Located a few miles east of Concord [1] and Manchester [2], New Hampshire’s largest state park (157 Deerfield Rd./Rte. 28, Allenstown, 603/485-9869, www.nhstateparks.org/bearbrook.html [3], $4 adults, $2 children 6–12, free children under 6) has a little something for everyone—hiking and biking trails, a fitness path, boat rentals, swimming, and fly-fishing. If it sounds crowded, don’t worry—with 10,000 acres, there’s plenty of room for everyone. The park also has nearly 100 campsites ($23/day) on the wooded shores of Beaver Pond; a swimming beach is set aside exclusively for campers’ use.
The Nashua River Rail Trail (Ayer, Groton, Pepperell, Dunstable, 978/597-8802, www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/nash.htm [4], free) connects Massachusetts [5] and New Hampshire [6] with a 12-mile biking trail on a former railroad right-of-way along the banks of the river.
Three seasons of the year, the Merrimack River Watershed Council (600 Suffolk St., Lowell, 978/275-0120, www.merrimack.org [7], free) leads guided canoe trips down the Merrimack and Pemigewasset Rivers nearly every weekend from April to October. Trips range from easy to moderate; best of all, they are free.
NASCAR action comes to New Hampshire [6] several times a year at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1122 Rte. 106, Loudon, 603/783-4744, www.nhms.com [8]). The main event is the Sylvania 300 every September.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/new-hampshire/south-and-seacoast/merrimack-valley/concord
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/new-hampshire/south-and-seacoast/merrimack-valley/manchester
[3] http://www.nhstateparks.org/bearbrook.html
[4] http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/nash.htm
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/massachusetts
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/new-hampshire
[7] http://www.merrimack.org
[8] http://www.nhms.com