A Merrimack Valley Weekend: Concord, Manchester and Nashua

The Merrimack Valley is where most of New Hampshire lives, works and, on a good weekend, plays. Three cities line up along the river and the highway: Concord, the state capital; Manchester, the largest city in the state; and Nashua, just north of the Massachusetts line. None of them is far from the others, which makes a Merrimack Valley weekend one of the easiest trips in New England to plan. You can sleep in one place, eat in another and see a show in a third without spending much of the day in the car.

Mid-May is a good time to go. Patios are opening again, and the museums are quieter than they will be once summer travelers arrive. This guide walks through a loose three-part itinerary, one city at a time, with places to stay and eat along the way.

Getting Your Bearings

A few numbers help explain the region. Manchester is New Hampshire's most populous city, with 115,644 residents at the 2020 census, and it sits on the Merrimack River. Nashua is second, with 91,322, and the two cities share duties as the seats of Hillsborough County. Concord, with 43,976 people, is the third-largest city and the seat of Merrimack County, as well as the capital.

That means you get three different moods in one weekend. Concord is a government town built around its State House. Manchester is the old mill city that has turned its brick buildings into offices, restaurants and galleries. Nashua has a downtown performing arts venue that gives the city a night out of its own. Pick a base that suits your plans and treat the others as day trips.

Saturday Morning: Concord

Start in the capital. The New Hampshire State House stands at 107 North Main Street, and the gold dome is the natural first stop for anyone walking downtown. It sits on Main Street, so it is easy to fold into a morning walk downtown.

From downtown, it is a short drive to the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, the most family-friendly stop on this itinerary. The center describes itself as a 45,000-square-foot air and space museum, and it packs in a planetarium, an observatory and a Science Playground outside. One of its signature exhibits is a 1956 Crusader jet, which tends to be the thing kids remember on the ride home. Even adults who arrived skeptical usually end up staying longer than planned in the planetarium.

If you only have one morning in Concord, that pairing of the State House and the Discovery Center gives you the city's two personalities: the civic center of the state and a hands-on science museum with a sense of wonder.

Saturday Afternoon and Evening: Manchester

Head south to Manchester for the afternoon. The anchor here is the Currier Museum of Art, one of the best reasons to visit the city at any time of year. The museum's collection runs to more than 15,000 objects and includes work by Picasso, Matisse, Monet and O'Keeffe, among others. It also owns two houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Zimmerman House and the Kalil House, which is unusual for a regional museum and a real draw for architecture fans. Check the museum's website for how visits to the houses work before you go.

After the museum, it is time to eat. 900 Degrees is a reliable choice for a group with mixed tastes. Its Neapolitan-style pizza is baked in wood-burning brick ovens at about 900 degrees, which gives the crust its blistered edges, and the menu also covers pasta and salads for anyone not in a pizza mood.

If you would rather drink locally made beer with dinner, 603 Brewery in nearby Londonderry has a beer hall and patio with its own kitchen. It was founded by three friends, and the brewery also has a Barrel Room for private events, including weddings, if you are scouting for a future celebration while you are there.

Where to Stay

You have two very different options in this part of the valley, and both are worth considering.

Ash Street Inn in Manchester is the small, personal choice. It has six guest rooms spread over three floors, and the house has been welcoming guests since 1885. Breakfast and parking are included, and the inn now has its own restaurant, Ash, on site, which saves you a decision on at least one night. It is a good fit for couples who want to walk to dinner and come back to somewhere quiet.

Bedford Village Inn in Bedford, just outside Manchester, is the full-service choice. It is a Four Diamond property with 64 rooms and suites set on 10 acres, with several restaurants under one roof. It is also a well-known wedding venue, with a Great Hall for receptions, so do not be surprised to share the grounds with a wedding party on a spring Saturday. If you want a weekend where every meal is a short walk down a hallway, this is it.

Sunday: Nashua

Save Nashua for Sunday. The focal point for culture is the Nashua Center for the Arts, a live entertainment venue in the heart of downtown. Check its calendar before your trip and build your Sunday around a matinee or an evening show if one lines up with your plans.

If nothing is scheduled, Nashua still makes a convenient last stop for a meal before the drive home. It is the closest of the three cities to Massachusetts, which is handy if you are heading south.

Putting the Weekend Together

Here is a simple way to arrange the three days:

• Friday night: Check in at Ash Street Inn or Bedford Village Inn and have dinner on site.
• Saturday morning: Drive to Concord for the State House and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center.
• Saturday afternoon: Return to Manchester for the Currier Museum of Art, then dinner at 900 Degrees or a beer at 603 Brewery.
• Sunday: Head to Nashua for brunch, a walk downtown and a show at the Nashua Center for the Arts if the timing works.

You can easily reverse the order, especially if you are arriving from the south. Starting in Nashua and finishing in Concord works just as well.

Tips for a Spring Visit

May weather in southern New Hampshire can swing from warm and sunny to cool and wet within a weekend, so pack a layer and an umbrella. Indoor anchors like the Currier and the Discovery Center make good rainy-day plans, and patios at places like 603 Brewery are a bonus when the sun cooperates.

Because hours, ticketing and show schedules change, confirm the details directly with each business before you go. A quick look at their websites the week of your trip will save you an unexpected closed door.

Explore the Listings

• McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center
• Currier Museum of Art
• Nashua Center for the Arts
• 900 Degrees
• 603 Brewery
• Ash Street Inn
• Bedford Village Inn

FAQ

What cities are in the Merrimack Valley of New Hampshire?

The three largest are Manchester, Nashua and Concord. Manchester is the most populous city in the state, Nashua is second, and Concord is the capital.

Is a Merrimack Valley weekend good for families?

Yes. The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, with its planetarium and Science Playground, is a strong pick for kids, and the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester works well for older children.

Where should I stay for a weekend in the Merrimack Valley?

For a small inn within reach of downtown Manchester, try Ash Street Inn. For a full-service resort feel with on-site restaurants, look at Bedford Village Inn.

Do I need a car?

In practice, yes. The cities are close together, but getting between them and to places like the Discovery Center is easiest by car.

Sources

• Concord, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (state capital; Merrimack County seat; 2020 population 43,976; third-largest city): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord,_New_Hampshire
• Manchester, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (most populous city; Merrimack River; 2020 population 115,644): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester,_New_Hampshire
• Nashua, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 population 91,322; Hillsborough County seat with Manchester): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashua,_New_Hampshire
• New Hampshire State House, Wikipedia (107 North Main Street): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire_State_House
• McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center: https://www.starhop.com
• Currier Museum of Art: https://www.currier.org
• 900 Degrees: https://900degrees.com/
• 603 Brewery: https://www.603brewery.com
• Ash Street Inn: https://www.ashstreetinn.com/
• Bedford Village Inn: https://bedfordvillageinn.com/
• Nashua Center for the Arts: https://nashuacenterforthearts.com/