Amherst Town Guide: Where to Eat, Shop and Explore

If you are looking for things to do in Amherst, NH, the town rewards a slow day. Amherst sits in Hillsborough County in southern New Hampshire, and it pairs one of the best-preserved village centers in New England with a busy commercial stretch along Route 101A. In May, the gardens are filling up, the golf courses are green again and the village common is at its best. This guide covers the history worth knowing, the places worth stopping and how to spend a full spring day in town.

A Short History of Amherst

Amherst began, like many New England towns, with a land grant to members of the colonial militia. The grant was issued in 1728 to veterans of King Philip's War, and a settlement followed in 1733. It was first called Narragansett Number 3 and later Souhegan Number 3. The settlers established a Congregational church in 1741.

On January 18, 1760, Governor Benning Wentworth chartered the settlement and renamed it after General Jeffery Amherst, who served as Commander-in-Chief in North America during the French and Indian War. A decade later, in 1770, Amherst became the county seat of Hillsborough County, largely because it sat on the county's major east-west road. The town prospered through the Revolutionary War and the years after it.

That prosperity did not last forever. In 1790 the southwestern section of town broke off to become Milford, and in 1803 the northwest section became Mont Vernon. Water-powered mills let Milford grow at Amherst's expense, and county functions eventually moved to the industrial centers. Amherst's population stayed fairly flat until after World War II, when the town became part of the wider Greater Boston region and newcomers arrived.

One more detail draws history fans: Franklin Pierce, who became the 14th President of the United States, studied under Judge Edmund Parker in Amherst, and he married Jane Means Appleton in a house on the town green.

The Amherst Village Historic District

The best free thing to do in Amherst is walk the village. The Amherst Village Historic District is centered on the town common, which was established around 1755, and it is considered one of the best examples of a late-18th to early-19th century New England village center. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Most of the district is residential, with a large number of Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival houses. Look for the Congregational Church, the Farmer's Bank, a Federal-style brick building from 1806, and the Amherst Brick School, a brick Greek Revival building. The present town hall was built in 1825 as the county's third courthouse, a reminder of the decades when Amherst was a shire town. Several houses built around the common in 1750, including one first used as a tavern, are still standing.

A spring walk here takes an hour or so if you stop to read the buildings. Park near the common, wander the side streets and save time for the shops and food out on Route 101A afterward.

Parks, Water and Open Land

Amherst covers about 34.4 square miles, and the whole town sits in the Merrimack River watershed. The Souhegan River, an east-flowing tributary of the Merrimack, passes through the southern part of town. The town is also home to Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary, Hodgman State Forest and the Joe English Reservation, which give you options for a quiet walk after a morning in the village.

Baboosic Lake sits on the border of Amherst and Merrimack. It covers 228.5 acres and drains into Baboosic Brook, a tributary of the Merrimack River. It is a warm-water lake that supports chain pickerel, largemouth bass, yellow perch, catfish and many kinds of sunfish, so anglers come for spring fishing. The lake was once a popular vacation spot for people who arrived on the Boston and Maine Railroad's Manchester and Milford branch.

Wine, Dining and a Bistro at LaBelle Winery

LaBelle Winery is the best-known stop in town, and it is far more than a tasting bar. The winery and vineyard has locations in Amherst and Derry, and the Amherst property combines wine tastings and tours, a sit-down restaurant called The Bistro, a market, an art gallery and golf. The Bistro serves lunch, dinner and brunch menus, and there is a kids menu and even a menu for dogs on the patio.

If you want to take something home, the winery sells its own wines along with specialty gifts and gift baskets, and it runs wine clubs. Spring is a good time to sit outside, book a tasting and stay for a meal. Check the winery's website for current tastings and reservations before you go.

Antiques and Collectibles on Route 101A

101A Antique and Collectible Center is a multi-dealer shop on Route 101A, and it is big. More than 135 dealers fill over 7,000 square feet of display space. The range is wide: fine porcelain, sterling silver, pottery, jewelry, wrist and pocket watches, art and Depression glass, paintings and prints, lighting, folk art, 18th and 19th century furniture, vintage advertising, ephemera, toys, antique tools and 20th century collectibles. The shop also sells current reference books and supplies for dealers.

