Things to Do in Hanover, NH

Hanover, New Hampshire, is a small town with a population of around 9,000. Despite its size, there are many entertainment options in town and surrounding area. Whether you are interested in outdoor activities or the arts, Hanover has something for you. Here are seven of those things to do in Hanover…

Situated just outside Hanover, Storrs Pond is an outdoor recreation area perfect for your whole family. Storrs has something that you will enjoy no matter what outdoor activities you enjoy. If you like to swim, you can do so at their two sandy beaches or pool. Your kids will enjoy running around on the splash pad. There are pavilion rentals if you are hosting an event and campsites if you want to enjoy an extended time at Storrs Pond. They feature beach volleyball, tennis courts, disc golf, and a half basketball court if you prefer outdoor sports. If you don’t want to swim but still want to spend some time on the water, you can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards.

Popular with Hanover residents, your kids can enjoy a variety of summer camps at Storrs Pond. TimberNook is a hands-on day camp where your kids can build their own wooden bridge, feed alpacas fresh carrots straight from the garden, and even build a flying vehicle out of recycled material. The Coyote Hill Mountain Bike Camp is a day camp where kids will learn the basics of mountain biking and maintenance while still enjoying typical summer camp activities like swimming and participating in games.

The Ledyard Canoe Club was founded in April of 1920 by a group of Dartmouth students that were intent on bringing rowing back to the college. The club was named after John Ledyard who as a first year Dartmouth student, decided that he would rather canoe the Connecticut River to to Long Island sound rather than attend his studies. The following year, the club retraced Ledyard’s trip to the sea, a tradition that continues today.

The club now offers canoe, kayak, and SUP rentals by the day or overnight. If paddling is something you love, buy a membership. A Ledyard membership is a great way to save money on rentals if you plan to be a frequent renter!

When you buy a home in Hanover, you will want to be sure to take advantage of the resources and activities that the Howe Library has to offer. While you can stop in to check out a library book, you may want to stay for one of their many regular activities. They offer Books and Lunch on Tuesdays, Chess Club, Dungeons and Dragons, a Sherlock Holmes club, and more. Their summer reading program is fun for the whole family. With a different theme each year, the summer reading program encourages you and your whole family to read for rewards and attend various theme-based events and activities throughout the summer. Even if you can’t physically make it to the library, they have an assortment of online resources, including books, audiobooks, magazines, movies, and online arts and crafts courses.

When you are in the area, you will want to take some time to enjoy the various self-guided hiking adventures. South Esker is an easy hike that is only one mile long for a round trip. This hike runs by the river and is located close to Hanover. If you want a slightly more challenging hike, you will want to try the Brook/River/Garden Loop. This hike is approximately 2.2 miles and will take about 1.5 hours to complete. This hike will take you out and back along Mink Brook, or you can try the difficult loop that ends at a neighborhood garden. Another easy hike in the area is the Storied Stones of the South Side. This easy hike is near downtown Hanover at the Mink Brook Nature Preserve. For a truly immersive hike, the Appalachaian Trail courses through town. There are multiple opportunities for day and overnight trips along the AT.

Hanover is most known for being the home to Dartmouth College. If you want to spend some time on Dartmouth’s campus while you are in the area, make sure you stop at the Hood Museum of Art. Admission to the museum is always free. The Hood Museum of Art has been open to the public since 1985 and is home to one of the oldest and largest university collections in the United States. The collections come from a wide variety of cultures and historical periods. They offer a selection of events and programs throughout the year, including guided tours, arts and crafts, and artist lectures.

While visiting the Dartmouth campus, you won’t miss the chance to visit the Hopkins Center for the Arts. The Hop, as it is locally known, is a popular entertainment option for owners of Hanover residents. It is considered the area’s hub for performing arts and film. This cultural center contains many resources for the campus and town community, including spaces for creation, practice, food, and socializing. More than 100 live events and 200 film screenings are presented annually, so you can be sure that you will be able to catch an event at the Hopkins Center for the Arts while you are in the Hanover area.

If you are looking for a place to stay while looking searching for homes for sale, you will want to stop at the historic Hanover Inn. The Hanover Inn is located right across the street from the Dartmouth Green. It has been in operation for more than 200 years. They have a chef who can prepare Tuscan-style cuisine using locally sourced ingredients and an extensive wine selection. They are considered an eco-friendly hotel, and they take several precautions to ensure that they are protecting our environment while providing you with a luxury hotel experience. Some of the amenities at Hanover Inn include a fitness center, room service, complimentary newspapers, and pet-friendly rooms for an additional fee.

Now that you have spent some time getting to know the area, you may decide that you want to purchase your own home in Hanover. When you are ready to start the search for your dream home in the Hanover area, you should consider working with a real estate agent that has a storied career in the area offering professional services and a vast amount of real estate and area knowledge.

Alan DiStasio has been working in real estate for 23 years. He ensures that his clients get the attention they deserve throughout the home buying or selling process and has a formula for success based on communication, strategic advice, and transparency. Reach out to Alan directly when you are ready to start the search for the perfect home for your family and lifestyle.