Concord, New Hampshire's state capital, vies with Portsmouth for the greatest concentration of historic attractions. Be sure to visit the State House: Built around 1819, it's an imposing granite neoclassical structure with a gold dome and statues of Daniel Webster, Franklin Pierce and other New Hampshire notables.
To get a good introduction to New Hampshire, drop in at the Museum of New Hampshire History, which is housed in a warehouse from the 1800s (look for the Concord coach, the prototype of the famous Wells Fargo stagecoach). If you like historic homes, see the Pierce Manse, home of the 14th U.S. president, complete with family-heirloom furnishings.
The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium was named after the elementary school teacher and civilian mission specialist who died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986. Among the attractions is an interactive exhibit that allows visitors to chart their course through space.
Just 10 mi/16 km north of Concord in Canterbury Center is Canterbury Shaker Village, a museum and historic site that preserves one of the settlements of the communal Shaker religious community. There are no more living Shakers in Canterbury; the last ones died in the early 1990s. A walking tour highlights the restored buildings from the 1800s and the Shaker furnishings, which are much prized for their clean lines and high-quality craftsmanship. Artisans demonstrate woodworking and other Shaker crafts.
Every October in Warner, about 15 mi/24 km northwest of Concord, the Fall Foliage Festival showcases the region's seasonal offerings.
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