Lebanon Town Guide: Where to Eat, Stay and Explore

Lebanon is easy to overlook. Most people know the Upper Valley through Hanover and Dartmouth, and Lebanon is the place they drive through on the way. But Lebanon is the only city in Grafton County, it has a real downtown built around a green, and it sits at the start of one of the longest rail trails in New Hampshire. This guide covers the things to do in Lebanon NH that make it worth a stop of its own, plus places to eat, unwind and stay active from our directory.

Mid-September is a good time to visit. The rail trail and riverside paths are at their most comfortable, early color starts to show on the hills, and downtown is busy without being crowded.

Lebanon at a glance

Lebanon is in western New Hampshire, south of Hanover and near the Connecticut River, with Vermont just across the water. The population was 14,282 at the 2020 census, up from 13,151 in 2010. The city is home to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine, together the largest medical facility between Boston and Burlington, Vermont. That brings a steady flow of visitors, which in turn supports a stronger restaurant scene than you might expect for a city of this size.

Lebanon is a core city of the Lebanon-Claremont micropolitan area, which spans four counties in the upper Connecticut River valley, two in New Hampshire and two in Vermont. In practical terms, it is a hub: easy to reach from I-89 and I-91, and a natural base for exploring both sides of the river.

Downtown and Colburn Park

Downtown Lebanon is organized around Colburn Park, a classic New England green with a war memorial and an outdoor stage. It is the obvious place to start a visit. Park once, walk the green, and use it as your compass for the cafes, restaurants and galleries that ring it.

A walk around the green does not take long, but it is a good way to get a feel for the city. Lebanon is a working place rather than a postcard village, and downtown reflects that: practical, friendly and lived in.

Art at AVA Gallery and Art Center

AVA Gallery and Art Center is the anchor of Lebanon's creative life. AVA describes itself as a 40,000-square-foot creative campus in downtown Lebanon, where the visual arts and creative community gather in the Upper Valley. It runs exhibitions, classes for adults and for kids and teens, camps, life drawing and open studio sessions, and it has artist studios and a makerspace. In its own words, it is the place you come to weld steel, throw clay or print your own art.

For visitors, the galleries are the draw. Exhibitions change through the year, so check what is on before you go. If you are staying longer, a class is a memorable way to spend an afternoon, and it is the kind of thing you will not find in a typical tourist itinerary.

Outdoors: the rail trail and the Mascoma River

The Northern Rail Trail

The Northern Recreational Rail Trail runs 58 miles from Lebanon to Boscawen on the former Boston and Maine Railroad Northern Line, which the State of New Hampshire acquired in 1996. The trail is managed by the New Hampshire Bureau of Trails. Because it follows an old rail bed, the grade is gentle, which makes it good for walking, running and biking at an easy pace.

You do not need to do the whole thing. An out-and-back of a few miles from the Lebanon end is enough for a pleasant morning, and in September the tree cover keeps it comfortable.

The Mascoma River

The Mascoma River runs through the center of Lebanon on its way to the Connecticut River in West Lebanon. Below the Mascoma Lake dam it drops quickly over rapids, passing several small hydroelectric dams in the center of the city. The section immediately downstream of the dam is reserved for fly fishing only, while other stretches are open to all types of fishing, and the river is stocked by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. If you plan to fish, get a New Hampshire license and check current rules first.

Storrs Hill Ski Area

Storrs Hill Ski Area has served the community since 1923. It is a small community hill run largely by volunteers, with public skiing, night skiing and lessons. The lift is a surface "Poma," or platter, lift rather than a chairlift, which the hill notes can be unfamiliar to new riders, especially snowboarders. Storrs Hill does not rent equipment and points skiers to nearby shops instead.

It is too early for skiing in September, of course, but the hill is worth knowing about if you plan to come back in winter. Small community hills like this are a big part of New Hampshire's ski history, and they are a relaxed, unpretentious place to learn.

Where to eat

Three Tomatoes Trattoria

Three Tomatoes Trattoria on Court Street has served classic Italian cuisine in Lebanon since 1990. The menu covers pastas, hand-tossed thin-crust pizza, antipasti and specials, and the restaurant emphasizes sourcing local ingredients and supporting local farmers and producers. It serves both dine-in and take-out. A restaurant that has lasted more than three decades in a small city is usually doing something right, and this is a dependable choice for dinner after a day on the trail.

Lucky's Coffee Garage

Lucky's Coffee Garage opened in 2017 in a renovated, historic three-bay garage in downtown Lebanon. It is a multi-roaster specialty coffee shop, bakery and cafe, offering espresso, drip coffee, nitro cold brew on tap and whole beans from roasters around the country. The cafe has indoor seating and outdoor seating when the season allows. It is the natural place to fuel up before a walk around the green or a ride on the rail trail.

Wellness and staying active

River Valley Club

River Valley Club is a fitness and wellness club in Lebanon. If you are in town for a longer stay, for work at the medical center or a family visit, it is useful to know there is a full club nearby for keeping up a routine.

Vivo Salon and Day Spa

Vivo Salon and Day Spa offers hair services including cuts, color, highlights and extensions, and it emphasizes a personalized experience for each client. Its gift certificates are handmade, which makes them a thoughtful option if you are visiting someone in the area.

A simple one-day plan

• Morning: Coffee and a pastry downtown, then a walk around Colburn Park.
• Late morning: A few miles on the Northern Rail Trail, or a riverside walk along the Mascoma.
• Afternoon: AVA Gallery and Art Center for the current exhibitions.
• Evening: Italian dinner downtown.

For a weekend, add Hanover and the Dartmouth campus to the north, or cross the river to explore the Vermont side of the Upper Valley.

Tips for visiting

• Use downtown as your base. Most of what is in this guide is within walking distance of the green.
• Check exhibitions and hours ahead. Galleries change shows, and small businesses adjust hours by season. We do not list hours or prices here because they change.
• Plan for the season. The rail trail is at its best from late spring through fall. Storrs Hill is a winter outing.
• Bring a layer. September mornings in the Upper Valley can be cool even when afternoons are warm.

FAQ

What is Lebanon, NH known for?

Lebanon is the only city in Grafton County and is home to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Visitors know it for its downtown green, AVA Gallery and Art Center, and the start of the Northern Rail Trail.

How long is the Northern Rail Trail?

About 58 miles, running from Lebanon to Boscawen on a former railroad line.

Is there skiing in Lebanon, NH?

Yes. Storrs Hill Ski Area is a small community hill that has operated since 1923, with public skiing, night skiing and lessons in season.

Can you fish the Mascoma River in Lebanon?

Yes. The river is stocked by New Hampshire Fish and Game. The section just below the Mascoma Lake dam is fly fishing only, so check current rules before you go.

How far is Lebanon from Hanover?

Hanover is just to the north, a short drive away, which makes the two easy to combine in one trip.

Sources

• Lebanon, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 census, location, medical center, micropolitan area): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon,_New_Hampshire
• Northern Rail Trail, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Rail_Trail
• Mascoma River, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mascoma_River
• Colburn Park, Wikimedia Commons photos (green, war memorial, stage): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colburn_Park_downtown_Lebanon_NH_June_2016.jpg
• AVA Gallery and Art Center: https://avagallery.org
• Storrs Hill Ski Area: https://skistorrshill.com/
• Three Tomatoes Trattoria: https://threetomatoestrattoria.com/
• Lucky's Coffee Garage: https://www.luckyscoffeegarage.com
• River Valley Club: https://www.rivervalleyclub.com
• Vivo Salon and Day Spa: https://vivosalonanddayspa.com