Car Rental Manchester - Exploring Manchester

The Manchester region has a surprising amount of variety for being in such a small state (New Hampshire). There is a beautiful stretch of coastline, along with gorgeous mountain vistas and pristine lakes, all within close proximity to the city.

The Robert Frost Farm, about 13kms southeast of Manchester, was the poet’s home between 1901 and 1909, and was one of several New England locales to have claimed his affections. There are regular tours through this graceful white-clapboard farmhouse in Derry, and a network of trails through forest and field to explore.

The Amoskeag Fishways Center allows visitors to view herring, shad and other fish making their way up the Merrimack. A modern exhibit hall is open year round, but a visit is most compelling when the fish are running in the early summer. Some 54 concrete pools, each slightly higher than the next, skirt the hydroelectric dam, allowing the fish to leap from one to the next.

Lake Winnipesaukee, the region’s largest lake, located to the north of Manchester and in the centre of New Hampshire, is nestled in a beautiful area and offers a welcome break from the city. Cabins are available for hire along the eastern shore for those who prefer a more relaxing, secluded hideout, and options for boating and fishing among the many inlets and coves are numerous. Weir’s Beach is a well known resort and more family orientated.

For some truly spectacular scenery and outstanding mountain vistas, the White Mountains are hard to beat, with their numerous outdoor activities on offer, including skiing in the winter. Rocky outcrops, forests, waterfalls and streams combine to form perfect hiking country in the White Mountain National Forest. The area’s highest peak, Mount Washington (2,071m), can be conquered on foot or by car.

Like its sister city in the UK, Portsmouth, on the border with Maine, is a navy town boasting a pretty harbour and maritime museum. The town has many fine colonial buildings and important historical sites. Portsmouth lies on New Hampshire’s scenic coastline, to the east of Manchester, as does the charming historical town of Hampton, farther to the south.

A visit to Manchester would be incomplete without a look at sophisticated Boston, just 80kms to the south. This important university town is well endowed with beautiful architecture and has a vibrant nightlife and countless quality restaurants.