Discover the Capitol Region, gateway to New Hampshire, and a rich and affordable day-trip or weekend destination for every New Hampshire family.
New Hampshire’s golden domed capitol, above, completed in 1819, is the oldest state capitol building in the United States where the legislature still meets in its original chambers.
New Hampshire’s Capitol Region is the civic, cultural, and historic backbone of the Granite State. For leisure travelers, this region is defined by three destinations, Salem, Manchester and Concord, all connected sequentially along the Interstate 93 corridor.
Concord and Manchester are located at hub of an interstate highway network, where I-93 connects to and from the Lakes and White Mountains regions, I-89 travels to and from the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region, and Route 101 leads to and from the Maritime region along the Atlantic Seacoast. This exceptional connectivity makes these destinations an easy option for a day- or weekend trip for New Hampshire families, as well as the ultimate gateway to all of New Hampshire for visitors arriving from Boston and Providence.
Salem is located at the Massachusetts border on I-93 and acts as the unofficial southern gateway to New Hampshire, welcoming travelers with an appealing mix of family entertainment, tax-free retail, and outdoor mystery, including Canobie Lake Park, pictured at right, a historic and beloved New England amusement park, America’s Stonehenge, a unique, 105-acre archaeological site featuring a maze of ancient stone chambers, and not least, Tuscan Village, a massive, modern premier lifestyle destination offering open-air tax-free shopping, diverse dining options and deluxe hotel accommodations.
Continuing north along I-93, Manchester is New Hampshire’s largest city the home of the Currier Museum of Art, Frank Lloyd Wright’ Zimmerman House and Kalil House, and Delta Dental Stadium, at left, and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, making the city an easily accessible destination for families from the four corners of New Hampshire who might want to make a Minor League Baseball game the focus of a day or weekend trip to the region.
Concord, the State Capitol and home of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, pictured at right, a hands-on science museum and planetarium, is both a gateway to all of New Hampshire’s tourism regions, but as well, an easily driven, weekend or day-trip destination for New Hampshire families. Combined with a visit to nearby Manchester, Concord is an easy, interesting and comparatively affordable overnight family trip option as well.
