the uvScene

Each town in the uv has its own certain style, its own <i>je ne sais quoi</i> that makes it unique. No two towns are the same despite their close proximities. Each town name takes you to any post we’ve made about those regions. For the time being, some of them may not have any posts, but this will soon change as we continue to build content, get out and explore, and discover what’s in our own backyard!

Lebanon, NH is the hub of the Upper Valley. Home to most of our shopping and industry, Leb is busy, busy, busy. It’s also home to West Lebanon (aka West Leb), which features everybody’s favorite drag, Route 12A.

On the other side of the river, White River Junction, VT is one of the villages in the town of Hartford. Its downtown features the Center for Cartoon Studies, the Tip Top Building, and many small shops and restaurants. As the locals say, “It’s not so bad!”

To the north lies Norwich, VT. Its quaint charm is its primary selling point. It’s home to Dan & Whit’s, the Norwich Inn & Brewery, and many other little shops.

Back into New Hampshire we find Hanover, NH. It’s like Norwich’s big brother. It’s home to Dartmouth, or is Dartmouth home to Hanover? You be the judge. Downtown Hanover is alive and vibrant, mostly because of it being an extension of the Dartmouth campus.

Hartland, VT is south of White River. It’s mostly hills, farms, and a lot of fog in the morning. There’s the villages of North Hartland, Hartland Three Corners and Hartland Four Corners. The Roast Beef Suppers are world-famous and always jam-packed.

In the northern Vermont side of the UV, the town of Fairlee sits alongside the Connecticut River, nestled beneath a giant granite cliff-face. It’s best known for its two beautiful lakes (Lakes Fairlee and Morey) and all that they offer for outdoor enthusiasts in all seasons. Fairlee is home to some great little eateries like Boldo’s (all local, all the time) and The Whippi Dip (homestyle barbecue and deep-fried delights along with a myriad of soft-serve wonders), as well as one of Vermont’s (and America’s) very last drive-in movie screens. When in Fairlee, be sure to pop into Champman’s and ogle the jewlery selection as well as the variety of fine wines, books, fishing supplies and random/wild toys and gifts.

Bradford borders Fairlee to the North, and sits in an oxbow curve of the River. Bradford is a funky little town divided into 3 parts - the Lower Plain, the Upper Plain, and the Village. The Lower Plain is home to the famed Farm Way as well as Pierson’s Farm Stand, which offers pick-your-own strawberries and wonderful fresh local veggies. The Upper Plain is more of a residential area, but The Village is a hopping little place - well worth a drive to check out. Middle Earth Music Hall resides in The Village, as well as Colatina. The Village also boasts a natural foods market, a yarn shop (key!), pizza & Chinese joints, and hosts the Connecticut Valley Fair in the summer. Also held on the fairground is the Middle Earth Whole Hog Blues and BBQ event every fall, featuring local musicians and great food.

South of Fairlee on I-91 is Thetford, VT — home of the high-school-sports mecca, Thetford Academy. There are many local artisans and crafters who live and sell their wares in Thetford, as you can see if you’re lucky enough to be in town when there’s a craft fair going on. Out on Route 5 headed South is Isabel’s Diner, which is tiny, homey and lots of fun. Thetford also hosts a multitude of farmstands and local farms that offer “pick your own” opportunities for everything from strawberries to blueberries to corn. Thetford is one of those towns that’s out of the way enough to feel private, but it’s so close to everything - just 10 minutes to Hanover and Norwich.

Claremont, NH is the largest city in Western NH and is home to several large mills. These mills are undergoing a rebirth as the city attracts new business and residents to its downtown. Shops, cafes, restaurants, and apartments/condos are opening in these beautiful buildings.

Windsor, VT is about 15-20 miles south of White River Junction, and its downtown is still kept up in the old New England tradition. It also has the Harpoon Brewery, Simon Pearce, the Mt. Ascutney Hospital, and the ever-famous Windsor Diner.

Originally a mill town, Newport, NH is taking great strides to revamp its image as a picturesque New England town. Newport is the county seat in Sullivan county and derives a lot of its success from being home to Sturm Ruger firearms. Newport also has the Sugar River Rail Trail which begins by the Newport Rec Center and ends by Monadanock Park in Claremont. A great spot to hit in Newport is the covered bridge on Airport Rd. This bridge succumbed to arson a little over 10 years ago & was rebuilt using traditional methods that were used when building the original bridge over 100 years ago. Good food at Country Kitchen on Rt. 11, Salt Hill 2 on Main St, and The Red Baron at the airport off Rt. 10.

Sunapee/ Newbury, NH is a great area that boasts year round activities. Its high seasons are summer with Lake Sunapee & winter with Mt. Sunapee. Sunapee was built as a tourist town in the 1800s when people from the city would come to the area by train to near by Newbury & then take a boat to there lakeside destinations. There are still boat tours today in summer season that offer a great view of this historic lake. Mt. Sunapee in Newbury can combine a great winter skiing & riding season with an outstanding hiking/ mountain biking season in the summer. Recommended is the Lake Solitude hike on the mountain’s south side. Good food & spirits at The Anchorage in Sunapee Harbor (April-October), One Mile West on Rt.103, and Belisima in Newbury Harbor.New London, NH is a beautiful New England town. Home to Colby-Sawyer College, it is located between the northeast end of Lake Sunapee and the base of Mt. Kearsarge. Main St is lined with quaint businesses and stately homes. New London is also home to Cricenti’s Bog, Little Lake Sunapee, and the New London Barn Players. Good food & drinks can be found at The North End Pub on Rt.11, Peter Christian’s on Main St, and The Four Corners Grill and Pub at the junction of Rt. 11 and Rt.114.

Plainfield, NH is a large town in area, going from the banks of the Connecticut River to the Grantham Mt range and the private game reserve known as Corbin Park. Plainfield is also home to Kimball Union Academy, an old New England private school. Plainfield is worth a drive, especially during foliage season.

Cornish, NH, between Plainfield and Claremont, is bordered by both Rt.12A and Rt.120. Every August one should make their way to the center of town between these two roads for the annual Cornish Fair. Cornish also houses the historic St. Gaudens museum and grounds on off Rt.12A, just north of the Cornish/Windsor covered bridge.

Enfield, NH is a great Upper Valley town that is highly under rated. The varied scenery that it offers is almost one of a kind. Lake Mascoma is a great draw for this area, a great place for swimming or boating in the summer, and icefishing in the winter. If Mascoma is too busy, check out Crystal Lake, or Grafton Pond. Enfield also contains one of the most beautiful stretches of the Northern Railtrail. Another great place to head to is the Laselette Shrine/ Shaker Village, especially in the Christmas season with both sledding and a great light display at Laselette. Enfield is located off exits 15, 16, and 17 on I-89 — you may have seen Whaleback Ski Area from there. The Upper Valley Humane Society also calls Enfield home.

To get to Canaan, drive through Enfield and keep going. Canaan is home to a motor speedway with races every Friday and Saturday during the summer, as well as the pristine Canaan St. Lake and the gateway to Mt. Cardigan State Park.