Durham, New Hampshire

A tiny cluster of streets and red brick buildings, Durham is - like nearby Exeter - defined by its academy. Less upscale and picturesque than Exeter, which makes a roaring tourist trade off proud parents looking to invest in a piece New England memorabilia - Durham has a grittier, more functional feel. Its enormous campus dominates the town, which has little besides standard college-student joints.

It's likely that non-drivers visiting New England will end up in Durham; the University bus network - WILDCATS, which heads to Portsmouth, Newington, and other regional centres, is based here - as is the non-UNH-affiliated bus company. (Durham is also a stop on the Downeaster train, which connects Portland, Exeter, and Boston, among other New England towns). Tourists visiting New England without a car should thus expect to end up here for at least one lunchtime, a lunchtime that would be well-served by visiting the authentic, Old World Three Chimneys Inn, although Young's Coffee Shop may be just fine for budget travelers.