Pumpkin Festival
Keene

Each year, tens of thousands of people flock to Downtown Keene for the annual pumpkin festival. It's so popular that the city closes off Main Street to create a pedestrian walkway. Starting at 10am, there are "lots of activities for children, lots of good food and good shopping, and lots of lighted pumpkins." The town holds the Guinness Book World Record for the largest number of lit jack-o-lanterns-28, 952-in one place, at one time. That many jack-o-lanterns create a virtual sensory overload! Read more.

Profile Falls
Bristol

On the eastern side of Route 3A, between Hill and Bristol is Profile Falls. It's a "great swimming hole" with lots of hiking trails to explore. Most New Hampshire maps don't show the falls, which makes this a "great, lesser-known waterfall in New Hampshire." There is a large pool into which the falls flow, and you can "swim right up to the falls." Some "extreme people dive from the top ledge near the falls." But if being Evil Knievel isn't your thing, there are "great walking trails along the river and in surrounding fields and woods." Pack a picnic and take in the beauty. Read more.

MaryAnn's Diner
Derry

What started as a small, breakfast-only diner back in 1989, MaryAnn's Diner is now a popular local dining spot. It's a "great, family-owned diner with huge, delicious breakfasts." The decor resembles a "diner in the '50s, with the oldies playing in the background, and the waitresses in poodle skirts." Presidential candidates have been known to stop by MaryAnn's for a bite during the primaries. The customer service is top-notch, and many locals rank it as the best breakfast around--while others simply love the generous portions. Read more.

Trained Bear Show at Clarke's Trading Post
Lincoln

A few times a day, trained but un-muzzled bears perform tricks and show off their talents at the Bear Show. For more than 60 years, between Memorial Day and Columbus Day, families come from all over to see the bears. It's "pure entertainment for the family" because in addition to the bear show, the grounds host several museums, a steam locomotive, rides, a small circus, and even a covered bridge. Clark's Trading Post is closed from October to May to allow the bears time to hibernate during the winter. Read more.

The Weathervane Theatre
Whitefield

The Weathervane Theater is the "darling of Whitefield." During the summer, it brings "culture, entertainment, and a fresh crop of faces to very rural New Hampshire." Whitefield has a population of just more than 2,000, so this small, professional theater adds spark to the town. With seven shows per season, performed in a "huge post and beam barn," theatergoers can choose from a "large-scale musical to a one-man show," as the evening performances are always changing. Read more.

America's Stonehenge
North Salem

America's Stonehenge ranks as "one of the largest, and possibly oldest, megalithic sites in the United States." The stone-constructed site is an accurate, astronomically aligned calendar that can still be used to determine specific solar and lunar events. Built by ancient people who were "well-versed in astronomy and stone construction," this site is "very unusual and extremely fascinating." You can take a leisurely, self-guided tour and explore "at your own pace." It's a great place for "kids who enjoy hands-on exploration," because there are "lots of archaeological artifacts to look at and chambers built from stones that you can enter." Read more.

Lou's Bakery
Hanover

Stop by Lou's Bakery any time of day for hot pancakes, crispy bacon, or Belgian waffles smothered with fruit and whipped cream. Word has it that the "large and delicious" donuts are the "best in the Upper Valley." Sometimes there long lines on weekend mornings, but "everyone knows that it's worth the wait." Along with an all-day breakfast menu, this popular local spot serves up huge sandwiches on freshly baked bread for lunch. For anyone visiting the area, Lou's is a "requisite stop." In operation since 1947, they must be doing something right!

Diana's Baths
Bartlett

Diana's Baths is a series of cascading waterfalls created when the water from Lucy Brook carved out a path, which runs over smooth rocks into a pool below. In the summer, this is the perfect spot to "swim in to cool off or just lay down on the rocks and sun-tan or nap." The hike to the falls is an easy half-mile walk through "gorgeous scenery." You'll also find two hundred yards of granite terraces and waterspouts here. Read more.

IOKA Theatre
Exeter

Playing the latest first-run movies, as well as live music, the Ioka has been a hub of entertainment since it opened in 1915. Primarily known for its movies, on some nights there is also live music, movie festivals, and comedy. It's a restored Art Deco movie theater and club that's friendly and a bit upscale. The name "Ioka" is a Squamscot Indian word for playground. Read more.

Center Sandwich Fair
Center Sandwich

The Center Sandwich Fair is not a fair commemorating our favorite, reliable lunch item; it's an "old-time rural attraction" in a "picturesque" town. The fair's arts and crafts, food, livestock, and people "can't be beat;" not to mention that it is held "during foliage season, which peaks around Columbus Day." Participate in tractor pulls, horse and ox pulls, horse shows, stage shows, and more. It's the season's last fair and boasts "classic New Hampshire style."