots of great things to do in Concord NH, and there will be plenty to fill your Concord itinerary with!

Concord is a cute little town to visit any time of year, but if you plan your visit around Christmas, you’ll see it looks like something straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie! Whatever time of year you visit, you’ll find plenty of fun things to do in Concord New Hampshire!

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Explore at the Concord Antique Gallery

Visiting the Concord Antique Gallery is always an interesting stop when exploring the city. It’s a nice-sized antique shop that is filled with hidden gem items, and you never know what you might find when exploring.

Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, it’s fun to pop your head in and see what’s there. You really might strike gold! Plus, Concord Antique Gallery has been a Concord staple since the 1990s.

Tour the New Hampshire State House

Anytime you’re visiting the capital of a state, it’s well worth it to stop and explore the statehouse if you can! So, of course, exploring the New Hampshire State House is one of the best things to do in Concord NH. This historic building dates back to the early 1800s and is considered one of the most beautiful places in New Hampshire.

Visitors to New Hampshire are free to go on a self-guided tour during the week, but if you visit on the weekend, you’ll only be allowed to view from outside, so keep that in mind when planning your trip to Concord.

Visit New Hampshire Historical Society Museum

To learn more about the area’s history, stop by the New Hampshire Historical Society Museum. Inside, there’s a library and many exhibits that are open to the public Thursday through Saturday.

The exhibits feature many different articles, including portraits of famous residents of New Hampshire, historic silverware, old landscape paintings, and even artifacts that are from the Revolutionary era. Plan to spend an hour or so exploring this great little museum!

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at Granite State Candy Shoppe

Yes, one of the best things to do in Concord, New Hampshire, is stopping by the local chocolate store, the Granite State Candy Shoppe! This store dates back to the 1930s and operated the same way up until 2004, when it officially decided it was time to expand.

Many of the candy recipes are still the original recipes from Granite State Candy Shoppe’s earliest days, so be sure to ask which candies are still the original recipe if you’re looking to get a taste of those tried-and-true-and-couldn’t-possibly-get-any-better sweets!

Pick Apples at Carter Hill Orchard

If you’re visiting Concord in the fall, be sure to stop by the Carter Hill Orchard, one of the best places to pick apples in New Hampshire! What better way to spend a fall day in New Hampshire than to enjoy such a wholesome activity like apple-picking, right?

Carter Hill Orchard also offers other great “you pick” opportunities throughout the growing season, like the chance to get your hands on some of their delectable peaches and blueberries!

See a Presidential Home at The Pierce Manse

Visit The Pierce Manse, the former home-turned-museum of Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the United States to see where this former president lived before his ascension to the highest office in America!

In addition to guided tours, The Pierce Manse also hosts many local events throughout the year, so be sure to check their event calendar to see what is happening during your trip. They often hold Franklin Pierce birthday celebrations, concerts on the lawn, and more.

Visit Gibson’s Bookstore

One of the best bookstores in New England, Gibson’s Bookstore has been in Concord since 1898. Today you’ll find not just a fantastic selection of books, but also a great selection of puzzles and toys for the little ones.

Gibson’s Bookstore has a great little cafe in the shop, so plan ahead to spend some time hunting down your next new favorite book, then you can pick a spot to cozy up in the cafe with that new favorite book and a great snack!

Hike Oak Hill Trail

If you’re looking for a great way to stretch your legs and get outside, hike the Oak Hill Trail, the most well-known hiking trail in the area. It’s about 3.8 miles long with about 700 feet of elevation gain, so not too strenuous!

If you’re visiting in the winter, the Oak Hill Trail is also a great spot to go snowshoeing, and rentals can be found downtown. You could also consider hiking the trail with spikes to be safe if you’re not up for snowshoeing!

Learn about Space at The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium

The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium is a must-visit during your trip to Concord, and also acts as a memorial to both Christa McAuliffe and Alan Shepard. Inside the museum, there’s plenty to learn about space discovery and many great activities for both children in age and children at heart!

If exploring The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium works up your appetite, visit The Countdown Cafe for a little bite to eat. Don’t forget to stop by the souvenir shop/science shop on the way out, too!

Have a drink at the Concord Craft Brewing Company

The best place to grab a drink in Concord New Hampshire is the Concord Craft Brewing Company! The brewery features a great selection of craft beers to choose from to whet your whistle during your stop.

Crowd favorites at Concord Craft Brewing Company include their NITRO Coffee Milk Stout, a milky sweet stout, and their When Rhinos Fly-Chubby Unicorn, a Double New England IPA that can be described as hazy. Grab a flight and get to sampling!

Experience history at the Canterbury Shaker Village

The Canterbury Shaker Village is technically right outside of Concord in Canterbury, but well worth the fifteen-minute drive from downtown. It’s one of the oldest shaker villages that you can still visit today, so if you can make the trip and experience 200 years of history, it’s worth it.

This National Historic Landmark features 25 beautifully kept and restored buildings in addition to lovely walking trails around the property. Take a guided tour to learn more about what makes the Canterbury Shaker Village such a sight to see!

Concord is one of the best places to visit in New Hampshire, and a visit to this cute little capital is definitely something to cross off the New Hampshire bucket list!

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Amy Hartle

Amy Hartle is the owner and editor of New England With Love, a comprehensive resource for travel in the New England region. Amy lived in Vermont for 15 years, attended Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, and continues to travel regularly around the entire New England region. On this site, Amy aims to share her love of New England and help you to have the best possible adventures!

Amy has been a full time blogger since 2012, and is also the publisher of Two Drifters, where she writes about couples travel and relationships, as well as Let’s Adventure Baby, a family travel site. When not traveling the world or creating epic blog content, Amy can be found cuddling with her husband, son, and cats, & drinking a maple latte.