Hanover, New Hampshire

Hanover is situated on the Connecticut River in central New Hampshire on the border of Vermont. It is most easily accessible from Interstate 91 or 89.

Downtown Hanover is integrally linked with Dartmouth College: The huge campus green that's surrounded by trees and academic buildings is the most striking feature of the town. Students, townspeople, and tourists mix here every day. Downtown consists of a couple blocks of Main Street and its offshoots -- a small area, but it's gorgeous, and there's actually a lot going on. There are a couple chain stores like Gap and Barnes & Noble (also the campus bookstore), but mostly smaller boutiques for clothing and shoes, sporting goods, furniture, housewares, art, and gifts.

There's a nice range of restaurants here, from Lou's classic diner and bakery, to casual dining at Molly's, Ramunto's Brick and Brew, Jewel of India, Mai Thai, and Murphy's on the Green, and fine dining at the Canoe Club or Carpaccio's or the Hanover Inn. There are several independent cafes -- Dirt Cowboy Cafe brews them by the cup and is closest to the green, Rosey's is located at the ground floor of Rosey Jekes clothing boutique, and Umbleby's Bakehouse has coffee and really delectable pastries.

Night life is pretty limited. There's a small movie theater, The Nugget, and a couple bars in town (Murphy's, 5 Old Nugget Alley), and the India Queen restaurant, a choice dive for food and drinks and hookah outdoors in the summer.

Hanover's a really "fit city" and you can't walk five minutes without seeing a jogger or seven. There are hiking trails (including the Appalachian) right in town, not to mention the river, Occom Pond for wintertime skating and dog-walking and jogging, and a golf course. There are also the college's impressive athletic facilities -- good if you can get 'em.

It's a really wonderful place to raise kids. The town library is one of the best in the nation and it shows, there are playgroups here and elsewhere nearby, a fantastic kids science museum right across the river in Norwich, VT (The Montshire), and it seems like every place is exceptionally kid-friendly and kid-packed. The local schools are excellent, despite what Jodi Picoult might write about the high school (honestly, I don't know, I haven't read her work yet, but her fiction is largely based on Hanover). I personally really appreciate the diversity of people in Hanover who are mainly drawn in by the university. I went to a playgroup recently where the two other caregivers were speaking German and Hindi to their children.

Housing is expensive, but there are condo developments and rental units around town. The more affordable places are located along the back streets between Main St. and the river.

New this year, there's a small farmers' market Wednesdays.