Scenic Drives in the Merrimack Valley Region of New Hampshire.
Exit 5, Granite Street Bridge or Exit 6, Amoskeag Bridge to Commercial Street, Manchester. Highlights the American Industrial Revolution, urban history and river recreation.
Length: 43 miles total (Old Stagecoach: 22 mi, Robert Frost: 21 mi)
Towns: Atkinson, Hampstead, Chester, Auburn, Derry Highlights: Absorb views along a 200+ year old stagecoach route that once clip-clopped from Boston to Concord. Immerse yourself in the landscapes of Robert Frost, who lived in Derry from 1900-1911. Amble betwixt unspoiled woodlands and tranquil Massabesic Lake, or reverence the reflections of a cool autumn sunset on its placid waters.
Website:
Robert Frost/ Old Stagecoach Byway
Length: 50.4 miles
Towns: Candia, Deerfield, Northwood
Highlights: Sink your teeth into fried dough’s crisp sweetness on a brisk September day at the Deerfield Fair. Listen in contemplative calm, letting an eloquent brook do the talking. Stumble upon a timeless treasure while browsing on Northwood’s Antique Alley.
Website:
Upper Lamprey Scenic Byway Facebook Page.
Londonderry, off Rte. 128. A special agricultural area.
From Exit 16 off I-93 to Canterbury Shaker Village and back to Exit 18, I-93. Byway highlights Canterbury Shaker Village, a National Historic Landmark, as well as conservation areas, open marshes, stonewalls, cemeteries, pre-Revolutionary homes, and access to Hutchins Forest.
Length: 40 miles
Towns: Henniker, Hopkinton, Warner, Webster, and Salisbury
Highlights: Come stroll through the downtown villages and visit the riverside
shops and restaurants. Count the covered bridges along the way or challenge
yourself to a kayak ride on the Contoocook or Blackwater Rivers. Hike in Rollins
State Park or stop by orchards and farm stands to pick your own apples for a
fresh-baked pie. Whatever you choose, the Byway is your gateway to the heart of
New Hampshire.
Website:
Currier & Ives Scenic Byway
Rte. 114, Rte. 13 and Rte. 77. This 34 mile circular route connects the towns of Goffstown, Dunbarton, Weare, and New Boston and is named in honor of New Hampshire’s best known Revolutionary War hero, General John Stark.