Give yourself at least an hour here. With that many dealers, the stock changes often, and the best finds usually turn up on the second lap.

Model Trains for All Ages

Trains on Tracks is a brick-and-mortar store that has been helping customers with model trains since 1993. It sells and services model trains and accessories, with brands and scales including Lionel, MTH, LGB and N scale. It is a family business, and model railroading has been a tradition in the family for generations. The store is an easy stop for kids who like trains and for adults who have kept a layout going for years. If you have a locomotive that needs repair, the shop offers service as well as sales.

Spring Planting at a Garden Center

May is planting season in southern New Hampshire, and Sunny Valley Farms is where many locals start. The Amherst garden center and greenhouse sells annual and perennial plants, ornamental grasses, edible plants, roses, trees and shrubs, and locally grown herbs. It also has a large selection of garden statuary, fountains, birdbaths, mixed containers and hanging baskets, plus the tools you will need.

Beyond plants, there is a market and gift shop, and the garden center runs workshops and events. Services include plant installation, custom potting and repotting, and floral delivery. Even if you are only visiting, a walk through a greenhouse full of spring color is a pleasant half hour.

Golf Beside the Souhegan River

Amherst Country Club and Ponemah Green Family Golf Center cover most golf needs in one place. Amherst Country Club is an 18-hole championship course beside the Souhegan River, open to the public year-round. Ponemah Green adds a 9-hole executive course, mini golf, a driving range and ice cream, which makes it a good stop for families. On rainy days, the club has TrackMan golf simulators you can book.

A Diner Breakfast

For a classic breakfast or lunch, MaryAnn's Diner has a location in Amherst off Route 101A. The diner opened its first location in downtown Derry in 1989, and the Amherst diner, its fourth, opened in 2023. The diner's stated aim from the start has been good service, homemade food and generous portions. It is an easy way to start a day of antiques and garden shopping.

How to Spend a Spring Day in Amherst

Here is one way to put it together:

• Morning: Breakfast at MaryAnn's Diner, then drive to the village and walk the historic district around the common.
• Late morning: Browse 101A Antique and Collectible Center and stop in at Trains on Tracks.
• Midday: Lunch and a tasting at LaBelle Winery.
• Afternoon: Pick up plants at Sunny Valley Farms, or play nine holes or a round of mini golf at Ponemah Green.
• Evening: Head to Baboosic Lake for a quiet hour by the water, or return to LaBelle for dinner at The Bistro.

Most of the businesses in this guide are on or near Route 101A, so the driving between stops is short. The village sits a little apart from the commercial strip, which keeps it quiet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Amherst, NH?

Walk the Amherst Village Historic District, visit LaBelle Winery for a tasting or a meal, browse the 135-plus dealers at 101A Antique and Collectible Center, and play golf or mini golf at Amherst Country Club and Ponemah Green.

Why is Amherst named Amherst?

Governor Benning Wentworth named the town after General Jeffery Amherst, Commander-in-Chief in North America during the French and Indian War, when he chartered it in 1760.

Is Amherst good for families?

Yes. Ponemah Green has mini golf, a driving range and ice cream, Trains on Tracks is a hit with kids who love trains, and the winery's Bistro has a kids menu.

Where can I go fishing in Amherst?

Baboosic Lake, on the Amherst and Merrimack border, is a warm-water lake with bass, yellow perch, chain pickerel, catfish and sunfish.

Is Amherst worth a visit in spring?

Spring is a good time to go. The garden centers are full, the golf season is underway and the village common is pleasant for walking.

Sources

• Amherst, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amherst,_New_Hampshire
• Amherst Village Historic District, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amherst_Village_Historic_District
• Baboosic Lake, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baboosic_Lake
• LaBelle Winery: https://labellewinery.com
• 101A Antique and Collectible Center: https://www.101aantiques.com/
• Trains on Tracks: https://www.trainsontracks.com/
• Sunny Valley Farms: https://sunnyvalleyfarms.com
• Amherst Country Club and Ponemah Green: https://www.playamherst.com/
• MaryAnn's Diner (About and Locations): https://www.maryannsdiner.com/about and https://www.maryannsdiner.com/locations